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Category: Sustainability

  • 14th Meeting of the Open-ended Working Group of the Basel Convention:

    14th Meeting of the Open-ended Working Group of the Basel Convention:

    Science every day identifies more hazardous constituents in waste. Recycling operations are also changing as new ways are found to recover valuable content from waste.

    These changes raise new questions for parties to the one of the oldest multilateral environmental agreements, the Basel Convention, as to how the waste trade can be better monitored and regulated.

    The Fourteenth Meeting of the Basel Convention’s Open-ended Working Group (OEWG-14) is the only occasion for all parties to meet face-to-face before the next meeting of the Conference of the Parties, COP 17, takes place in April 2025.

    As such, there is a packed agenda for the four-day meeting as delegates aim to finalize text on several key issues, which will be forwarded to COP 17. While work will continue during the intersessional period, OEWG-14 provides parties with the chance to hammer out workable approaches to improving implementation of one of the world’s longest standing environmental agreements.

    In opening statements, the African Group, Asia Pacific, Central and Eastern Europe, and the Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC) emphasized the continuing need for strengthening technical assistance and capacity building and supporting regional work and cooperation among neighboring countries.

    Both GRULAC and the European Union (EU) stressed the importance of improving the prior informed consent (PIC) procedure, considered the keystone of the Basel Convention.

    On the draft renewed strategic framework, delegates in plenary called for more work to be done on the overall vision, guiding principles, objectives, goals, and indicators.

    One contentious issue is the time frame of the strategic framework—whether it should be a 10-year framework or a shorter one to align with the 2030 timeline of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). OEWG-14 established a contact group to continue these discussions, co-chaired by Keima Gardiner (Trinidad and Tobago) and Ole Thomas Thommesen (Norway).

    The contact group on the Strategic Framework will also address questions around how the PIC procedure can be improved, including questions around electronic notification, and countries’ different understandings of what constitutes transboundary movement.

    On technical guidelines, delegates in plenary discussed several different waste streams. On e-waste, the OEWG adopted a decision inviting Parties and others to pilot-test the technical guidelines adopted by COP 16, and to report on their results to an expert working group that will update the guidelines in view of countries’ experiences, for COP 17’s consideration.

    On two draft technical guidelines for waste batteries—one on lead-acid batteries and the second on other types of batteries—several delegates called for further work on the former regarding health and safety aspects, and one asked for greater detail on the technologies for recycling all components of such batteries, including their plastic casing.

    On revised technical guidelines on wastes consisting of, containing, or contaminated with persistent organic pollutants (“POPs wastes”), some developing countries felt that countries had limited capacity to detect POPs content at their borders and therefore the lowest possible POPs content values should be adopted, whereas another believed that countries’ management efforts would suffer if overly stringent limits were set.

    Delegates agreed to refer work on the general technical guidelines on POPs, four technical guidelines on specific POPs wastes, and on a draft format for the collection of information on low POPs content values, to a contact group on Technical Matters co-chaired by Katie Olley (United Kingdom) and Nawaf Bilasi (Saudi Arabia).

    A contact group on Legal Matters, co-chaired by Perine Kasonde (Zambia) and Jason Dunn (Australia), will discuss proposed amendments to the Convention annexes on issues regarding waste categories to be controlled (Annex I), criteria for identifying hazardous characteristics (Annex III) and disposal operations (Annex IV).

    Some of the outstanding issues, in this regard, include concerns to maintain internal consistency of the Annex provisions, and at what point of the life cycle of materials their hazardous content should be determined.

    The two contact groups on Technical Matters and Legal Matters began their deliberations in the late afternoon and continued late into the evening.

    SOURCE

    EARTH NEGOTIATIONS BULLETIN

     

  • CityBlue Hotels and National Museums of Kenya Announce Strategic Partnership

    CityBlue Hotels and National Museums of Kenya Announce Strategic Partnership

    The National Museums of Kenya (NMK) and CityBlue Hotels (CityBlue) are proud to announce a new partnership to co-promote tourism and culture in Kenya.

    This alliance marks an exciting opportunity for sponsorship, co-branding, co-marketing and other forms of collaboration.

    NMK was established by an Act of Parliament, the Museums and Heritage Act 2006, as a multi-disciplinary institution whose role is to collect, preserve, study, document and present Kenya’s past and present cultural and natural heritage.

