Engineering News | Environmental

https://staging1.creamermedia.com/

Advertise on this page? Click Here to Learn More

Environmental News

Energy Council welcomes passing of Climate Change Bill

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 2nd May 2024 Industry organisation the Energy Council of South Africa has welcomed the passing of the Climate Change Bill by Parliament on April 25. “The Climate Change Bill is a critical piece of legislation that seeks to enable the development of an effective climate change response and a long-term just... →

Opinion: Pollution in the Vaal Triangle – progress, but more must be done

2nd May 2024 In this article, ArcelorMittal South Africa (AMSA) CEO Kobus Verster writes that industry across the Vaal Triangle, together with responsible corporate citizens in the steel industry, must constantly improve their overall environmental performance above and beyond air quality indicators. →

Photo by Creamer Media's Donna Slater
AMSA CEO Kobus Verster

Interwaste launches leachate and effluent treatment plant

2nd May 2024 Local waste management company Interwaste – a Séché Environnement Group company – has launched its R100-million leachate and effluent treatment plant in Delmas, Mpumalanga. The company describes the plant as a “first of its kind in South Africa,” noting that it marks a step forward in... →

Interwaste launches leachate and effluent treatment plant

Panel highlights the urgency of climate change governance

By: Creamer Media Reporter 30th April 2024 A panel of experts recently underscored the critical importance of climate change governance for businesses and governments worldwide in a webinar hosted on April 17, 2024, by Creamer Media Webinars in collaboration with ESG Africa Conference. The session, which was moderated by ESG Africa... →

CER lauds enactment of Climate Change Bill, says related policies should also be collaborative

By: Marleny Arnoldi 30th April 2024 With the National Council of Provinces having passed the Climate Change Bill and it nearing official promulgation, nonprofit organisation the Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) has stressed the need for constructive stakeholder consultation on the development of various policies and laws that... →

Critical minerals, food crops at risk of climate disruption by 2050, report shows

By: Darren Parker 30th April 2024 More than 70% of critical minerals needed for the transition to net zero emissions will be at risk from climate disruption by 2050, professional services firm PwC says. The firm's latest report, titled ‘Climate Risks to Nine Key Commodities Report’, shows that the production of copper, cobalt and... →

A graph showing the heat stress and drought riks of various commodities

NCOP approves Climate Change Bill

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 29th April 2024 The National Council of Provinces (NCOP) has approved the Climate Change Bill. “The Climate Change Bill will provide the much-needed legal framework to regulate activities that contribute to climate change; ensure an effective response in all spheres of government and by society at large; ensure... →

Barbara Creecy

Nuclear associations call on G7 States to strengthen the sector to fight climate change

By: Rebecca Campbell 29th April 2024 Eight major international and national nuclear industry associations have urged the Group of Seven (G7) major democratic industrial economies to take steps to further develop nuclear energy capacity and technology, to help counter climate change. They also welcomed the opportunity to provide... →

African leaders seek record World Bank financing to combat climate change

By: Reuters 29th April 2024 African leaders on Monday called for rich countries to commit record contributions to a low-interest World Bank facility for developing nations that they rely on to help fund their development and combat climate change. Donors will make their cash pledges to the International Development... →

COP29 climate summit host Azerbaijan defends oil and gas investments

By: Reuters 26th April 2024 Azerbaijan, host of this year's UN climate summit, will defend the right of oil and gas producing nations to invest in the sector, the country's president said on Friday, noting that despite climate targets, fossil fuel demand remains strong. As the host of the United Nations COP29 climate... →

Coca Cola’s Namibia recycling partnership turns bottles into brighter futures

By: Sabrina Jardim 26th April 2024 An investment of more than $1.2-million through a partnership between Coca-Cola Beverages Africa (CCBA) and plastic packaging company Plastic Packaging has culminated in the opening of a new polyethylene terephthalate (PET) flaking plant in Okahandja, Namibia. The plant is expected to double the... →

Namibian Environment, Forestry and Tourism Minister Pohamba Shifeta officially opens the new $1.2-million plastic flaking plant in Okhanja

Photo by Coca Cola Beverages Africa
Namibian Environment, Forestry and Tourism Minister Pohamba Shifeta officially opens the new $1.2-million plastic flaking plant in Okhanja

Can South Africa turn around 30 years of real economy underperformance?

