Pollution
Pollution
TKAG, EFF, Will Not Partner Against Fracking
The Treasure the Karoo Action Group (TKAG) will not be partnering with the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) to advance any social cause any time in the near future.
However, TKAG leader, Jonathan Deal, says the organisation respects the stubborn determination with which the EFF holds his views, as the battle to stop fracking in the Karoo continues.
In its response to Environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa’s budget vote speech, the EFF criticised fracking for the first time, joining all major parties in Parliament except the African National Congress in a chorus of criticism of shale-gas exploration.
To read the article titled, “Karoo group treasures forthright Malema,” click here.Source:BDLiveCourt Urged to Halt ‘Illegal’ Smelter
The environmental activist grouping, Earthlife Africa, had asked the Gauteng High Court to halt smelting operations at the Nuclear Energy Corporation of South Africa (NECSA) Pelindaba plant on the grounds that they were illegal.
The organisation, which wants the smelter to shut down, argues that the possibility exists that it could be turned to commercial use which would result in South Africa becoming ‘a nuclear waste junkyard’.
Earthlife Africa has been in a decade-long dispute over the smelter which was constructed to decontaminate radio-active metal by smelting and mixing it with scrap metal.
To read the article titled, “Earthlife Africa tells court Pelindaba smelter ‘illegal’,” click here.Source:BDLiveFracking Gas Emissions are Half That of Coal
A new study finds that the life-time greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of shale gas are half that of coal, irrespective of whether the gas is used as natural gas or to generate electricity.
Shale gas has been touted as a way to curb climate change and reduce the world’s reliance on coal, but many questions remain, such as whether it is in fact cleaner than coal and whether it contaminates ground water reservoirs, among others.
Minister of Energy, Tina Joemat-Pettersson, expresses to parliament that “The development of shale gas [in South Africa] cannot be dismissed or ignored ... We should be learning from others on how to best exploit this resource in the least intrusive and environmentally prudent way.”
To read the article titled, “Emissions from fracking gas half that of coal, says study,” click here.Source:Mail and GuardianFracking May Destroy SA Water
The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) says South Africa’s intention to go ahead with shale gas exploration and more coal mining could have a devastating effect on South Africa's water supply.
In a press statement, WWF fresh water programme senior manager, Christine Colvin, states that critical water production areas and water systems are being threatened by coal mining.
Colvin adds: "The explosion of shale gas exploration in the Karoo will similarly disrupt the social fabric of this fragile area and we do not have clarity on how negative impacts will be dealt with."
To read the article titled, “WWF: Fracking may destroy SA water,” click here.Source:News 24IPCC 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 Live
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