NewScientist Special on Climate Myths ...

For those who are perhaps confused by all the conflicting claims about climate change and want to find out what's really going on, New Scientist has put together a special on climate myths.

Why? Because time is running out. We need to be debating how to achieve the drastic cuts in CO₂ emissions that are required to reduce our impact on the climate, not wasting time endlessly rehashing a debate that was largely settled half a century ago.

Information Sessions on Threatened and Protected Species Regulations ...

South African Ministry of Environmental Affairs and Tourism

For immediate release
STATEMENT BY THE OFFICE OF MARTHINUS VAN SCHALKWYK, MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS AND TOURISM, 4 MAY 2007

Threatened and Protected Species Regulations -
to come into force on 1 February 2008

On the 20th of February 2007, Marthinus Van Schalkwyk, Minister of Environmental Affairs & Tourism, announced the new Threatened and Protected Species Regulations. After presentations by some Provincial MECs around challenges in implementing these regulations by 1 June 2007, the Minister has decided that these regulations will come into force on 1 February 2008.

No further postponement will be considered. The Minister would like to call on all stakeholders to ensure that they are ready for the implementation on 1 February 2008. In the interim, applicants are encouraged to apply for registration of facilities, as well as for elephant ivory, and for possession permits of, for example, cycad species. Even though permits will only be issued after 1 February, early submission of applications will avoid congestion and aid compliance.

Enquiries: Riaan Aucamp - 083 778 9923

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Below are the specific venues for the information seminars on Threatened or Protected species regulations. Copies of the regulations as well as the implementation guidelines are obtainable from Amanda Dana (see contact details below).

Pietermaritzburg
Venue: Queen Elizabeth Park
Date & Time: 10 May 2007 (Government officials only)- 14h00-16h00
Date & Time: 11 May 2007 (Stakeholders and the General Public)- 09h00
till 16h00

Pretoria
Venue: CSIR- Ruby Auditorium
Date: 14 May 2007
Time: 07h30-15h30

Grahamstown
Venue: Grahamstown Foundation-Thomas Pringle
Date: 15 May 2007
Time: 09h00-16h00

Cape Town
Venue: Cape Sun
Date: 16 May 2007
Time: 09h00-16h00

Bloemfontein
Venue: Bains Game Lodge
Date: 17 May 2007
Time: 09h00-16h00

Nelspruit
Venue: Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency (MTPA)- Auditorium
Date: 18 May 2007
Time: 09h00-16h00

Polokwane
Venue: Oasis Lodge
Date: 21 May 2007
Time: 09h00-16h00

Kimberly
Venue: Langberg Gasteplaas
Date: 22 May 2007
Time: 09h00-16h00

Contact Person:
(from whom further information and copies of the regulations and an implementation guideline can be obtained)
Amanda Dana
adana@deat.gov.za
+27 12 310 3969

Consultant services required by C.A.P.E. ...

General Procurement Notice:
Consultant Database Listing
C.A.P.E. Fine-scale Biodiversity Planning Project

C.A.P.E. is a partnership programme, hosted by the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI), that seeks to conserve and restore the biodiversity of the Cape Floristic Region and adjacent marine environment, while delivering significant benefits to the people of the region. Component 5 of the C.A.P.E. programme, which deals with establishing the foundations of the biodiversity economy to enhance conservation stewardship in key lowland landscapes, consists of four sub-components. This project constitutes sub-component 5.1, i.e. Undertaking fine-scale biodiversity planning in five broad priority areas namely the Riversdale Coastal Plain, Nieuwoudtville, Upper Breede River Valley, North West Sandveld and the Saldanha Peninsula. The Fine-scale Biodiversity Planning Project is a four year project, (May 2005 – December 2009), funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF). CapeNature has been appointed as the lead implementing agency for the fine-scale biodiversity planning project and will be working in close partnership with the South African National Biodiversity Institute and other project partners such as provincial departments and agencies, local authorities, planning and environmental consultants and local conservation NGOs.