    This is for the purposes of enhancing knowledge, appreciation, respect and sustainable utilization of these resources for the benefit of Kenya and the world, for now and posterity.

    CityBlue Hotels, Africa’s fastest-growing local hotel chain, operates in Kenya (Mombasa, Nairobi and Lamu with new properties opening soon), Uganda, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania and Ghana. CityBlue also has a collaboration arrangement with more than twenty hotels in South Africa and Mozambique.

    Professor Mary Gikungu, Director General of the NMK, stated that, “This arrangement is a step for NMK to engage with the private sector with a group that is established, growing, dynamic and cares, like we do, for the welfare of mankind and the conservation of the biological diversity of the East African region and that of the entire planet. The story of NMK and our cultural heritage will be enhanced by this collaboration”.

    Accompanied by,renowned palaeontologist,Dr.Fredrick Kyalo Manthi,the Director of Antiquities,Sites and Monuments and a Senior Research Scientist at the National Museums of Kenya,who was elected into the United States National Academy of Sciences in 2024,becoming the second Kenyan to join the US National Academy of Sciences and Isaiah Nyaega,Legal Officer at NMK.

    Jameel Verjee,Founder & CEO of CityBlue Hotels,explained at the Africa Hotel Investment Forum 2024 that “NMK manages many Reginal Museums,Sites and Monuments of national and international importance priceless collections of Kenya’s living cultural heritage and natural heritage.As an institution that must respond to the growing needs of the society,NMK is striving to contribute in a unique way yo the task of national development and we cannot wait to be a partner of NMK on this journey.”

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

    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 ranking project, said the project builds on the mapping of the climate change impact, policy, and action of the states, which was executed by the team last year in collaboration with the DCC and the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF).

    He said the current project would provide a single rating and ranking report of the performance of the 36 states of Nigeria.

    Professor Okereke said the rating and ranking were done based on five governance criteria, namely, (i) climate change governance administrative structure, (ii) presence or absence of climate policy and action plan, (iii) extent of climate change project implementation; (iv) extent of incorporation of climate finance in state budgets; and (v) online visibility of state’ climate activities.

    Professor Okereke said the ranking and rating exercise is based on the responses provided by States Commissioners, Permanent Secretaries, and Climate Desk Officers across the 36 states, as well as extensive independent verification done by the research team and the Department of Climate Change staff.

    Professor Okereke said he was confident that this rating and ranking exercise would raise awareness of climate in the states and create an atmosphere of positive competition and a race to the top among the states, consistent with what he has seen in other countries where such projects have been done.

    Professor Okereke stated that the states with the highest-ranking scores would be recognised during the report’s launch, which is expected to be held in the last week of July.

    During his keynote address, Mahmud Adam Kambari, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, expressed his delight at the official launch of the Subnational Coordination Meeting on Climate Change, stating that climate change is a major emergency and one of the most pressing issues of our time.

    He underlined the fact that the purpose of the coordination conference is to strengthen the synergy between national and subnational actors in order to achieve better climate governance in the country in line with the Presidential Transformative Agenda of the President.

    The Permanent Secretary described subnational climate change officers as key personnel in the fight against climate change, given their role in translating global climate goals into concrete actions and policies that resonate at the local level.

    Dr. Iniobong Abiola-Awe, Director of the DCC, while presenting the Terms of Reference (TOR) of the subnational coordination meeting, highlighted the key objectives of the meeting to include improving collaboration and knowledge sharing among Subnational Climate Change Desk Officers, promoting effective climate change action at the subnational level, and targeted training and capacity building of the desk officers.

    Dr. Abiola-Awe urged climate change desk officers to be responsive and on time at all meetings, as they are expected to attend and offer updates on climate change initiatives, successes, problems, and lessons learnt in their respective regions during the monthly sessions.

    In closing, Prof Okereke congratulated the DCC Team on the successful coordination meeting of Climate Change Desk Officers from Nigeria’s 36 states, which he said will have a massive impact in helping to align state climate action with national climate priorities and objectives.

