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Environmental News

EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism needs to be challenged, Tau says

By: Darren Parker 20th November 2024 Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau has said that measures such as the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism introduced by the EU need to be challenged by developing economies at the level of the World Trade Organisation, as they are likely to have a negative impact on South Africa’s... →

ARC to release invasive-plant controlling beetles in Umkhomazi

By: Marleny Arnoldi 19th November 2024 The Agricultural Research Council’s (ARC’s) plant health and protection unit will, on November 25, release a leaf-feeding lady beetle called Mada Polluta in Umkhomazi, KwaZulu-Natal, to act as a biological control agent against invasive yellow bells. ARC says yellow bells, or Tecoma stans, have... →

Tecoma stans, or yellow bell, invasive plant

NECER report highlights progress in tackling environmental crime

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 18th November 2024 Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Deputy Minister Narend Singh has launched the 2023/24 National Environmental Compliance and Enforcement Report (NECER), which highlights improvements in proactive compliance monitoring. The launch occurred at the tenth National Environmental Compliance and... →

While strides are being made in environmental compliance, significant work is needed to address pervasive issues

South Africa says China could assume climate lead if US exits

By: Bloomberg 15th November 2024 China has an opportunity to lead the global fight against climate change with the US set to tamp down its commitments following the election of Donald Trump as president, South Africa’s environment minister said. The world’s biggest emitter has faced scathing criticism from the US and developed... →

Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Minister Dion George

South Africa's revised carbon tax to be harsher but with more offsets, Treasury says

By: Reuters 15th November 2024 South Africa's revised carbon tax aims to balance the rival demands of climate activists and polluters by lowering tax-free allowances while letting companies make greater use of offsets, the Treasury's acting tax chief said on Friday. The changes, to come into effect in 2026, will help South... →

IBM, Sustainable Energy for All launch new energy, urban development solutions

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 15th November 2024 Technology company IBM and international organisation Sustainable Energy for All have announced new, publicly available AI-powered solutions to enable decision-makers and policymakers to map urbanisation and identify energy and infrastructure needs for communities in developing regions. The... →

The new solutions aim to enable decision-makers and policymakers to map urbanisation and identify energy and infrastructure needs for communities in developing regions

Sustainable Fitch expands Transition Assessment to mining, steel, cement sectors

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 15th November 2024 Sustainable Fitch, a FitchSolutions company, has launched an expanded Transition Assessment analytical product, through the development of new sector-specific methodologies, covering additional hard-to-abate sectors – mining, steel and cement. This is in addition to the Transition Assessment... →

Sustainable Fitch has launched an expanded Transition Assessment analytical product covering additional hard-to-abate sectors – mining, steel and cement

National Treasury publishes Phase 2 carbon tax discussion paper for public comment

By: Darren Parker 13th November 2024 National Treasury has published a carbon tax discussion paper for public comment, outlining Phase 2 of the carbon tax. Government announced its intention to do this in the 2024 Budget presented in February. →

IMF urged to cash in on gold price to help poor countries hit by climate change

By: Reuters 13th November 2024 The International Monetary Fund (IMF) should sell 4% of its gold to help offer debt relief to low-income countries devastated by climate-related catastrophes, a study said as climate financing dominates early talks at the COP29 summit. From the Caribbean to Africa, low-income countries have... →

South Africa declares national disaster after floods, storms

By: Bloomberg 13th November 2024 South Africa declared a national disaster after floods and storms caused widespread damage in the country, allowing the government to free up funds for relief and reconstruction. Disruptive rains, floods, strong winds and hail from October 22 to 29 affected the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Free... →

Global CO2 emissions to hit record high in 2024, report says

By: Reuters 13th November 2024 Global carbon dioxide emissions, including those from burning fossil fuels, are set to hit a record high this year, pulling the world further off course from averting more destructive climate extremes, scientists said on Wednesday. The Global Carbon Budget report, published during the UN's COP29... →

COP29 is being held in Azerbaijan this month

DFFE team monitoring possible HPAI virus on Marion Island

By: Schalk Burger 12th November 2024 The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) has said the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) virus is suspected to have reached Marion Island and is possibly responsible for causing mortalities in at least three breeding seabird species. The situation is being closely... →

Presidential Climate Commission delegation joins South African negotiators at COP29

By: Sabrina Jardim 11th November 2024 A senior delegation of the Presidential Climate Commission (PCC) has joined Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Minister Dr Dion George, who is leading the South African delegation to COP29, being held from November 11 to 22 in Baku, in the Republic of Azerbaijan. The delegation is led by... →

International nuclear body to have a high profile at the COP29 climate summit

By: Rebecca Campbell 11th November 2024 The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will highlight the role of nuclear energy, as a key instrument to achieve net-zero carbon emissions, during the COP29 UN Climate Summit. The summit will be held from November 11 to November 22, in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan. The IAEA delegation... →

