Eco Minute 13:30

BULLETIN 17 January 1:30 pm

Good afternoon, here is your Eco Minute:

# The DA in Gauteng is deeply concerned by the severe sewage pollution of the Hennops River in Ekurhuleni. The party’s Amanda Davison says the cyanobacteria bloom in the river, extending to the Sesmylspruit and Rietvlei Dam, is a direct result of inadequate sewage management. She says this pollution can create a toxic chain reaction, with microcystin, a potent neurotoxin and carcinogen, spreading downstream to Centurion, the Crocodile River, and the Hartbeespoort Dam:

# An International Energy Agency report has revealed a resurgence in nuclear energy interest, with capacity potentially doubling to 870-GiggaWatts by 2050. Factors include lifetime extensions, such as at South Africa’s Koeberg units, and emerging small modular reactors. Over 40 nations, including South Africa, are exploring nuclear projects. The agency’s director, Fatih Birol, highlights small modular reactors’ growth potential to rival offshore wind by 2040. She emphasises that government backing and innovation remain pivotal for nuclear’s future success.

# And finally: The global economy is expected to lose up to 50-percent of its gross domestic product between 2070 and 2090 due to climate change impacts. The Institute and Faculty of Actuaries has warned that current assessments fail to account for severe risks, including migration, and nature breakdown. The report, co-authored with the University of Exeter, highlights the urgent need for decarbonisation, nature restoration, and policy shifts to avoid planetary insolvency, as global temperatures exceeded the 1.5-degree Celcius target last year.

Stay tuned for more news………….