The services of a number of consultants will be required during the production of these English and Afrikaans land-and resource-use guidelines which are to be associated with these conservation maps and plans. These services include:

A Guidelines Manager: To produce land-and resource-use guidelines to be associated with the conservation plans and maps;
A Guidelines Text Editor;
A Guidelines Designer; and
An English/Afrikaans translator.

Interested consultants are invited to register their interest in any of the above short term contracts related to the project by providing CV’s indicating relevant skills, qualifications and experience together with a covering letter to the Project Co-ordinator, Kerry te Roller at teroller@sanbi.org by 26 March 2007. Specific Terms of Reference will be provided after registration.

Impact of livestock on the environment ...

I recently listened to a podcast, 'theWatt, episode 70' that dealt with the impact of livestock on the environment, icluding energy issues of producing various foods. This is an interesting podcast dealing with energy issues.

They mentioned a very interesting report, 'Livestock's long shadow', on the subject.

Summary: This report aims to assess the full impact of the livestock sector on environmental problems, along with potential technical and policy approaches to mitigation. The assessment is based on the most recent and complete data available, taking into account direct impacts, along with the impacts of feed crop agriculture required for livestock production.
The livestock sector emerges as one of the top two or three most significant contributors to the most serious environmental problems, at every scale from local to global. The findings of this report suggest that it should be a major policy focus when dealing with problems of land degradation, climate change and air pollution, water shortage and water pollution, and loss of biodiversity.
Livestock’s contribution to environmental problems is on a massive scale and its potential contribution to their solution is equally large. The impact is so significant that it needs to be addressed with urgency. Major reductions in impact could be achieved at reasonable cost.

By the way my other favourite podcasts include the NewScientist podcast and Scientific American podcast and on a lighter note More Hip than Hippie

Talk by Sir Nicholas Stern ...

On Thursday last, as the provincial representative on the National Climate Change Committee, I was lucky enough to attend a talk at the DBSA, Midrand, by Sir Nicholas Stern

A really interesting talk and very interesting discussion with the audience afterwards

You can download the actual report and associated reviews here


Passing through Johannesburg International Airport (O.R. Tambo Airport) was the evidence of last weekend's Cape Argus Cycle Race - boxes and boxes of bicycles transported free by SAA on the new cut rate airline Mango

This year just over 30 000 cyclists from around the globe participated in the world's largest timed cycle race, including familiar names and faces like Nicholas Laidler, Francois Pienaar and tandem partner, Lucas Radebe, as well as Tour de France greats, Greg LeMond, Jan Ullrich and Steven Rooks.

Whatever you do don't mention Polar Bears ...

American censorship of science, particularly of climate change, is still alive and well.
See the latest daming report on the NewScientist blog.

Short course on Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Procedures ...

Rhodes University: Short course on Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Procedures

Course dates: Monday 7 May to Friday 11 May 2007

Rhodes University's Departments of Environmental Science and Botany, in conjunction with Coastal & Environmental Services (CES), are offering another short course on Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Procedures at Rhodes University, Grahamstown during May 2007.

For more information on this course, please obtain a brochure (in pdf format) and registration form (Word document) from the contact person below.

Please forward this information to anybody you feel may be interested in attending a course in Environmental Impact Assessment procedures.

Should you have any queries about this EIA short course, please contact :

Lisl Griffioen
Short course coordinator
Coastal & Environmental Services

lisl@cesnet.co.za

P O Box 934
Grahamstown
6140, South Africa
Tel: 046-622 4455
Fax: 046-622 6564
www.cesnet.co.za

Draft guideline on biodiversity offsets - comments requested

In December 2005 the Department of Environment Affairs and Development Planning (DEA&DP) commissioned the preparation of a provincial guideline on biodiversity offsets. A draft guideline was produced in June 2006 (www.capegateway.gov.za/eng/pubs/guides/P/133948/2 ) but, due to a number of issues, was not finalized.

