Cristina Duarte, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Adviser on Africa, briefed ambassadors during a debate to examine capacity building for sustaining peace on the continent, and to explore the way forward. She highlighted how African countries’ efforts to both prevent and address violence are being undermined by external factors such as competition over natural resources, … [Read more...]
Healthy life expectancy in Africa grows by nearly 10 years
Healthy life expectancy among Africans living in mainly high and upper middle-income countries on the continent, has increased by almost 10 years. The World Health Organization (WHO) announced the good news after examining life expectancy data among the 47 countries that make up the WHO African Region from 2000 to 2019, as part of a continent-wide report into progress on … [Read more...]
Public participation needed in the just transition
Earlier in this month dedicated to remembering Madiba and the principles he held dear, The Green Connection handed over the verdict statement – as deliberated by an esteemed jury, at its Oceans Tribunal in September 2021 – to the Presidential Climate Change Commission. In the spirit of Ubuntu, civil society (coastal communities especially) want to ensure that they have a say … [Read more...]
MMSEZ appeal dismissed despite flawed process
Environmental justice groups, represented by the Centre for Environmental Rights (CER), were disappointed to learn of the 8 July 2022 decision by the executive council of the Limpopo Economic Development and Tourism Department (LEDET) to reject their appeal of the approval for the Musina-Makhado Special Economic Zone (MMSEZ) project. The appeal by Earthlife Africa, Dzomo La … [Read more...]
Fracking: a dragon SA will not be able to tame
The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment has released proposed regulations for onshore oil and gas exploration and production, including the use of hydraulic fracturing ("fracking"). Responding to the proposed regulations, Jonathan Deal, CEO of Treasure Karoo Action Group (TKAG) said that "The scale and magnitude of drilling and fracking operations have proven … [Read more...]
The urgent need for structural reform is clear
Following President Ramaphosa’s Youth Day speech last week – which mostly focused on the unprecedented high unemployment rate and lack of opportunities – young small-scale fishers, along the coast, say they are concerned that government does not recognise their value as South Africans who are self-employed and trying to create sustainable livelihoods for themselves and their … [Read more...]
A spanner in the works for Tendele mining
The Pretoria High Court condemned Tendele’s 2013 Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process in its recent judgment on 4 May 2022 because: “The defective public notices issued by Tendele during September 2013 were only a precursor to the scoping phase, where the wheels came off. The wheels came off when the regional manager DMR, KwaZulu-Natal (RM), allowed Tendele’s … [Read more...]
Building a brighter environmental future for our children
Growing up in a nature loving family, Natashia de Wet, felt compelled to build a brighter environmental future for her children, by creating sustainable ecosystems where bees, nature and humans can not only survive, but also thrive. After much research and consultation with sustainability experts, Natashia discovered the world of Bokashi and how by combining it with her … [Read more...]
Earth Jurisprudence and systemic change
In South Africa, we are seeing environmental struggles being fought every day. Activists, communities, lawyers, school children and many others are fighting to protect the ecosystems that sustain us all. Important battles have been won, including most recently the Deadly Air case which recognised poor air quality in South Africa’s Mpumalanga Highveld region as a breach of … [Read more...]
G7 must show bold climate leadership now
In the face of mounting global crises, the G7 leaders must show bold climate leadership at its meeting starting on Sunday. The G7 is a grouping of countries representing the world’s seven most advanced economies - Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States. The meeting will take place from 26 to 28 June, under the leadership of German … [Read more...]
Mining threatens fisheries in the West Coast
Coastal mining along the West Coast is expanding at an alarming rate, increasingly threatening the environment and livelihoods of small-scale fisheries and coastal communities. Currently there are many different companies that have applied for or been allocated permits and right for oil and gas exploration as well as prospecting or mining on coastal land, the beaches, in the … [Read more...]
Big Tobacco, clean up your mess!
Protect our Next advocacy organisations have launched a campaign calling for Big Tobacco to clean up its mess called ‘Susa Udoti Wakho - #yourbuttsstink.’ The 2022 World Health Organisation (WHO) theme - “Tobacco: Threat to our environment” - focuses on the damaging impact tobacco has on the planet throughout its lifecycle, including deforestation, erosion, water pollution … [Read more...]
NERSA opposes decision to block Karpowership licenses
On Thursday 19 May, the same day that the minister of Mineral Resources and Energy laid out the department’s uninspiring budget for 2022/23, the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) notified The Green Connection that it will oppose the NGO’s court application to review and set aside the decision to grant three electricity generation licenses to Karpowership … [Read more...]
