Sustainable Development

Climate change could cost Africa billions by 2030

Africa currently loses between $7 billion and $15 billion a year because of climate change. If that trend continues, African Development Bank President Akinwumi Adesina tells the Zero podcast, that number could reach $50 billion by 2030. That’s why Adesina is focusing the bank’s efforts on financing climate adaptation, which he describes as the “forgotten cousin” of climate mitigation.

2 May, 2024

Environment

Calle Schlettwein chairs Zambezi Water Commission

The Minister of Agriculture, Water, and Land Reform Calle Schlettwein has assumed the Chairmanship of the Zambezi Watercourse Commission, in Mozambique. He took over from Carlos Alberto Fortes Mesquita, the Minister of Public Works, Housing, and Water Resources of Mozambique during the 11th Zambezi Watercourse Commission Council of Ministers Meeting. Namibia will host the next Council of Ministers.

29 April, 2024

Africa

African leaders in Djibouti for World Bank summit

Several African leaders are gathering in Kenya's capital, Nairobi, for the World Bank's International Development Association summit. The two-day summit, according to the BBC, aims to address development challenges on the continent and work towards creating prosperous, inclusive, and sustainable economies. The IDA is the part of the World Bank that helps the world’s 75 poorest countries, 39 of which are in Africa.

29 April, 2024

Africa

How to end hunger in sub-Saharan Africa: fight inequality, gender imbalances and climate change

By Helen Onyeaka, University of Birmingham A greater part of Africa’s population can’t afford a healthy diet than any other regional population. Food insecurity in sub-Saharan Africa is caused by climate change, high levels of poverty, rapid population growth, low economic growth, inadequate infrastructure and conflicts. Women are the backbone of agricultural labour in the region. The problems of limited access to land, water and technology faced […]

18 April, 2024

Africa

El Niño drought leaves Zimbabwe’s Lake Kariba only 13% full: a disaster for people and wildlife

By Joshua Matanzima, The University of Queensland Water levels at Lake Kariba in Zimbabwe have dropped dramatically because of the latest El Niño drought. The country’s president, Emmerson Mnangagwa, has declared a national disaster. Historian and social scientist Joshua Matanzima grew up at Lake Kariba and has spent the past 10 years researching socioeconomic life there. He discusses the impact of the latest drought on the people of […]

15 April, 2024

Namibia

Omuthiya Mayor plans concrete reservoir for the town

The Omuthiya Town Council has put up two water reservoirs due to the low water distribution pressure experienced in the town and to mitigate water scarcity in the region. OTC Mayor Johannes Ndeutepo in an interview with Nampa on Tuesday said they will be looking to build other sources of water. Ndeutepo the town council is planning to construct a concrete reservoir that would cater to the whole town in […]

2 April, 2024

Business / Economics

Ohlthaver & List Group begins N$350m solar project in Germany

The Ohlthaver and List Group has started construction of a Philippsee floating photovoltaic power plant in Bad Schönborn, Germany. With an investment value of approximately N$350 million, the solar park will consist of over 27,000 PV panels and cover more than eight hectares of water surface area. Here is the Executive Chairperson of the Ohlthaver & List Group, Sven Thieme.

27 March, 2024

Africa

Ghana’s decades-old ambition to build an integrated aluminium industry faces a new hurdle: the clean energy transition

By Theophilus Acheampong, University of Aberdeen and Matthew Tyce, King's College London It has been more than 60 years since Ghana’s first post-independence leader Kwame Nkrumah first mooted the idea that Ghana should produce aluminium from the country’s ample supply of bauxite. Under the Volta River Project, Nkrumah’s vision was to construct a dam on Ghana’s Volta River to provide dedicated electricity to a newly built smelter. […]

26 March, 2024

Environment

76% of Africa’s energy could come from renewable sources by 2040: here’s how

By Christiane Zarfl, University of Tübingen and Rebecca Peters, University of Tübingen Over half of Africa’s people – about 600 million – lack access to even the bare minimum of electricity. The tough question to answer is how access can be extended without adding to global warming by relying on fossil fuels. We – a team from Rwanda and Germany who work in the field of renewable […]

19 March, 2024