South Africa is positioning itself as a key player in the global race for critical minerals but new research and warnings suggest those closest to extraction might lose out, echoing long-standing inequalities in the mining sector
A new Africa nature transition roadmap shows improved grazing, fire management and farming could unlock major carbon reductions while strengthening food security and livelihoods
From Doringbaai to Port Nolloth, West Coast communities are pushing back against mining and offshore oil and gas expansion. Residents, activists and fishers say consultation processes fail local people while environmental degradation and economic inequality continue to deepen
The US-Israel war on Iran is sending shockwaves through global energy, food and financial systems, exposing deep structural vulnerabilities in the world economy, according to the WRI
The World Bank has priced a $120m spekboom restoration bond in South Africa’s Eastern Cape, linking investor returns to ecosystem recovery
Great white sharks, tuna and other warm-bodied fish burn nearly four times more energy than cold-blooded species, leaving them increasingly vulnerable as rising ocean temperatures shrink their habitats, a new study has found
More than 40% of Cape Town’s population is exposed to high or very high air pollution risk, according to a new UCT study that reveals sharp environmental inequalities across the city. The research shows the worst impacts are concentrated in historically disadvantaged communities and calls for targeted action
For millions of people on the continent, motorcycles provide the most affordable and accessible form of transport, while also creating livelihoods for riders and small businesses
Government unveils new plan to strengthen rhino coordination and confront poaching
The NSPCA and EMS Foundation have been admitted as intervening respondents in a High Court case that could determine whether the Minister is legally required to set export quotas for lion bones and related products from captive breeding operations
The South African Human Rights Commission has launched an inquiry into the province’s worsening water crisis, warning that persistent shortages, ageing infrastructure and governance failures may amount to a systemic violation of constitutional rights
BirdLife South Africa launches its first tracking project for migratory shorebirds, revealing complex journeys and new conservation priorities across the Africa–Eurasian flyway
From stormwater and sewage to degraded wetlands, the Klip River’s decline highlights the urgent need for infrastructure repairs and ecological restoration, scientists warn
Commissioners emphasise a people-centred just transition, focusing on rural communities, workers and climate-resilient economic planning
The conflict in Iran is causing severe environmental damage, from black rain and toxic smoke to threats to water, soil and climate, warn faith leaders and environmental experts
The latest Green Drop report shows how the country’s rivers are being “turned into sewage channels”
Extreme heat is no longer a future problem. A major new report warns it is intensifying inequality, illness and climate vulnerability across Southern Africa and the worst-hit are often those least able to escape it
The latest Green, Blue and No Drop reports show widespread deterioration of water and sanitation infrastructure. Nearly half of wastewater systems are critical, drinking water improvements are marginal and non-revenue water losses remain high in multiple provinces, highlighting urgent need for municipal investment and reform
New research projects the Olifants River in the Kruger National Park could reach daily water temperatures of 42–44°C by the end of the century under a high-emissions scenario, putting fish, macroinvertebrates and freshwater ecosystems at serious risk
A flagship green hydrogen project is positioned to support industrial development in the Vaal — but there’s no sign of it and little awareness among the communities it is meant to serve
A new study co-authored by a University of Pretoria conservation scientist argues that widely cited claims of catastrophic global wildlife decline may overstate biodiversity loss in Africa
Eight giraffes have been safely relocated from Pongola Game Reserve to the Somkhanda Community Game Reserve in KwaZulu-Natal to improve genetic diversity and support community conservation efforts
A groundbreaking analysis of more than 2 300 seawater samples shows that industrial chemicals dominate ocean pollution signals, even far from land
The Jukskei River catchment project highlights how green infrastructure can cut flood damage, manage invasive species and improve urban health
A new global platform maps urban heat at street level, showing how exposure is rising and falling disproportionately on poorer communities, while giving cities tools to test cooling solutions
From Lagos to Dar es Salaam, major cities are increasingly vulnerable as ocean warming and climate variability combine to intensify sea level rise
Air pollution in the Highveld Priority Area threatens lives and violates environmental rights, as hydrogen sulphide levels recently spiked over Johannesburg
Africa may be the birthplace of the world’s most popular magic mushroom. Scientists have identified Psilocybe ochraceocentrata, a potent psychedelic cousin of Psilocybe cubensis, growing on grasslands and cattle dung in SA and Zimbabwe
Under prepaid metering systems, customers must pay upfront for electricity before they can use it
Four Chinese-flagged fishing vessels were fined R400 000 and released after a coordinated operation by officials and the police
Environmental justice organisations have launched a high court challenge against Eskom’s proposed Nuclear-1 power station, arguing that the 2017 environmental authorisation, upheld by Dion George in 2025, breached South Africa’s environmental laws
People have been reporting strong sulphur odours causing headaches and eye irritation. The city is monitoring air quality while authorities investigate potential Highveld emissions