7 Billion tonnes of plastic waste threaten environment

7 Billion tonnes of plastic waste threaten environment

Since the 1950s, 9.2 billion tonnes of plastic have been produced, seven billion tonnes of which have become potentially toxic waste. Jyoti Mathur-Filipp, Executive Secretary of the international negotiating committee secretariat that is focused on curbing the scourge told UN News that if no action is taken, plastic pollution could triple by 2060.

May 2, 2024 87

Environment

World marks 54th Earth Day

It is Earth Day, an annual event to show support for environmental protection. First held on April 22, 1970, it now includes a wide range of events coordinated globally by Earthday.org including 1 billion people in more than 193 countries. The official theme for 2024 is "Planet vs. Plastics." Choking our oceans, plastic waste makes up 80 percent of all marine pollution. Over 10 million metric tonnes of plastic end up […]

April 22, 2024 35

Environment

Namibia stops Russian uranium exploration because of pollution concerns

Namibia has suspended Russia's state atomic energy agency's uranium exploration due to fears of groundwater contamination. Despite being Africa's largest producer of nuclear fuel, the government through the Ministry of Agriculture, Water, and Land reform has withheld the necessary mining permit, citing concerns over One Uranium's failure to demonstrate a pollution-free extraction method. Here is Petra Witbooi the Chairperson of Leonardville Village Council. Minister of Agriculture, Water, and Land Reform […]

April 18, 2024 82

Environment

South Africa’s Cabinet approves end to lion and rhino breeding

South Africa’s cabinet has approved a phased end to the captive breeding of lions and rhinos as the country plans to end practices that have corrupted its reputation as a custodian of some of the world’s biggest wildlife populations. SA’s cabinet, according to Bloomberg, also agreed to limit the hunting of leopards and hold off on a push to resume the international trade of elephant ivory.

April 2, 2024 20

Namibia

Conservation experts gather in Windhoek for SMART conference

The inaugural global user conference for the Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool is underway in Windhoek, uniting conservation practitioners worldwide. Namibia began using SMART in 2016, starting with a pilot program in Etosha National Park. Due to its success, the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism expanded its use to include all of Namibia's KAZA parks in 2020. Minister of Environment and Tourism, Pohamba Shifeta, is involved in the event.

March 12, 2024 51

Environment

EU to introduce 10-year prison terms for environmental crimes

The European Union has become the first international body to criminalise the most serious cases of environmental damage that are “comparable to ecocide”. Ecosystem destruction, including habitat loss and illegal logging, will be punished with tougher penalties and prison sentences of up to 10 years under the EU’s updated environmental crime directive. Here is local Ecologist Peter Cuningham.

February 28, 2024 40

Lifestyle

Migrating animals face collapsing numbers – major new UN report

By Joseph Ogutu, University of Hohenheim The world’s travelling animals – marine turtles, whales, sharks, elephants, reptiles, wild cats, birds, and even insects – have entered a period of sharp decline, new research has found. The first ever State of the World’s Migratory Species report, released today by the United Nations Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals, showed that the conservation status of […]

February 13, 2024 33

Africa

Nigeria destroys elephant tusks worth 11 million dollars

Nigeria has destroyed a stockpile of confiscated elephant tusks worth 11 million dollars. They were smuggled from different African countries. Tesem Akende reports from Jos.

January 10, 2024 41

Environment

Namibia records decrease in Rhino poaching

Namibia has recorded a decrease in Rhino poaching however, the Minister of Environment, Forestry, and Tourism, Pohamba Shifeta, on Monday, in his end-of-year statement, said that poaching remains an issue, despite the recorded decrease over the year 2023. According to Shifeta, 48 rhinos were poached in 2023 compared to 92 in the previous year, while eight elephants were poached in 2023, compared to four in 2022. Meanwhile, the Namibia Press […]

December 19, 2023 11