insert_link Health / Medical Climate change risks triggering a spike in infectious disease outbreaks: three reasons why By Wolfgang Preiser, Stellenbosch University; Cheryl Baxter, Stellenbosch University; Houriiyah Tegally, Stellenbosch University; Monika Moir, Stellenbosch University, and Tulio de Oliveira, University of KwaZulu-Natal Climate change is our planet’s most immediate existential threat, and will likely only worsen for the foreseeable future. Among its numerous adverse effects on human health, there is strong evidence linking climate change to infectious disease outbreaks. A recent analysis revealed that of 375 infectious diseases […] todayDecember 13, 2023 14
insert_link Africa Commonwealth launches e-learning course to help African countries access billions in climate finance A new Commonwealth e-learning course launched yesterday will improve the ability of African countries to access billions of dollars in climate finance. The Commonwealth Secretary-General, The Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC, launched the ‘Commonwealth Climate Finance Essentials E-learning Course’ at an event on 11 December 2023 in Dubai during the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28). The course builds on the extensive experience of the Commonwealth Climate Finance Access Hub. […] todayDecember 13, 2023 15
insert_link Africa From trash to power: how to harness energy from Africa’s garbage dumps – and save billions in future damage By Nkweauseh Reginald Longfor, Sophia University New research on garbage dumps in 44 sub-Saharan African countries shows that 95% are unregulated. The landfill sites still take in new garbage even when they are filled to capacity. As the waste decomposes, these sites release harmful greenhouse gases. However, using the methane gas to generate energy instead could save the continent billions of dollars. We talk to sustainability scientist and author of […] todayDecember 12, 2023 16
insert_link 5 Environment Dubai climate talks a “COP of Hope” Climate mitigation talks in Dubai last week were a “COP of hope”, IMF spokesperson Julie Kozack said Thursday (Dec. 7) in Washington, DC. Tens of thousands of journalists, policymakers, bankers and civil society organizations are gathered there for the UN’s 28th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the UNFCCC. https://youtu.be/tRZPACmuBm0 IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva attended the meeting, aimed at engaging governments around the world to curb climate change. […] todayDecember 12, 2023 11 5
insert_link Africa COP28: Report recommends young people get a fair share of climate finance Young people, who are among those most at risk to the impacts of climate change, are not accessing the funds they need to tackle the challenges posed by global warming, according to a report published on 9 December. The joint report by the Commonwealth Secretariat and YOUNGO, the children and youth constituency of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), analysed 100 climate finance initiatives targeted at young people. While it […] todayDecember 12, 2023 8
insert_link Namibia Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr: We Should Think Creatively About Climate Financing for African Women By Kate Okorie, via bird story agency Approval and funding for the eagerly anticipated Loss and Damage Fund on the first day of the United Nations climate change conference, or COP28, in Dubai, was widely lauded. The Fund will assist developing countries battling climate crises. Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, Sierra Leonean politician and finance professional currently serving as Freetown's mayor and Co-Chair of C40 cities, called for the fund to be distributed […] todayDecember 8, 2023 28
insert_link Business / Economics COP28 announces new partnerships and initiatives to advance sustainable urban development Over 40 ministers met today in Dubai in support of subnational climate action, joining the COP28 Presidency to announce a series of partnerships to accelerate the net-zero transition and climate resilience in cities. The announcements span sectors including buildings, waste and resource management systems, urban water resilience, and urban nature restoration. They build on the 1 December launch of the Coalition for High Ambition Multilevel Partnerships for Climate Action (CHAMP) […] todayDecember 7, 2023 10
insert_link Africa Global leaders call for increased resources to provide 1 billion people with clean cooking solutions in Africa “Every woman, every mother must be able to turn on the gas cooker and cook a decent meal like anywhere else in the world”—Adesina African Development Bank to scale up contribution to clean cooking solutions “Lack of access to clean cooking is a stain on humanity”—Birol Africa requires $4 billion in annual investment,to provide 250 million with clean cooking energy, says the Executive Director of the International Energy Agency (IEA) Fatih […] todayDecember 7, 2023 6
insert_link Environment COP28 Climate Innovation Forum unites world’s technology leaders to explore cutting-edge climate solutions COP28’s Climate Innovation Forum brought together the world’s technology leaders in a series of talks exploring cutting-edge solutions to tackle the global climate crisis, including artificial intelligence (AI), satellite technology, big data, clean energy, industrial decarbonization, low-carbon hydrogen, and more. Attending the Climate Innovation Forum were key leaders in the technology and sustainability fields, including: His Excellency Omar Sultan Al Olama, the UAE’s Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital […] todayDecember 6, 2023 10