SUSTAINABILITY - The African Mirror

Nov

29

2023

Climate adaptation funds are not reaching frontline communities: what needs to be done about it

SUSTAINABILITY

COMMUNITIES around the world face increasingly severe and frequent impacts from climate change. They are on the “frontlines” of droughts, flooding, desertification and sea level rise. International climate finance is supposed to help. In the 2015 Paris Agreement, the world’s wealthiest countries pledged US$50 billion annually to support climate adaptation among those “particularly vulnerable” to climate change. Climate adaptation is the adjustments humans make to reduce exposure to climate risk. KATHERINE BROWNE, Research Fellow, Stockholm Environment Institute Eight years later, it is clear that this money is failing to reach vulnerable “frontline communities”, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. Recently, Mozambique, Zimbabwe,…

Nov

28

2023

By AIDAN LEWIS

Egypt climate envoy sees international funds helping developing industries decarbonise

SUSTAINABILITY

A financing scheme that draws on funding from Western donors to help developing countries shift to cleaner power generation could be mirrored for heavy industries and other hard-to-abate sectors, Egypt's climate champion said. Extending a Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) structure to sectors including steel, aluminium, cement and fertilisers made sense because of new European Union rules that would otherwise penalise developing world exporters, U.N. Climate Change High-Level Champion Mahmoud Mohieldin said in an interview. The rules, under the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), would have "serious implications" for countries exporting to Europe, said Mohieldin. "I'm checking countries including…

Nov

23

2023

By The African Mirror

Climate change and farming: economists warn more needs to be done to adapt in sub-Saharan Africa

SUSTAINABILITY

SUB-SAHARAN African countries strongly rely on the agricultural and forestry sectors. Agriculture contributes up to 60% of some countries’ gross domestic product. But the sector is highly vulnerable to climate change because it relies heavily on climatic factors. This vulnerability is particularly marked in the region because of its slow rate of technological advancement. ABEEB BABATUNDE OMOTOSO, Postdoctoral research associate, North-West University ABIODUN OLUSOLA OMOTAYO, Senior lecturer/researcher, North-West University As agricultural economists we carried out a review of the literature on the climate change challenge for agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa. We explored the distribution of various climatic factors (like rainfall,…

Nov

21

2023

By BONFACE ORUCHO, BIRD STORY AGENCY

Tanzania pushes East Africa into an era of gas-fueled vehicles. But can it last?

SUSTAINABILITY

TANZANIA has pushed East Africa into a new era of gas-powered mobility with the commissioning of the country's first integrated compressed natural gas (CNG) filling station and conversion centre. TAQA Dalbit, a joint venture of Egyptian energy company TAQA Arabia and JCG Oil &Gas announced the inauguration of the facility branded as "Master Gas" on November 11. A press statement by TAQA Arabia indicated the facility would serve up to 800 vehicles daily. This is the first of 12 similar facilities planned for the East African country. "The new CNG Filling Station and Conversion Centre is a monumental achievement that…

Nov

14

2023

By The African Mirror

Tourists are returning to South Africa – but the sector will need to go green to deal with the country’s electricity crisis

SUSTAINABILITY

FOR the past 16 years South Africans have dreaded rolling power cuts euphemistically dubbed “load-shedding”. These are caused by the ailing state power entity Eskom’s crumbling infrastructure and its over-reliance on ageing and poorly maintained coal-fired power stations. Load-shedding has worsened in 2023, with some areas experiencing power cuts for up to 10 hours a day. This crisis affects every aspect of the country’s economy, including its vibrant tourism sector. Tourism is a vital contributor to the South African economy. In 2019 the country welcomed over 10 million foreign visitors. The sector contributed up to 6.4% of the gross domestic…

Nov

04

2023

By The African Mirror

Giraffes could go extinct – the 5 biggest threats they face

SUSTAINABILITY

GIRAFFES are the world’s tallest mammals and an African icon, but they are also vulnerable to extinction. Giraffe populations have declined by 40% in the last 30 years, and there are now fewer than 70,000 mature individuals left in the wild. What are the causes of this alarming decline, and what can be done to protect these gentle giants? DEREK E. LEE, Associate Research Professor of Biology, Penn State The five biggest threats to giraffes are habitat loss, insufficient law enforcement, ecological changes, climate change, and lack of awareness. Below, I will tell you about these threats and what is…

Nov

02

2023

By BONFACE ORUCHO, BIRD STORY AGENCY

Africa’s banking giants bet on green finance

SUSTAINABILITY

COMMERCIAL banks across Africa, both domestic and foreign, are stepping up their game to forge innovative green financing mechanisms that will bolster climate change mitigation and support the transition towards cleaner energy sources. Three South African financial institutions—Standard Bank, Liberty Group and Stanlib Bank—have joined forces to launch a monumental US$1 billion fund aimed at facilitating the shift towards clean energy. Reports on Afrik21 indicate the trio aims to raise the sum "in a few years." A statement from Stanlib details how Liberty and Standard Bank will provide US$160 million (R3 billion) in seed assets to be managed by Stanlib.…

Oct

19

2023

By BONFACE ORUCHO, BIRD STORY AGENCY

South African academics to lead a global physics initiative on climate action

SUSTAINABILITY

TWO scholars from the University of Witwatersrand (Wits) have taken the helm of the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics (IUPAP) Working Group on Physics for Climate Action and Sustainable Development. According to a press statement from the university, Professor Nithaya Chetty will lead the charge, with Professor Gledhill assuming the role of secretary. "This is a multidisciplinary endeavour involving the basic sciences like physics, chemistry, mathematics, computing, engineering, human and social sciences, law, and health sciences," emphasised Chetty. The appointments, confirmed during the IUPAP General Assembly in Geneva, signal a growing commitment to an interdisciplinary approach to addressing…

Oct

14

2023

By TAKUDZWA CHANGADEYA, BIRD STORY AGENCY

Agroecology triumphs over climate crisis in a southern Zimbabwe village

SUSTAINABILITY

WHEN small-hold farmer Gift Chisvo was given land in Zimbabwe's midlands in the early 2000s under a Land Reform Programme introduced by President Robert Mugabe, he initially battled to make use of the land. "Before the land reform program, I resided in Hwange, where farming was impractical due to low rainfall and high temperatures. Upon securing a farming opportunity in Shashe, we encountered difficulties in revitalizing the region's productivity through traditional farming methods," explained Chisvo, who was born in Shashe. White commercial farmers had ranched cattle in the area prior to being pushed out during the reforms. The village has…

Oct

11

2023

By The African Mirror

Climate hazards aren’t restricted by borders – African countries have taken a big step to address this

SUSTAINABILITY

CLIMATE risks can be complex to deal with because they don’t respect country borders. Hazards in one region can have negative repercussions in another. These are known as transboundary climate risks, and they’re a growing concern. They require coordinated, multinational responses, which can be a challenge given the different priorities and capabilities of each country. A transboundary climate risk could be due to a shared ecosystem, such as a river basin. For instance, the Nile River, which flows through 11 countries, can experience variations in water availability due to changes in the weather. This will affect the millions who depend…