By Roxanne Francis South Africa remains a preferred destination for investors, tourists and students. What attracted green hearts and hands to our country this time around, was our on-going commitment to saving the world, prioritising the effects of climate change and accelerating sustainability. Set against the backdrop of Table Mou... The Earthshot Prize enriches African soil
Poaching has almost wiped out abalone along South Africa’s coast, but a research project is showing a viable way to build a commercial farm and save wild populations – as well as provide jobs and economic growth. Sulaiman Philip The demand for abalone, or white gold, has devastated natural stocks of the delicacy along South […] ... Abalone aquaculture could end poaching
26 October 2016 The renewable energy industry is a two-fold opportunity: it offers cost- effective, environmentally friendly energy to consumers in Africa and it provides a new avenue of business for entrepreneurs. Five companies are at the forefront of making alternative energy viable on the continent. Solynta Energy Solynta Engineering Team in ac... Five alternative energy initiatives in Africa
The world experienced its largest increase in green, renewable energy in 2015, adding over 147 gigawatts of wind, solar and other alternative energy power to the global grid, according to the Renewables 2016 Global Status Report, released on 1 June by the Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century, or REN21. South Africa is […] ... South Africa’s green nation status improves – Global Status Report
The New Development Bank (NDB), operated by the BRICS grouping of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, has formally opened for business. According to the National Treasury, the country’s role in the bank will strengthen its position as a financial centre for the continent. BRICS Development Bank officially opens for business
Emphasising that South Africans are “resilient, committed and resourceful”, Minister of Finance Pravin Gordhan delivered his 2016 Budget speech to the National Assembly in Parliament on Wednesday 24 February. Read the full speech, watch the video, and download key documents. Full text: South Africa’s 2016 Budget speech
Gauteng must diversify its economy to alleviate the after-effects of deindustrialisation in the mining and steel sectors, it was agreed at the Gauteng City Region Spatial Planning Summit. Discussions also examined the current special form of the province, and how to stop urban sprawl. Rethinking South Africa’s urban dynamics
There are about 1 800 active wifi hotspots across South Africa that are sponsored by the government. The bulk of these are in Tshwane, where Project Isizwe has registered 720 000 unique wifi users. Each user is given a 250MB cap per day. Tshwane is South Africa’s top wifi spot
A new solar power plant in South Africa’s Northern Province can produce 180 000 megawatt-hours of energy a year for South African residents, enough to power up 80 000 homes. The Jasper plant was completed two months ahead of schedule and will help the country meet its critical electricity needs. South Africa opens its biggest solar plant
The government is working on a set of regulations that will ensure that shale gas exploration does not threaten South Africa’s environment or compromise research projects linked to the Square Kilometre Array, says Mineral Resources director-general Thibedi Ramontja. SA to regulate, monitor shale gas exploration
South Africa will build on the robust measures already in place to curb rhino poaching in the country, putting increased emphasis on a holistic management approach, Environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa said as she released the results of the 2013 rhino census on Tuesday. South Africa to widen measures against rhino poaching
Help is at hand for emerging black South African filmmakers trying to break into the industry, in the form of a new fund that will bankroll the full R5-million production and marketing budget of six qualifying feature films a year for the next three years. R90m fund for black South African filmmakers
Mobile telecommunications company MTN has unveiled Africa’s first concentrating solar cooling system – complete with 242 sun-tracking solar mirrors – for the energy-hungry data centres at its Johannesburg head office. Africa’s first solar data centre cooling system unveiled
A pioneering experiment being conducted in the Atlantic Ocean 100 nautical miles off the west coast of South Africa will tell marine researchers from the University of Cape Town how long the seabed and its ecosystem takes to recover after hake trawling operations. Ocean floor video to track trawlers’ footprint
The South African government has appointed a panel of experts to advise it on the likely effects of legalising the global rhino horn trade on the levels of rhino poaching in the country, but has made no final decision or proposal on the issue, says the Department of Environmental Affairs. SA ‘still weighing up’ rhino horn trade proposal
Addo Elephant National Park’s marine protection team has a new anti-poaching vessel that will be used to combat illegal fishing and poaching of the threatened abalone species in the protected area around Bird Island, an important breeding ground for gannets, penguins and a variety of marine life. Boost for Addo’s marine antipoaching efforts
Durban Municipality’s eThekwini Water and Sanitation, “the most progressive water utility in Africa”, has been named the 2014 winner of the prestigious Stockholm Industry Water Award for its transformative and inclusive approach to providing water and sanitation services. Durban wins prestigious Stockholm water award
Anti-poaching measures will be beefed up following the signing of a memorandum of understanding between South Africa and Mozambique. It is hoped that this will help protect the rhino and other endangered species in the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park. SA, Mozambique to fight wildlife crime
Cape Town beat over 160 cities from 14 countries to be named Global Earth Hour Capital 2014. The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) said the city “stood out as a role model for the global South with a showcase of green programmes and actions other cities can replicate”. Cape Town named Global Earth Hour Capital
South African-born and trained engineer and researcher John Briscoe has been named the winner of the 2014 Stockholm Water Prize for his “unparalleled contributions to global and local water management, inspired by an unwavering commitment to improving the lives of people on the ground”. South African wins Stockholm Water Prize
