Biofilters with indigenous South African plants, such as palmiet, mat sedge, soft rush, cobra lily and vleibiesie, are significantly more efficient than unvegetated soils in removing nutrients and metals pollutants from urban stormwater, Stellenbosch University (SU) researchers say. The team. https://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article/indigenous-plant-biofilters-effectively-remove-pollutants-from-stormwater-researchers-say-2021-11-26

African countries, including South Africa, face major climate-related challenges, but they also have the opportunity to achieve sustainable low-carbon economies, a new report by Boston Consulting Group (BCG) states. The report, titled ‘Building a Climate-Resilient, Low-Carbon, Job-Rich Africa’,https://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article/africa-has-opportunity-to-create-sustainable-low-carbon-economies-report-2021-11-24

The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment says it is appointing an “independent expert” to assist Minister Barbara Creecy in responding to an appeal by floating powership provider Karpowership SA. Karpowership SA, which falls under Turkey’s Karadeniz Energy Group, was in March. https://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article/dffe-appointing-independent-expert-to-help-rule-on-karpowership-appeal-2021-11-23

https://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article/green-connection-speaks-out-against-wild-coast-seismic-survey-by-oil-and-gas-multinational-2021-11-22

The South African Plastics Pact, which aims to have 100% of plastic packaging be reusable, recyclable or compostable, 70% of plastic packaging be effectively recycled and a 30% minimum average recycled content across all plastic packaging by 2025, as well as take action against problematic and https://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article/sa-plastics-pact-publishes-baseline-report-to-drive-innovation-to-2025-targets-2021-11-22

Agriculture, forestry and other land use (Afolu) in South Africa is significantly threatened, with export earnings, farm and plantation workers’ livelihoods and food availability at risk. This is particularly the case in the Western and Northern Cape, which are expected to face the worst water

The noticeable absence and lack of urgency and support of major coal power generation companies has resulted in a less than auspicious start to COP26’s Global Coal to Clean Power Transition initiative, says data analytics and consulting company GlobalData senior oil and gas analyst Effuah.https://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article/cop26-clean-power-initiative-to-persevere-through-multiple-obstacles-for-noteworthy-change-by-2030-2021-11-15

The R130-billion concessional climate finance green deal South Africa signed at COP26 could translate into a R500-billion boost to help South Africa’s just energy transition to decarbonise its sources of energy, says financial services firm RMB CEO James Formby. “We are yet to see the details https://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article/r130bn-climate-deal-can-be-leveraged-for-r500bn-clean-energy-shift-says-rmb-2021-11-09

With the new amendments to the Carbon Tax Act earmarked to pave the way for developing a national standard to approve offset carbon positive projects and administer these projects on a national database, Economic Development Solutions (EDS) head of business development Eckart Zollner says https://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article/amendments-demand-stringent-compliance-2021-11-05

The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has been involved in several new research initiatives geared towards providing alternative waste material products for use by the road pavement industry in South Africa. https://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article/waste-material-used-in-roads-construction-2021-10-29