JET Funding Platform to close first application window on Dec 15

By: Darren Parker 8th November 2024 The Just Energy Transition (JET) Funding Platform, launched on October 25, will close its first window for applications on December 15, according to JET Funding Platform analyst Mohlokoa Ngoasheng. This new matchmaking platform, managed by the JET project management office within the Presidency,... →

Solar panels, wind turbines and a hydrogen storage tank

South Africa concerned Trump election will impact climate talks

By: Reuters 8th November 2024 South Africa is concerned by the impact Donald Trump's election as the next president of the United States may have on talks to tackle climate change, its environment minister said on Friday. Trump's election and the collapse of Germany's coalition government this week have come right before... →

Photo by Reuters
US President-elect Donald Trump

Tetra Pak on track to achieve a 40% recycling rate for its products by 2030

By: Darren Parker 8th November 2024 Food processing and packaging company Tetra Pak Southern Africa aims to achieve a 40% nationwide recycling rate for its liquid board packaging (LBP) products by 2030, a goal that Tetra Pak sustainability manager Masale Manoko believes might be surpassed. “Currently, as it is, we're sitting at... →

Photo by Creamer Media
Tetra Pak packaging about to be recycled

Mpumalanga Green Innovation Challenge crowns top three winners

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 8th November 2024 The Mpumalanga Green Cluster Agency (MGCA), in partnership with the Mpumalanga provincial government and supported by the Just Transition to a Decarbonised Economy for South Africa, Old Mutual, Standard Bank, Seriti Green and Indalo Inclusive, have announced the winners of the 2024 Mpumalanga... →

AFD sees others adding to $432m South Africa climate loan

By: Bloomberg 8th November 2024 The head of France’s state development bank expects other development finance institutions to add to a €400-million ($432-million) climate loan for South Africa that partners will likely sign within days. The funds are part of a $9.3 billion climate-finance pact agreed between South Africa and... →

Deputy Finance Minister David Masondo

Kelp Blue Plans to issue Africa’s first corporate blue bond

By: Bloomberg 8th November 2024 Kelp Blue plans to issue Africa’s first corporate blue bond next year to expand its giant kelp forests along Namibia’s coast. The De Beers-backed startup will list the first $20-million tranche of a four-year program, in which it seeks to raise as much as N$3-billion, on the country’s stock... →

High-tech planter plants 1 500 acres

8th November 2024 A leading original-equipment manufacturer (OEM) in agricultural machinery innovation planted 1 500 acres of potatoes at Warden Hutterian Bretheren in Washington using its cutting-edge 12-row potato planter, fitted with polymer supplier Vesconite’s bushings. The new planter incorporates Vesconite... →

The above image depicts potatoes harvested from a yield

GROWING SUCCESS One of the standout features of the new planter is its remarkable precision, as it ensures accurate placement with virtually no misses and minimal doubles

Organised business embraces, with caveats, Climate Change Act

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 8th November 2024 With climate change perceived as one of the critical challenges threatening the viability of businesses, infrastructure and natural ecosystems, industry bodies Minerals Council South Africa and Business Unity South Africa (Busa) have welcomed the gazetting of the Climate Change Act (CCA) into... →

Zikalala calls for innovative construction solutions to respond to climate change

By: Sabrina Jardim 7th November 2024 Public Works and Infrastructure Deputy Minister Sihle Zikalala has invited the built environment industry to introduce innovative construction solutions to ensure that infrastructure being built in South Africa responds to the reality of climate change. “All our infrastructure planning and... →

Public Works and Infrastructure Deputy Minister Sihle Zikalala

Vodacom, Circular Energy partner to reduce e-waste in South Africa

By: Natasha Odendaal 7th November 2024 Telecommunications company Vodacom South Africa and not-for-profit producer responsibility (EPR) organisation Circular Energy have partnered to divert growing volumes of electronic waste (e-waste) from landfills into recovery and recycling programmes. E-waste has become one of the fastest-growing... →

Association launches Sustainability Disclosure Guide for South African Reits

By: Sabrina Jardim 7th November 2024 The South African Real Estate Investment Trust Association (SA REIT) has, in partnership with Nedbank Corporate and Investment Banking (CIB), launched the SA REIT Sustainability Disclosure Guide, aimed at establishing sustainability standards and best practice benchmarks for the real estate... →

SA REIT CEO Joanne Solomon

2024 will be world's hottest on record, EU scientists say

By: Reuters 7th November 2024 This year is "virtually certain" to eclipse 2023 as the world's warmest since records began, the EU's Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) said on Thursday. The data was released ahead of next week's UN COP29 climate summit in Azerbaijan, where countries will try to agree a huge increase in... →

Sasol not in ‘sunset’ phase but transition plans cannot outpace market demand – Baloyi

