Eco Minute 13:30

BULLETIN 3 April 1:30 pm

Good afternoon, here is your Eco Minute:

# More wildlife and plant species will be protected as four of South Africa’s national parks continue with expansion plans. The Namaqua National Park and the Mokala National Park, both in the Northern Cape, and the Western Cape’s Karoo National Park and Agulhas National Park, have collectively been expanded by 20-thousand-206 hectares of land. Among the wildlife and plant species that will be protected through this expansion are the indigenous quiver tree or kokerboom, the white rhino, and the camelthorn tree.

# Jeppe Boys’ High School in Johannesburg is collecting bottle tops to help non-profit organisation Tops and Tags for Wheelchairs, working in partnership with Interwaste, to convert plastic waste into funds for wheelchairs. Last year, learners collected 512 kilograms of bottle caps, and this year they have already collected 148 kilograms. Their target is 750 kilograms. The school’s representative council of learners says the campaign is to assist with the purchasing of wheelchairs and reducing waste at landfill sites at the same time.

# And finally: A former United Nations climate chief is concerned the world’s climate goals could be at risk if former US president Donald Trump wins the presidential elections. He has hinted he would cancel president Joe Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, withdraw from the Paris Agreement, and push for more drilling for oil and gas if he is elected. Patricia Espinosa says Trump’s antipathy to climate action would have a major impact globally. America is the world’s second-biggest emitter of greenhouse gasses and biggest oil and gas exporter.

Stay tuned for more news………….