In January 2007, the Department appointed Susie Brownlie (deVilliers Brownlie Associates), together with Mark Botha (Botanical Society of South Africa), Nick Helme (Nick Helme Botanical Surveys) and Hugo van Zyl (Independent Economic Researchers), to strengthen and finalize the draft guideline.

Drawing on a focused biodiversity offsets workshop, and input from a number of stakeholders, the draft guideline has been revised. This revised draft will be available for comment by interested and affected parties on DEA&DP's website [(www.capegateway.gov.za/eadp) from Friday 9 March - please go to 'publications' and then 'guidelines', and look for the 'biodiversity offsets' guideline].

Should you have any comments on the revised draft guideline, please send them to Susie Brownlie (email: dbass@icon.co.za) by the very latest 20 March 2007.

Please contact Susie Brownlie [021-6744 253] should you have any queries.

Transforming the global energymix - What role for biofuels? ...

INVITATION TO LECTURE: Transforming the global
energymix - What role for biofuels?

Biowatch South Africa and the University of Cape Town's Environmental
Evaluation Unit are jointly hosting a lecture which will focus on
biofuels.

Biowatch is an environmental organisation concerned with issues of
biodiversity, biosafety, food sovereignty and social justice.

The Environmental Evaluation Unit is an independent self-funded unit
based at UCT. Founded in 1985, the Unit has established itself as a
centre of excellence in the fields of integrated environmental
management and sustainable development.

Please RSVP to Feroza at biowatch@mweb.co.za or on 021-447 5939 by
Friday, 2 March 2007.

To find out more about Biowatch South Africa, please go to
www.biowatch.org.za or ring us on 021-447 5939.

To find out more about the Environmental Evaluation Unit, please go to
www.eeu.uct.ac.za

Transforming the global energy mix
What role for biofuels?

Dr Karin Kniessl discusses some of the geopolitical and market issues
which dominate the current debate on transformation of the global energy
market - the "third industrial revolution" - as coined by some
scientists. She will examine the role of the European Union, OPEC and
international energy companies in this debate and its implications for
South Africa.

Seminar Room
Chemical Engineering Building
Upper Campus, UCT
Wednesday, 7 March
5 pm (17.00)

Refreshments will be served after the discussion

Dr Karin Kniessl is an academic and author who teaches international
relations with a focus on the Middle East and energy affairs at the
Diplomatic Academy in Vienna, Austria. She is a former Austrian Ministry
of Foreign Affairs official and a member of the board of the Society for
Political and Strategic Studies.

Dioxin and Furan info ...

Around the dioxin / furan issues of Energy-from-Waste facilities.
See the United States Environmental Protection Agency
(USEPA) Air Pollution Training Institute (APTI) manual on the
characteristics, formation and control of dioxins and furans. The following
are links to 1-page explanations. For your info:

http://www.epa.gov/eogapti1/module6/dioxins/character/character.htm

http://www.epa.gov/eogapti1/module6/dioxins/formation/formation.htm

http://www.epa.gov/eogapti1/module6/dioxins/control/control.htm

Threatened or protected species regulations ...

Ministry of Environmental Affairs and Tourism

EXTRACTS FROM A SPEECH BY MARTHINUS VAN SCHALKWYK, MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS AND TOURISM, AT THE LAUNCH OF THE THREATENED OR PROTECTED SPECIES REGULATIONS ON TUESDAY 20TH FEBRUARY 2007

MINISTER STARTS CLEANING UP HUNTING INDUSTRY, BANS CANNED HUNTING

Introduction

Today, it gives me great pleasure to publish the regulations that pertain to threatened and protected species. These regulations will come into effect on 1 June 2007.

The regulations are a culmination of a three year period of consultation between government, civil society, the wild life industry as well as animal welfare groups. They also take into account several recommendations by a panel of experts which I appointed in January 2005.

