Attracting 3 600 delegates from 82 countries, the South African International Renewable Energy Conference was officially opened by the South African Minister of Energy, Ms Tina Joemat-Pettersson, in Cape Town today. The sixth in a series of International Renewable Energy Conferences (IRECs), first held in Bonn, Germany in 2004, SAIREC is the first such conference to take … [Read more...]
Damaging the land we live on is costing trillions every year
Calculating the economic value of nature — how much the world’s rain forests, grasslands and other natural areas are worth monetarily — is an approach many environmentalists are adopting in the fight to protect Earth’s dwindling wild spaces. The idea is that nature provides certain valuable benefits to humans, called “ecosystem services.” And damaging or destroying nature in a … [Read more...]
Is South Africa fudging its INDC figures?
WWF South Africa is concerned by the vague and defensive position taken by the SA government in its latest climate change statement of intent (its Intended Nationally Determined Contribution – INDC to the 21st United Nations climate change negotiations conference). There is much room for improvement, and there is still time to do this before the INDC goes to the … [Read more...]
Islamic leaders call for rapid phase out of fossil fuels
Islamic leaders have issued a clarion call to 1.6bn Muslims around the world to work towards phasing out greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and a 100% renewable energy strategy. The grand mufti’s of Lebanon and Uganda endorsed the Islamic declaration on climate change, along with prominent Islamic scholars and teachers from 20 countries, at a symposium in Istanbul. Their … [Read more...]
The end of capitalism has begun
Without us noticing, we are entering the post-capitalist era. At the heart of further change to come is information technology, new ways of working and the sharing economy. The old ways will take a long while to disappear, but it’s time to be utopian. The red flags and marching songs of Syriza during the Greek crisis, plus the expectation that the banks would be … [Read more...]
Saving the world’s seventh largest economy - the ocean
These are the most challenging times in our history. With a thirst for higher living standards and the need to support a global population set to hit 9bn by mid-century, we are overwhelming nature. Science tells us that we are pushing natural limits on climate, biodiversity, nutrient cycles, freshwater and ocean health. While research has never been clearer on defining … [Read more...]
Solving the Eskom problem and poverty simultaneously
The South African government’s plan to spend almost R1 trillion on nuclear power, and the nuclear agreements between SA and China, Russia, France, Korea have got me thinking. Imagine this scenario. The Russian state-run bank lends SA R1 trillion. SA pays this 1 trillion straight back to the Russian State-run Nuclear company Rosatom who spends a portion of this on building … [Read more...]
TKAG warns of fracking ‘Trojan horse’
Reports that oil and gas multinational Shell is reviewing its plans for fracking outside the Americas could be a "Trojan horse", the Treasure Karoo Action Group (TKAG) said on Tuesday. "Shell is a seasoned campaigner and what may at first blush appear to be a withdrawal from Karoo shale gas, may just be a Trojan horse," TKAG head Jonathan Deal said in a … [Read more...]
SONA: response to environmental commitments
WWF's Salim Fakir asked the Presidency to rethink the so called need for nuclear power in his response to President Jacob Zuma’s 2015 State of the Nation address. He commented on the address in terms of environmental matters: Fakir, Head of WWF’s Living Planet Unit, commended the focus on the energy crisis and the need for both short-term and long-term energy planning. … [Read more...]
Blooming renewables in South Africa
Due to the increasing threat of climate change, the key role that energy plays in the interactions between societies and resources towards a sustainable development has gained broad attention. As renewable energy sources (RES) become more competitive in relation to other energy sources, they create another opportunity to attract additional investments in favour of a greener … [Read more...]
Activists kick off Fossil Free campaign outside prominent bank
Activists in Sandton this week kicked off the campaign for a Fossil Free Africa. "This is a fight for our future, and that of our children -- a future where we have clean energy and water to survive, and where our energy supply doesn’t cost the earth," they said. The activists were outside Nedbank’s headquarters to expose the bank’s greenwashing and their role in South … [Read more...]
Natural system investments crucial for food and water security
Healthy, well-functioning natural systems play a vital role in supporting the country’s food and water security, whilst also maintaining healthy communities and sustained livelihoods. This was highlighted during a two-day field trip through the Umgeni catchment in the KwaZulu Natal Midlands, co-hosted by WWF South Africa and Nedbank. “Food and water security are deeply … [Read more...]
Ocean economy to contribute R20 billion by 2019
Government will implement ocean economy projects which are expected to contribute more than R20 billion to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 2019. "Going forward, delivery units have been established in the lead departments to drive the implementation of the detailed delivery plans. We will achieve the growth and the jobs we need in the economy," President Jacob Zuma … [Read more...]
