Eco Minute 13:30

BULLETIN 26 June 1:30 pm

Good afternoon, here is your Eco Minute:

# South Africa risks a 170-billion-rand climate finance pact by delaying the closure of coal-fired power plants. The Just Energy Transition Partnership, agreed upon in 2021, offered loans, grants, and guarantees to reduce coal dependence. A panel appointed by the environment minister Barbara Creecy expressed concern after Eskom postponed decommissioning Grootvlei, Hendrina, and Camden plants until 2030 due to power cuts. The National Environmental Consultative and Advisory Forum warned that this delay could jeopardise the financing, despite understanding energy security concerns.

# A City of Cape Town intergovernmental committee has been established to address the issue of rabies in Cape fur seals. The committee, which includes representatives from the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, South African National Parks, and veterinary experts, aims to understand the extent of rabies in the seal population and implement management strategies. There are currently five confirmed rabies cases in Cape fur seals. The public is advised to avoid contact with seals and follow guidelines to ensure safety. Immediate medical attention is necessary for anyone bitten by a seal.

# And finally: Declared as a male nine years ago by a vet, Ronaldo, the 1.8-metre Brazilian rainbow boa gave birth to 14 baby snakes despite having had no contact with other snakes. Scientists say it is thanks to a rare phenomenon called parthenogenesis. A reptile specialist explained the rare phenomenon of parthenogenesis is a natural form of asexual reproduction, where embryos develop without fertilisation. It is known to take place in plants and some animals, but Ronaldo’s pregnancy was only the third in the world to be documented for a captive boa.

Stay tuned for more news………….