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Climate Change News

Carbon emissions set to surge in 2021 as coal rebound eclipses record renewables growth

By: Terence Creamer 20th April 2021 Global energy-related carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions could surge by 1.5-billion tonnes in 2021 to 33-billion tonnes, reversing most of last year’s decline caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, as rebounding coal demand in the electricity sector more than offsets record renewables deployments. This... →

Emerging market green debt sales to soar to $100bn billion by 2023

By: Bloomberg 19th April 2021 Emerging market green bond issuance will more than double by 2023 to exceed $100-billion, according to two of the biggest players in the sector. The World Bank’s International Finance Corp. and European asset manager Amundi, who together created the world’s largest green bond fund targeting... →

Gas is the new coal with risk of $100bn in stranded assets

By: Bloomberg 19th April 2021 Natural gas is falling out of favor with emissions-wary investors and utilities at a quicker pace than coal did, catching some power generators unaware and potentially leaving them stuck with billions of dollars of assets they can’t sell. Citigroup Inc. and JPMorgan Chase & Co. are among the... →

Circular economy a key component of South Africa’s post-Covid-19 recovery, says Creecy

By: Simone Liedtke 16th April 2021 South Africa’s post-Covid-19 Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan includes a green economy component, of which the circular economy is a key component, to ensure environmental protection and the sustainable use of the country’s natural resources. “The plan promotes waste recycling, renewable... →

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

White House considers methane-busting vow before climate summit

By: Bloomberg 16th April 2021 The Biden administration is considering singling out methane for significant reductions as part of a pledge to cut greenhouse gases in advance of a climate summit next week, according to two people familiar with the matter. President Joe Biden is already expected to unveil an ambitious goal for... →

Trafigura backs MAN Energy Solutions’ clean engine development

By: Marleny Arnoldi 15th April 2021 Independent commodity trading company Trafigura Group will co-sponsor the development of an MAN Energy Solutions ammonia-fuelled engine for maritime vessels. The fuel-flexible, two-stroke ammonia engine is expected to be commercially available for large-scale ocean-going ships by 2024, followed... →

Labelling of 1 000 profitable cleantech solutions includes eight local products

By: Donna Slater 13th April 2021 The Solar Impulse Foundation has officially reached the goal of assigning the Efficient Solutions Label to 1 000 profitable cleantech solutions from around the world and the list includes eight South African solutions, reports economically viable green economy solutions nonprofit organisation... →

South Africa stands to benefit from green hydrogen production – CDH

By: Donna Slater 13th April 2021 The advantages of green hydrogen technology to meet South Africa’s goals of transitioning to a lower carbon energy sector appear “uncontested”, says law firm Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr (CDH). To qualify as a form of clean energy technology (one that does not contribute to greenhouse-gas emissions and... →

Sasol and Air Liquide initiate first phase of 900 MW renewables procurement process

By: Terence Creamer 13th April 2021 Sasol and Air Liquide have formally announced plans to jointly procure 900 MW of renewable-energy capacity from independent power producers (IPPs) by 2030 and have issued a request for proposal (RFP) through which they aim to procure an initial 600 MW this year. The transaction, the companies... →

Photo by Creamer Media
Power lines in the foreground, with Sasol's Secunda complex in the background

Bank of America triples environmental funding goal to $1tr by 2030

By: Schalk Burger 9th April 2021 Financial institution Bank of America on April 8 announced its goal of deploying and mobilising $1-trillion by 2030 in its Environmental Business Initiative to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon, sustainable economy. This commitment will anchor a broader $1.5-trillion sustainable finance... →

Greenpeace weighs in on AfDB, African leaders’ climate discussion

By: Marleny Arnoldi 9th April 2021 Greenpeace Africa has responded on the matter of the African Development Bank (AfDB) consulting with African heads of State seeking advice on how to accelerate climate adaptation. "Climate adaptation investments are urgently needed for a continent that is expected to experience more intense and... →

IMF launches digital dashboard of climate change indicators

By: Creamer Media Reporter 8th April 2021 The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has launched a new 'Climate Change Indicators Dashboard', which it describes as an international statistical initiative to address the growing need for data in macroeconomic and financial policy analysis to facilitate climate change mitigation and adaptation.... →

Global leaders commit to help Africa adapt to climate change impacts

By: Schalk Burger 7th April 2021 African heads of State and other global leaders have made a commitment to prioritise actions that help African countries adapt to the impacts of climate change through the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Programme. The objective of the programme is to mobilise $25-billion to accelerate climate... →

Opinion: Running out of time to sustain the planet

1st April 2021 In this opinion piece, ocean rower Zirk Botha share his perspective about the planet and our role in its future. →

Zirk Botha arriving in Cabio Frio outside Rio de Janeiro after 72 days at sea.

