Eco Minute 13:30

BULLETIN 1 July 1:30 pm

Good afternoon, here is your Eco Minute:

# Global warming poses a substantial risk to South Africa’s mining and agriculture sectors. This is according to PwC South Africa’s economic outlook for June. Rising temperatures can curb the supply of water for crop irrigation, agricultural processing, and mineral ore extraction and processing. PwC calculates that by 2035, 24-percent of global maize, 35-percent of wheat, and 84-percent of rice production will be at significant, high, or extreme risk of heat stress. PwC SA chief economist, Lullu Krugel, says commodity producers need to enhance resilience by identifying and managing climate risks.

# Water and soft drink bottles made from polyethene terephthalate sink at sea unless they contain trapped air, whereas their lids are made from polymers that float and can drift long distances. This is according to a study by researchers at the FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology at the University of Cape Town and Nelson Mandela University. Researchers collected more than 13-thousand-200 lids at 20 beaches along South Africa’s south-west coast. The study found that lids outnumber bottles at most beaches due to their buoyancy and dispersal patterns.

# And finally: The DA in the Free State says the recent project to address the sewer backflow issue in Stateway, Welkom CBD, brings hope to Goldfields Mall and nearby businesses. The CBD has struggled due to a collapsed sewer line in the Goldfields Casino parking area, causing severe backflow problems. The DA’s René Steyn says initial optimism of the project has however been dampened by the interference of Matjhabeng mayor Thanduxolo Khalipha:

Stay tuned for more news………….