SUSTAINABILITY - The African Mirror

Nov

28

2024

Humans are killing off the old and wise animals that hold nature together. Here’s what must change

SUSTAINABILITY

IN humans and other animals, ageing is generally associated with a decline in biological function. However, scientists are now discovering older animals perform vital roles in populations and ecosystems. Unfortunately, however, old animals can suffer the most from human activity such as over-fishing and trophy hunting. And the value of old, wise animals is not usually considered when we manage animal populations and seek to protect biodiversity. Our new review, published today in Science, draws on evidence from around the world to argue for a new approach called “longevity conservation”. The loss of old and wise animals has devastating global…

Nov

22

2024

By JOHN A GITTINGS

Madagascar’s huge ocean algae bloom was caused by dust from drought-stricken southern Africa

SUSTAINABILITY

SCIENTISTS have found new evidence that desertification, potentially linked to global warming, leads to large amounts of nutrient-rich dust landing in the sea, causing ocean algae to grow rapidly. Biological oceanographer John A. Gittings and an international group of researchers have found an example of this phenomenon in the Indian Ocean southeast of Madagascar. They analysed satellite images that showed how the colour of the sea in that area had changed over the years. Phytoplankton (microscopic algae found in the oceans) affect the colour of the water when they grow rapidly in response to higher levels of nutrients – including…

Nov

18

2024

By BONFACE ORUCHO with reporting by SETH ONYANGO

Africa’s youth activists push for sustainable change at COP 29 in Baku, Azerbaijan

SUSTAINABILITY

WITH the world’s largest climate conference, COP29 convening in Baku, Azerbaijan, African youth climate activists at the conference said the event offered a platform for them to share their objectives and vision. According to the activists, COP 29 provides a platform for them to advocate for the issues affecting the continent amidst the urgent environmental and climate challenges affecting their communities. From food security to climate resilience, these young leaders are at the forefront of amplifying the pressing issues that shape their lives and future. “This is a very profound opportunity for me… I think the biggest role for me…

Nov

16

2024

By JULIA TAYLOR; IMRAAN VALODIA; KATRINA LEHMANN-GRUBE; SARAH COOK and SOMALI CERISE

Climate change: women’s role in the economy is key to a just transition

SUSTAINABILITY

THE realities of climate change are hitting home for many people living in the global south. Food security, water access and health have been jeopardised by the increased temperatures, extreme weather events and sea level rise. In many places women are the primary caregivers for children, the sick or the elde rly, as well as being responsible for cooking and cleaning in the household. This kind of work can be described as care work, which is often unpaid or underpaid. The impacts of climate change will add to the required care work. This will put a strain on those who…

Nov

14

2024

By DIANA VELA-ALMEIDA

The just energy transition ignores labour outside the formal economy. So is it just?

SUSTAINABILITY

THE just transition debate centres on how to move away from fossil fuels towards renewable energy systems while safeguarding working conditions, livelihoods, and economic and social rights of workers in industrial sectors. This debate has mainly focused on paid labour and job security in carbon-intensive sectors. But it overlooks hundreds of millions of people involved in unrecognised work that subsidises these transitions. This “unseen” labour is called “reproductive labour”. It’s work that happens outside the market or formal industrial system but sustains the living conditions of workers in formal labour. Reproductive labour is primarily associated with the maintenance of the…

Nov

13

2024

By MJ (THINUS) BOOYSEN and JOUBERT VAN EEDEN

Electric vehicles in Africa: what’s needed to grow the sector

SUSTAINABILITY

IN sub-Saharan Africa, high levels of particulate matter (PM2.5) pollution from vehicle tailpipe emissions cause poor health, developmental stunting, and even death. Vehicle emissions also contribute to global warming. Electric vehicles could help solve these problems but they’ve been slow to take off in the region. Its biggest economy, South Africa, had only about 1,000 electric vehicles by 2022. We are specialist transport engineers whose research has focused on electric vehicles and road freight transport in sub-Saharan Africa. In our work, we look at how electric vehicles could contribute to reducing emissions in the region, and what is standing in…

Nov

08

2024

By WILL DE FREITAS

Can a superstar hippo help save Africa’s rainforests?

SUSTAINABILITY

THE world’s first superstar hippo lives in a zoo in Thailand. Moo Deng shot to fame soon after she was born in July this year, thanks to viral videos that showed off her cute expressions and chirpy demeanour. Yet the story of her species is less happy and reveals the close links between the extinction and climate change crises. Moo Deng is a pygmy hippo, a species native to the forests of West Africa. Unlike their bigger and significantly scarier cousins (regular hippos), the pygmies are secretive creatures, who like to conceal themselves in swamps and dense vegetation. Today, pygmy…

Nov

07

2024

By BAMIDELE OLAJIDE

Nigeria at COP29: Five items to put on the climate agenda

SUSTAINABILITY

THE world’s efforts to address climate change and its effects have been the subject of discussion for almost three decades at the annual Conference of Parties (COP) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. This year’s COP, at Baku, Azerbaijan, is the 29th edition of the conference. Nigeria will be there to advance its climate change agenda and related issues – and will have high expectations. Nigeria’s Long-Term Low Emissions Development Strategy and carbon market programme have already been commended by the conference parties. The country has committed to starting efforts towards achieving net-zero emissions by 2060, as…

Oct

29

2024

By LLEWELLYN LEONARD

Polluters must pay: how COP29 can make this a reality

SUSTAINABILITY

THE 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29) takes place in Azerbaijan in November 2024. The annual climate change conference must focus on holding corporations and countries accountable for greenhouse gas emissions. The “polluter pays” principle has been a key part of climate discussions for years. It says a polluter should bear the costs of managing its pollution, to prevent damage to human health and the environment. Although the principle is widely accepted in theory, it hasn’t been put into practice consistently, or enforced. Many of the largest polluters continue to operate with little or no financial consequence for the damage…

Oct

26

2024

By ROD CROMPTON and BRUCE DOUGLAS YOUNG

South Africa’s massive Sasol petrochemical plant faces serious challenges – new report

SUSTAINABILITY

THE giant Secunda complex of Sasol, South Africa’s biggest chemicals and energy company, provides the fundamental ingredients to South Africa’s petrochemical sector. It produces petrochemicals, plastics, chemicals essential to key industries such as agriculture (fertilisers) and mining (explosives), and 30% of the country’s liquid fuels. These value chains are very important to the economy. In 2021, this output accounted for 2.6% of GDP directly and 5.2% indirectly. Sasol also employs more than 28,000 South Africans. It makes significant contributions to corporate taxes, wages, and social investment. It sustains a whole town built specifically for its Secunda workforce. Sasol’s Secunda facilities…