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Climate Change News

Mining companies edge towards renewable energy options

By: Kim Cloete 9th October 2019 Mining companies are starting to heed the transition towards a low-carbon future by investing in wind energy, solar and gas. This was relayed at the annual African wind energy summit, the Windaba, in Cape Town, on Wednesday. →

FirstRand shareholders to vote on climate risk resolutions next month

By: Simone Liedtke 9th October 2019 Shareholders of financial services provider FirstRand will, next month, vote on whether the company must report on its assessment of its exposure to climate-related risks, and to adopt and publicly disclose a policy on fossil fuel lending. This will require more than 50% of shareholders to vote... →

Small ships are next big thing for this $150bn market

By: Bloomberg 9th October 2019 Giant ocean-going tankers built the liquefied natural gas (LNG) industry into a $150-billion-a-year business. The next expansion opportunity may come from ships a seventh of the normal size. Fifty-five years after the first commercial LNG tanker sailed from Algeria, this segment of the gas... →

Incoming top EU climate official pledges to tax polluting imports

By: Reuters 9th October 2019 The European Union (EU) will start work immediately on a tax on polluting foreign firms to shelter EU businesses striving to meet a goal to be climate neutral by 2050, the senior official set to take responsibility for climate in the new European Commission said on Tuesday. Frans Timmermans, who... →

Drought conditions persist in some parts of the country – Agriculture dept

By: African News Agency 9th October 2019 Below normal rainfall is anticipated over the central and south-eastern parts of South Africa during late spring, while above normal rainfall is expected during early summer to mid-summer in the central and eastern regions, the department of agriculture, forestry and fisheries said on Wednesday,... →

Renewables sector’s just transition roadmap to target coal and gold regions

By: Terence Creamer 9th October 2019 South Africa’s renewable-energy industry is preparing a detailed ‘just transition’ roadmap that will incorporate employment, spatial and industrialisation components to the deployment of solar and wind in a bid to catalyse economic activity and job creation in areas where coal and gold mining are... →

Photo by Creamer Media's Dylan Slater
Mike Levington

Iata welcomes outcomes of International Civil Aviation Assembly

By: Rebecca Campbell 8th October 2019 The global airline industry representative body, the International Air Transport Association (Iata), is pleased with the outcomes of last week’s fortieth Triennial Assembly of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO – the inter-governmental body which oversees civil aviation... →

Nuclear faces climate-fight irrelevance without lower cost

By: Bloomberg 8th October 2019 Catastrophic climate change can still be averted even without increasing one of the biggest sources of carbon-free electricity. That was the message sent to International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) officials on Monday, who convened their first-ever conference exploring how nuclear power could... →

Presidential Climate Change Commission to be just-transition crucible – Creecy

By: Terence Creamer 7th October 2019 Environment, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Barbara Creecy has confirmed that the Presidential Climate Change Commission, which was proposed as part of agreements reached at the 2018 Jobs Summit, will be established and will become a key platform for facilitating South Africa’s ‘just transition’... →

Photo by Creamer Media's Dylan Slater
Environment, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Barbara Creecy

Land reform, climate change, cheap imports pose risks to agriculture in KZN – FNB

By: African News Agency 7th October 2019 Agriculture in KwaZulu-Natal is growing at around 12 percent per annum, driven by diversification, but there are risks to the sector posed by land expropriation, climate change and cheaper imports, First National Bank said on Monday. KwaZulu-Natal is recovering from a severe drought with... →

Investment in climate-positive companies growing – Joburg Indaba

By: Martin Creamer 7th October 2019 Asset managers globally have become the lightning rod of populist views in Western countries, with the conversation now dominated by climate-change issues within the environmental, social and governance (ESG) paradigm as well as what the prospective upheaval in the vehicle industry means for... →

Fiona Perrot-Humphrey, Sandy McGregor and Myuran Rajaratnam

Mining Weekly's Martin Creamer on Joburg Indaba climate discussion. Video Editing: Nicholas Boyd. Video: Kutlwano Matlala. Photo: Dylan Slater.