    By Wole Adegbule, Society for Planet and Prosperity

    SOURCE

    CCCD ,NIGERIA  BLOG POST

  • A Model for African Producers: Wing Wah’s $2B Integrated Energy Project to Bolster Resource Monetization in the Republic of the Congo

    A Model for African Producers: Wing Wah’s $2B Integrated Energy Project to Bolster Resource Monetization in the Republic of the Congo

    JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, June 21, 2024/ — The Republic of the Congo has a goal of increasing hydrocarbon production to 500,000 barrels per day (bpd) and projects such as Wing Wah Oil Company’s Bango Kayo development will serve as catalysts for meeting this objective.
    The project is a strong example for how integration and scalability can be utilized to not only monetize resources but maximize production beyond the lifecycle of initially-tied in blocks.

    The African Energy Chamber (AEC) – the voice of the African energy sector – conducted a tour of Wing Wah’s project near Pointe Noire during a working visit to the country this week. A strong advocate for the development of oil and gas in Africa, the AEC believes that hydrocarbons are the solution for making energy poverty history by 2030.

    Project’s such as Wing Wah’s in the Republic of the Congo are not only a testament to the role international partnerships play in developing African oil and gas resources but to the potential for large-scale, integrated developments across the continent. The Ministry of Hydrocarbons – led by Minister Bruno Jean-Richard Itoua – and the country’s NOC Société Nationale des Pétroles du Congo – led by Managing Director Maixent Raoul Ominga – have provided the much-needed support that companies such as Wing Wah need to develop innovative projects, and the AEC commends them for the progress made thus far.

    Bango Kayo: An Innovative Oil & Gas Venture

    The Bango Kayo conventional oilfield is a producing block operated by Wing Wah, which features 237 wells that have been drilled to date. Currently, the field is producing 45,000 bpd and is nearing its peak production of 50,000 bpd. In addition to oil production, Wing Wah is implementing a phased expansion and development approach to monetize previously-flared gas resources.

    Over three phases, the project will progressively increase gas treatment and valorization capacity, producing LPG, butane and propane, primarily for the domestic market. Excess LPG will be exported regionally.

    The project incorporates the development of three trains. The first has a capacity of one million cubic meters per day (mcm/d), while the second and third trains will have a capacity of two mcm/d each. The second and third trains are anticipated to come online by March 2025 and December 2025, respectively, and will bring the total capacity of the project to five mcm/b. In April 2024,

    Wing Wah signed an amended production sharing contract with the government for the Bango Kayo block, signaling the start of the expansion of the project.

    Integration: A Tool for Maximizing Efficiency and Scalability

    Wing Wah’s project in the Republic of the Congo is underpinned by a focus on integration and scalability. The structure of the facilities has been planned in a way that prioritizes efficiency, reduces emissions and promotes scalability.

    Specifically, the facility enables Wing Wah to tap into stranded gas that would have otherwise been flared, thereby providing opportunities for monetization and the utilization of gas across the oil production cycle. Unlike traditional LNG infrastructure which faces challenges as blocks mature and feedstock declines, the scalable design of Wing Wah’s project creates the opportunity to maximize production – both at existing blocks and new concessions.

    Additionally, each unit at the facility has its own power generation solution which are scalable in increments of 2 MW. Currently, 20 MW is installed, with generators utilizing gas from associated blocks. As production increases, so can power generation, thereby ensuring scalability and durability.

    Meanwhile, the water management system is also integrated into the project in a way that promotes environmentally-friendly operations. Water treatment is conducted on-site and distributed back into the ocean once treated.

    As such, the facility provides a quintessence of oil and gas integration. The development approach features fast construction, fast commissioning and quick, efficient operations. Wing Wah are using state-of-the-art equipment and have an organized layout of the overall infrastructure and storage.

    This is expected to boost efficiency at the project site while ensuring the project plays an instrumental role in processing oil and gas for the long-term.

    Prioritizing Local Community Development

    In addition to project efficiency, the Bango Kayo development has been constructed in a way that takes into account the needs of local communities. All of the processing facilities have on-site accommodation, with senior management on-call to ensure a constant review of work. Currently, 3,300 people are employed at the project, with 90% of the workforce Congolese.

    Meanwhile, excess power generated at the project site can be distributed to local communities, providing a clean and reliable source of power. Water management also takes into account regional demand, with surrounding communities benefiting from a clean source. This structure not only brings tangible benefits to local communities but reducing emissions across the project’s operational cycle.

