Christy van der Merwe
Christy van der Merwe is a former contributing editor for Engineering News Online and Mining Weekly Online. She graduated from Rhodes University.
Art commemorates 1922 miners’ strike in Johannesburg
11th June 2010 Heading down Bertrams street past the Ellis Park stadium in central Johannesburg, the bus rapid transit (BRT) system is not the only new... →
Global carbon price platform required to help drive mitigation efforts
9th June 2010 A "global uniform carbon price" was needed to ensure that adequate greenhouse gas emission mitigation took place to stop temperatures from rising... →
Greening initiatives launched to offset World Cup carbon emissions
8th June 2010 As the country prepares to welcome visitors for the imminent soccer spectacular, United Nations Environment Programme (Unep) outreach unit director... →
SA starts work on green-economy strategy
21st May 2010 Participants at the Green Economy summit in Johannesburg, on Thursday committed to drawing up a ‘Green Economy Plan' by the end of July, which will... →
SA mulls the costs, benefits of transition to green economy
20th May 2010 Industrial competitiveness emerged as a key topic for debate on the second day of the Green Economy summit, in Johannesburg, as delegates started... →
Green energy sector could create 300 000 jobs – Patel
18th May 2010 South Africa's green economy role players must move with speed, as there were many other countries competing to get a slice of the global green... →
Govt calls for open discussion with industry to advance clean energy
18th May 2010 As South Africa's first-ever green economy summit kicked off in Sandton on Tuesday, Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) chief director of air... →
Legislative work on creation of ISMO to be completed this month
12th May 2010 The Department of Energy (DoE) would complete the development of legislation for the creation of an Independent Systems and Market Operator (ISMO)... →
As SA changes trade policy tack, observers call for greater transparency
30th April 2010 Trade policy, once viewed as a central pillar of the conversion of the post-apartheid South African economy from an uncompetitive closed system... →
SA could be a global leader in greening the built environment – Doidge
29th April 2010 Public Works Minister Geoff Doidge on Thursday reiterated a "call for action" to move towards a ‘greener' built environment - which would need... →
Sacu to study impact of free-trade deal with East African Community
26th April 2010 The Southern African Customs Union (Sacu) is in the process of initiating a study of a possible free trade agreement (FTA) with the East African... →
Key developing country bloc puts climate ball back in rich-country court
26th April 2010 Ministers representing the Basic group (Brazil, South Africa, India, China) urged all so-called ‘Annex 1' countries (rich nations) to raise their... →
Zuma urges Sacu to tackle EPA negotiations as united front
23rd April 2010 Speaking at the 100th anniversary of the Southern African Customs Union (Sacu) celebration held in Namibia on Thursday, President Jacob Zuma said... →
More cohesion on climate change ‘urgently’ needed – China
22nd April 2010 The world needed a strong global strategy and concrete working plans, with more cohesion and fewer arguments if an agreeable solution to climate... →
Greater carbon reduction urgency needed, expert says
21st April 2010 The mitigation of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions was urgent and could not be delayed, as lags in the climate and physical systems of the Earth... →
Competition Commission raids SAA, Mango offices
6th April 2010 South Africa's Competition Commission has conducted a search and seize operation at the offices of South African Airways (SAA), Mango Airlines and... →
Lack of clarity on climate regime ‘not good for business’
18th March 2010 The Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) has acceded that the lack of clarity with regard to the international climate change regime was "not... →
SA can play important role in low-carbon growth – Stern
17th March 2010 UK government adviser on the economics of climate change and development Sir Nicholas Stern on Wednesday told South African business leaders that... →
Power purchase agreements are being prioritised - Deputy Minister
15th March 2010 Public Enterprises Deputy Minister Enoch Godongwana on Monday reaffirmed the South African government's commitment to "put an end to the chapter"... →
SA seeks to make virtue of necessity with green-industries plan
12th March 2010 The South African government has given strong signals that the country's energy intensity is no longer sustain-able and has started to outline its... →
Van Schalkwyk nominated to succeed De Boer as UN climate chief
8th March 2010 The South African government has put forward the name of Tourism Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk to the United Nations (UN) to potentially lead... →
SA businesses want clear environmental regulation policy
4th March 2010 Although 90% of South African businesses believed that government exerts a strong influence on environmental practices through legislation and... →
Independent operator moving faster than expected – Peters
4th March 2010 South African Energy Minister Dipuo Peters announced that the process of establishing an Independent Systems Operator (ISO) for the electricity... →
Carbon tax discussion document to be released by mid-year
23rd February 2010 The National Treasury will release a discussion document on carbon tax by mid-2010, which would investigate measures to implement carbon pricing,... →
More countries pledge to cut emissions under Copenhagen Accord
22nd February 2010 Some 70 developed and developing countries, responsible for about 80% of the world's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, had submitted emission... →
SA business urged to take climate action early
17th February 2010 Operating in a "carbon-constrained world" brought up issues of innovation and competitiveness that business in South Africa would need to recognise... →
Chabane moots regulator for the regulators
12th February 2010 A single regulatory coordinator, under the Competition Commission, was being considered by the South African government to enhance consistency and... →
Govt urged to be clear on climate policy
9th February 2010 To make South Africa competitive in a future where the carbon footprint of a product would be a determinant for trade, the South African government... →
Developing nations should shift towards clean growth – Unctad
8th February 2010 The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (Unctad) said that governments of countries in the developing world should eliminate market... →
SA signs climate cooperation agreement with Australia
5th February 2010 Water and Environmental Affairs Minister Buyelwa Sonjica and Australian Trade Minister Simon Crean on Friday signed a letter of intent that would... →
Sonjica urges communities to guard natural resources
2nd February 2010 Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs Buyelwa Sonjica on Monday launched the International Year of Biodiversity and urged South Africans not... →
SA's renewable sector could create over 145 000 jobs by 2020
28th January 2010 A recent report from international research organisation the Global Climate Network (GCN) has indicated that some 36 400 new direct jobs and 109... →
'Basic' country bloc agrees to 2010 climate timetable
25th January 2010 The environmental Ministers of the Basic group of countries - Brazil, South Africa, India and China - have reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring... →
SA aims to complete climate policy by year-end
21st January 2010 South Africa's Department of Environmental Affairs on Thursday expressed a "firm intent" to complete the country's national climate change policy... →
SA joins renewable energy body
18th January 2010 South Africa has officially joined the International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena), after President Jacob Zuma authorised Energy Minister Dipuo... →
Sonjica to attend climate meeting in India
15th January 2010 South Africa's Water and Environmental Affairs Minister Buyelwa Sonjica would meet fellow Ministers from Brazil, India and China in New Delhi,... →
Tick-the-box-style power plan slammed by WWF
15th January 2010 The World Wide Fund for Nature of South Africa (WWF-SA) has raised questions about the integrity of the National Energy Regulator of South Africa's... →
Issue of environmental border trade measures raised at Copenhagen
6th January 2010 During the Copenhagen climate change conference in December, several delegations specifically raised the issue of border measures as a means of... →
Legal expert says draft climate proposal not unusual as ‘leaked text’ sparks anger
9th December 2009 Various news reports from the second day of the 192-nation climate change conference of the parties (COP) taking place in Copenhagen were focused... →
Clear regulations needed to help SA unlock ‘vast’ wind power potential
9th December 2009 South Africa needed long-term renewable energy targets, a clear, investor friendly regulatory environment and transparent grid connection and... →
Climate talks to get under way in Copenhagen next week
4th December 2009 Two weeks of intense negotiation will begin in Copenhagen on Monday, as governments seek to thrash out the details and come to agreement on an... →