Treasury seeks comments on proposed carbon offset regulation amendments

By: Donna Slater 1st April 2021 The National Treasury has published draft amendments to the carbon offset regulations, prescribing carbon offsetting in terms of Section 19(c) of the Carbon Tax Act. A public comment period is open until the end of April. →

Global energy leaders say jobs must be at heart of people-centred energy transition

By: Terence Creamer 31st March 2021 Employment creation for workers and communities at the highest risk of disruption as a result of the shift to greater climate-resiliency was identified during a gathering of global energy leaders on Wednesday as essential to ensuring that the transition was not only people-centred but also... →

Western Cape launches e-booklets to fast-track climate change resilience in agriculture

By: Yvonne Silaule 31st March 2021 The Western Cape provincial government has launched e-booklets that will help to fast-track climate change resilience in agriculture. The e-booklet on climate change entitled The Mercury Rises is based on the popular award-winning radio series Die Kwik Styg. The e-booklets are available in the... →

Creecy unveils draft updated Nationally Determined Contribution

31st March 2021 Creamer Media's Chanel de Bruyn speaks to Engineering News Editor Terence Creamer about the draft updated Nationally Determined Contribution unveiled by Environment Minister Barbara Creecy, as well as about South Africa's climate finance targets and the fact that the country is not yet ready to... →

Creecy unveils draft updated Nationally Determined Contribution

South Africa’s draft climate pledge offers quicker emission cuts, but seeks steep rise in yearly climate funding to $8bn

By: Terence Creamer 30th March 2021 South Africa’s draft updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) unveiled by Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Minister Barbara Creecy on March 30, proposes quicker emission cuts, but also outlines the need for a step change in international climate finance to support the country’s... →

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

South Africa’s updated climate pledge to be released for comment after Cabinet approves NDC draft

By: Terence Creamer 25th March 2021 South Africa’s Cabinet has approved the country’s updated draft Nationally Determined Contribution in response to climate change, which will be released for public consultation next week. The updated NDC outlines South Africa’s target for limiting greenhouse gas emissions as required in line with... →

Agriculture seen as key just transition enabler in Mpumalanga, but arable land needs urgent safeguarding

By: Terence Creamer 25th March 2021 Transitioning Mpumalanga’s coal-heavy economy to higher levels of agricultural output could help create new businesses and jobs and improve the long-term economic resilience of the province as mines close and Eskom begins decommissioning power stations in line with the Integrated Resource Plan of... →

Sasol, Eskom achieve dismal results in emissions benchmark study

By: Donna Slater 24th March 2021 Investor engagement initiative on climate change Climate Action 100+ (CA100+) issued its first Net Zero Company Benchmark of the world’s biggest corporate emitters, including petrochemicals and chemicals producer Sasol and State power utility Eskom. However, in a response to questions by... →

$200m IFC loan to boost Nedbank CIB’s green investment reach

By: Donna Slater 24th March 2021 Financial services provider Nedbank Corporate and Investment Banking (CIB) says a recent agreement with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) will contribute to enhancing the investment scales in favour of sustainable development in the future Nedbank CIB sustainable finance solutions head... →

Canada, AfDB formalise gender-focused Climate Fund for Africa

By: Schalk Burger 23rd March 2021 Development finance institution the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the government of Canada on March 17 signed an agreement to formalise the Canada–African Development Bank Climate Fund (CACF), which is a transformative special fund aimed at providing concessional loans for climate... →

Fossil fuels found accountable for millions of deaths

By: Halima Frost 19th March 2021 Fossil fuels are, through a marked contribution to air pollution, accountable for 8.7-million deaths globally in 2018, which adds to the mounting evidence that air pollution from ongoing dependence on fossil fuels is detrimental to global health, says University College London (UCL) associate... →

POISON Fossil fuels are responsible for millions of deaths globally every year

Hydrogen supplier fuels public transport

By: Halima Frost 19th March 2021 Renewable-energy and hydrogen supply company Nel Hydrogen has installed a 2 MW proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyser system at transport operator SunLine Transit’s premises in California, in the US, to fuel their fleet of fuel cell buses. →

