The man chosen to head up the European Commission’s climate and energy department faced tough questions over his links to oil companies at a hearing on Wednesday. Miguel Arias Canete, a former Spanish environment minister, insisted there was no conflict of interest. He gave up shares in Petrolifera Ducar and Petrologis Canaris on being offered the climate commissioner job. … [Read more...]
Cities are lapping countries on climate action
National governments — especially the American government — are largely paralyzed on climate change. But one message from the U.N. Climate Summit and surrounding events last week was that cities can do a lot to reduce greenhouse gas emissions on their own. They account for most of the world’s population and emissions. And cities, not beholden to rural, fossil-fuel dependent … [Read more...]
New tree addict will return to reforest fest
Forests cover a third of our planet's land. They provide raw materials, maintain biodiversity, protect land and water resources, and play a crucial role in climate change mitigation. Forests are heavily over-exploited by man and many organisations, small to large, are making efforts to slow down and eventually reverse this uncontrolled destruction. Life as we know it simply … [Read more...]
Irreversible damage seen from climate change in UN Leak
Humans risk causing irreversible and widespread damage to the planet unless there’s faster action to limit the fossil fuel emissions blamed for climate change, according to a leaked draft United Nations report. Global warming already is affecting “all continents and across the oceans,” and further pollution from heat-trapping gases will raise the likelihood of “severe, … [Read more...]
NASA scientist warns of 3-4 meter sea level rise by 2200
It is common knowledge in the climate change scientific community that governments around the world had better be planning for a one-meter rise in global sea levels by the end of this century. What isn't common is for a world-renowned scientist to warn that there could be a greater rise than that before 2100 - in addition to a catastrophic two to three-meter rise by 2200, … [Read more...]
Painting a colourful picture of our energy future
The discussion around the future of Eskom has reached a new high with the parastatal reporting on its dire situation culminating in a R225bn shortfall. Many articles published in the past week laid out arguments as to what Eskom should do next. As a young South African I believe someone should share a youth perspective on this subject. It is interesting to read that many of … [Read more...]
Joining forces to protest Arctic seismic testing
Greenpeace and the Inuit have joined forces to protest Arctic seismic testing, warning that plans to gauge oil and gas reserves with high-intensity sound waves in Baffin Bay and the Davis Strait pose grave dangers to marine life. Inuit activists are staging a protest Wednesday in Nunavut's Clyde River, a tiny Baffin Island hamlet just above the Arctic Circle, a week after … [Read more...]
New study proves: Livestock is safer from predators with guardian animals
Guardian animals offer far better livestock protection than lethal methods, according to new research. They’re more effective, need less work, and are cheaper. A formal study of eleven South African livestock farms has revealed that lethal methods to combat livestock losses to predators are not only less practical but more costly than non-lethal methods. The report, by … [Read more...]
Negotiating a global climate agreement
At last year's climate talks in Warsaw the corporate fossil fuel lobby was firmly in charge - and the result was catastrophic failure. At the talks now under way in Bonn, it's our turn to set the agenda - the billions of people crying out for positive action on climate and energy. At the UN climate talks in Bonn, Germany, social movements are demanding that the developed … [Read more...]
UN climate chief backs Obama’s new US carbon cuts
New carbon cuts proposed by US President Obama could offer much-needed momentum to UN climate talks taking place in Bonn this week. That’s the view of the UN’s leading climate official, Christiana Figueres, who needs the world’s top economies on board for a global emissions reduction deal to work. “The decision by President Obama to launch plans to more tightly regulate … [Read more...]
Entries now open for The Eco-Logic Awards 2014
Do you help to protect and preserve the Earth? Does your company provide products or services that are helpful to the Earth? If so – then the folks from the Eco-Logic Awards want to recognise and support you! They are looking for those individuals and organisations that contribute towards the well-being of the Earth. They want to identify those that in a real and … [Read more...]
Forest degradation and deforestation - addressing the canker in Ghana
Ghana was once famous for her endowed timber resources. Today, she cannot boast much about the abundance of this resource. The little remaining is struggling to thrive as it is left at the mercy of the activities of some unscrupulous persons; illegal chainsaw operators and illegal small scale miners. Their activities have destroyed our once beautiful landscape and terrain. … [Read more...]
Elections 2014 - who gets your green vote?
This week we will vote for the future of this country. If you are aware of climate change and other threats to our environment and therefore to our civilisation, it helps to take note of how the different parties plan to respond to these threats. What are they saying in their manifestos about: Energy and Climate change Water (services and resources) Mining and … [Read more...]
