Eco Minute 13:30

BULLETIN 26 August 1:30 pm

Good afternoon, here is your Eco Minute:

# Green Connection and Natural Justice say the fight to ensure South Africa pivots to a just energy and economic future remains an uphill battle. Earlier this month, the Western Cape High Court overturned the government’s approval of TotalEnergies’ block offshore drilling plans between Cape Town and Cape Agulhas. Green Connection’s Shahil Singh says they have submitted detailed objections to both Main Street 1549’s draft environmental and social impact assessment report for another proposed offshore oil and gas survey:

# China has expanded its use of coal energy more in the first half of this year than at any time in the past nine years. This is according to a report by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air. China put 21-gigawatts of coal power online in the first six months of this year. The report states that this spike in coal use takes place as China massively expands its renewable capacity. Author of the report, Christine Shearer, says China’s powerful coal interests are threatening climate goals.

# And finally: A case of the flesh-eating screwworm parasite has been detected in a person in the United States for the first time. The person from Maryland had travelled from Guatemala. The flies eat cattle and other warm-blooded animals alive and an outbreak was recorded in Central America and southern Mexico last year. The female screwworm fly lays eggs in the wounds of warm-blooded animals and once hatched, hundreds of larvae burrow through living flesh. Treatment involves removing larvae and disinfecting wounds.

Stay tuned for more news………….