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Climate Change News

Wild weather is endangering world's oldest form of clean power

By: Bloomberg 24th June 2019 The Kariba Dam has towered over one of Africa’s mightiest rivers for 60 years, forming the world’s largest reservoir and providing reliable electricity to Zambia and Zimbabwe. But as drought grips the region, flow on the Zambezi river has dwindled to a third of what it was a year ago. Last month,... →

Cape's plants are dying out – and local authorities need citizens' help

By: News24Wire 20th June 2019 Almost 40 plant species have gone extinct in the Western Cape since 1900, making it one of the hot spots for plant extinction on the planet. A new study, published in the journal Nature Ecology and Evolution, found that across the world about 600 trees, flowers, and fruit-bearing plants have died... →

Science academies call for increased air pollution mitigation

By: Marleny Arnoldi 19th June 2019 The National Academies of Sciences and Medicine from South Africa, Brazil, Germany and the US had joined forces in calling to action on harmful air pollution. The academies were calling for a new global compact to improve collaboration on the growing problem, and for governments, businesses and... →

Balwin registers over 16 000 EDGE certified units

By: Simone Liedtke 18th June 2019 JSE-listed Balwin Properties has registered more than 16 000 units across seven of its built-to-sell and three of its rental developments as excellence in design for greater efficiency certified with the Green Building Council South Africa. The registration will be completed over the next six... →

Balwin Properties Kikuyu development

Aviation technology leaders reaffirm their determination to cut industry’s CO2 emissions

By: Rebecca Campbell 18th June 2019 At the 2019 Paris Air Show on Tuesday, the Chief Technology Officers (CTOs) of seven of the world’s major aerospace companies issued a joint statement on their joint and cooperative commitment to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by the aviation industry. The companies were, in alphabetical... →

NCPC-SA to drive resource efficiency in manufacturing

By: Mamaili Mamaila 14th June 2019 If the South African manufacturing sector wishes to mitigate the effects of rising tariffs and the new Carbon Tax, then it needs to become more resource efficient, according to the National Cleaner Production Centre South Africa (NCPC-SA) →

GREEN ECONOMY The manufacturing sector has not been growing because of its mounting challenges

Sustainable cities integral to combating climate change

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 12th June 2019 Combating the effects of climate change will require a collective response from developed and developing cities, which need to pursue the development of sustainable cities, regardless of the disparity between the biggest contributors to and those most affected by climate change. This was a key... →

Erratic weather boosts energy demand, denting climate goals – BP

By: Reuters 11th June 2019 Extreme temperatures around the globe drove a sharp acceleration in energy demand and carbon emissions last year, oil giant BP said on Tuesday, issuing a stark warning that the world risks losing the battle against climate change. And while 2018 saw another sharp pick up in renewable power such... →

Companies lag in climate-related disclosures – G20 Task Force

By: Reuters 5th June 2019 Companies are failing to disclose sufficient detail about how exposed they are to the potential risks of climate change, a global task force said in a report on Wednesday. Many investors have called on companies to provide better communication on how climate change could impact their businesses,... →

Consortium appointed to manage climate resilience fund

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 31st May 2019 A consortium of Dutch nongovernmental organisations and financiers has been awarded the tender to manage the €160-million Dutch Fund for Climate and Development (DFCD), which aims to help developing countries build climate resilient economies. The consortium comprises Dutch development bank FMO,... →

SA carbon tax law will pressure big firms to find strategies for sustainable operations

By: African News Agency 31st May 2019 The long-awaited Carbon Tax Act, due to be implemented from Saturday, will put large companies operating in South Africa under increasing pressure to find viable strategies to make their operations more sustainable, an industry expert said on Friday. The Act, which President Cyril Ramaphosa... →

Standard Bank shareholders vote for disclosure on lending to coal projects

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 31st May 2019 In a first for South Africa, climate-conscious shareholders of Standard Bank have compelled the bank to adopt and publicly disclose a policy on lending to coal-fired power projects and coal mining operations. Fifty-five per cent of shareholders in attendance at the bank’s annual general meeting... →

Startups strive to recycle emissions for 'new carbon economy'

