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Climate Change News

Industry reaction to Minister’s call for higher levels of clean-coal investment

By: Mamaili Mamaila 27th March 2020 There is much scepticism domestically and internationally about the potential for clean-coal technology (CCT). In South Africa, however, there has been an amplification in recent months of calls for accelerated efforts to be made to finding innovative solutions to the serious environmental and... →

Growing interest in green bonds

By: Tracy Hancock 20th March 2020 Local interest in green bond and/or securitisation instruments is robust and growing, says financial services provider Nedbank’s Corporate and Investment Banking (CIB) debt capital markets origination principal, Arvana Singh. Nedbank issued R2.7-billion in 2019 across two auctions, which it says... →

ARVANA SINGH Increasing pressure is being placed on investors and financiers to allocate capital responsibly

Africa can develop on low-carbon growth path

By: Tracy Hancock 20th March 2020 Choosing between a low-carbon future and Africa’s economic growth is a false dichotomy, as these goals do not need to be in competition, says independent power producer Pele Energy Group founder Fumani Mthembi, a speaker at this year’s Power & Electricity World Africa. “The global investment... →

SUNNY DISPOSITION The global investment sector is increasingly more interested in funding renewable-energy projects, such as solar farms, as opposed to coal projects

Effective forest management strengthens resilience against climate-related natural disasters

By: Yvonne Silaule 13th March 2020 Effective forest management can strengthen resilience and bolster capacity for adaptation when it comes to climate-related natural disasters, says Environment, Forestry and Fisheries Deputy Minister Maggie Sotyu. Speaking at the opening of the twenty-second African Forestry and Wildlife... →

Water ‘crisis’ needs private-sector intervention

By: Darren Parker 13th March 2020 It is essential for the private sector to proactively contribute more towards the upliftment of water infrastructure and services in South Africa, said water engineering company Talbot economist Mike Smith and Talbot strategic director Helen Hulett during a seminar on South Africa’s water... →

Photo by Bloomberg
LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL If the private sector invests in water infrastructure projects, it can help ensure water security

Water security needs diverse, flexible systems

By: Darren Parker 13th March 2020 As climate change increasingly poses a risk to water security, the flexibility and diversity of bulk water distribution and the effective management of these systems are essential to secure future water supply. “Water security depends on the systems that are in place to manage it. Risk is system... →

Photo by Creamer Media
A SALINE SOLUTION One way of ensuring a guaranteed supply of clean water is through desalination, as is done in Namibia

Carbon storage vital to chemicals projects

By: Cameron Mackay 13th March 2020 With the global drive to meet climate targets and mitigate the devastating effects of climate change, carbon capture and storage (CCS) is a vital emissions reduction technology for the chemicals and petrochemicals industry, says international think-tank Global CCS Institute advocacy and... →

Photo by Bloomberg
DECARBONISING INDUSTRY Efforts from government and industry are needed to address carbon emissions from chemical and petrochemical production and the use and disposal of chemical products

Company to improve processes with new furnaces

By: Cameron Mackay 6th March 2020 Local metalworking company Thomas Foundry is set to improve and increase the efficiency of its metalworking and manufacturing processes with the purchase of four new induction furnaces. The order was placed in September last year to replace three decommissioned furnaces – a 1 t furnace and two 5... →

FORGING AHEAD The company has purchased 4 new furnaces to reduce electricity consumption, improve quality and productivity, improving environmental compliance and reducing maintenance costs

Standard Bank releases policy on lending to thermal coal mining projects

By: Simone Liedtke 5th March 2020 Financial services provider Standard Bank has released its Thermal Coal Mining Policy, making it the first South African bank to publicly release a policy on lending to coal mining projects. This follows a landmark shareholder vote in favour of a climate risk-related shareholder resolution which... →

Global warming fast shrinking rainforest role as climate protector

By: Bloomberg 5th March 2020 The amount of planet-warming carbon dioxide that can be sucked up from the atmosphere and stored by tropical forests is falling as the global climate heats up, researchers said on Wednesday. They warned in a study that rainforests could tip from absorbing carbon to becoming a source of emissions... →

Africa urged to ramp up its energy investment

By: Kim Cloete 4th March 2020 Getting more energy to more people in Africa is imperative, particularly as the continent's population is set to soar over the next few decades, the Africa Energy Indaba has heard. “This is an opportunity for all of us to move forward faster and further together,” World Energy Council secretary... →

Germany moves into hydrogen with lessons from Opec, Russia

By: Bloomberg 3rd March 2020 Germany is taking its first steps to build an economy based on hydrogen instead of fossil fuels, seeking to deliver both green growth and to avoid being trapped by a small cartel of suppliers. Ministers have been quietly lining up deals with nations including Nigeria that might produce hydrogen... →

Standard Bank issues South Africa’s first offshore green bond

By: Marleny Arnoldi 2nd March 2020 Standard Bank has issued its first-ever green bond through a private placement with development finance institution, the International Finance Corporation (IFC). The $200-million bond, which is Africa’s largest green bond and South Africa’s first offshore green bond issuance, has been listed on... →

