pollution - The African Mirror

Nov

2023

Faith communities are rallying to check climate change – their size and influence counts

ACCORDING to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), more than 80% of the global population is motivated by faith or spirituality. Faced with the triple planetary crises of pollution, biodiversity loss and climate change, what role can faith communities play in saving the planet? RACHEL MASH, Research Associate of the University of Pretoria, Faculty of Theology and Religion, Department of Practical Theology and Mission Studies, University of Pretoria In a recent publication, we looked at the role of two faith-based organisations – the Green Anglicans movement, which is present in 13 African countries, and UNEP’s Faith for Earth Initiative, a…

Oct

2023

By DAVID STANWAY

Countries pledge to raise $12 billion to fund coral reef protection

ENVIRONMENT

AN alliance of nations said members would raise $12 billion to protect coral reefs from threats such as pollution and overfishing, but experts warned the funding would only be a drop in the ocean unless broader climate risks are addressed. The International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI) said it would secure public and private investment to help conserve and restore coral ecosystems, which sustain a quarter of the world's marine species and more than a billion people. "The functional existence of these critical ecosystems is at stake due to the climate crisis and a myriad of other anthropogenic stressors," it said.…

May

2023

By MACDONALD DZIRUTWE

Nigeria needs $12 billion to clean up Bayelsa oil spills – report

NEWS

NIGERIA needs $12 billion to clean up decades-old oil spills in southern Bayelsa state over a 12-year period, a new report said and singled out Shell and Eni for being responsible for most of the pollution. Bayelsa is one of the major oil-producing states in the Niger Delta, a region blighted by pollution, conflict and corruption related to the oil and gas industry. Oil majors in Nigeria have long faced legal challenges over Niger Delta spills, which they mostly blame on sabotage and vandalism of pipelines and illegal refining. The Bayelsa State Oil and Environmental Commission said in a report that it…

Oct

2022

By The African Mirror

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

ENVIRONMENT

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…

May

2022

By The African Mirror

Pollution kills nine million people, Africa hardest hit

ENVIRONMENT

GLORIA DICKIE WORSENING outdoor air pollution and toxic lead poisoning have kept global deaths from environmental contamination at an estimated 9 million per year since 2015 – countering modest progress made in tackling pollution elsewhere, a team of scientists reported Tuesday. Air pollution from industrial processes along with urbanization drove a 7% increase in pollution-related deaths from 2015 to 2019, according to the scientists’ analysis of data on global mortality and pollution levels. "We're sitting in the stew pot and slowly burning," said Richard Fuller, a study co-author and head of the global nonprofit Pure Earth. But unlike climate change, malaria, or…

May

2021

By The African Mirror

Durban’s climate goals are bold – but its poor feel left behind

ENVIRONMENT

KIM HARRISBERG AFTER heavy rains swept away Nomandla Nqanula's tin shack two years ago, she would pray every time she saw clouds gathering above her Quarry Road informal settlement in Durban. But these days, a WhatsApp group on her smartphone pings with early flood warnings for residents, and another city-designed app reminds her and 14 other residents to monitor flood risks and river pollution near her home. "When I wake up, I feel I have lots of work to do, to protect the river and also protect the people who live here," said the 33-year-old mother, standing outside her shack…

Feb

2021

By The African Mirror

Why ocean pollution is a clear danger to human health

ENVIRONMENT

OCEAN pollution is widespread, worsening, and poses a clear and present danger to human health and wellbeing. But the extent of this danger has not been widely comprehended – until now. Our recent study provides the first comprehensive assessment of the impacts of ocean pollution on human health. JACQUELINE MCGLADE, Professor of Natural Prosperity, Sustainable Development and Knowledge Systems, UCL PHILIP LANDRIGAN, Professor and Director, Global Public Health Program and Global Pollution Observatory, Schiller Institute for Integrated Science and Society, Boston College Ocean pollution is a complex mixture of toxic metals, plastics, manufactured chemicals, petroleum, urban and industrial wastes, pesticides,…

Nov

2020

By The African Mirror

River of bacteria: a South African study pinpoints what’s polluting the water

ENVIRONMENT

IN 2010, the United Nations recognised access to clean water and sanitation as a fundamental human right. However, over 4.1 billion people around the world, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, still do not have access to this human right. AKEBE LUTHER KING ABIA, Research Scientist, University of KwaZulu-Natal Clean and safe water is necessary for basic life functions — for drinking, for cooking, for bathing, and more. When it is not available, people resort to alternative sources, which are often polluted with pathogenic bacteria arising from human waste. Using such water exposes people to waterborne diseases such as diarrhoea.…

Nov

2020

By The African Mirror

Pollution adds to Covid-19 deaths, say scientists

HEALTH

TONY CARNIE HEART and air chemistry experts in Germany say the Covid-19 death toll in South Africa and other parts of the world has been significantly exacerbated by high levels of toxic air pollution in several big cities and industrialised nations. In a study published on 27 October in the international journal Cardiovascular Research, a team of researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry and the Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz medical centre found that 15% of Covid-19 deaths globally are attributable to underlying diseases caused by tiny particles of industrial dust pollution. These include diseases of the heart, blood vessels and…

Oct

2020

By The African Mirror

Why microplastics found in Nigeria’s freshwaters raise a red flag

ENVIRONMENT

EMMANUEL O. AKINDELE, Senior Lecturer, Obafemi Awolowo University FRESHWATER ecosystems are a priority for environmental scientists because they affect the health of animals and plants on land too – as well as people. They provide food, water, transport and flood control. Freshwater ecosystems also keep nutrients moving among organisms and support diverse forms of life. Freshwater systems make a big difference to the quality of life in any human society. But they are under great pressure. Freshwater biodiversity is declining faster than terrestrial biodiversity. Among the three major types of habitats – terrestrial, freshwater and marine – freshwater accounts for…