Frack the Karoo

So by now, everyone should be well informed about the South African Government's intention to implement their plans of Hydraulic Fracturing in the Karoo (semi-desert area in the western region of South Africa). However, I doubt that the citizens within that region understand the implications that this may bring into their lives.

Current plans state that operations could start within the next 12 to 18 months with 5 companies that have already planned for licenses. Although these companies have already applied for licenses, the state is yet to confirm regulations pertaining to fracking within South Africa which is currently still in draft form and required to go through political and public participation processes. Also, the state will make use of the American Petroleum Institutes specifications in terms of what will be required for the retention of these wells.

From Engineering News 28, Oct 2014

Alright, now that we have the just out of the way - the issues that I have with fracking includes the fact that its exploratory. This saying that they are not exactly sure where it is but yet are willing to drill between 1.5km - 4km below the earth's surface to investigate whether or not there are any shale gas resources to extract.

Furthermore, another issue is the fact that you have companies such as Shell, Bundu Oil and Gas, and Falcon Oil and Gas that have already applied for exploration licenses but yet the state hasn't confirmed their regulatory stance towards fracking operations. Regulatory framework doesn't only ensure that the country has a specific stance towards operations like fracking - which is sensitive to the environment, but also includes possible changes to existing legislations around environmental, economic and social matters. Further to the change, regulations also imply that there are certain standards (infrastructure and operational) that should be enforced in order to allow and prohibit certain activities that the environment/geology may be sensitive towards.

Finally, another concern is the ratio between the impact and that of the actual full benefits of fracking operations. As the South Africa government is a developing company... I mean a developing country, their main focus should be and is to be economically driven (in a sustainable form) in order to reach a target where all other livelihood requirements can be self-sustaining. However, sometimes some activities are more monetarily driven than others. My big question to fracking operations is whether or not the ration between the impacts of fracking operations will ever meet up to the surrounding economic, social and environmental needs.

Only time will tell, and seems like this time there is a clock to when this will happen.

For some information follow the link below:
Engineering News: Karoo Fracking Could Start by Mid-2016

Planning Towards Sustainability: The Path of India’s Urban Mobility

Appropriately planned, designed and implemented; urban mobility can assist is pursuing  goals towards a more sustainable network that is able to bring a myriad of benefits that embraces social inclusion, reduced environmental degradation, and economic growth.

Extracted from Toolkit for Urban Development: Comprehensive Mobility Plan

With the assistance of the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) and the Institute of Urban Transport (and other partners), India’s Ministry of Urban Development contributed to the revision of a toolkit entitled “Toolkits for Urban Development: Comprehensive Mobility Plans” – which was first published in 2008. Some of the objectives of this Comprehensive Mobility Plan focuses on transport modelling (surveying, forecasting), measuring emissions, and to integrated transport planning and land use management. It is therefore envisioned that such objectives creates an outcome that produces and efficient private and public transport network and system – which includes efficient private vehicle traffic management, enhanced public transport planning and management as well as implementing non-motorized transport initiatives. With objectives and outcomes such as these it would be easy to envision a possible future that produces an economic, social and an environmental sustainability.

Although revised by the Indian Ministry of Urban Development, with its partners, the target users of this toolkit includes town planners, policy makers, governmental authorities (especially that of cities) and consultants – supposedly to synchronize the planning paradigm.

The toolkit further includes other items that takes the user through the Preparation Process and Task Descriptions with annexures of examples to survey forms and project sheets to name a few.

Finally, with regards to the identification and Prioritization of projects, the toolkit establishes within its priority list that there are short-, medium-, and long-term measures that need to be considered. One Short-term measure is aimed at improving the immediate (0 – 2 years) safety and improved accessibility of pedestrians. A medium-term measure (3 – 5 years) concentrates within corridor scaled projects, therefore considering fleet improvements, transit scheduling and bicycle networks. Long-term measures are (5 – 10 years) regarded as action required that will eventually produce what was envisioned when such CMP’s are prepared with items that influence regulations, overall accessibility and improved standards within current urban areas and future developments.