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Standard Bank CE Sim Tshabalala

Fears of water’s ‘day zero’ spur Cape Town to consider rainless day fund

By: Bloomberg 26th February 2020 Scarred by a water shortage that almost saw Cape Town become the first major world city to run out of water, local authorities are planning measures ranging from cutting down alien trees to establishing a “rainless day fund” to cushion its more than four-million people from the next dry spell.... →

Cape Town adds more energy to Indaba

By: Cameron Mackay 21st February 2020 The decision to host this year’s Africa Energy Indaba at the Cape Town International Convention Centre on March 3 and 4, rather than in Johannesburg, where it was hosted previously, has resulted in increased interest from African and global delegates to attend the event, says Africa Energy Indaba... →

ENERGISING AFRICA The sub-Saharan and East African regions will feature strongly at the indaba as electricity demand in these regions, and the rest of Africa, is growing

Energy institute to focus on IRP at Indaba

By: Cameron Mackay 21st February 2020 The publication of the long-awaited Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) in October last year will be a significant focus area for State-owned energy researcher the South African National Energy Development Institute (Sanedi) at this year’s Africa Energy Indaba. “The publication of the IRP provides... →

BARRY BREDENKAMP We certainly don’t have to re-invent the wheel, there are many African countries doing exceptional work in this area, and we can learn from them

Ethical engagement rings that are truly eco-friendly, guilt-free

By: Bloomberg 20th February 2020 When Krish Himmatramka was working as an engineer in the oil industry, he would spend his spare time in his trailer in northern Louisiana scouring the Internet for the perfect engagement ring for his girlfriend. But he struggled to find one that was ethically and sustainably produced. After... →

Climate change threatens South Africa's socioeconomic development – Creecy

By: News24Wire 19th February 2020 Climate change poses a "significant risk" to South Africa's socio-economic development, Environment, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Barbara Creecy said in the debate on President Cyril Ramaphosa's State of the Nation Address on Tuesday. She acknowledged Ramaphosa's undertaking for a "decisive... →

Photo by Donna Slater
Environment, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Barbara Creecy

Govt allocates R143m for drought relief in Limpopo

By: African News Agency 18th February 2020 South Africa's department of human settlements, water and sanitation has allocated R143-million for drought relief in Moutse in Limpopo province. The funds will be administered by water board Lepelle Northern Water within Sekhukhune district municipality towards drilling new boreholes and... →

Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation Minister Lindiwe Sisulu

Greenpeace confirms activists appeared in court after display at cricket game

By: Marleny Arnoldi 17th February 2020 Environmental organisation Greenpeace Africa says ten of its activists appeared in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on Monday morning. The activists were arrested on Sunday after running onto the SuperSport Park Stadium cricket pitch, in Centurion, wearing superhero costumes. →

Greenpeace welcomes ‘climate crisis’ recognition in SoNA

By: Marleny Arnoldi 14th February 2020 Greenpeace Africa appreciates that President Cyril Ramaphosa is seemingly taking the “climate crisis” seriously. Commenting on the President’s State of the Nation Address (SoNA), which was delivered on Thursday, Greenpeace Africa political adviser Happy Khambule says Ramaphosa has displayed... →

Skills shortage plagues natural refrigerant sector

By: Darren Parker 14th February 2020 One of the most pertinent issues facing the local heating, ventilation, air-conditioning and refrigeration (HVAC-R) industry is the lack of specialised skills needed for the systematic adoption of natural refrigerants in place of traditional synthetic refrigerants. Heightened pressure on... →

SNEAKY LEAKS Refrigeration systems charged with odourless CO2 need to be monitored with sensors to ensure leaks do not compromise air quality in enclosed spaces

Renewed call to ban disposable cylinders

By: Darren Parker 14th February 2020 Despite various heating, ventilation, air-conditioning and refrigeration (HVAC-R) industry participants contesting the banning of disposable gas cylinders in South Africa for years, there is no indication of a decision on the matter being reached. South African Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning... →

TIME TO SCRAP THIS PRACTICE Disposed cylinders create about 3 150 m3 scrap metal and can explode if not thoroughly evacuated

Refrigerant recovery service set for expansion

By: Darren Parker 14th February 2020 Speciality chemicals supplier A-Gas South Africa is planning to expand its rapid recovery refrigerant service nationally this year. This follows the appointment of A-Gas business development manager Grant McGill in September last year. →

IT’S A GAS The Rapid Recovery service is up to ten times faster than traditional refrigerant recovery methods

Investec ups climate investment, clarity as pressure grows

By: Bloomberg 12th February 2020 Investec is increasing its focus on environmental, social and governance issues to bolster its profit and address concerns raised by investors over climate change. The South African and U.K. lender -- which offers wealth management as well as private, corporate and investment banking -- is... →

