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Hazard: Old tyres are collected for recycling (above) but the flawed management plan to do so has resulted in huge stockpiles. Photo: Redisa

Redisa versus the government: Legal row over discarded tyre crisis

The state’s waste tyre management plan faces a court challenge over unrealistic targets

  • Sheree Bega
10 min read
UNFCCC Executive Secretary Simon Stiell speaks during the opening ceremony of the UNFCCC COP29 Climate Conference on November 11, 2024 in Baku, Azerbaijan. The COP29, which is running from November 11 through 22, is bringing together stakeholders, including international heads of state and other leaders, scientists, environmentalists, indigenous peoples representatives, activists and others to discuss and agree on the implementation of global measures towards mitigating the effects of climate change. According to the United Nations, countries made no progress over the last year in reducing global emissions from the burning of fossil fuels. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

Climate finance set to be this year’s biggest COP talking point

Countries need to urgently agree on funding goals to adapt to, and mitigate climate change

  • Eyaaz
3 min read
Wild dogs are not the only animals being caught in snares — more than 30 elephants were caught in 2023 alone, as well as hyenas and lions. (File photo by Dianah Chiyangwa)

Unravelling the threads of snaring in Kruger park

Incidents of wildlife snaring have rocketed in South Africa’s flagship national park in the past four years. What’s driving the surge, and how are conservationists facing up to it?

  • Eyaaz
12 min read
Environment Minister Dion George. (OJ Koloti, Gallo Images)

Can COP29 bridge the climate finance gap? South Africa sets ambitious goals

Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment Dion George said developed countries had failed in their commitments to developing countries

  • Sheree Bega
6 min read
A Rand Water team carries out planned maintenance at the Bergbron water utility in Johannesburg. (Supplied)

Urban water crisis deepens as poor infrastructure, shortages and unpaid bills take a toll

Maintaining infrastructure, fixing leaks and better information sharing are the first crucial steps to fixing the mess

  • Sheree Bega
16 min read
In March, Hera was one of two individuals tagged with tiny, solar-powered satellite trackers through BirdLife South Africa’s European roller monitoring project. (BirdLife SA)

Hera the European roller’s epic migration uncovers new flight paths for bird conservation

Tagged by BirdLife SA, Hera completed a 10 000 km journey from Limpopo to her breeding ground in Uzbekistan

  • Sheree Bega
5 min read
There are estimated to be fewer than 500 of the endangered mammals in South Africa’s waters

A global project is trying to save the rare humpback dolphin

There are estimated to be fewer than 500 of the endangered mammals in South Africa’s waters

  • Sheree Bega
6 min read
The cooling market in developing economies is expected to grow from around $300 billion to at least $600 billion per year, by 2050 (AFP via Getty Images)

Africa faces urgent need for sustainable cooling as temperatures soar

Around 3.5 billion people live in hot climates, but only 15% have access to cooling, mainly through air conditioning

  • Des Erasmus
3 min read
Eskom said all protocol was observed when the unit was shut down. (David Harrison/M&G)

Environmentalists warn against new nuclear energy expansion after Koeberg’s unit one shutdown

The shutdown has intensified debates over nuclear power, with activists challenging its reliability and cost-effectiveness

  • Des Erasmus
5 min read
South Africa faces an escalating wildfire crisis that shows no signs of slowing down, with data showing 1 960 fires have already been recorded in 2024. (Supplied by Working on Fire)

SA’s wildfire crisis escalates with 1 960 fires this year alone

Runaway fires fuelled by the climate crisis are more frequent and devastating, destroying farmland, property, protected areas and people’s livelihoods

5 min read
Going green: The EU and South Africa have announced a deal worth R628 million to support the green hydrogen agenda. (Waldo Swiegers/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

EU’s R628m deal to boost South Africa’s green hydrogen programme

The European Union will provide grants which will partly go towards state-owned logistics company Transnet This content is restricted to registered users and subscribers. Get Your Free Account The Mail & Guardian is committed to providing all our readers with the best possible experience. Please register your free account now. Your registration is your first step to becoming an M&G community member. Register Registration enables: – M&G newsletters access – notifications – the best possible experience Already registered? Login here Want to subscribe and get even more benefits? Explore our subscription offers

  • Eyaaz
1 min read
This meteorite fall in the Eastern Cape sparked a collaborative scientific investigation that involved researchers from the University of the Witwatersrand, Nelson Mandela University and Rhodes University. (Supplied)

Rare meteorite fragment found in Eastern Cape provisionally named the ‘Nqweba’

The meteorite streaked across the sky on 25 August

  • Sheree Bega
4 min read
Eskom and Sasol, which are considered two of the country’s biggest polluters, have been granted postponements, suspensions and/or alternative limits of the minimum emissions standards since 2015. (Waldo Swiegers/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

UN special rapporteur: Toxic pollution in SA fuelled by corporate greed and government inaction 

Marcos Orellana noted the poor disposal of waste and hazardous substances, the wide use of pesticides and weak enforcement of regulations

  • Sheree Bega
7 min read
Missing in action: The Maersk Campton switched off its automatic identification system. Photo: Alamy

Maersk to ship suspected toxic dust back to Europe

The repatriation of the cargo from Southeast Asia to Albania has been called a ‘win’ for global environmental governance

  • Sheree Bega
4 min read
The chick after the mouse attack that wounded it’s neck

Invasive mice on Marion Island eat rare seabird chicks, sparking eradication effort

The rodents’ population is increasing and, as their usual food sources become scarce, they are feeding on vulnerable species such as the wandering albatross

  • Sheree Bega
5 min read
The crop is grown in 16 regions across the country, but Limpopo is by far the biggest producer. (Photo by Remsberg Inc/Design Pics Editorial/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

Potato prices set to soar by over 100% as Limpopo black frost damage takes its toll

Water restrictions in the Western Cape will also affect the cost of the staple, with price fluctuations expected to be felt from end of August

  • Des Erasmus
4 min read
Jennifer Fitchett sitting next to the excavation through the diatomite profile, adjacent to the core that was taken, April 2014. Photograph provided by Jennifer Fitchett

Finding Lesotho’s lost lake

A glimpse into the past, which shows the effect of climate change, can help predict the future

  • Sheree Bega
8 min read
President Cyril Ramaphosa has laid strong foundations for the G20. Photo: Dwayne Senior/Getty Images

Ramaphosa signs crucial Climate Change Bill into law

The Climate Change Act is the country’s first comprehensive piece of legislation to encourage the development of an effective climate change response

  • Sheree Bega
5 min read
Fungi fascination: Stephen Hobbs with Ganoderma destructans. Photo by Bronwyn Millar

Urban mushroom farming in South Africa is a space saving, eco-friendly revolution

An ‘exchange of magic’ is required between growers and mushrooms to get consistent results

  • Des Erasmus
10 min read
Electricity and Energy Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa.

Ramokgopa says nuclear procurement will go ahead

The minister said the Democratic Alliance must understand that the new government is a single entity, not a federation This content is restricted to registered users and subscribers. Get Your Free Account The Mail & Guardian is committed to providing all our readers with the best possible experience. Please register your free account now. Your registration is your first step to becoming an M&G community member. Register Registration enables: – M&G newsletters access – notifications – the best possible experience Already registered? Login here Want to subscribe and get even more benefits? Explore our subscription offers

  • Emsie Ferreira
1 min read