Please use the following links for more information about the Toolkit and other sources about the future of India’s urban mobility:

Press Release: India's Urban Mobility Plans Pathway to Sustainability
Article: The Future of Low Carbon Transport in India
Document: Toolkit for Urban Transport Development

Africa Climate Conference 2013 Identifies Four Priority Areas of Research

The ability to identify, understand and respond to the necessary requires in-depth knowledge of the topic at hand; and this is what a lot of 'action plans' are currently missing. Thankfully, at the Africa Climate Conference 2013, it was agreed that the outcome of the conference would be to develop a list of research areas that needs to be focused on the African Climate System and to "bridge the divide between climate science and policy".

From Africa Climate Conference 2013 website

The four priority areas of research are:

• Co-designed multidisciplinary research for improving climate forecast skill and reliability, across different time and spatial scales
• Filling the climate data gap
• Capacity building at all levels
• Mainstreaming climate services into decision making

It can be identified that through addressing these priority areas of research, many aspects that currently lack within responding to climate change and the impacts there of. In my opinion, addresses the need for the multi-disciplinary approach to gather relevant applications (which increases the accuracy) that can assist in forecasting/modeling. The second priority area focuses on enabling platforms that are already available and culminating them into one application through which integrated data analysis can be achieved. The data required will be found within multidisciplinary data sets, then would then be able to feed into an integrated information system and the development of risk profiles.

Capacity building, the third priority area, will seek to link climate knowledge with action - This would be the priority area that can address the matter with which i started this statement regarding 'action plans'. This priority area majorly focuses on skills development and increasing the research pool. However, this item can find ways in linking research centres that are within dispersed locations through establishing common and collaborative focus areas.

Finally, the fourth priority area, aims towards "improved and more effective communications between climate science policy and  to identify end user needs." So, in a nutshell, this priority area will focus on bringing together and creating a platform for dialogue between all stakeholders through which outcomes will be orientated towards the local stakeholders.

Interesting to see these developments withing Africa.

And as always for more information about what was discussed at the Africa Climate Change Conference, please visit the links below:

Africa Climate Conference 2013
Conference Statement

Urban Mobility, Resilient Cities - The focus of World Habitat Day

Just over a week ago, 7th October 2013, World Habitat Day was celebrated. So the rest of you know, it is observed annually on the first Monday of October. The theme for this year was 'Urban Mobility'. Therefore, this day recognized the essential role of mobility as it provides access and connectivity to amenities, goods and services.

Now, we all know that vehicles, anthropogenic activities, and urbanization (especially those activities that takes place in an urban setting) contributes to and is a significant source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. These factors also impacts on environmental and economic sustainability. However, at the same time - mobility can inverse these impacts through improved mobility and urban design.

Furthermore, through a statement by Joan Clos (ED: UN-HABITAT) stated that:

"..accessible cities encourage a shift towards more sustainable modes of transportation and draw more and more travelers out of cars and onto trains, buses, bike paths, and sidewalks."

True mobility is not only having the ability to access services and amenities through your own will, but also doing so responsibly. As stated above, mobility is also traveling responsibly and sustainably through the transport network provided. 

For more statements and press releases of the day, please follow the links below:

• Ban Ki-moon (UN Secretary-General)
• John Ashe (UN General Assembly President)
• UN-HABITAT Press Release
• UN Press Release on 7th October 2013

I would like to encourage each and everyone out there to start thinking about commuting with public transport and that private vehicle use is a luxury enjoyed too often for our own good.

Eye on Earth: Crowed Sourced Mapping?

Over the years there has been an increased interest between environmental impacts, such as flooding and drought, and their geographical location. It is stated that displaying and analysing information pertaining to these impacts may assist in understanding its occurrences and variability. With this said, the Environmental European Agency (EEA) published the "Eye on Earth" map, an on line mapping tool that currently displays locations and intensities of urban flooding and other data in European states.

The on line mapping tool brings together a variety of official date and other data from civil society, independent businesses and research institutions within their network in order to increase the reality of the current environment. The mapping tool is said to also assist policy makers in developing appropriate strategies and mechanisms that encourages sustainable development and other coping mechanisms to respond to other global challenges. 

For more information about the Eye on Earth mapping tool visit the EEA press release here.

Responses to Article: "Public Backing is the Key to Political Action on Climate Change" by Yvo de Boer

I developed the response below while reading the Article by Yvo de Boer "Public Backing is Key to Political Action on Climate Change" - Published on 25th February 2013.