Growing concern over impact climate change may have on water security

By: Natasha Odendaal 7th February 2020 As the world scrambles to mitigate the anticipated impact of climate change and global warming and strive to limit the temperature increase to below 1.5 °C above that of the preindustrial period, solutions to ensure South Africa’s own water secure future needs deeper scrutiny. Many climate change... →

Accessories developed to complement range

31st January 2020 A range of communications accessories has been developed to complement electrical and digital building infrastructure supplier Legrand’s three uninterruptible power supply (UPS) ranges. These devices include network interfaces for real time control of the UPS and for managing numerous events that... →

MORE UPS THAN DOWNS The Legrand UPS range is complemented by the recently launched communications accessories

Climate change will hit Africa much harder than other continents – panel

By: Marleny Arnoldi 30th January 2020 A panel of speakers participating in consultancy Deloitte's Africa Outlook 2020 event, on Thursday, highlighted the economic and social themes that are expected to feature prominently on the continent this year, including climate change, which is anticipated to hit Africa the hardest. Deloitte... →

A panel of experts explain why Africa has been and will be hit hardest by climate change going forward

Just Share says Discovery can do more on climate change

By: Marleny Arnoldi 28th January 2020 Shareholder activism organisation Just Share director Tracey Davies says financial services company Discovery’s CEO Adrian Gore oversimplifies the problem of climate change. She makes the comments in response to a recent post by Gore on social media, entitled ‘Climate change is a behavioural... →

Discovery CEO Adrian Gore

Association records growth despite struggling economy

24th January 2020 Despite a struggling economy, the Southern African Plastic Pipe Manufacturers Association (Sappma) reported a growth in membership and influence last year. →

DIVERSE OFFERING In addition to its hugely successful annual PIPES technical conference, Sappma has also begun hosting regular workshops for both members and non-members alike that focus on different aspects of quality

EV pilot programme can help Rwanda go green

By: Cameron Mackay 24th January 2020 Electric mobility through electric vehicles (EVs) in Rwanda can help the country in its efforts to go green, says Volkswagen South Africa (VWSA) CEO Thomas Schäfer. This comes after Volkswagen launched a pilot project in the country in October last year, where it introduced its first EV in Africa. →

Photo by Creamer Media
THOMAS SCHÄFER Africa will develop in many ways with cooperation. We need to learn to work together across the continent, find shared value, and ways of collaborating

Children across South Africa learn about renewables in vernacular

By: Simone Liedtke 21st January 2020 English, Afrikaans, Xhosa and Setswana speaking children across South Africa are learning about the role that wind power is playing as the world transitions to renewable power for a cleaner, healthier planet through a beautifully illustrated story book, named Let the Wind Blow. The South African... →

Sibanye obtains 'A' rating for climate change disclosure

By: Creamer Media Reporter 20th January 2020 Precious metals miner Sibanye-Stillwater on Monday revealed that it was the only company from South Africa to have achieved an 'A' rating for its climate change disclosure by nonprofit global environmental disclosure platform CDP. "CDP’s annual environmental disclosure and scoring process is... →

Company launches unique water plant, empowers community

By: Mamaili Mamaila 17th January 2020 Mineral water company Aqua Air Africa (AAA) officially launched Africa’s first atmospheric water-generating plant at the Ga-Rankuwa industrial site, in Gauteng, in November. →

FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND The construction of the atmospheric water geberating plant began in 2018 with a team of committed engineers and local small, medium-sized and microenterprises

Environmental issues a top global risk – WEF

By: Marleny Arnoldi 15th January 2020 The World Economic Forum (WEF) expects economic and political polarisation to rise this year as significant short-term risks to climate action and public health systems. This while collaboration between world leaders, businesses and policymakers is necessary to stop severe threats to... →

South Africa has huge 'green fuels' potential. But it needs to act now

10th January 2020 In this opinion piece, first published in The Conversation, professors David Walwyn and Rod Crompton make the case for South Africa to pay greater research and development attention to the production of green hydrogen using a combination of wind and solar power and electrolysers. In addition,... →

First Great White shark seen off Cape Town in 20 months

By: Bloomberg 8th January 2020 The first great white shark in 20 months has been spotted in False Bay off Cape Town, easing concern that one of the region’s biggest tourist attractions had gone for good. The shark was spotted by the operator of a cage diving operation off Seal Island, said Gregg Oelofse, who oversees coastal... →

Kaspersky supports healthcare institutions amid COVID-19 pandemic with free full featured product licenses for six months

Hospitals and healthcare organisations like WHO face increased threats from cybercriminals; the cybersecurity community is here to help

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Africa Coal Energy Environment Health Petrochemicals Power SECURITY Technology Water Global Ccs Institute International Energy Agency Lanzatech Samancor Chome Swayana Inductotherm Thomas Foundry Castings Metso Transnet Africa Energy Indaba Concrete Gas Ghana Indaba Projects Resources Solar Sustainable Cement ... more

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