As COP17 draws to a close, the likelihood of nations agreeing to disagree is high. Where does this uncertainty leave business? With ministers from around the world now in Durban for the final stages of COP17, I can’t help thinking that, sadly, all they will do is agree to disagree. But, as long as they [...]

As heads of state and government ministers start arriving in Durban for the UN climate talks, negotiators are hoping that, come end of the week, some kind of political compromise will have been reached to break the stalemate on a range of issues. The 17th Conference of the Parties (COP 17) to the UN Framework [...]

JOHANNESBURG – Of all renewable energy sources, solar has the biggest potential in South Africa. That is because the host of the COP17 climate change conference in Durban has one of the highest and the most stable solar radiations in the world. “The variable is around 3%. That means that on a good day, solar [...]

Business people are hoping for a positive outcome of the COP17 United Nations climate change conference in Durban. The objective of the conference is to set carbon emission reduction targets, while trying not to impede economic growth and development. South Africa is committed to reducing national emissions to 34 % by 2020. COP 17 conference runs [...]

JOHANNESBURG – Companies resisting change in the move towards a green economy could find themselves out in the cold as many corporates take the lead in lowering their carbon footprint to prevent climate change. Business greening consultant, Hugh Tyrrell, says companies, including small businesses, are beginning to realise that green credentials are becoming increasingly important, [...]

At a recent business forum co-hosted by Proudly South African, the Responsible Packaging Management Association of Southern Africa (RPMASA) and Enterprise Ilembe in Ballito, speakers urged delegates to apply their minds to sourcing green businesses, products and services locally to boost the economy and reduce carbon emissions. “Many economic opportunities exist for South African businesses [...]