By: Reuters 31st May 2019 Jennifer Holmgren, CE of carbon recycling firm LanzaTech, explained modestly how the Chicago-based startup had cut multimillion-dollar deals on four continents, including in China, aimed at helping curb climate change and air pollution. At the Jingtang Steel Mill in Heibei province, the company... →

IEA urges support for research into small modular reactors

By: Terence Creamer 28th May 2019 The International Energy Agency (IEA) says countries intending to retain nuclear power as an option in their clean-energy transitions should support innovative new reactor designs with lower capital costs and shorter lead times, such as small modular reactors (SMRs). The recommendation is made in... →

Carbon Tax Act signed into law, effective from June 1

By: News24Wire 27th May 2019 President Cyril Ramaphosa has signed the Carbon Tax Act into law and it will come into effect on June 1, the National Treasury said on Sunday. The Act was gazetted on May 23, together with the Customs and Excise Amendment Act, the Treasury said in a statement. "Climate change represents one of... →

President Cyril Ramaphosa

South Africa’s fiscal crisis, price volatility among top energy risks for this year

By: Kim Cloete 23rd May 2019 The South African National Energy Association (Sanea) has outlined its nine top energy risks for 2019, with price volatility and uncertainty, and South Africa’s fiscal crisis, among the top risks at both the country and industry level. The issue of price volatility and uncertainty was significant... →

BP bosses get public grilling on climate from largest investors

By: Bloomberg 22nd May 2019 BP lined the road leading to its annual shareholder gathering in Scotland’s oil capital with hoardings touting investments in renewable energy. Inside the meeting, there was a fierce debate on whether the energy major was telling the truth. On Tuesday, investors large and small grilled BP’s... →

National Climate Change Adaptation Strategy published for public comment

By: News24Wire 20th May 2019 The draft National Climate Change Adaptation Strategy which according to the Department of Environmental Affairs provides a “common vision of climate change adaptation and climate resilience for the country" has been published for public comment. The department on Sunday in a statement said the... →

Nordic countries strengthen partnerships with sub-Saharan Africa

By: Kim Cloete 17th May 2019 The Nordic countries of Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden are strengthening their partnerships with sub-Saharan African countries to increase green electrification and water security. The four countries are known for their expertise in developing viable and innovative energy systems, with a... →

Coca-Cola outlines its work on replenishing water in Africa

By: Kim Cloete 15th May 2019 Multinational beverage company Coca-Cola has outlined its efforts to replenish the water it uses through partnerships and projects across communities in Africa. “The company has made significant strides in improving its water use over the past ten years and recently announced that three-million... →

CER urges Ramaphosa to appoint environment-focussed Cabinet

By: Sashnee Moodley 14th May 2019 In anticipation of next week’s Cabinet announcement, law clinic the Centre for Environmental Rights has requested that President Cyril Ramaphosa make environmental governance a priority and appoint committed Ministers to lead institutional reform. The CER has written to Ramaphosa with... →

President Cyril Ramaphosa

Release of IRP 'imminent' – Energy Minister

By: African News Agency 14th May 2019 South Africa's Integrated Resource Plan, which will set out South Africa's future energy mix, would be "concluded imminently", Energy Minister Jeff Radebe said on Tuesday. Speaking at African Utility Week taking place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, Radebe said the IRP was still... →

Energy Minister Jeff Radebe

Zimbabwe starts rolling power cuts, hitting mines, industry

By: Reuters 13th May 2019 Zimbabwe has started rolling power cuts lasting up to eight hours that will also hit mines, a schedule from the State power utility showed on Monday, after reduced output at both the largest hydropower plant and ageing coal-fired generators. The power cuts will add to mounting public anger... →

Zimbabwe starts load-shedding as drought hits Kariba Dam power station

13th May 2019 Zimbabwe started implementing load-shedding on Monday, after the government announced it was facing critical power shortfalls and had to introduce rotational power cuts in order to "balance the power supply available and the demand". Power utility supplier the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission &... →

UN modernises guidance for greenhouse emission estimates

By: Reuters 13th May 2019 A United Nations climate change panel updated on Monday guidelines for governments to estimate greenhouse gas emissions so the most up-to-date scientific research is included. Under the 2015 Paris Agreement, governments use common methodologies to measure how many greenhouse emissions they have... →