    “Wing Wah’s integrated project in the Republic of the Congo is a model that can and must be replicated in other oil and gas producing nations in Africa. The project’s focus on scalability ensures production is not limited to specific blocks, but rather, infrastructure can be easily tied into new concessions as exploration ramps up across the country.

    Through gas-fired power generation, innovative water management and a long-term approach to production, the project is poised to unlock a wealth of benefits for the country,” states NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the AEC.
    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

    SOURCE
    African Energy Chamber

  • Energy for Growth in Africa Initiative Unveiled

    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 issue of energy transition justice.

    The energy for growth in Africa Initiative that was unveiled on the sidelines of the recently held G7 Leaders Summit could  be a game changer if implemented to the full.

    For the details regarding  the initiative, read on

    “We the representatives of Canada, the Republic of Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, and the European Union, recognize that universal access to affordable clean energy is a key factor for sustainable, resilient and inclusive economic growth and social development, as proclaimed by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the African Union’s Agenda 2063.

    “It also contributes to meeting the climate goals of the Paris Agreement and to keeping a temperature limit of 1.5C within reach. Africa’s significant but largely untapped clean energy potential needs massive investments.

    “We will work to accelerate investments in clean energy sources to ensure an inclusive transition which supports energy security, recognizing that a substantial proportion of people in Africa still lack reliable access to electricity and clean cooking.

    “To meet these objectives and the global efforts decided upon at the 5th session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement (CMA5), we look forward to the launch of the G7’s ‘Energy for Growth in Africa’ initiative and to contributing to its success.

    “The initiative will help develop bankable clean energy projects, attract private capital through the catalytic use of public finance and technical assistance, encourage the flow of concessional finance, and overcome barriers to investments in clean energy across Africa.

    “The initiative will engage with governments, the private sector, financial institutions, multilateral development banks, and community groups. It will partner with the United Nations Development Program and the International Energy Agency.

    “It will also coordinate with existing programmes, to ensure complementarity and avoid duplications, and will operate in close coordination with the G7 Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment”,the joint statement concluded.

    SOURCE

    SDG KNOWLEDGE HUB 

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

    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 to meet global challenges… as the international community confronts multiple interconnected crises.” It reaffirms the leaders’ “shared belief in democratic principles and free societies, universal human rights, social progress, and respect for multilateralism and the rule of law.

    ” The document further signals the leaders’ intention to support more effective, inclusive, and equitable global governance and to safeguard international peace and security while upholding “the free and open rules-based international order.”

    The leaders recognize that in the context of achieving the SDGs, “reducing poverty and tackling global challenges go hand in hand.” They indicate they are “doing [their] part” to make multilateral development banks (MDBs) better, bigger, and more effective, with the World Bank boosting its lending by USD 70 billion over the next ten years.

    According to the communiqué, the leaders are taking steps to address the triple planetary crisis of climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss, including by submitting ambitious nationally determined contributions (NDCs), aligned with the 1.5°C temperature goal. They pledge to “spearhead global efforts to preserve forests and oceans, and to end plastic pollution.”

    With respect to energy, climate and environment, the communiqué states the G7 “will transition away from fossil fuels in energy systems in a just, orderly, and equitable manner, accelerating actions in this critical decade, to achieve net-zero by 2050 in keeping with the best available science.

    ” The leaders “will operationalize these commitments” through domestic policies and actions and through “intensive efforts to reduce demand for and use of fossil fuels.” They “reaffirm [their] commitment to eliminate inefficient fossil fuel subsidies by 2025 or sooner and will report in 2025 on progress made.”

    At the same time, the leaders reaffirm that the transition to a net-zero economy “should be inclusive and leave no one behind,” enhance social development and economic growth, maximize benefits for local economies, and address “negative social or economic impacts that may arise from climate action.”

    Other commitments articulated in the leaders’ communiqué span the areas of sustainable development, food security, infrastructure, labor and employment, health, gender equality, inclusion and disability, and migration. Global economy and finance; trade; science, technology, and innovation (STI); artificial intelligence (AI); and cybersecurity are also among the issues addressed.

    The communiqué further discusses fostering partnerships with African countries and regional issues, including in relation to Ukraine and Gaza. Other areas of focus include disarmament and non-proliferation, safeguarding democratic processes, and anti-corruption, as well as countering terrorism, violent extremism, and transnational organized crime.