ENERGY MAKER The Nel Hydrogen proton exchange membrane electrolyser allows for on site hydrogen generation from water

Research shows promise in decarbonisation drive

By: Halima Frost 19th March 2021 The research of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) into accelerated decarbonisation scenarios for the South African power system confirms considerable opportunity to accelerate decarbonisation at low or zero net cost, says CSIR electrochemical energy technologies research... →

SAVING FOR THE FUTURE Battery storage can become a substantial contributor to maximizing the efficacy of renewable energy

Sustainability leader ramps up ESG strategy

By: Halima Frost 19th March 2021 Energy management and automation company Schneider Electric has begun to implement its new Schneider Sustainability Impact (SSI) programme for 2021 to 2025, in the hopes of significantly accelerating its progress to being a more sustainable company. The programme is built on six long-term... →

ZANELLE DALGLISH Our vision of sustainability is holistic and ecosystemic, as it covers all environmental, social and governance topics

Gas can decrease emissions in power generation

By: Halima Frost 19th March 2021 With power generation being accountable for 41% of current global carbon emissions, which amount to about 33.7 Gt/y of carbon dioxide (CO2), multinational conglomerate General Electric Company (GE) believes that gas can play a vital role in decreasing carbon emissions. “Gas burns at less than... →

TURNING GAS TO POWER The HA turbine supplied by GE has made significant inroads into the energy sector since its introduction

Bidding for renewables finally opens as powership-heavy ‘emergency’ projects are unveiled

By: Terence Creamer 18th March 2021 Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe released the names of the eight preferred bidders – including three powership projects – selected as part of government’s 2 000-MW ‘emergency’ procurement programme and also launched the much-anticipated fifth bid window (BW5) for the... →

Photo by Creamer Media's Donna Slater
Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe

Green hydrogen could help South Africa increase its energy exports

By: Marleny Arnoldi 17th March 2021 South Africa has traditionally been a net importer of energy, but a relatively new clean technology could be pivotal in helping South Africa become an exporter and dramatically cut the country’s carbon emissions, says Rand Merchant Bank (RMB). RMB CEO James Formby says that although green... →

UK recognises Africa’s dynamism and restates commitments to global issues

By: Rebecca Campbell 17th March 2021 In its 2021 integrated review, published on Tuesday, the UK reaffirmed its commitments to multilateralism, international cooperation, free and fair trade, development, countering the effects of climate change, global health, and development. Entitled Global Britain: The Integrated Review of... →

Photo by Crown copyright
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson

What countries will fight over when green energy dominates

By: Bloomberg 16th March 2021 The Rand Corporation’s been designing war games with the Pentagon since the 1950s, modelling such hard-nosed security scenarios as a two-front US war with China and Russia. Now the think tank is turning its realpolitik tool kit to a question more often associated with environmental dreamers: How... →

The world’s three biggest coal users get ready to burn even more

By: Bloomberg 16th March 2021 The world’s three biggest consumers of coal, the dirtiest fossil fuel, are getting ready to boost usage so much that it’ll almost be as if the pandemic-induced drop in emissions never happened. US power plants are going to consume 16% more coal this year than in 2020, and then another 3% in 2022,... →

Aluminium industry aims to reduce emissions by 80% by 2050

By: Schalk Burger 16th March 2021 Global industry organisation the International Aluminium Institute (IAI) has published three main pathways that the industry can take to reduce its emissions by 80% by 2050 and meet internationally agreed climate goals, supply demand for primary aluminium that will increase by up to 40% and more... →

Global summit to boost clean energy momentum

By: Simone Liedtke 12th March 2021 International energy and climate leaders from the world’s largest economies will take part in the International Energy Agency (IEA) and Conference of the Parties 26 (COP26’s) Net Zero Summit later this month to accelerate the momentum behind clean energy and examine how countries could work... →

Three-quarters of CEOs globally predict a return to growth this year

By: Donna Slater 12th March 2021 A survey by professional services firm PwC of more than 5 000 CEOs globally reveals record levels of optimism, with more than 76% suggesting global economic growth will improve this year. The figures come from PwC's twenty-fourth 'Annual Global CEO Survey', which this year polled 5 050 CEOs in... →

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