Mail & Guardian
Mail & Guardian
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Every year, more than 10 million tonnes of food is lost or wasted in South Africa before it reaches the plates of consumers. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)
COP30 BRAZIL 2025 PARIS AGREEMENT SOUTH AFRICA

10 million tonnes of food wasted a year – and SA’s draft climate plan ignores the issue

Tackling food waste can cut emissions and fight hunger, says FoodForward SA

  • Sheree Bega
3 min read
Up in smoke: Civil society organisations have called the environment department’s proposed emissions targets insufficient, especially as South Africa is the world’s 13th-largest emitter. Photo: Delwyn Verasamy
CLIMATE CHANGE PARIS AGREEMENT

Civil society calls for stronger targets in South Africa’s draft climate plan

Groups say the environment department’s proposed emissions targets are inadequate

  • Sheree Bega
8 min read
The energy transition itself carries human rights risks. If clean energy is built on compromised rights, it will not be sustainable in the long term. Photo: Waldo Swiegers/Bloomberg/Getty Images
ADAPTATION

Infrastructure and development plans must align

Infrastructure is responsible for 79% greenhouse gas emissions and plays an important role in supporting national development priorities and achieving the targets of the 2015…

  • Marcia Zali
4 min read
Coalface: Countries around the world are finding ways to assist coal workers transition into other jobs. (Vincent Mundy/Bloomberg/Getty Images)
AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK

Climate envoys visit South Africa to plan for the end of coal ahead of COP26

Climate envoys from the UK, US, and the EU are in South Africa to discuss a possible coal retirement plan

  • Tunicia Phillips
3 min read
As South Africa steps into a new chapter with the Climate Change Act, it is crucial to question the depth of its commitment and the substance of its promises. (Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)
CABO VERDE

Lower income countries score high in health-aligned climate change policy

The Global Climate and Health Alliance says South Africa’s low score means there is room for improvement

  • Tunicia Phillips
3 min read
El Niño is expected to cause a loss of rainfall
AFRICAN CLIMATE ALLIANCE

South Africa’s nationally determined contribution plan for climate change must be more ambitious, say nation’s youth

The pandemic has demonstrated that, when it’s a matter of life and death, we can manage dramatic U-turns in public policy. We must take similarly decisive action now on climate…

  • Sibusiso Mazomba
  • Gabriel Klaasen
  • Sarah Robyn Farrell
5 min read