By: Terence Creamer 26th April 2024 In this essay, Terence Creamer reflects on the factors that have shaped South Africa’s real-economy sectors of manufacturing, mining and agriculture over the past 30 years and considers ways to end the economy’s persistent underperformance →

South Africa aims to set up three JET-aligned skills development zones

By: Terence Creamer 24th April 2024 Three Just Energy Transition (JET) skills development zones focusing on renewables and grids, electric vehicles and green hydrogen value chains are proposed for implementation under the larger JET Investment Plan (JET-IP), for which pledges of $11.5-billion have been made by several developed... →

South Africa advised by World Bank on climate insurance, contingency fund options

By: Bloomberg 24th April 2024 The World Bank is advising South Africa’s National Treasury on a climate risk strategy after floods in recent years caused billions of dollars of damage. The country may take out climate insurance or establish a contingency fund to deal with major adverse weather events, a person familiar with... →

Unctad calls for innovative investment strategies as global crises fracture foreign investment

By: Sabrina Jardim 23rd April 2024 Amid the complex landscape of global foreign direct investment (FDI), the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (Unctad) has called for innovative investment strategies to foster inclusive and sustainable economic growth. In its report titled ‘Global Economic Fracturing and Shifting... →

Novare partners with IFC to advance green building, retail decarbonisation

By: Marleny Arnoldi 22nd April 2024 Real estate investment firm Novare Equity Partners has partnered with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) on its Greening Real Estate Investment Portfolios (Grips) programme, which affords Novare access to a comprehensive suite of advisory and investment services. The strategic alliance... →

CSIR researchers confirm latest El Niño is among harshest in history

By: Marleny Arnoldi 22nd April 2024 A research team tasked to monitor the impact of the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) climatic phenomenon has confirmed that the 2023/24 El Niño was among the top five strongest on record. El Niño is associated with warmer and drier weather conditions in South Africa. →

Private renewables procurement may mitigate boom-bust cycles curbing South Africa’s green industrialisation

By: Terence Creamer 18th April 2024 The combination of public and private procurement of large-scale renewables in South Africa signals increased stability for manufacturers of key components, a new GreenCape report argues. Published ahead of the release of the much-anticipated South African Renewable Energy Masterplan (SAREM),... →

Together with large-scale procurement, rising rooftop solar installations are offering greater market stability that could stimulate local manufacturing

Panel highlights the urgency of climate change governance

18th April 2024 A panel experts recently underscored the critical importance of climate change governance for businesses and governments worldwide in a webinar hosted on April 17, 2024, by Creamer Media Webinars in collaboration with ESG Africa Conference. The session, which was moderated by ESG Africa... →

Report questions role of CCUS in steel decarbonisation

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 17th April 2024 A new report by the Institute of Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) has shown that carbon capture use and storage (CCUS) is unlikely to play a major role in steel decarbonisation despite support for the technology at the 2023 COP28 climate conference. Direct reduced iron- (DRI-)... →

A 30% increase in whole grain adoption can reduce carbon emissions by 120Mt - BCG finds

By: Marleny Arnoldi 17th April 2024 A report published by global consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG) finds that, with thoughtful and gradual changes to how wheat is grown, processed and consumed, the food system can be transformed to be more nutritional. With grains, in particular, including wheat, corn and rice, most... →

CSIR joins international science community to improve understanding of ocean metabolism

By: Sabrina Jardim 17th April 2024 The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has recently joined a new global research programme focused on improving understanding of the future state of the oceans under various climate change scenarios. Led by CSIR principal researcher Dr Tommy Ryan-Keogh, the programme, titled... →

IWMSA stresses importance of combatting plastic pollution

By: Sabrina Jardim 17th April 2024 Amid an increasing need to combat plastic pollution, the Institute of Waste Management of Southern Africa (IWMSA) highlights the need for concerted efforts to combat plastic pollution in South Africa. IWMSA president Mpendulo Ginindza notes that the plastic economy in South Africa is based on a... →

African Risk Capacity to pay out insurance to drought-affected Southern African farmers

By: Marleny Arnoldi 17th April 2024 Farmers in Mozambique and Zambia are being impacted by one of the worst droughts in decades, United Nations (UN) assistant secretary-general Reena Ghelani has said as she met with stakeholders to organise food and cash assistance in countries affected by the drastic El Niño-induced weather. She... →

Impact manager Acre raises $100m for African climate infrastructure

By: Reuters 17th April 2024 Two former BNP Paribas bankers have raised almost $100-million for a new fund which aims to unlock billions of dollars of funding for climate-aligned infrastructure projects in Africa. Acre Impact Capital, a private-debt impact investment manager, is looking to address the estimated $100-billion... →

UNTD calls for more fiscal flexibility to help developing countries reach SDGs

By: Marleny Arnoldi 16th April 2024 While the global economic slowdown in 2023 was less severe than expected, intergovernmental organisation United Nations Trade and Development (UNTD) has warned that a further deceleration in global economic growth can be expected this year. UNTD secretary-general Rebeca Grynspan has called for... →

UNTD secretary-general Rebeca Grynspa

South Africa seeks to secure global plastics pollution treaty by balancing competing interests – Creecy

