Eco Minute 13:30

BULLETIN 21 May 1:30 pm

Good afternoon, here is your Eco Minute:

# Electricity and Energy minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa says South Africa will continue to use coal in its energy mix for the foreseeable future. Coal-fired power stations produce 85-percent of the country’s electricity, making South Africa the biggest producer of harmful greenhouse gas emissions in Africa. Ramokgopa says coal will remain the backbone of the energy system – not out of disregard for the country’s climate obligations, but due to economic and infrastructural realities. He adds technology is being used to reduce emissions from coal-fired power stations.

# A nonprofit education company focused on developing science, technology, engineering, and mathematics skills, Protec, says investing in those fields is vital to combat climate change. The organisation highlights South Africa’s urgent need for professionals such as environmental scientists, engineers, and renewable energy specialists. CEO Balan Moodley says developing these skills among young people will help the country tackle climate challenges more effectively. Protec is calling for greater support in STEM education to equip future generations to lead sustainable solutions across the country.

# And finally: The Western Cape’s largest reservoir, the Theewaterskloof Dam, is holding steady at 58.79-percent despite recent rainfall. The recent rains have managed to stabilise river catchments but did not significantly raise the province’s dam levels. The province’s water supply system, serving over three-million residents, is at 58.44-percent, slightly down from last week. Provincial Water and Sanitation Department head Ntombizanele Bila-Mupariwa has warned that climate variability and erratic rains, influenced by the El Niño and the La Niña weather systems, threaten long-term water security.

Stay tuned for more news………….