Category: ENVIRONMENT

67th Meeting of the GEF Council: momentum for people and the planet

The 67th meeting of the GEF Council, the 36th meeting of the Least Developed Countries Fund/Special Climate Change Fund (LDCF/SCCF) Council, and the 2nd meeting of the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund (GBFF) Council collectively adopted work programs totaling USD 736.42 million. The work programs will seek to bring global environmental benefits through activities addressing biodiversity loss, chemicals and waste pollution, land degradation, climate change, and international waters. Among other projects and programs, funding was approved for a Great Green Wall program established between the LDCF and GEF Trust Funds, a…

SPP, DCC Unveil Initiative To Rate, Rank Nigerian States’ Climate Governance Performance

The Society for Planet and Prosperity (SPP), in close collaboration with the Department of Climate Change (DCC) of the Federal Ministry of Environment in Abuja, has announced plans to officially launch the rating and ranking of the climate governance performance of Nigeria’s 36 states in July 2024. The statement was made on Thursday, June 13, 2024, at the inaugural coordination meeting of climate change desk officers from Nigerian states, which was convened by the DCC. SPP President, Prof Chukwumerije Okereke, while presenting the state of play of the rating and…

Energy for Growth in Africa Initiative Unveiled

By.Mohammed A.Abu The decades long delay in fulfilment of pledges made by the Global South towards  climate change impact funding  in the Global North hasn’t helped the course of the global transition from fossil fuels derived energy to renewable energy as global warming and climate change impact bites deeper. Indeed, lack of external affordable funding for renewable energy projects in both the public and private sectors of countries in the Global South with particular reference to Africa, the world’s most energy poor continent, has since given rise to the legitimate…

G7 Pledges to Accelerate SDGs, Transition from Fossil Fuels This Decade

The Group of 7 (G7) leaders from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK, and the US, with the EU, have wrapped up a three-day summit, united in their “steadfast commitment” to implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. They pledged to redouble their efforts to accelerate progress towards the SDGs, including by transitioning away from fossil fuels in energy systems in this decade. The G7 Leaders’ Summit took place in Apulia, Italy, from 13-15 June 2024. The 36-page Apulia G7 Leaders’ Communiqué reiterates the Group’s “enduring unity and determination…

World’s oldest termite mounds discovered in South Africa – and they’ve been storing precious carbon for thousands of years

First Published June,16,The Conversation The landscape along the Buffels River in South Africa’s Namaqualand region is dotted with thousands of sandy mounds that occupy about 20% of the surface area. These heuweltjies, as the locals call them (the word means “little hills” in Afrikaans), are termite mounds, inhabited by an underground network of tunnels and nests of the southern harvester termite, Microhodotermes viator. I’m part of a group of earth scientists who, in 2021, set out to study why the groundwater in the area, around 530km from Cape Town, is saline. The groundwater salinity seemed…

Small Island Nations Demand Urgent Global Action at SIDS4 Conference

The once-in-a-decade SIDS Conference opened in Antigua and Barbuda today, with a clear message: the world already knows the challenges that SIDS face—now it’s time for action. ANTIGUA, May 27 2024 (IPS) – “This year has been the hottest in history in practically every corner of the globe, foretelling severe impacts on our ecosystems and starkly underscoring the urgency of our predicament. We are gathered here not merely to reiterate our challenges, but to demand and enact solutions,” declared Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Brown at the opening of the Fourth…

CIBAFI Introduces Innovative GHG Measurement Tool to Advance Climate Action in Islamic Finance

The General Council for Islamic Banks and Financial Institutions (CIBAFI), the global umbrella of Islamic financial institutions, on May 21 st, successfully conducted a webinar titled “Unveiling the CIBAFI Greenhouse Gas Measurement Tool to Strengthen the Contribution of Islamic Financial Institutions to Climate Action”. Experts in climate action and Islamic finance discussed the crucial role of Islamic banks in advancing climate initiatives. This initiative aligns with the declaration made by the Islamic Finance Infrastructure Organizations during COP28 and CIBAFI’s commitment to sustainability. The webinar introduced a groundbreaking Greenhouse Gas Measurement Tool for…

Driving socio-economic transformation through technology: The young startup changing the face of Uganda’s automotive industry

KAMPALA, Uganda, May 14, 2024/ — In recent years, Uganda has witnessed a wave of technological innovation. In a country where access to traditional infrastructure and services can be limited, technology is emerging as a powerful catalyst for change, offering solutions to longstanding socio-economic issues. GITEX AFRICA, the continent’s largest tech and start-up event, taking place in Marrakech, Morocco from 29 – 31 May, will host a successful Ugandan startup that is proving that technology, along with a visionary mindset, is the perfect formula to meet the challenges facing the…

AIM Startup and Unicorns Track: Insights and Innovation Take Center Stage at 2024 AIM Congress

Abu Dhabi, 9th May, 2024: The 2024 AIM Congress, held at ADNEC in Abu Dhabi from May 7 to May 9, showcased a dynamic exchange of visionary ideas and strategic insights during the AIM Startup and Unicorns Track sessions. These sessions, featuring esteemed moderators and panelists, unveiled groundbreaking perspectives and transformative opportunities across various industries.  Middle East Unicorns Conclave: Unicorns and Mobility Industry Moderated by Mohamed Nagaty, the session illuminated the evolving landscape of unicorns and the mobility industry, with Mohamed Ezzat of Tech Logistics (Bosta), Salman bin Mohammed Al…

2024 AIM Congress in Abu Dhabi Sparks Conversation on Investment, with Focus on Asia and Europe

Abu Dhabi, 9th May, 2024:: The 2024 AIM Congress, held at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) from May 7 to May 9 saw an huge convergence of industry leaders, policymakers, and visionaries. The  Congress sessions were held under the Investment Track, Regional Focus Forum Track,and Investment Destination Track, fostering dialogue, collaboration, and innovative solutions to global challenges. Investment Track The “Leader’s Panel: Geopolitical Tensions 2024: New Challenges and New FDI Destinations” session brought together speakers who discussed the landscape of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). Participants underscored the significance…