Pollution
Pollution
IPCC Urges ‘Faster Action’ on Global Warming
The United Nations (UN) says faster action is needed to keep global warming to agreed limits and delays until 2030 could force reliance on technologies to extract greenhouse gases from the air.
In its latest report, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which drew on the work of more than 1 000 experts, says a shift from fossil fuels to low-carbon energy such as wind, solar or nuclear power was affordable and will shave only about 0.06 percent point a year off world economic growth.
"We have a window of opportunity for the next decade, and maximum the next two decades" to act at moderate costs, says Ottmar Edenhofer, co-chair of a Berlin meeting of the IPCC.
To read the article titled, “Act fast to curb global warming: UN,” click here.Source:SABC NewsIPCC Warns Against Climate Change
The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) says that climate change is already affecting lives and will have catastrophic impacts if carbon emissions are not lowered now.
In its new report, the IPCC paints a world where human civilisation will struggle to survive unless carbon emissions are cut urgently, adding that the impacts if nothing happened will be ‘severe, pervasive and irreversible’.
"Nobody on this planet is going to be untouched by the impacts of climate change," explains Rajendra Pachauri, the head of the IPCC.
To read the article titled, “IPCC report: Climate change will be 'irreversible',” click here.Source:Mail and GuardianAir Pollution Blamed for Deaths
A new report released by the World Health Organisation (WHO) has found that air pollution is responsible for one in eight of all global deaths – double the previous estimate.
The report states that the seven million deaths annually are from a combination of indoor and outdoor air pollution.
In its research, WHO found strong links between indoor and outdoor air pollution and cardiovascular diseases - like strokes and ischaemic heart disease.
To read the article titled, “Air pollution kills millions annually, says WHO,” click here.Source:Mail and GuardianGore Speaks on Drastic Climate Change
At a Climate Reality Leadership Corps training, former United States of America vice-president and Nobel Peace Prize winner, Al Gore, has given an overview of how humans are driving climate change.
In his presentation, Gore discussed the effect of humans driving climate change and how this is changing conditions around the world right now.
He stated that, the current global system was destroying the habitability of the planet by burning fossil fuels, and adds that it is wrong and needs to change.
To read the article titled, “Al Gore speaks on drastic climate change at SA talk,” click here.Source:Mail and GuardianBosveld Phosphates Pollutes Kruger Rivers
A leak at the Bosveld Phosphates's plant in Phalaborwa, adjacent to the Kruger National Park in Limpopo, has spilled polluted water into rivers that run into the reserve.
The plant, which used to be owned by Sasol, produces phosphoric acid, which is used in fertiliser.
Dr Stefanie Freitag-Ronaldson, general manager of scientific services at Kruger Park, says the polluted water started spilling again earlier this month, adding that, “There have been high levels of processed water spilling into the Selati River."
To read the article titled, “Bosveld Phosphates pollutes Kruger rivers, again,” click here.Source:Mail and GuardianHRW Issues Cholera Warning in Zimbabwe
Human Rights Watch (HRW) has warned that Zimbabwe’s capital Harare is at risk of repeating a cholera outbreak five years ago that killed over 4 200 people.
The organisation says that a long-running sanitation crisis in the city of two million means drinking water is often taken from wells that are contaminated with sewage from broken pipes.
HRW Southern Africa director, Tiseke Kasambala, points out that, “In many communities there is no water for drinking or bathing, there is sewage in the streets, there is diarrhoea and typhoid and the threat of another cholera epidemic.”
To read the article titled, “Zimbabwe warned on risk of cholera outbreak,” click here.Source:Times LiveBotswana Silent Over Fracking in the Kalahari
According to Wagdy Sawahel, while a fierce debate rages about fracking in South Africa and elsewhere, the Botswana government has been silently pushing ahead with plans to produce natural gas, keeping the country in the dark as it grants concessions over vast tracts of land, including half of the Central Kalahari Game Reserve - the ancestral home of the San.
Sawahel says that a new documentary film - the High Cost of Cheap Gas - has uncovered incontrovertible evidence that drilling and fracking are underway in Botswana and that international companies are planning massive gas operations in the future.
However, he says that there has been little attempt to inform the public, despite growing international concerns about the harmful effects of natural gas production.
To read the article titled, “Fracking the Kalahari,” click here.Source:All AfricaHRW Warns on Cholera Risk in Zimbabwe
Human Rights Watch (HRW) has warned that Zimbabwe’s capital Harare is at risk of repeating a cholera outbreak five years ago that killed over 4 200 people.
The organisation says that a long-running sanitation crisis in the city of two million means drinking water is often taken from wells that are contaminated with sewage from broken pipes.
HRW Southern Africa director, Tiseke Kasambala, points out that, “In many communities there is no water for drinking or bathing, there is sewage in the streets, there is diarrhoea and typhoid and the threat of another cholera epidemic.”
To read the article titled, “Zimbabwe warned on risk of cholera outbreak,” click here.Source:Times LiveFracking Process Contested
If energy companies and the ruling African National Congress (ANC) are successful, the Karoo a semi-desert wilderness, will soon be home to scientists and geologists mapping out shale gas fields touted as game-changers for Africa's biggest economy, and determining whether fracking will work here.
The fracking process is incurring challenges from multiple opponents - pro-fracking activists assert that a lengthy legal fight is inevitable.
"After the licence has been granted, there is going to be legal battle after legal battle after legal battle," states chairperson of the Karoo Shale Gas Community Forum, Vuyisile Booysen.
To read article titled, “Water, wealth and whites - SA's potent anti-fracking mix,” click here.Source:SABC NewsELA Disappointed in Mid-term Budget
Environmental group, Earthlife Africa , says Finance Minister, Pravin Gordhan’s medium-term budget policy statement is clear that government must curb spending where possible.
The organisation argues that fiscal responsibility should be applied to the planned dirty and dangerous energy investments in coal and nuclear.
"We are dismayed that Minister Gordhan is continuing to support our over-reliance on coal by indicating future spending for a new coal-fired power station, Coal-3. This contradicts National Treasury's own statements that South Africa needs to reduce its carbon emissions, the very reason that Treasury wants to place a tax on carbon," it explains.
To read the article titled, “Mid-term Budget fails to deal with carbon emissions: Earthlife Africa,” click here.Source:SABC News
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