In July, the people that control the budgets of the world’s 20 richest countries – Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors – will meet to discuss how they will spend public money. In the midst of a global health pandemic, where people have lost so much, will they opt for a ‘business as usual recovery’ and bail out industries that drive climate crisis and inequality – or … [Read more...]
Working together to prevent raptor electrocution
The Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) recently helped to make history in Australia when Constant Hoogstad, Senior Manager: Industry Partnerships, travelled to Tasmania to facilitate the formalisation of a partnership between Raptor Refuge, a local raptor rehabilitation centre, and Tasmania’s electricity company, TasNetworks. The Eskom/EWT strategic partnership is an example of … [Read more...]
Carbon dioxide levels reach highest point in 15 million years
Recently, a Norwegian Coast Guard icebreaker ship took an interesting trip into the Arctic. The ship found no ice to break, despite the fact that it was the dead of winter and barely 800 miles from the North Pole. Indeed, record-low levels of Arctic sea ice are becoming normal. The ice is disappearing before our very eyes. Satellite data now shows we are witnessing a very … [Read more...]
Massive earthquake cuts power to thousands in Alaska
A major earthquake struck early Sunday morning off the Alaskan coast, the United States Geological Survey said. The 7.1-magnitude temblor hit at 1:30 a.m. AKST Sunday (5:30 a.m. EST Sunday), the USGS said. The epicentre was located 52 miles east of Old Iliamna, Alaska. The earthquake was felt in Anchorage and caused power outages in the region. At least 10,000 customers … [Read more...]
SA only country allowing GM staple food
South Africa is the only country in the world that has allowed its staple foods to be genetically modified (GM). Forty-four percent of the country’s maize is grown in the Free State. The mielie plants that cover the fields with a golden and green blanket may look the same as it always has but now it is very different. Since 1998, it has been tampered with by a process called … [Read more...]
65 organizations looking for marine litter solutions
Plastic packaging is a huge contributor to marine litter. Now the plastics industry has created a Global Declaration for Solutions to Marine Litter. Packaging SA is in full support of the drive to prevent marine litter and they are the latest signatory to the Declaration. “We recognise that plastic packaging is a major contributor to marine litter and consequently feel … [Read more...]
Ebola: What are we waiting for?
The world waited too long to respond to Ebola, which is now devastating parts of West Africa. And every day we continue to wait – for funding to reach the ground, for nurses and doctors to be deployed, for the shattered medical services to be rebuilt – more people die. Nearly 5,000 people have died from Ebola in Africa, which the organization claims is a result of leaders … [Read more...]
US and China Shake Hands on Carbon Deal
The United States and China are the world’s two biggest economies, the largest emitters of greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs), and the largest historical emitters of GHGs. China’s population is well over 1 billion people, with a rapidly expanding middle class and an economy that has been accelerating at breakneck speed for the past two decades. If the climate crisis is to be … [Read more...]
King Solar will rule the world
In the 1980s, leading consultants were skeptical about cellular phones. McKinsey & Company noted that the handsets were heavy, batteries didn’t last long, coverage was patchy, and the cost per minute was exorbitant. It predicted that in 20 years the total market size would be about 900,000 units, and advised AT&T to pull out. McKinsey was wrong, of course. There were … [Read more...]
Fast food worsens GHG emissions
The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) says food wastage across the world – totalling 1.3 billion tonnes of food annually – is the largest source of global greenhouse gas emissions after China and the USA. The FAO estimates the direct cost to producers of food that goes to waste is currently US $750 billion (R7356 billion) annually, a figure that excludes wasted … [Read more...]
Investing in Clean Power Generation Projects in SA
The developing nations of Africa are popular locations for the application of renewable energy technology and clean power generation projects are moving swiftly forward. The investment environment for these projects, however, are extremely complex and should be understood fully in order for projects to achieve success. Christopher Clarke, Founding Partner of Inspired … [Read more...]
Africa disappointed by US Statements on 2C Target
The African Group of countries at the United Nations climate negotiations reacted with disappointment at the latest statements by the Obama administration on the global climate talks. President Obama's Climate Envoy, Todd Stern (pictured), made a speech questioning the value of guaranteeing the internationally agreed (and reaffirmed) goal of limiting global temperature rise … [Read more...]
The race to decide who’s greenest
Every year, Suzanne Fallender’s corporate responsibility office at Intel (INTC) receives dozens of requests from sustainability analysts and nonprofits looking to rate the company on its water usage, carbon emissions, workforce diversity, and scores of other factors. While some queries can be answered quickly from Intel’s annual sustainability report, others require further … [Read more...]