Iata raises key issues at key international civil aviation conference

By: Rebecca Campbell 4th October 2019 The International Air Transport Association (IATA) raised a number of important issues for the recent International Civil Aviation Organisation 40th (triennial) Assembly, in Montreal, Canada. IATA is the representative body of the world’s commercial aviation (airline and air freight) industry,... →

Outlook for wind energy in SA improving, despite headwinds

By: Terence Creamer 4th October 2019 After stalling last year, global renewable energy capacity additions are expected to recover strongly in 2019, supported by a solid rebound in onshore wind deployments and ongoing solar photovoltaic (PV) growth. The International Energy Agency (IEA) expects almost 200 GW of renewables capacity to... →

Fully committed to undertakings on climate – Minerals Minister

By: Martin Creamer 3rd October 2019 Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe, who is expected to submit the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) next week, told the Joburg Indaba on Thursday that he hoped to gazette the IRP to give South Africans another chance to comment on the document. With pressure building up globally... →

Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe at Joburg Indaba covered by Mining Weekly’s Martin Creamer.

Godongwana calls for ‘simple’ transfer of R250bn of Eskom debt to sovereign

By: Terence Creamer 1st October 2019 African National Congress (ANC) economic transformation committee head Enoch Godongwana outlined his preference for what he termed a “simple” transfer of R250-billion of Eskom debt to government, rather than pursuing the creation of a special purpose vehicle, partly financed through green... →

Photo by Creamer Media
ANC economic transformation committee head Enoch Godongwana

HSF helps companies gear up for climate change risk mitigation

By: Marleny Arnoldi 27th September 2019 Law firm Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF), in its latest report, finds that 1 600 laws and policies about climate change have been created across 164 jurisdictions to date, since 1997, which has obligated companies to mitigate against costs and risks. This is a 25-fold increase compared with the... →

Water security a concern for the global mining industry, says Moody’s

By: Simone Liedtke 27th September 2019 Securing reliable sources of water is becoming a challenge for mining companies globally, says ratings agency Moody’s. It notes that water is not only a vital resource in the mining process, but mines also use a significant amount of water in a variety of ways. Water is used for processing ore,... →

South African companies, cities join fight against climate crisis

By: News24Wire 27th September 2019 South African businesses and municipalities have signed up for a new global initiative – the Alliance for Climate Action - to push for accelerated climate action. According to a statement from the World Wide Fund for Nature South Africa (WWF SA), these businesses and municipalities were part of a... →

Precautions imperative when working at height

By: Khutso Maphatsoe 27th September 2019 The risks and incidents associated with working at height can be reduced if basic precautions are taken, says cleaning specialist Ultra High Level MD and Institute for Work at Height director Rob Urquhart. “Internationally, falls account for just more than 40% of work-related incidents. Many... →

International airline body urging six priorities on global aviation organisation

By: Rebecca Campbell 25th September 2019 The International Air Transport Association (Iata) has affirmed that it has high expectations for the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s fortieth assembly, which started in Montreal, Canada, on Tuesday. Iata is the representative body of the world’s commercial aviation (airline and air... →

Shipping sector sets course for zero carbon vessels, fuel by 2030

By: Reuters 23rd September 2019 Leading ports, banks, oil and shipping companies on Monday launched an initiative which aims to have ships and marine fuels with zero carbon emissions on the high seas by 2030, in another step by the maritime sector to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2). International shipping accounts for 2.2% of... →

Public, private sectors urged to double yearly investments in renewables

By: Simone Liedtke 23rd September 2019 Public and private sector leaders are being urged to double yearly investments in renewable energy to keep the world well below the 2 °C increase in global temperatures, says a new report by the International Renewable Energy Agency. The report was published ahead of the United Nations Climate... →

Least developed countries announce climate change vision

By: Simone Liedtke 23rd September 2019 More than two-thirds, about 69%, of people killed in climate-related disasters in the past 50 years were living in 47 of the world's poorest nations, according to findings released by the group of least developed countries (LDCs) ahead of the United Nations Climate Action Summit, which took place... →

Global leaders issue call to continue growing Great Green Wall in Africa

By: Simone Liedtke 23rd September 2019 Global government, business and civil society leaders have issued an urgent call to action to grow an 8 000 km natural wonder of the world across the entire width of the African continent. The Great Green Wall, an African-led movement, aims to drive forward climate-smart solutions and bring life... →

Absa, KCB join global banks committing to climate action

By: African News Agency 23rd September 2019 East Africa’s largest commercial bank KCB and South Africa's Absa said on Monday they had joined leading global financial institutions in launching principles for responsible banking at the United Nations headquarters, with 130 banks collectively holding US$47-trillion in assets signing up. By... →