For the first time nationally listed species will now have uniform conservation status across the country. Government will have new muscle to ensure that our biodiversity is utilised in an ecologically sustainable way. A broad range of restricted activities will now require permits. The illicit trading of our endangered fish, bird and plant species, like cycads, will be rooted out. The same legal standards will apply throughout the country, closing loopholes and removing discrepancies between provinces.

In support of these regulations, our initiatives to improve law enforcement demonstrate Government’s resolve to protect our biological heritage. The Green Scorpions will continue to play a key role in ensuring compliance.

Let me turn to some of the specifics:

Registration and self-regulation

The Regulations introduce a uniform national system for the registration of captive breeding operations, commercial exhibition facilities, game farms, nurseries, scientific institutions, sanctuaries and rehabilitation facilities. These institutions will be required to meet strict criteria. For the first time, provision will be made for the recognition of hunting organisations and the application of codes of ethical conduct and good practice.

The introduction of game farm hunting and nursery possession permits will streamline the permit issuing process. It will also compel permit holders to provide critical information to the authorities, which will assist in assessing the status of biodiversity in the country.

Meeting International Commitments

In order to meet our CITES commitments, we are establishing a national scientific authority, which will replace the current fragmented system. The new authority will enable uniform implementation and provide access to scientific information beyond just CITES species.

As a signatory to the international Convention on Biodiversity, South Africa has a commitment to the sustainable use of our natural resources. We understand the huge responsibility that rests on our shoulders to nurture the ecological and economic value of our biodiversity. Therefore, we must protect the integrity of our ecosystems to ensure their long term contribution to tourism and job creation. These regulations empower us to do this.

Canned Lion Hunting

We are putting an end, once and for all, to the reprehensible practice of canned hunting. The regulations specifically prohibit hunting large predators and rhinoceros that are “put and take” animals - in other words, a captive bred animal that is released on a property for the purpose of hunting within twenty four months.

South Africa has a long-standing reputation as a global leader on conservation issues. We can not allow our achievements to be undermined by rogue practices such as canned lion hunting.

Cleaning up the Hunting Industry

More broadly, the regulations signal the start of a clean-up of the hunting industry. They lay the basis for a well regulated and ethical hunting and game farming industry in South Africa.

Whilst we applaud their substantial and positive contribution to conservation management and economic growth, we also have a responsibility to preserve the resource base and ensure that the industry has a sustainable future. In order to do this, we must balance economic objectives with conservation management objectives. Hunting is an important industry, but we must manage it in accordance with ethical and defensible standards.

The regulations include prohibitions and restrictions on certain activities and methods of hunting. For example, hunting thick skinned animals and large predators with a bow and arrow will be prohibited and hunting from vehicles will no longer be allowed.

Two-step process

The implementation of these regulations will be the first step of a two-step process to clean up the hunting and game farming industry. The next step will be to promote even greater uniformity with regard to elements of the hunting industry that we are not dealing with today. We will introduce national norms and standards that provide a framework for provincial regulation and further streamline permitting. This will also be developed in close consultation with the industry, provincial authorities and other stakeholders.

The regulations are available on www.environment.gov.za


MEDIA ENQUIRIES:

Chief Director: Communications, Blessing Manale - 083 677 1630
Director: Ministerial Liaison, Riaan Aucamp - 083 778 9923

Electronic Database on African Plant Information ...

The three larger SANBI herbaria, The National Herbarium, Pretoria, The
Compton Herbarium, Cape Town, and the KwaZulu-Natal Herbarium, Durban,
during the past three years collaborated with Aluka in building an
electronic database on African plant information. SANBI was one of the
34 participants in the project and contributed more than 20 725 high
resolution images of type specimens held in the three herbaria, together
with numerous images of slides and artwork held in its collections. The
Aluka resource now holds more than 260 000 images and
descriptive texts of plants from Africa and Madagascar contributed to
date by the participants. This resource will be officially launched at
the AETFAT congress that will be held in Yaounde, Cameroon in February 2007.

