The Mandela, De Klerk, Tutu and Luthuli foundations will be writing to President Zuma appealing to him to intervene in order for the Dalai Lama to get a visa to attend the World Peace Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates next month. A further petitioning letter will be signed by former Nobel Peace Prize laureates and has already been signed by President Lech Walesa, Mairead … [Read more...]
City to offset small-scale electricity generation
Small scale alternative energy generators - yes that includes you and I with solar PV on the roof - will finally be able to feed our excess energy back into the grid and get paid for it by the City of Cape Town! The City of Cape Town has set itself a target of sourcing 10% of its electricity from renewable energy resources by 2020 and the roll-out of the small-scale embedded … [Read more...]
City requests declaration of the Cape Town Bioregion
The City of Cape Town is hoping to be declared as a bioregion. The City's Council has recognised the City’s efforts to create a balance between urban development and environmental protection by recommending that the MEC for Environmental Affairs be requested to declare Cape Town as a bioregion. This would be one of the first of such regions for a South African metro. It … [Read more...]
Cities need to figure out their stories
More than 100 of the world’s fastest growing cities are in Africa. So said Marlene Laros (main picture), lead author of the newly released the State of African Cities report by ICLEI, during the launch at the British High Commisioner’s residence in Bishops Court. Africa is also experiencing unprecedented population growth and massive poverty. Africa is predicted to have 3 … [Read more...]
2014: Die opdroog van die Bloemfontein?
Bakkie stoei deur ‘n stroom swembad ‘backwash’-water in Dersleystraat. Bayswater. Bloemfontein. Draai in by De Witt’e Gastehuis. Duinkleurige cargo-broek, ligtepienk uithang-knoophemp, moue effens opgerol. Ronde kaal kop met swartraambril. Parkeer, eienaar wys waar die perskonferensie gehou gaan word. Sluit aan by ‘n groepie joernaliste en Afriforum verteenwoordigers. ‘Hallo, … [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...]
Sustainable design to address Cape Town’s rapid urbanisation
The challenges facing cities today are numerous. Rapid urbanisation is a growing reality and Cape Town has the highest rate in South Africa. This brings housing, infrastructure, social and biophysical challenges. Yet if we look for solutions across business, government and communities, we find tremendous energy and innovation to address the challenges. This was the outcome … [Read more...]
Afbrekende energiebeleid moet verander – Alliansie
Koolstofvrye hernubare energie maak net 12% van die energie uit wat wêreldwyd verbruik word, aldus die burgerregte-organisasie AfriForum op Aardedag. Fossielbrandstof word steeds gebruik vir 80% van die wêreld se energie en genereer 30 miljard metrieke ton se koolstofbesoedeling elke jaar. Bekende en toeganklike fossielbrandstofreserwes het in 2012 reeds meer as vyf keer … [Read more...]
Tree marathon captures hearts in Klapmuts
A renewed energy and excitement filled the air in Klapmuts when crowds of people, including the honourable Mayor Conrad Sidego and over 140 volunteers from five corporate entities, gathered to take part in one of many Tree-a-thon’s (mass planting events) set to take place this year, as part of the “Million Trees” project. The crowd were addressed by the Mayor Conrad Sidego, … [Read more...]
Activists demand fundamental change in energy systems
Activists around the world welcomed the latest UN climate science panel's report by highlighting its passages on the need for fundamental change of energy systems. The report was greeted by a group of German climate justice activists holding banners and photos of protests and campaigns from the across the world. The campaigns are united by the Reclaim Power initiative, a … [Read more...]
Greyton aims to phase out plastic bags
From the 3rd of July 2014 (International plastic bag free day), Greyton aims to become South Africa’s first town to phase out single use plastic shopping bags. This is a drive initiated by Greyton Transition Town (GTT) and supported and assisted by Hayley McLellan from Rethink the Bag. This is just one of the many creative waste reduction programmes run in Greyton. Green … [Read more...]
Cape Town leads provision of sanitation in SA
The City of Cape Town’s achievement of 100% access to adequate sanitation in informal areas, as assessed by the National Department of Water Affairs in 2012, remains unparalleled in South Africa. This has been achieved despite a population growth of more than 30% over the past decade. The City of Cape Town’s achievement of 100% access to adequate sanitation in informal … [Read more...]
