SUSTAINABILITY - The African Mirror

Nov

09

2022

Armed conflict and climate change: how these two threats play out in Africa

SUSTAINABILITY

THE world is falling miserably short of reducing carbon emissions in line with the Paris Agreement, a 2015 treaty to keep global warming well below 2? The results of this failure are a greater increase in the prevalence and severity of extreme weather events, more rapid sea-level rises and an elevated risk of triggering irreversible climate tipping points, like the collapse of the West Antarctic ice sheet or the loss of the Amazon rainforest. The speed and magnitude of these changes have immediate consequences for ecosystem health and biodiversity. Further, sustained climate change threatens fundamental dimensions of human well-being. Author…

Oct

18

2022

By The African Mirror

The 5 biggest threats to West Africa’s oceans – and what to do about them

SUSTAINABILITY

THE natural resources that form ocean ecosystems can play a significant role in the socio-economic growth and development of nations. West Africa has a variety of marine and coastal ecosystems, found within the Atlantic Ocean. This is one of the most diverse and economically important fishing zones in the world and provides an income for many through fishing, shipping, logistics and mining. But unregulated and unsustainable exploitation has degraded the ecosystems severely. Threats have come from land-based sources of pollution, insecurity and piracy, illegal and harmful fishing practices, and climate change. Author ADERONKE OMOLARA LAWAL-ARE, Professor of Marine Sciences, University…

Oct

15

2022

By The African Mirror

Nigeria floods: expert insights into why they’re so devastating and what to do about them

SUSTAINABILITY

NIGERIA is experiencing its worst flooding in over a decade. Over 1.4 million people have been displaced, 500 have been reported dead and thousands have been injured. Flooding isn’t a new challenge in Nigeria – it’s one of the country’s most prevalent natural disasters. During the rainy seasons, from March to July and mid-August to mid-October in the south, and July to October in the north, major rivers often burst their banks. Dams burst too. This causes flooding in numerous Nigerian states, among them Delta, Kogi, Anambra, Bayelsa, Adamawa and Niger. Various experts have written for The Conversation Africa on…

Sep

09

2022

By The African Mirror

How safe is it to drink rainwater?

SUSTAINABILITY

IN many parts of the world, including Africa, people rely on rainwater as a source of drinking water, as well as for other household and livelihood uses. One of the reasons is water scarcity – sub-Saharan Africa has the largest number of water-scarce countries in the world. But there are concerns about how safe rainwater is to drink. It can be contaminated by dust and ash in the surroundings or by heavy metal from roofing material. Another concern is the presence of manufactured chemicals called perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), or “forever chemicals”. As environmental scientist Ian Cousins and his…

Aug

30

2022

By The African Mirror

We’ve been tracking birds in a small Nigerian forest for 18 years. What we found and why it matters

SUSTAINABILITY

IF you live in Europe, you can find almost any statistic you like about the birds in the environment. How many there are of a species, where you find them, and whether their population is increasing or decreasing. In some countries like the UK, there are comprehensive surveys going back 60 years and they have mapped and counted every single bird species three times already. Author WILLIAM CRESSWELL, Chair professor, University of St Andrews These detailed statistics allow effective monitoring of the environment. This is because birds are an indicator species of how well the ecosystem is functioning to provide…

Aug

20

2022

By The African Mirror

How politics has subverted conservation efforts to protect Kenya’s Mau Forest

SUSTAINABILITY

THE Mau Forest Complex is the largest montane tropical forest in East Africa. This is an ecosystem with rich biodiversity and is characterised by high rainfall. Composed of 22 forest sectors, the Mau is located in Kenya’s Rift Valley, the heart of the country’s fertile and rain-fed highlands. The forest plays a pivotal role in feeding a large part of the country’s water network. The Mau Forest’s 380,000 hectares have witnessed a long and tormented history of human habitation. It’s a territory hotly contested. Authors STEFANIA ALBERTAZZI, Postdoctoral fellow, University of Milan FRANCESCA DI MATTEO, Researcher, French Institute for Research…

Aug

17

2022

By The African Mirror

The radio host and climate ecologist spreading hope in Sudan

SUSTAINABILITY

TATENDA KANENGONI, BIRD STORY AGENCY AS is routine, 35-year-old Sudanese radio host Marwa Khalid says an early morning prayer before putting together her outfit for the day. This is a regular work day in the south of Khartoum, where Khalid lives but it's a special day for her, as she's scheduled to record an episode of her viral show, ‘Let’s Have a Chat,’ hosted on the nation’s largest radio network, Beladi FM. “I go to the station two hours before the recording and ensure the studio is ready and clean. I put flowers to make sure the studio smells nice,…

Aug

03

2022

By The African Mirror

Ramaphosa acts to ease South Africa’s energy crisis: impact will be felt in renewables

SUSTAINABILITY

SOUTH Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa recently announced an action plan to address the country’s growing energy crisis. It included relaxing the legislative and environmental requirements to speed up private investment and increase generation capacity. The Conversation Africa’s Nontobeko Mtshali asked Wikus Kruger for his insights. Author WIKUS KRUGER, Researcher in Renewable Energy, University of Cape Town What impact will this have on renewable energy uptake? Part of the challenge with the president’s announcements – and it’s natural that this will happen in a public speech – is that it’s relatively light on details and timelines. And so not everything is…

Jul

30

2022

By The African Mirror

Women entrepreneurs in Africa face more climate risks than their male peers

SUSTAINABILITY

THE world’s climate is changing. All of us will ultimately be affected by climatic shifts – but some will be hit harder than others. On the African continent, for instance, small businesses are on the front lines of climate change. Over 50% of the African labour force works in agriculture, which is both very exposed to and dependent on climatic variability and change. But even businesses in urban centres are increasingly dealing with climate-induced challenges. These include unstable water and power supplies, extreme heat and flooding. These hazards interrupt processing and manufacturing activities. They also limit the transportation of goods…

Jul

28

2022

By The African Mirror

Coal industry is ‘delusional’, South Africa climate change official says

SUSTAINABILITY

THE executive director of South Africa's Presidential Commission on Climate Change called the country's coal industry "delusional", saying the market for the fossil fuel is going to dwindle rapidly in the next decade. South Africa, which gets most of its electricity from coal-fired power plants, is grappling with rolling blackouts, while coal miners are exporting more of their product to take advantage of sky-high prices. "The industry is delusional, and I'm really struggling to get a sober conversation with the industry," Crispian Olver said at a conference on coal and the energy transition in Johannesburg. "Our view is the coal…