Solar power moves virtually from farmland in North West to factories hundreds of kilometres away. How it works and what it means for the country’s energy transition
South Africa, bathed in intense sunlight, grapples with an epidemic of hyperpigmentation and melasma. These skin conditions, marked by darkened patches, affect all skin tones, revealing the impact of both climate and cultural attitudes. The relentless UV radiation, combined with deeply ingrained behaviours towards sun exposure, creates a perfect storm for these conditions to thrive. […]
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/ 2 September 2024
Severe drought brought a farming village to its knees, but unresolved conflict is its biggest threat
South Africa is also playing a leading role during negotiations for climate policies, and is using its position to advance conversations for the whole of Africa
Political parties are treating the issues as ‘peripheral’ concerns
To avert complete climate catastrophe, African countries need at least $277 billion per year in additional climate finance
The people of that country paid the price of climate changed fuelled by, among others, the petro-chemical industry that has declared record profits
Africa must capitalise on the shift to renewable energy, and process its minerals instead of just exporting them
Coal still dominates the domestic energy mix, providing 81.4% of the total system load, according to the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research
Award-winning Nigerian environmentalist Nnimmo Bassey talks to Steve Taylor about the history of Africa’s exploitation, the international community’s failure to recognise the climate debt owed to the Global South, and COP 27
In deciding how the world responds to the climate crisis, policymakers rely on research that tends to be written predominantly by men in the Global North
When crises strike then selfishness prevails, as Britain has done with its vaccine ‘red’ travel list
Africa causes just 4% of global emissions, but pays the price of them. With what money?
The quantity of rubbish in the sea is driving a growing alarm among countries whose economies rely on tourism
In South Africa, environmental activist Fikile Ntshangase and police detective Leroy Bruwer were killed
The world’s seas have absorbed about a third of all carbon pollution produced since the Industrial Revolution
Water is central to human life and cuts across the sustainable development goals water
The environmental group Earthday.org has been campaigning to improve climate literacy and wants to make the subject compulsory at schools
In a recent study, the authors examined the climate change risk to 1 190 species used by 19 indigenous language groups in Southern Africa
We need a profound rethinking of the meaning of sustainability in sport — the global commercial model is neither environmentally nor socially sound
The lack of detailed information on extreme heat impacts hinders disaster response and preparedness.
There is still a great deal that’s not known about SARS-CoV-2. This limited scientific information has contributed to a slew of myths and misconceptions. Some claims being made are harmless. Others can be potentially dangerous