Industry not fully maximising benefits presented by ISO 50001

By: Jessica Oosthuizen 10th May 2019 South African industries have not yet fully maximised the enormous benefits that the ISO 50001 standard presents for them, says National Cleaner Production Centre South Africa (NCPC-SA) project manager Ngoanathari Maja. ISO 50001 provides a framework for managing energy performance and... →

Photo by Getty Images
CURBING EMISSIONS ISO 50001 helps companies reduce their environmental impact to meet emissions reduction targets

ANC wants banks to be forced to fund South African coal mines

By: Bloomberg 6th May 2019 South Africa’s banks should be forced to invest in new coal mines in the country, the ruling African National Congress’s head of economic transformation said. Nedbank Group and Standard Bank Group have said “they are not going to put money in coal any more,” Enoch Godongwana said in an interview... →

Eni to focus on saving African forests to offset CO2 emissions

By: Bloomberg 3rd May 2019 Eni's plan to offset emissions from its oil and gas operations will focus on working with African communities to prevent deforestation. The project is part of the Italian energy giant’s goal of removing the equivalent of 20-million tons a year of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere by 2030.... →

Winter rains are starting later in the year – study

By: News24Wire 29th April 2019 The rainy season in South Africa’s winter rainfall region is starting later in the year than it used to, according to a study conducted at the University of Cape Town (UCT). But Waarith Abrahams, a master’s student at UCT’s Climate Systems Analysis Group who did the research, said further studies... →

Southern Cape Landowners Initiative to clear invasive plants from major river systems

By: Marleny Arnoldi 29th April 2019 The Southern Cape Landowners Initiative (SCLI) and Table Mountain Fund will assist Garden Route landowners in the coming months in their efforts to clear ecological infrastructure, such as rivers, wetlands and seep lines, of invasive alien plants. The project, called the SCLI Cape Floristic... →

Kaaimans River, in the Southern Cape region

Global deforestation cut enough trees last year to cover Belgium

By: Bloomberg 25th April 2019 The world’s old-growth rainforests are shrinking at an alarming rate, with enough trees lost last year to cover all of Belgium or two Connecticuts, a new report shows. Tropical rainforests are found mainly in Equatorial countries, but they store vast amounts of carbon dioxide, so keeping them... →

Bank report points to transport being next decarbonisation frontier

By: Terence Creamer 24th April 2019 Newly released research by international banking group HSBC outlines a scenario for reducing transport emissions by 76% by 2040 through combining technology and regulation in a way that results in electricity, hydrogen and biofuels replacing oil as the primary fuel feedstock across transport... →

Standard Bank shareholders to vote on climate-risk exposure reporting resolution

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 18th April 2019 Shareholders of financial services provider Standard Bank will, at the bank's next annual general meeting, vote on a resolution tabled by two shareholders to require the bank to report on its exposure to climate risk in its lending, financing and investment activities. "This is the first time... →

Agri SA applauds Santam donation to drought relief fund

By: African News Agency 18th April 2019 Agricultural industry association Agri SA on Thursday applauded a donation from financial services group Santam to help drought-stricken farmers in the Northern Cape province. It said the drought in Sutherland had caused a devastating decline in the sheep breeding population and placed the town’s... →

Acumen closes $70m impact fund for clean energy in Africa

By: Bloomberg 17th April 2019 Jacqueline Novogratz’s impact investing group closed an almost $70-million fund to back companies delivering affordable and renewable energy to mostly poor consumers in East Africa. KawiSafi Ventures seeks to bring clean energy to ten-million people with investments in fast-growing companies... →

Cape Town in good position even if winter rains are poor – deputy mayor

By: News24Wire 16th April 2019 Dam levels are 10% higher than the City of Cape Town's projections for the end of summer so the city is in a good position even if the coming winter rains turn out to be below average, says deputy mayor Ian Neilson. "And the water consumption by Cape Town is well under the target we set of... →

Activists push South African pension funds to tally climate costs

By: Bloomberg 15th April 2019 Pension funds in South Africa have a legal obligation to account for the financial effects of climate change on their investments, according to two groups lobbying money managers to pay closer attention to the issue. Shareholder activists Just Share and environmental law organisation ClientEarth... →

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