Coordinated action needed along battery value chain to reduce emissions

By: Simone Liedtke 23rd September 2019 The use of batteries could reduce global emissions in the transport and power sectors by 30% by 2030, the World Economic Forum’s Global Battery Alliance outlines in a new report, titled ‘A Vision for a Sustainable Battery Value Chain in 2030’. According to the report, this will create about... →

Reducing scale of climate change a good investment – scientists

By: Thabi Madiba 20th September 2019 An international contingent of scientists on Friday called on world leaders to increase measures taken against climate change, stating that reducing its magnitude was also a good investment. The group published its study a few days ahead of the United Nations Climate Change Week, taking place in... →

HVAC product manufacturing plant in Columbia expanded

20th September 2019 Indoor comfort solutions and services provider Trane marked a celebration last month to commend a significant expansion to its manufacturing facility in South Carolina, Columbia in the US, as well as highlight the company’s ongoing efforts in environmental, social and business sustainability. →

The Columbia facility expansion, in addition to additional workforce initiatives and community donations, are in line with the company’s 2030 sustainability commitments

Institute establishes drive for CO2 as natural refrigerant

By: Cameron Mackay 20th September 2019 Local heating, refrigeration and air conditioning (HVAC) industry body the South African Institute of Refrigeration and Air Conditioning (SAIRAC) has established a drive to introduce the option of using carbon dioxide (CO2) as a natural refrigerant, referred to as R744, through technical talks... →

Minerals Council calls for delay in Carbon Tax implementation

By: Simone Liedtke 19th September 2019 The Minerals Council South Africa has called for the implementation of the carbon tax to be delayed until all enabling regulations, and a legislative regime providing for a carbon budget, are in place. It believes the timing of the implementation of the carbon tax “presents a major challenge”,... →

CEO Roger Baxter

National action ‘critical’ in combatting climate change, says Momoniat

By: Simone Liedtke 19th September 2019 Appropriate action to help transition the South African economy onto a low-carbon growth path, as articulated in the National Development Plan, is needed, says National Treasury deputy-director general Dr Ismail Momoniat. Speaking at a Carbon Tax Colloquium hosted by the South African National... →

Photo by Creamer Media's Simone Liedtke
National Treasury deputy-director general Dr Ismail Momoniat

A water crisis is making things even worse in Zimbabwe

By: Bloomberg 13th September 2019 Trudging home along a dusty street in the Zimbabwean city of Bulawayo, Sikhathele Ndlovu balances a 20-liter bucket of water on her head, a ritual she’s performed daily for almost a decade. Persistent drought on top of existing faulty piping means there’s little prospect of an end to her... →

Investing green is all the rage, but benchmarks still hazy

By: Reuters 13th September 2019 Global money managers and companies are rushing to meet a deadline to report on their carbon footprint, but the lack of a standard metric raises concerns their efforts could just be a box-ticking exercise in the transition from brown to green. From 2020, firms with some $118-trillion of funds... →

Mapping project seeks to secure 'invisible' indigenous lands

By: Reuters 13th September 2019 An online project mapping all of the world's indigenous lands will help secure legal rights, and alert communities to the potential threats of illegal logging and mining, land and indigenous rights groups said on Friday. LandMark is compiling maps from dozens of indigenous organisations for its... →

Proactively managing South Africa’s energy transition

10th September 2019 In this article, South African Independent Power Producer Association (SAIPPA) members Tommy Garner and Brenda Martin outline the organisation’s approach to the energy transition and explains the programme it is launching to manage the transition. →

Tommy Garner and Brenda Martin

The massive cost of not adapting to climate change

By: Bloomberg 10th September 2019 Slowing the planetary march toward climate catastrophe – and the multitrillion-dollar investment required to avoid it – has become a central issue of global and national debate. But there’s the equally expensive matter of dealing with the here and now: From historic wildfires to unprecedented... →

Opinion: Climate ‘apartheid’ is looming large

By: Martin Zhuwakinyu 6th September 2019 In this opinion piece, Engineering News Senior Deputy Editor Martin Zhuwakinyu writes about the impact of climate change on the poor. I doubt if many people in Mzansi know of Philip Alston. The Australian-born international law expert and human rights campaigner is the United Nations’ (UN’s)... →

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