It has been noted that political forces do not necessarily think long term. I think that this sort of thinking becomes inherent as their lifespan in office is normally that short - either 4 or 5 years (country dependent). Therefore, they foresee change to be immediate through implementing a policy without considering necessary pre- and post-actions required to perpetuate towards the desired outcome. This makes mega-forces and their associated challenges - such as climate change, population growth, potable water scarcity, food security and ecosystem decline - are harder to remedy if policy and decision makers remain focused on short term economic and financial gains.

Focusing on the above, consensus about what needs to change should be sought deeper within the mindset of society. Therefore I agree with Mr de Boer when stated that we require long term "political focus, public support and international cooperation" to address these mega-forces.

The publication of reports, policies and legislative material will also not have substantive impacts on these challenges if society does not accept these inherent motivators to their actions. Therefore a pre-action to consider would be to establish behavioural change within the man vs. nature relationship.

I also agree with the 4 criteria for a successful agreement (or consensus) as set out by Mr de Boer. However, with regards to seeking leadership, industrialised countries do not always have the answer. Some countries and their leadership have the ideology that the 'west is the best' (referring to the westernised economy), but they forget that there are numerous examples of indigenous initiatives being implemented locally which are successful. Therefore, I suggest that leadership should be delivered on the premise of establishing concrete arguments and the correct motivation for meaningful support to the initiatives that will progress towards what is required.

At this point, I then think, "Why are all decisions regarding these risks that are worst experienced by vulnerable poor nations made by industrialised countries?." Localised mitigation initiatives are required to not only bring communities together but to also adjust their behaviour so that it is geared towards more sustainable practises

... What happened to the Bottom-Up approach?...

These sorts of materials (policies, legislation, etc) also offer substantial indicators to develop frameworks that are established and address the current and possibly foreseeable issues regarding climate change, potable water scarcity, etc. However, we retain institutional inertia through red tape, lack of political leadership/motivation and social cohesion. Therefore, these frameworks have not worked thus far.

Finally, regarding this article, I also agree with Mr de Boer when he states that "The only chance of success lies in the new definition of value to create broad band prosperity rather than wealth." We can no longer work within silos and exclusion. To really make the best of what we have, we need to fully and actually understand what we have.

UNEP Releases Their Latest Publication: The 3rd African Environmental Outlook

The 3rd African Environmental Outlook (AEO3), published by UNEP and commissioned by the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN), recommends a bold statement for African environmental policy drivers. This would be to place the implementation of environmental and health initiatives at the top of their agenda's.

The report focuses mainly on the links between the environment and health, and how the environment contributes to major health impacts on livelihoods. The report also highlights indoor pollutants such as particular matter as a major impact on respiratory systems of the human body- as many African household still use wood as a resource for heating and cooking, these emissions remain in the immediate air for extended periods (without proper in house air circulation) and can be inhaled.

The Report also notes that although African countries have an array of good policies and strategies that concentrates on environmental change to implement, these initiatives are weekend by institutional inertia and the inability to implement due to lack of capacity. What the AEO3, as a framework for Policy Makers, intends on doing would be to produce measurements as to increase capacity, develop appropriate strategies and monitor the implementation and success of such policies.

H.E. Terezya Huvisa, Minister of State - Environment of the United Republic of Tanzania and President of AMCEN stated the following:

"As this report highlights, African governments are all too aware of the challenges facing the continent in terms of environmental impacts on human health. There are significant on-going efforts to combat these challenges, including putting in place many relevant policies," She Added: "However, these policies must be strongly implemented to have an impact, and enforcement mechanisms should be put in place and strengthened to reduce the negative consequences, ... If the recommendations in AEO-3 are followed, our citizens can look forward to healthier, and ultimately more productive, lives."

As for the above statement, we can only hope.

The report thus suggests key messages and policy recommendations. Furthermore, a section is dedicated to understanding the state of the environment within the context of environmental impacts on human health. The environmental factors looked at within this section includes:

• Air quality
• Biodiversity
• Chemicals and Waste
• Climate change
• Freshwater and Sanitation
• Land

You can read about this press release further on the UNEP website here.