The Green Connection

Send your Comments to the NPC before 11th May 2012.

Roshan — Thu, 10 May 2012 10:00:09 +0000

Have you heard of the National Planning Commission?

Have your say in how development takes place in South Africa over the next 20 years. What is civil society saying, download our minority report:

National Planning Commission Minority Report CT Civil Society May 11th

If you want to support this report, send a letter to the government before 11th May 2012.

…..Over the last year, civil society organisations have invested much time and thought into the National Planning Commission processes. However, it is our contention that there is little evidence that our views have been incorporated into the end product in any meaningful way….. We therefore submit this report in the spirit of constructive engagement, from an active citizenry who seeks to be heard in national development debates of our nation…..

See National Planning Commission for details. Please also let us know if you want us to add your name to the final document, contact info@greenconnection.org.za

WE ARE CURRENTLY UPDATING OUR WEBSITE, PLEASE BEAR WITH US FOR A FEW DAYS WHILE WE TRANSFER ALL THE INFORMATION – SORRY FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE

Roshan — Wed, 09 May 2012 18:04:29 +0000

Renewable Energy

Roshan — Tue, 08 May 2012 13:19:26 +0000

Renewable Energy Book: Electric Capitalism

Recolonising Africa on the power grid

by David A McDonald

Download the complete book for free from the HSRC website

Renewable Energy Book

See Chapter 7:

Renewable Energy: Harnessing the power of Africa?

By Liz McDaid

Visiting students learn about energy and climate change in Africa

Roshan — Sat, 05 May 2012 18:12:30 +0000

In January 2012, Liz presented a short talk on Going Green to this year’s IES students. The talk covered some of the environmental challenges facing South Africa and how students might play their part in turning problems into solutions.

For more information, please visit: IES Abroad

How to green your campus

How to Green your campus

Solar South Africa 19-20 June, Johannesburg, South Africa

Roshan — Tue, 01 May 2012 08:29:41 +0000

Solar South Africa
19-20 June, Johannesburg, South Africa

The 2nd Annual Solar South Africa 2012 is designed to address the challenges facing the South African Solar industry with practical presentations, and updates from all the key players including successful and prospective project developers, international investors, Eskom and policy-makers including the Department of Energy and NERSA, and many more.

Meet the Minister of Energy, Elizabeth Dipuo Peters, at the 2nd Solar South Africa and discuss topics critical to the development of the South African solar industry including the ins and outs of the IPP process, environmental assessment and management and the deployment of new and alternative technologies.

For Sponsorships or exhibition opportunities contact: James Brady for additional information

Email: james.brady@greenpowerconferences.com

http://www.greenpowerconferences.com/solarsouthafrica

Interested in attending this very informative networking conference? Register now and quote the code (GC20) for a 20% discount, courtesy of The Green Connection. An additional 10% early discount will apply if you register before 8 May.

Solar South Africa Brochure & Registration Form

Who provides the science behind climate change warnings?

Roshan — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 22:58:11 +0000

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is a scientific body tasked to evaluate the risk of climate change caused by human activity. The panel was established in 1988 by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), two organizations of the United Nations.

The IPCC shared the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize with former Vice President of the United States Al Gore.^[1]

The IPCC does not carry out research, nor does it monitor climate or related phenomena. A main activity of the IPCC is publishing special reports on topics relevant to the implementation of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC),^[2] an international treaty that acknowledges the possibility of harmful climate change; implementation of the UNFCCC led eventually to the Kyoto Protocol. The IPCC bases its assessment mainly on peer reviewed and published scientific literature. ^[3] The IPCC is only open to member states of the WMO and UNEP. IPCC reports are widely cited in almost any debate related to climate change.^[4]^[5] National and international responses to climate change generally regard the UN climate panel as authoritative.^[6]

The summary reports (i.e. Summary for Policymakers), which draw the most media attention, include review by participating governments in addition to scientific review.^[7]

Leonie Joubert, a South African author, wrote a very easy to read book about climate change – if you are looking for more information, it is a great read, available in book shops – quote the ISBN number Scorched (ISBN 978-1-86814-437-2)

Climate Change and Energy – the South African perspective

Roshan — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 22:53:54 +0000

In January, 2012, Liziwe McDaid and Lynette Munro of the Green Connection were asked to prepare two lecture sessions on South African environmental issues as part of a summer school course presented to a group of American students from Mary Washington University, Virginia, USA. Given that COP17 had just taken place in South Africa, Liziwe presented some reflections on how climate change will impact on South Africa and whether the outcome from COP17 are likely to have an impact on the lives of South Africans.

For more information, read Prof Harald Winkler’s blog – http://www.erc.uct.ac.za/E2C2blog.htm and click on Bending the curve back to multilateral agreement on climate change or read Scorched by Leonie Joubert – ISBN 978-1-86814-437-2)

Commemoration of nuclear disaster in Fukushima

Roshan — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 22:49:15 +0000

In March 2012, South African NGOs commemorated that it had been one year since the nuclear disaster in Fukushima. There were a number of talks and presentations, art exhibitions etc held around the country. The Green Connection participated in a panel discussion debating the pros and cons of nuclear energy for South Africa.

For more information on nuclear energy in South Africa, go to: www.greenpeace.org, www.koebergalert.org , www.safcei.org.za

For a detailed analysis of international nuclear industry, see Nuclear Power in a Post-Fukushima World, 25 Years After the Chernobyl Accident – http://www.worldwatch.org/system/files/WorldNuclearIndustryStatusReport2011_%20FINAL.pdf

In March 10^th 2012, The economist published an article on nuclear energy:

“They allowed their enthusiasm for nuclear power to shelter weak regulation, safety systems that failed to work and a culpable ignorance of the tectonic risks the reactors faced, all the while blithely promulgating a myth of nuclear safety.”

Read full article here…. http://www.economist.com/node/21549936

Earth Awareness

Roshan — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 22:10:32 +0000

IES Abroad (Institute for the International Education of Students) provides courses for international students visiting South Africa. Liziwe McDaid and Lynette Munro from the Green Connection are faculty at IES, offering an environmental management course focusing on environmental justice issues within the sustainable development sector.

Green Economy

Roshan — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 21:55:37 +0000

On 24^th April 2012, Liziwe McDaid was invited to attend a civil society gathering hosted by AIDC and presented a critique of the role of energy in the green economy, and reflected on how civil society might strengthen its participation in this arena.

Energy and Green Economy