By: Terence Creamer 5th November 2024 Sasol CEO Simon Baloyi has acknowledged that the group stands at the “threshold” of a potentially difficult energy transition but he has also disputed assertions that the carbon-heavy chemicals and fuel producer has now entered an inevitable “sunset” phase. Speaking at an environmental, social... →

Sasol CEO Simon Baloyi

TotalEnergies outlines likely energy transition scenarios, suggests more global cooperation

By: Marleny Arnoldi 5th November 2024 In light of the world’s population being estimated to grow by at least 1.7-billion by 2050 and the fact that about 4.5-billion people already do not have sufficient access to energy, TotalEnergies outlines in its latest Energy Outlook a new scenario that reflects the current trajectory of various... →

Chrisnelsa, AIDC launch pioneer EV/HEV training centre in Rosslyn

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 4th November 2024 Automotive quality control specialist Chrisnelsa, in collaboration with government entity the Automotive Industry Development Centre (AIDC) and UK-based EV training institute Duplex Business Services, last week launched an electric vehicle and hybrid electric vehicle (EV/HEV) training centre in... →

An image showing Chrisnelsa's EV/HEC training centre

Photo by Creamer Media's Tasneem Bulbulia
EV/HEV training centre

ALPLA opens €60m recycling plant in KZN

By: Sabrina Jardim 1st November 2024 Plastic packaging and recycling company ALPLA has opened a new 90 000 m2 recycling plant, following an investment of €60-million, in Balito, KwaZulu-Natal. From next year, the company says, the ALPLArecycling division is expected produce up to 35 000 t of recycled polyethylene terephthalate... →

ALPLArecycling South Africa MD Gerhard Meyringer; Department of Trade and Industry deputy director Nicholas Pule; Austrian Ambassador to South Africa Romana Königsbrun; ALPLA Group chairperson Günther Lehner; ALPLArecycling South Africa commercial director Bevlen Sudhu, ALPLArecycling Division MD Dietmar Marin

Photo by ALPLA
ALPLArecycling South Africa MD Gerhard Meyringer; Department of Trade and Industry deputy director Nicholas Pule; Austrian Ambassador to South Africa Romana Königsbrun; ALPLA Group chairperson Günther Lehner; ALPLArecycling South Africa commercial director Bevlen Sudhu, ALPLArecycling Division MD Dietmar Marin

Report highlights skills opportunities provided by just energy transition

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 31st October 2024 South Africa will need to create an estimated 40 000 to 60 000 jobs related to the just energy transition (JET) over the next 25 years and it has to start preparing citizens to benefit from the opportunities provided by the transition. This is according to the National Business Initiative’s... →

An image showing a man checking solar panels

From now to 2030, about 59 000 to 99 000 jobs are expected to be required in the solar value chain

South Africa seeks billions in climate funds as it keeps coal plants open

By: Reuters 31st October 2024 South Africa pledged to slash emissions across its fleet of coal-fired power plants in a bid to secure $2.6-billion in climate finance. That’s despite seeking to alter the terms of a 2022 agreement by delaying the outright closure of three of the facilities. The plan, which involves the reduction... →

Climate change impacts are adding further complexities in water sector challenges

By: Natasha Odendaal 29th October 2024 Climate change is adding further layers of complexity to the already existing challenges of providing sustainable water resources and sanitation in South Africa, says Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) general water resources management deputy director-general Deborah Mochotlhi. The DWS,... →

South Africa to seek rise in yearly climate finance pledge to $1.3tr at COP29

By: Terence Creamer 28th October 2024 South Africa will call for the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) on climate finance to be set at $1.3-trillion yearly during the upcoming COP29 climate negotiations, which will be held in Baku, Azerbaijan, from November 11 to 22. The NCQG is the finance goal that parties to the Paris... →

Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Minister Dr Dion George

Ramaphosa appoints Olver as new PCC deputy chairperson

By: Sabrina Jardim 28th October 2024 President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed Dr Crispian Olver as the new deputy chairperson of the Presidential Climate Commission (PCC), with effect from January 1, 2025. This follows the retirement of Valli Moosa, who served as PCC deputy chairperson since its inception in 2020. →

Dr Crispian Olver

New Just Energy Transition matchmaking platform aiming for R600m in grant disbursements in 2025

By: Terence Creamer 25th October 2024 A new matchmaking platform to directly link providers of grant funding pledged to South Africa’s Just Energy Transition Investment Plan (JET-IP) with domestic beneficiaries is aiming to ensure the disbursement of at least R600-million in grant funding to 20 projects in 2025 and facilitate... →

Minister Patricia de Lille spoke at the launch of the JET Funding Platform in her capacity as acting Electricity and Energy Minister

UN says world is now on course for warming of up to 3.1 °C

By: Bloomberg 25th October 2024 A chronic lack of ambition and climate action by countries across the world over the past three years means the goal to keep global warming below 1.5C will soon be dead, the United Nations has warned in a new report. Continuing with current policies means the world will be on course for a... →

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