Eco Minute 13:30

BULLETIN 20 February 1:30 pm

Good afternoon, here is your Eco Minute:

# The Energy Council of South Africa says it supports the government’s firm commitments towards transitioning to a net-zero green future economy through the Paris Agreement and pending national emissions legislation. The council recently became a member of the United Nations-affiliated global body, the World Energy Council. CEO James Mackay says although the required energy transition will be a notable challenge, it is a significant opportunity for economic growth and clean industrialisation of South Africa.

# A research study by the University of Columbia has emphasised the critical link between overfishing and climate change. According to the research, stopping overfishing is deemed essential for ocean vitality, climate robustness, and livelihoods reliant on sustainable fisheries. The findings underscore the ecological imperative of ending overfishing to bolster marine life resilience and reduce associated carbon emissions. Additionally, the research calls for multifaceted regulations to halt heavy metal pollution in the ocean, intensifying the negative impacts of warming and overfishing.

# And finally: The United Nations Environment Programme says the upcoming sixth session of the UN Environment Assembly in Kenya, will explore a host of pressing environmental issues, from water shortages to the transition to clean energy. The assembly will begin next week on Monday. The programme’s executive director, Inger Andersen, says six key dialogues are expected to take centre stage, designed to supercharge the global effort to tackle the triple planetary crisis of climate change; nature and biodiversity loss; and pollution and waste:

Stay tuned for more news………….