By: Schalk Burger 12th April 2024 South Africa will seek to secure a legally binding global plastics pollution and marine litter treaty in negotiations at upcoming global meetings by balancing competing demands, Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Minister Barbara Creecy told the media on April 12. The Department of Forestry,... →

Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Minister Barbara Creecy

Wind energy poses increased fall risks

By: Halima Frost 12th April 2024 As the demand for greener energy helps drive the increased uptake of wind energy, the dangers that face workers in the sector are becoming even more evident. As reported by the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration in a report named ‘Green Job Hazards’, workers in the wind energy... →

Two men wearing PPE and safety harnesses working on teh turbines of a wind turbine stack

TALL ORDER Maintaining safety standards especially in the wind turbine installation and maintenance sector has come to the fore as the development of green energy gains impetus

People at the heart of South Africa’s water sector recovery

By: Natasha Odendaal 12th April 2024 The complexity of the water sector in South Africa, along with the numerous and seemingly insurmountable challenges faced, demands a series of integrated interventions – and people are at the centre of these solutions. South Africa’s long-known water woes are the result of several factors,... →

Multilateral development banks still need work on implementing reforms, group says

By: Reuters 11th April 2024 The World Bank and six other multilateral banks have made good progress in integrating global challenges like climate change into their agendas, but most have miles to go in implementing other needed reforms, a tool tracking the reforms shows. The tracker, developed last year by the Center for... →

Interwaste launches R100m leachate, effluent treatment plant in Delmas

By: Sabrina Jardim 10th April 2024 Waste management company Interwaste on April 10 launched its R100-million leachate and effluent treatment plant in Delmas, Mpumalanga. The company says the plant is the first of its kind in South Africa, noting that it marks a leap forward in environmental stewardship and resource recovery. →

Photo by Interwaste
Interwaste's new leachate and effluent treatment plant

Rolls-Royce Power Systems enters partnership to achieve carbon capture for its mtu engines

By: Rebecca Campbell 9th April 2024 Rolls-Royce, the UK-based global major power and propulsion systems group, has announced that it is partnering with Switzerland-based carbon dioxide and dry ice company ASCO Carbon Dioxide (ASCO) and UK-based clean energy transition enterprise Landmark Power Holdings (LMPH) to develop scalable... →

Shoprite, four global retailers form $125m venture fund aimed at innovation

By: Irma Venter 9th April 2024 Five grocery retailers, including South Africa’s Shoprite group, have established a venture fund called W23 Global. W23 Global brings together Ahold Delhaize (US, Europe, Indonesia), Tesco (UK, Europe), Woolworths Group (Australia, New Zealand), Empire Company/Sobeys (Canada) and Shoprite Group... →

Pieter Engelbrecht

Eskom aims to keep breakdowns below 14 GW this winter as it cuts diesel budget

By: Terence Creamer 9th April 2024 State-owned electricity utility Eskom will reduce planned maintenance to 3 000 MW during the upcoming winter season and will seek to keep unplanned breakdowns to below 14 000 MW in a bid to navigate the high-demand period with limited loadshedding. During the summer period, from September to the... →

Photo by Creamer Media
Eskom to ramp down planned maintenance to 3 000 MW in winter

Woolworths pilots the removal of plastic barrier bags at 12 stores

By: Sabrina Jardim 9th April 2024 Food and clothing retailer Woolworths has launched a 12-store trial to remove plastic barrier bags from its stores. Starting on April 8 in four Western Cape-based stores, namely Table Bay Mall, Waterstone Village, Plattekloof Village and Palmyra Junction, the eight-week trial will extend on April... →

March marks yet another record in global heat

By: Reuters 9th April 2024 The world just experienced its warmest March on record, capping a 10-month streak in which every month set a new temperature record, the European Union's climate change monitoring service said on Tuesday. Each of the last 10 months ranked as the world's hottest on record, compared with the... →

Sasol granted permission to use load-based limit to regulate SO2 emissions from Secunda boilers

By: Terence Creamer 8th April 2024 Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Minister Barbara Creecy has granted Sasol South Africa permission to employ a load-based limit to regulate the sulphur dioxide (SO2) of its Secunda boilers in a decision upholding the JSE-listed group’s appeal of an earlier National Air Quality Officer... →

Photo by Creamer Media
Secunda complex

About

Engineering News is a product of Creamer Media.
www.creamermedia.co.za

Other Creamer Media Products include:
Mining Weekly
Research Channel Africa
Polity

Newsletters

Sign up for our FREE daily email newsletter

Receive daily sector news alerts

More

Subscriptions

We offer a variety of subscriptions to our Magazine, Website, PDF Reports and our photo library.

Subscriptions are available via the Creamer Media Store.

View store

Advertise

Advertising on Engineering News is an effective way to build and consolidate a company's profile among clients and prospective clients. Email advertising@creamermedia.co.za

View options

Subscribe