    The G7 leaders launched several initiatives, including the Apulia Food Systems Initiative (AFSI), the Energy for Growth in Africa initiative, the G7 Coalition to Prevent and Counter the Smuggling of Migrants, and the G7 Working Group on Transport Supply Chains.

    Other announcements made include:

    The leaders will unlock at least USD 20 billion over three years in investments to boost women’s empowerment.
    The leaders intend to launch “an action plan on the use of AI in the world of work and develop a brand to support the implementation of the International Code of Conduct for Organizations Developing Advanced AI Systems,” welcoming the Italian Presidency’s decision to establish the AI Hub for Sustainable Development, in collaboration with the UN Development Programme (UNDP).

    The leaders commit to establishing a G7 Working Group on Fusion Energy.

    The G7 leaders were joined by the leaders from Algeria, Argentina, Brazil, India, Jordan, Kenya, Mauritania, Tunisia, Türkiye, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The President of the European Council and the President of the European Commission represented the EU. [G7 Italia 2024] [SDG Knowledge Hub Story on G7 Hiroshima 2023]

    SOURCE

    SDG KNOWLEDGE HUB 

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

    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 to be specifically related to the location of these heuweltjies.

    We used radiocarbon dating; dating the mounds, we reasoned, would allow us to see when minerals that were stored in the mounds were flushed to the groundwater.

    The tests revealed far more than we expected: Namaqualand’s heuweltjies, it turns out, are the world’s oldest inhabited termite mounds.

    Some date as far back as between 34,000 and 13,000 years. The oldest previously known inhabited mounds were 4,000 years old (from a different termite species from Brazil) and 2,300 years old (from central Congo).

    This is more than just an interesting scientific find or historical curiosity. It offers a window into what our planet looked like tens of thousands of years ago, providing a living archive of environmental conditions that shaped our world.

    It is also hugely important today: there is growing evidence that termites have a substantial, but still poorly understood, role in the carbon cycle. By studying these and other termite mounds, scientists can gain a better understanding of how to sequester (store) carbon. This process removes CO₂ from the atmosphere and is vital for mitigating climate change.

    Carbon storage

    Namaqualand is a global biodiversity hotspot renowned for its spring flowers, but it is a dry area. Surface water is in short supply and the groundwater is saline.

    Although most of Namaqualand receives very little rainfall, there are rare, high intensity rainfall events. When these do occur, the termite burrows on the mound surfaces serve as water flow paths that can harvest rain and channel water into the mound.

    This causes the salts that built up in the mounds over thousands of years to be flushed into the groundwater system via flow paths created by the tunnelling action of the termites, pushing the dissolved minerals ever deeper. This process also pushes down the carbon that slowly built up in the centre of the mounds when termites collected plant material and brought it into the mound over millennia.

    The ability of these mounds to sequester carbon is linked to the termites’ unique behaviour. The insects transport organic material – such as small sticks about 2cm long and a few millimetres wide from small woody plants – deep into the soil.

    This way, fresh stores of carbon are continuously added at depths greater than one metre. Deep storage reduces the likelihood of organic carbon being released back into the atmosphere. So the mound acts as a long-term carbon sink.

    Not only do the termites take the organic carbon material deep underground into their nests, but their tunnels also allow dissolved inorganic carbon (known as soil calcite or calcium carbonate) in the mound soil to move into the groundwater along with other soluble minerals.

    So the termite mounds also offer a mechanism to sequester carbon dioxide through dissolution and leaching of soil carbonate-bicarbonate to groundwater. This is a long term carbon storage method that carbon storage companies are trying to replicate to reduce atmospheric carbon.

    The results of our radiocarbon dating of both the organic and inorganic carbon in this soil show that the mounds have been accumulating organic matter and nutrients, including carbon, for tens of thousands of years.

    This enrichment is one of the reasons that Namaqualand’s famous wildflowers are so prominent on the mounds in spring.

    During the mounds’ formation, the region experienced more rainfall than it does today. Studying the layers of the mounds and looking at the carbon, sulphur, and oxygen isotopes preserved in the mounds and in the groundwater showed that periods of higher rainfall in the region were associated with global climate cooling.

    These cooler and wetter periods were associated with the leaching of accumulated carbon and other minerals to the groundwater.

