Long-suffering communities in Sharpeville and Bophelong in the Vaal area have gathered outside ArcelorMittal South Africa Limited’s (AMSA’s) main steel plant in Vanderbijlpark today to protest against ongoing pollution, non-compliance with environmental laws, failure to engage meaningfully with fence line communities and unclear plans to decarbonise AMSA’s operations. The … [Read more...]
Preparing for fire season
Currently the wildfire that started at Lourensford Estate in Somerset West rages forth into the mountains. Unseasonal hot, dry conditions turned wild vegetation into a tinder box. This is happening more frequently as global warming escalates. The number of wildfires worldwide is forecast to rise by 50% by 2100. Read more about that here and be prepared. Climatic … [Read more...]
Could Cape Town be underwater by 2032?
Imagine Travel in 2032: A world transformed where some of the most fascinating tourism bucket list spots are newly formed desert regions in the Vaal and mysterious attractions in the forgotten undersea cities of Venice and Cape Town, which is now partly in the Atlantic Ocean near Table Mountain Island. And for the most intrepid, adventure-seeking world traveller, extreme … [Read more...]
Building climate resilience for an extreme future
Understanding multiplier effects, and using them to your advantage is critical to building climate change resilience into your business, writes Jayson Coomer, CFO for Chicoa Fish Farm. The breakdown in our climate is accelerating at a rapid pace. This was the overriding message of a report issued by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in February this … [Read more...]
Ocean festival leaves art legacy in Sea Point
Two public art installations along the Sea Point promenade, 22 photographs and a 16 square metre mural, remain as a legacy of love and ocean awareness left by the Wavescape Surf & Ocean Festival. As a gift to the thousands who walk the promenade, the finalists of a special photographic competition were placed along the sea wall opposite the Winchester Mansions … [Read more...]
Green Corridors recognised for dedication to river restoration
Durban-based NPO Green Corridors, which cares for green spaces around the City, this week was awarded a Certificate of Appreciation by Plastics SA for its commitment and dedication to helping restore rivers and for protecting our waterways and natural environment. The Caroline Reid Award was presented to Green Corridors’ Coastal and Waste Management Projects Officer … [Read more...]
Slumbering with a clear conscience
As a sustainability pioneer with decades in the field, it is so exciting to experience well-known brands moving into the world of sustainable business. Of course this is what educated and conscientious shoppers are demanding. No longer is just the ‘green fringe’ reading labels and asking for production details, but the mainstream of our population also want to shop products … [Read more...]
Improving water security in the uMkhomazi catchment
When the community members of Nzinga requested assistance with the clearing of alien vegetation to improve access for their livestock for grazing purposes, the Sappi-WWF partnership saw this as a great fit for the work being done in the uMkhomazi catchment to improve water security in the area. As a result, a team of 10 individuals has been identified, appointed, and trained … [Read more...]
Groundwater: protecting SA’s ‘invisible resource’
Groundwater is a critical resource to the world. In fact, it provides almost half of all drinking water worldwide, not to mention about 40% of water for irrigated agriculture and about 1/3 of water required for industry. More than this, it is also crucial in sustaining ecosystems, maintaining the base flow of rivers and even in preventing land subsidence and seawater … [Read more...]
Underground reservoir harvests and stores rainwater
According to the United Nations, with the world’s population expected to top nine billion people by 2050, the world is going to need at least 55% more water. And not just water; clean water. In most people’s minds that would mean building more dams, such as on the Umkomazi River in KZN which at this time is largely untapped. However, worldwide there are very few new large … [Read more...]
Study reveals need for new tap labelling standards
South Africa can significantly improve water and energy efficiency by aligning its tap labelling programme with international standards, according to a new study released ahead of National Water Week, happening from 20 to 26 March 2022. The week aims to raise awareness and call to action renewed value for this scarce resource. In 2018, the National Water and Sanitation … [Read more...]
Protection urgently needed for SA’s water sources
When blood stops flowing, the body dies. Similarly, when water stops flowing, a country “dies”. Everybody knows that water is essential to all forms of life, but not everybody shows respect or pays enough attention to this precious commodity. It is terrible to see the impact a lack of water has on animals, plants and our environment - not to mention on humans. It should be … [Read more...]
Taking climate action now can secure our future
Human-induced climate change is causing dangerous and widespread disruption in nature and affecting the lives of billions of people around the world, despite efforts to reduce the risks. People and ecosystems least able to cope are being hardest hit, said scientists in the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report, released last month. “This report is … [Read more...]
