Environment
latest news & developments
Africa’s first net-zero hotel
Radisson Safari Hotel Hoedspruit has become Africa's first verified net-zero hotel, proving that safari lodges can eliminate landfill waste, slash emissions, and champion…
Robotic sailors take on Antarctica’s winter storms
South African researchers have joined an international mission deploying autonomous Saildrones to brave harsh Antarctic winter storms and measure how the Southern Ocean absorbs…
Climate change makes November heat five times more likely in parts of South Africa
An analysis by Climate Central shows that human-caused climate change has made this week's extreme November heat in parts of South Africa up to five times more likely, affecting…
Sardine fishing in South Africa on hold after mass mortality linked to virus
Sardine fishing in South Africa remains halted while environmental authorities evaluate new catch limits following widespread fish mortalities caused by pilchard herpesvirus.
Climate change puts SA’s young and old at greater risk from extreme heat
The 2026 Lancet Countdown report warns that escalating climate change poses an immediate threat to human survival, with extreme heat and drought hitting vulnerable populations in…
New Report Calls for Hundreds of Trillions in Reparations Over British Colonial Environmental Damage
A groundbreaking report presented at the University of Lagos calls for trillions of dollars in reparations from the UK, highlighting the massive, long-term environmental…
M&G Greening the Future Awards open for 2026 nominations
Nominations have opened for the 2026 Greening the Future Awards, honouring the individuals, communities, and organisations safeguarding South Africa's environment.
UN warns world will exceed 1.5°C global warming target
A new UN report warns that exceeding 1.5°C of global warming is now unavoidable, but aggressive emissions cuts could curb peak temperatures and reverse warming by the century's…
Aerial survey exposes pollution choking rivers feeding Hartbeespoort Dam
An aerial survey by Deputy Water and Sanitation Minister Jack Bloom has laid bare the extensive sewage spills, illegal dumping, and infrastructure failures choking the river…
SA to push for triple adaptation finance by 2035 at COP31
South Africa will advocate for a binding benchmark to triple adaptation finance by 2035 at COP31 in Türkiye, addressing the critical funding shortfall facing climate-vulnerable…
A new kind of national park
The declaration of South Africa's new Grasslands National Park marks a milestone in conservation, using a pioneering biodiversity stewardship model that protects vital watersheds…
Why the Wild Coast Exploration Permit Was Always Defective
The Constitutional Court's definitive ruling against Shell and Impact Africa's exploration permit along the Wild Coast affirms that meaningful community consultation and…
Seafood’s smelly supply chain
A global investigation reveals the hidden human and environmental toll of the fishmeal boom, where coastal communities in West Africa bear the brunt of toxic air pollution and…
Somkhele families count the R80m cost of coal
A landmark study by researchers from King's College London and UKZN reveals that 115 households near KZN's Somkhele coal mine suffered over R80 million in asset losses, with mine…
EU pesticide rule changes raise concerns for South Africa
Scientists warn that proposed rollbacks in EU pesticide regulations could have far-reaching effects, weakening international safety standards and impacting South Africa as it…