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Friday, 12 February 2010 |
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When it comes to environmental impacts, the usual suspects have been
mobility (the way we get around) and energy (the way we heat and light
our buildings). However, there’s an equally significant actor in the
creation of greenhouse gases: food. Some 20% of the UK’s greenhouse gas
emissions can be attributed to what we put on our plates.
The UK has its own legally-binding targets to reduce production
emissions by 80% by 2050 under the Climate Change Act. In order to make
a proportional contribution to these reductions, and taking into
account the fact that we need to continue to eat, WWF-UK and the Food
Climate Research Network (FCRN) suggest food-related emissions need to
be cut by 70% by 2050. Achieving this is highly likely to require
significant changes throughout the UK food system – from production and
processing to cooking, the kinds of food we eat and what and how much
we throw away.
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Thursday, 11 February 2010 |
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A recent report from international research organisation the Global
Climate Network (GCN) has indicated that some 36 400 new direct jobs
and 109 100 indirect jobs could be created in the renewable energy
sector in South Africa by 2020.
Further, as many as 700 000 people could be employed in the biofuels
industry in South Africa, the report entitled ‘Low carbon jobs in an
interconnected world' stated.
These figures were derived assuming a 15% target for energy
generated from renewable sources by 2020, which follows from the South
African government's long-term mitigation scenarios (LTMS) document,
which guides policy. The most stringent of these scenarios suggests
that about 50% of South Africa's energy would need to come from
renewable sources by 2050.
"Significant opportunities for employment lie in clean energy
sectors and can be harnessed if the South African government scales up
its renewable energy ambitions. Targeted government policies to
increase local demand for priority renewable technologies – such as
solar photovoltaic – and measures to encourage investment in the
domestic market will be necessary to ensure job opportunities are
maximised," stated the study.
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Tuesday, 09 February 2010 |
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Imagine Durban is now working
closely with WWF/WESSA (Wildlife Society of South Africa) Ecoschools.
In its first joint initiative they will be hosting a two and a half
day conference for teachers in the eThekwini Municipality who are passionate
about developing awareness and education on all matters concerning sustainable
development. Since 2010 is the International Year of Biodiversity, the
theme of this conference highlights “Biodiversity and Ecosystem services
– supporting Teaching and Learning”. You are invited to take advantage/
participate/ share and learn from the Eco-Schools Team of vast experiences.
The details of the conference are as follows:
Date : 3-5 March 2010
Venue : Chatsworth Youth Centre,
R K Khan Circle, (above Chatsworth Town Centre)
Event : 2010 Eco-Schools Conference
(KwaZulu-Natal region)
Cost : R800 per person (incl
vat)*
*(A limited number
of concessions are available to teachers from disadvantaged schools)
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Tuesday, 09 February 2010 |
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More than 200 children from Chesterville, Inanda, Ntuzuma and Kwamashu
recently got a first taste of horse-riding, with lessons from former
equestrian champions Sue Pieters and Cindy Meekers. Gopaul Pillay,
District Manager with the Municipality’s Sport and Recreation
Development Department, said, “We are trying to get rid of the
mentality that horse riding is for certain elite people only. That is
why we are proud to be associated with this initiative,” he said.
Regular riding lessons are expected to start soon at the stables, near
King’s Park. “These children have been exposed to the sport and will
now have an opportunity of making it a career,” said Pillay.
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