Environment Archives - AfricaBusiness.com

29Oct

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

Kenya News, Main

Addressing E-Waste in Nairobi and Surrounding Regions

Authors: Lawrence Thuo, Stephen K. Mbugua, and Bancy Ireri The disposal of electronic waste (e-waste) has become a pressing issue in Kenya, presenting significant hazards to public health and the environment. To mitigate these risks, it is critical to raise public awareness and educate young people on how to sustainably manage e-waste. Kenya has experienced a rapid increase in e-waste generation due to the growth of the technology sector and consumerism. Discarded electronics, such as mobile phones, computers, televisions, and other electronic devices, contain hazardous materials including lead, mercury, cadmium, and brominated flame retardants. Improper handling and disposal of e-waste lead to the release of these toxic substances into the environment, contaminating soil, water, and ai...

12Nov

By Josephine WawiraNo Comments

Kenya News

Messing with nature is risky business!

For a long time now, economy and the conservation of biodiversity seemed to be two different worlds. Not many CEOs or financial managers were able to explain how their company’s impact contributed to the loss of species, deforestation or the acidification of oceans. But times have changed. Today, trailblazing entrepreneurs understand that they don’t have to be biologists to recognize the correlation between nature and the economy. In simple terms; on a dead planet, there would be no thriving business. Biodiversity is on the verge of collapse The more we know about nature, the clearer it dawns to us that messing with nature is risky business. Take these instances: We cut down trees to make wood products for sale. In turn, deforestation destroys our essential ecosystem services; and we...

4Apr

By Josephine WawiraNo Comments

Business, Kenya News, Main

Why a Plastics Pact is recipe for better environmental management practices

The year is 2016, outside a busy supermarket in one of Nairobi’s estates. Shoppers flow in and out carrying their groceries and other shopping items with plastic carrier bags. These are the order of the day, but their pollution to the environment is devastating. A year later in 2017, the Kenyan government would enact the ban on production, sale and use of plastics carrier bags. The ban is considered one of the sternest in the world and whose success rate is now recorded at approximately 80%. Fast forward to 2021, we have made tremendous strides in the fight against plastic pollution as a nation, with a ban on specific single use plastics in all protected areas taking effect from June 2020. There are also ongoing and ambitious plastics initiatives in the country, such as the Kenya Plastic A...

25Jan

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

Events, South Africa News

Leading financial firms call on governments to step up action on climate risk reporting, boost adaptation finance

UNEP’s Adaptation Gap 2020 report released last week found that with annual adaptation costs in developing countries alone estimated to reach $130-300 billion per year by 2030, public and private finance for climate change adaptation must be stepped up urgently. Financial institutions have the power to direct investment and project finance to help the world adapt to climate change but they need to first understand and measure the risks and opportunities for their businesses. Ten financial institutions convened by UNEP FI are calling on governments to encourage adaptation finance by making climate risk disclosures mandatory, ensuring the availability of robust data, and developing standards to guide the finance industry. The financial institutions are the European Bank for Reconstruct...

AVEVA’s Third Digital Conference Assembles Environmental Sustainability Experts to Discuss how Technology Is Helping to Lower Carbon Footprint

23Jan

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

Events, Tech

AVEVA’s Third Digital Conference Assembles Environmental Sustainability Experts to Discuss how Technology Is Helping to Lower Carbon Footprint

AVEVA World Digital Conference Convenes Industry leaders to Discuss Emerging Trends, Meeting Sustainability and Business Goals, and The Role of the Connected Workforce in Accelerating the Digital Journey AVEVA, a global leader in engineering and industrial software, announced its third AVEVA World Digital (AWD) conference, themed ‘Accelerate Your Digital Intelligence' which will take place from 26-28 January 2021. The online event will explore how leading companies are embracing innovation and applying intelligent software to reshape their industrial operations. It will demonstrate how emerging technologies such as AI, Cloud, Digital Twin, Visualization and data & analytics are supporting advancements in sustainability, and enabling organizations to make significant changes to improve ...

Managing the end-of-life of products to accelerate a circular economy in Kenya

19Dec

By Josephine WawiraNo Comments

Kenya News

Managing the end-of-life of products to accelerate a circular economy in Kenya

Studies have shown that there will be more plastic than fish in the ocean by 2050. Marine life will be at risk if we do not act to mitigate the improper disposal of plastic. As the world continues struggling with proper waste management, different solutions have been suggested and adopted to manage the end-of-life of products, especially plastic and electronics. In Kenya, plastic waste disposal remains a major challenge. Plastic litter and dumped waste are degrading the environment— the impact of plastic pollution is felt across the world, with over 8 million tonnes of plastic finding its way into oceans every year. Even more troubling is that less than 10% of all plastic waste ever produced has been recycled, while 79% ends up in landfills, dumps, or the natural environment. With the inc...

14Dec

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

African News, South Africa News

DHL Global Connectedness Index shows signs of progress for Africa and others

By Thandisizwe Mgudlwa The latest reports on African Connectedness are showing great things for the future. And African countries are showing the largest increases in their global connectedness, according to DHL. While recent announcements from Cape Town, South Africa reveal: • The countries with the largest increases are Mozambique, Togo, Ghana, Guinea and Zambia • Global connectedness has yet to recover from its steep drop at the onset of the financial crisis • The world’s shifting economic center of gravity is reshaping industry connectedness DHL recently released the second edition of the DHL Global Connectedness Index (GCI), a comprehensive analysis of the state of globalization around the world. The report, drawing on over one million data points fr...

27Nov

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

African News, South Africa News

The call to make Cape Town a ‘Smart City’ is getting serious

By Thandisizwe Mgudlwa Further calls to make Cape Town a 'Smart City' continue to increase. One of the people in the forefront of these calls is Chris Whelan, CEO of business think-tank Accelerate Cape Town. Whelan says, “Developing a ‘smart city’, where information and communication technology (ICT) is leveraged to provide excellent service and which significantly contributes to a business environment conducive to both foreign and domestic investment, is an important part of positioning Cape Town as Africa’s global city, a city of innovation and inspiration.” According to Whelan, enabling technology exploitation in education, healthcare, transport, and safety and security all contribute to the development of a ‘smart city’. “One of the most exciting steps the city is taking...

20Nov

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

Energy, Green Energy, Zimbabwe News

Air quality deteriorates in Zimbabwe’s main cities

by Wallace Mawire A report produced by the Institute of Environmental Studies (IES) on the proposed National Climate Change Response Strategy in Zimbabwe has revealed that there is increasing evidence of deteriorating air quality in the country's main cities. The IES, a department of the University of Zimbabwe (UZ) was contracted by the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources Management to come up with a national climate change response strategy for Zimbabwe. The strategy report says that studies conducted by the Air Pollution Information Network for Africa show that carbon monoxide constituted 74% of Zimbabwe's total emissions using 2000 as the base year and was mostly from savanna and vegetation burning including forest fires. "The other pollutants such as nitrogen oxide c...