    Tiny engineers

    These findings are further evidence that termites fully deserve their reputation as ecosystem engineers. They modify their soil surroundings to maintain ideal humidity and temperature conditions, and their foraging paths extend many tens of metres.

    We argue that, given what we’ve uncovered in Namaqualand, termite activity should be incorporated into carbon models. These primarily focus on forests and oceans; including termite mounds can help provide a more comprehensive understanding of global carbon dynamics.

    In Namaqualand, mounds occupy 27% of the total area but contribute 44 % of the total soil organic carbon stock. This highlights the disproportionate contribution termite mounds make to carbon stocks in these semi-arid environments.

    Public awareness and policy integration are key, too. Termite mounds are often cleared for agriculture or termites are considered pests.

    Raising awareness about the ecological importance of termite mounds and integrating these findings into environmental policies can help promote practices that support natural carbon sinks.

    SOURCE

    THE CONVERSATION

     

  • Tanzania SGR Operations Approach as the Country Launches East Africa’s First Electric Train

    Tanzania SGR Operations Approach as the Country Launches East Africa’s First Electric Train

    The Republic of Tanzania has made a significant step in the rail transport sector as the country launched its first electric train on Saturday, which got to transport a total of 1,400 passengers from the coastal city of Dar es Salaam to Morogoro which is located in the in the western part of the country on its maiden journey, covering a total distance of 300 kilometers (186 miles)  as the Tanzania SGR Operations are expected to commence from next month.

    Moreover, comprising of state-of-the-art electric and signaling systems, the Tanzania SGR project which is being celebrated as Eastern Africa’s first electric standard-gauge railway has been completed, this was brought to life by a news report that was done by Albawaba News.

    With plans for the second section of the Tanzania SGR almost being completed, Türkiye-based company Yapi Merkezi, that is responsible for four of the five sections of Tanzania’s extensive railway construction project that covers more than 1,000 kilometers, has successfully finished the first section of the Tanzania SGR project.

    Significance of the Tanzania SGR Operations

    Tanzania Railways Corporation’s General Manager Masanja Kadogosa, pointed out the Tanzania SGR project significance in fostering the economic growth of the country and also enhancing transportation efficiency throughout Tanzania and even Eastern Africa as a region.

    He noted that the first journey, which transported 1,400 passengers for free, had reduced the travel time between the two cities to just two hours.

    Also, incorporated with a shimmering facade of sky-blue glass panels, the Standard Gauge Railway Station in Tanzania’s commercial hub and port city, Dar es Salaam, looks more like an opulent airport terminal than just a railway facility. Inside, a maze of escalators gracefully glides passengers who intend to board the country’s electric train to various levels, giving a panoramic view of the bustling terminal below.

    Moreover, this architectural marvel of the Tanzania SGR project, meticulously designed with the passengers’ comfort in mind, boasts state-of-the-art ticketing counters and plush waiting lounges equipped with charging ports and other amenities that enhance the comfort of the passengers who will be using the facility.

    Cost of the Project

    The East Africa’s first electric train, a project worth nearly $2 billion, is seen as a big boost to domestic connectivity, trade and economic activities with the neighboring countries that are landlocked like Uganda and Rwanda.

    The Tanzania SGR’s entire route will run from Dar es Salaam to Mwanza, which is a port city that is located on the shore of Lake Victoria, and Kigoma, a city that is located on the northeastern shores of Lake Tanganyika, near the border with Burundi and DRC. Additionally, that railway route will cover a total of approximately 1,300 kilometers (around 810 miles).

    TRC Launches Awareness Campaign Regarding the Project

    Tanzania Railways Corporation (TRC) has launched an awareness campaign regarding the commencement of Standard Gauge Railway train services at a brief event that was held at the Dar es Salaam SGR station on June 12, 2024.

    Moreover, the campaign aims to educate the public on the use of the new SGR services and important considerations for the safety and security of passengers and their belongings or luggage when using the trains. The campaign’s slogan is “Let’s Board Our Train, Maintain It, and Cherish It.”

    Lastly, TRC Director General Masanja Kungu Kadogosa mentioned that, in implementing the directives of the President of Tanzania, H.E. Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan, to ensure that the commencement of the train transport services, TRC has taken steps that will ensure the implementation of operational services. “In accordance with the directive issued by the President of Tanzania, TRC informs the public of the start of the first SGR train services between Dar es Salaam and Morogoro on June 14, 2024,” stated Kadogosa.