This resource can now be accessed at http://www.aluka.org.
A help facility can be accessed at http://www.aluka.org/page/help/index.jsp,
and contents areas and descriptions at
http://www.aluka.org/page/content/index.jsp.

It is inevitable that you will come across mistakes in the database.
These you can report to the contact person below.

CONTACT:
Dr J.P. (Koos) Roux
Curator: Compton Herbarium
Private Bag X7
Claremont 7735
South Africa

Tel.: +27 21 799 8681
Fax: +27 21 761 4151
e-mail: roux@sanbi.org
website: www.sanbi.org.

EU Agrees to cut green house emissions by 20%

European environment ministers have agreed to cut greenhouse gas emissions to 20% below 1990 levels by 2020.

Climate Change themes ...

Some useful links in climate change related themes

Climate change communications:

Defra climate change communication

Carbon allowances:

Defra personal carbon allowances
Evaluating emissions - guidance and tools for calculating your organisations emissions

Individual Actions:

Individual and political action on climate change - Wiki
Focus on climate change - individual action

Reality show deals with climate change reality

Reality show deals with climate change reality

WA$TED!, which was supported by the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority, visits a different household each week targeting energy efficiency, water use, transport choices, rubbish and recycling.

Come on SABC - get WA$TED!

New Blog for DEADP ...

I have just created a new blog for the Western Cape Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning

UK Climate Impacts Programme ...

I have just received the latest news and events of the UK Climate Impacts Programme.

Of particular interest is the latest edition of the UKCIP Climate Digest, a monthly digest of climate change adaptation research from the academic literature.

The digest covers the science of climate change, impacts, adaptation and decision-making. It aims to provide a broad coverage of a range of sectors and regions. Full references for each article are provided.

Western Cape can learn many lessons by studying Climate Change programmes in other countries.

Western Cape Climate Change Website ...

The Western Cape Provincial Government has commisioned OneWorld Sustainable Investments to develop a Provincial Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan.

OneWorld has created a Western Cape Climate Change Website where information about climate change in the Western Cape is available.

There is also an on line bulletin board with all the latest news about the project such as announcements of workshops. You can also register there as a project stakeholder.

ExxonMobil Disinformation on Climate Change ...

On January 3 2007 ABC News reported that ExxonMobil withdrew and reissued, within 20 minutes of publication, an amended response to a report about the company by 'The Union of Concerned Scientists' criticising Exxon's funding of disinformation on climate change science.

Exxon's amended response states, "We recognize that the accumulation of greenhouse gases in the Earth's atmosphere poses risks that may prove significant for society and ecosystems…Human activities have contributed to these increased concentrations [of greenhouse gases], mainly through the combustion of fossil fuels for energy use; land use changes [especially deforestation]; and agricultural, animal husbandry and waste-disposal practices…Even with many scientific uncertainties, the risk that greenhouse gas emissions may have serious impacts justifies taking action." What is clear today is that greenhouse gas emissions are one of the factors that contribute to climate change, and that the use of fossil fuels is a major source of these emissions." amongst other issues.

I first came across this in a Newsweek article published on 4 January 2007.

The fact that an oil company like ExxonMobil now recognises climate change and the links thereof to greenhouse gas emissions, together with the recent political developments in the US, makes me think we will see movement on the issue sooner rather than later by the US National Government.

Reading 'The SciGuy's' blog post on the topic and all the comments that respond to that post really start to give one an idea of the complexities of the political and scientific minefield around the climate change and disinformation issue.

The Carbon Footprint of a Cheeseburger ...

How much carbon does your cheeseburger habit create?

At 2.85-3.1 kg of CO2 (equiv) per burger, then, that's 428-465 kg of greenhouse gas per year for an average American's burger consumption.

Follow the link, it's an interesting read.
For a real education you must read the 34 odd 'blog reactions' or comments. See the bottom right of the post in question - green text.