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Committed: Volunteers scrape the invasive weeds and litter, which have been dragged in by members of the rowing and canoeing clubs, onto Wemmer Pan’s banks. Photos: Madison Bannon

Restoring Wemmer Pan’s glory

A diverse community of rowing enthusiasts and local residents who volunteer their time is working tirelessly to clean up the historic pan

Futile: Kiribati, the island republic in the central Pacific Ocean, is being erased by climate change. A family wades through sea water flooding their village to collect stones to build a wall in a desperate bid to block the deluge. (Jonas Gratzer/LightRocket/Getty Images)
The people of Kiribati are under pressure to relocate due to sea level rise. Each year, the sea level rises by about half an inch. Though this may not sound like much, it is a big deal considering the islands are only a few feet above sea level, which puts them at risk of flooding and sea swells. 
It is well agreeable that the people of Kiribati account for little to nothing in terms of green house emissions but are forced to face the direct consequences of global warming. And with an average age of 22, Kiribati’s future generations are at risk of potentially lethal sea level rise. (Photo by Jonas Gratzer/LightRocket via Getty Images)

The dirty tricks climate scientists face

Think-tank institutes, politicians and Big Business conspired to discredit researchers and the science of the climate crisis

Toxic: Schools in the city of Gurgaon, near New Delhi in India, closed because of the hazardous level of pollutants in the atmosphere. (Parveen Kumar/Hindustan Times/Getty Images)

Climate change is also a health crisis

"Future efforts must reflect the real costs of our fossil fuel economy and aid those most affected."

Advocate Mike Hellens told the court that “our reputation will be marred

Criminal charges will hang over BP’s head until May

The company has argued that its reputation is being damaged, but the court would not be rushed

A view of the targeted area for the Xolobeni Mineral Sands project on the Wild Coast.

​Environmentalists are winning the battle for enforcement of the law

Triumphs in the courts over the past five years are forcing the state and companies to comply with the law.

So we are already living in a 1.5°C hotter world — a world in which much of Africa’s water dries up

​Aussie scientists give 1830 as the year when human-driven global warming kicked off

From examining corals and fossilised marine animals, researchers have been able to detect tell-tale signs of the oceans starting to heat up.

Less oversight means mines could cut corners in areas such as dampening the dust coming from their operations.

Minerals department cuts budget for environmental oversight in mining

It’s absurd for the mineral resources department to oversee environmental compliance, reflected in the drastic budget cut for investigating offences.

Government no longer ore-struck

The department of mineral resources faces increasing opposition from other state ministries, particularly environment, water and tourism.

Activists are dying as climate conferences potter on

It is dangerous to be an environmentalist – but governments should protect activists instead of ignore or prosecute them.

Ecuador digs deep to fight oil tyranny

On the back foot, the country is taking its titanic war of environmental pollution against US oil company Chevron to the court of public opinion.

Fireworks illuminate the smoggy Beijing skyline as China brings in the new year.

Chinese lunar new year a subdued affair

China welcomed the Year of the Horse with toned down celebrations as people heeded govt pleas to go easy on firecrackers amid air pollution concerns.

‘We’ve hit the tipping point’

Ecofriendly products and methods are now regarded as essential, not mere indulgences.

Message in the music: Organisers of Rocking the Daisies do their best to make the festival as ecofriendly as possible — and to get this message across to the revellers.

Greening the daisies

An ecofriendly festival has its heart in the right place, but most revellers are just there for the jol.

Young South Africans: She may be the ‘water maverick’

Fish or foul

Young South Africans: She may be the ‘water maverick’, but can Bernelle Verster tell fish tank water from tap water?

Climbing out of the box

Climbing out of the box

The children of Lavender Hill are opening their eyes to new worlds and also going green.

SA schools kick off groundbreaking project

Two Western Cape schools have become the first participants in a global project aimed at addressin g pressing environmental issues using technology.

No deal is better than a bad one

The new head of Greenpeace has challenged Barack Obama to agree to a binding treaty, writes David Smith.

US climate Bill a good start, says Al Gore

A Bill to fight climate change currently before the US Congress ”is a good start”, Nobel laureate and environment champion Al Gore said on Friday.

Korea’s big green deal

South Korea’s secretary for future vision is considering how many of his people it takes to change a million lightbulbs. No joke.