    SOURCE

    CONSTRUCTION REVIEW

  • Africa Green Building Summit & Future Cities Conference

    Africa Green Building Summit & Future Cities Conference

    The second edition of the Future Cities Summit event,slated for July 16-19,2024, is poised to significantly advance the conversation on sustainable urban development in Nigeria, and the wider Africa.

    The Summit theme, “Building Resilient Futures: Integrating Carbon Neutrality, Circular Economy & Inclusive Urban Development,” is inspired by the World GBC’s Global Policy Principles for a Sustainable Built Environment, and its Building the Transition campaign.

    Both these initiatives draw on and extend the vision set forth in the earlier Africa Manifesto for Sustainable Cities and the Built Environment, embodying the Manifesto’s call for “…a net zero carbon, healthy, equitable, resilient, environmentally-sustainable and economically-inclusive built environment for every African, everywhere.”

    This year’s Summit, co-located with World GBC Africa Regional Network’s Africa Green Building Summit, will explore the truth that Africa’s rapid urban transformation represents both challenge and opportunity.

    The challenge of overcoming barriers from resource limitations, governance limitations and socioeconomic constraints. Balanced by the opportunity to define a uniquely African urban paradigm, leveraging on the immense potential of Africa’s youthful and entrepreneurial population, and its dynamic and rapidly growing cities.

    Over four days, the Summit will dive deep into what these challenges and opportunities mean for the continent, aiming to craft relevant policy responses, innovative strategies, and collaborative approaches to address the evolving needs of Africa’s rapidly changing urban landscapes.

    The Summit will feature keynote addresses from distinguished speakers, sharing visions of Africa’s urban futures and setting the stage for a series of expert-led plenary sessions.

    These plenary sessions will examine various facets of sustainable urban development, with an emphasis on carbon neutrality, resource circularity, and inclusive urban development.

    The Summit will also feature interactive breakout sessions, designed to stimulate in-depth dialogue on localizing the policy formulations encapsulated in the World GBC’s Africa Manifesto and its Global Policy Principles.

    As a gathering point for green building stakeholders and experts, both locally and internationally, the Summit will also feature exhibitions, product expos and awards, showcasing the latest innovations in green building practices, sustainable products, and services.

    The Future Cities Summit – Africa Green Building Summit 2024 is more than a conference. It’s the crucible where Africa’s urban future is forged and refined.

    It’s where the collective wisdom of the past meets the innovative spirit of the present to conceptualise a sustainable, resilient, and inclusive future for the continent.

    Let’s take this opportunity to redefine what it means to live in a city and, in doing so, redefine what it means to live on this planet.

    SOURCE

    GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL,NIGERIA

     

  • 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 Islamic banks.

    This tool helps banks assess the environmental impact of their investment portfolios, marking a significant step in CIBAFI’s environmental responsibility efforts.

    The webinar was inaugurated with welcoming remarks from Dr. Abdelilah Belatik, Secretary General of CIBAFI. Dr. Belatik underscored CIBAFI’s commitment to supporting Islamic banks by introducing this groundbreaking tool aimed at addressing climate change and promoting sustainability within the industry.

    He emphasized the potential benefits of this tool, expressing hope that Islamic banks will leverage it to enhance their operations and achieve greater sustainability outcomes.

    After the opening remarks by the Secretary General, Mr. Rachid Ettaai, Business Development Manager at CIBAFI, introduced the CIBAFI GHG Emissions Measurement Tool within the context of Islamic finance.

    Following this introduction, a panel session commenced featuring Mr. Peter Casey, Consultant from the UK; Mr. Noman Ali, Managing Director of Financial Controller ESG and Sustainable Finance at HSBC Group in the UAE; Dr. Wael Mohamed Aaminou, Managing Partner at Green for South in Canada; and Mrs. Sunita Devi, Senior Sustainability Manager at Frencken Group Limited in Malaysia.

    The speakers explored the integration of sustainability into Islamic banking, emphasizing collaborative efforts and adherence to global standards for managing climate risks. Additionally, they shared strategies for seamlessly implementing the GHG tool.

    CIBAFI remains dedicated to sustainability and climate action, supporting the Islamic financial services industry through dialogues on emerging issues and representation at global financial events.