As the Olympic Games get underway in Paris on 26 July, the Worldwide Fund for Nature has launched a video campaign asking people to focus on the world records we don’t want to break. In this week’s edition of Being Green, Glynis Crook speaks to James Reeler, Senior Manager: Climate Action at the WWF South Africa about what it hopes the campaign wil…

Trees and plants make life better in a city, including improving air quality, providing homes to birds and insects, and cooling our streets. A recent heat-mapping campaign as part of the World Bank’s City Resilience Programme and the National Treasury’s Cities Support Programme found large temperature differences in parts of the city with densely-p…

An urban greening trend that is gaining momentum around the world for its environmental benefits is something called a Miyawaki pocket forest. The concept was developed in the 1970s by Japanese botanist, Dr Akira Miyawaki. Now Aghmad Gamieldien, founder of Mzanzi Organics, has created five of them in Cape Town. He joins Glynis Crook on this week’s …

In this week’s edition of Being Green, Glynis Crook speaks to Prof Peter Ryan, emeritus professor at UCT’s FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, who co-authored a study which found that colourful plastics degrade to form microplastics faster than those with plain colours.By Glynis Crook

Electronic waste is the fastest-growing solid waste stream in the world. In 2022, a record 62 million tonnes were produced globally, up 82% from 2010. But less than one quarter of the year’s e-waste mass was documented as having been properly collected and recycled. In this week’s edition of Being Green, Glynis Crook speaks to Keith Anderson, CEO o…

First deployed in 2004, the RAPID-AMOC 26°N array has revolutionised the understanding of the AMOC’s variability and documented its impacts on our long term climate and seasonal European weather. In the final episode of our mini-series focusing on the AMOC, Dr Zoe Jacobs is joined by NOC's Chief Scientist Professor Penny Holliday to discuss the arr…

In this week’s Being Green, Glynis Crook speaks to Pavs Pillay, behaviour change lead and WWF-SASSI manager, about the initiative’s new report, “The hidden costs of your seafood”, which focuses on the crucial role played by retailers and suppliers of seafood in ensuring responsible and sustainable fishing practices are implemented.…

In Being Green this week, Glynis Crook continues her discussion with Wild Survivors founder, Francesca Mahoney, about elephants in Tanzania, and how their fear of bees is being harnessed to protect farms and help communities along the animal’s migratory corridors. To find out more, go to: www.wildsurvivors.org…

Over the past few years there have been many reports of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) collapsing completely within the next few years... but could it actually happen? University of Liverpool's Dr Hemant Khatri and NOC's Dr Zoe Jacobs examine whether the scenes depicted in the movie 'The Day After Tomorrow' could actually be…

In this week’s Being Green, Glynis Crook speaks to Francesca Mahoney, founder of Wild Survivors, an organisation that works to create a sustainable solution to the conflict between elephants and humans along the animal’s migratory corridors in northern Tanzania. To find out more, go to: www.wildsurvivors.org…

A study published recently by the British Antarctic Survey raised concerns about the record low levels of sea ice around Antarctica. Scientists found that in 2023 – compared to an average winter – the maximum extent of the Antarctic Sea covered by ice, shrank by over two million square kilometres. It found that these historically low levels were a …

Ocean models enable us to observe multiple ocean parameters and give us a more complete picture of the health of our ocean, including the health of the AMOC. NOC's Dr Tillys Petit and University of Oxford Postdoctoral Researcher Dr Margarita Markina join NOC's Dr Zoe Jacobs to discuss how and why we create models of the ocean and how it's steering …

Plastic waste is poorly managed along coastal zones in West Africa, and Tanzania is no exception. But as the public becomes more aware of the problem, there are an increasing number of initiatives to deal with the problem, and opportunities to recycle. In this week’s edition of Being Green, Glynis Crook speaks to Alexis Cronin, co-founder of Dunia,…

The powerful El Nino weather phenomenon, a big contributor to last year’s record-breaking global temperatures, has faded. Its opposite, La Nina, is expected to emerge in the next few months. In this week’s edition of Being Green, Glynis Crook asks Dr Christopher Jack, deputy director of UCT’s Climate System Analysis Group, what impact it is likely …

The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) is one of the most important systems to our climate and has been identified as a major climate tipping point... but how does it work? University of Oxford Research Student Ollie Tooth joins NOC's Dr Zoe Jacobs to give an introduction to AMOC, how it controls our climate and what it's future loo…

Wood vinegar, a by-product of charcoal production, has been used in agriculture for over two thousand years, both as a growth booster for plants and a natural pesticide. In this week’s edition of Being Green, Glynis Crook speaks to Ralf Dedig, the owner of Namibian company, Makarra Wood Vinegar, about the benefits of the product.…

Bamboo is the fastest-growing plant on earth, and products made from this grass are highly eco-friendly. Among its many benefits to the environment is the fact that it absorbs twice as much carbon dioxide as trees and generates an impressive amount of oxygen. Glynis Crook caught up with Go Bamboo, a company that imports bamboo toilet paper, kitchen…

Two bird conservation organisations, BirdLife South Africa and Sanccob, are taking the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment to court over what they see as a flawed plan to protect the endangered African Penguin. In this week’s edition of Being Green, Glynis Crook asks Sanccob’s head of conservation, Nicky Stander, what motivated the…

In this week’s edition of Being Green, Glynis Crook speaks to Nileta Knoetzen, co-founder of Malmesbury-based company, Growing Paper, which not only hand-manufactures paper from paper waste, but also infuses it with seeds so you can “plant” it after use.By Glynis Crook

In this week’s edition of Being Green, Glynis Crook speaks to World Travel Market Africa sales manager, Penny Fraser, and marketing manager, Olivia Gradridge, about how seriously the tourism industry is taking the negative impact it makes on the environment.By Glynis Crook

In this week’s edition of Being Green, Glynis Crook speaks to Heather Wares of the Two Oceans Aquarium about the incredible work done by its foundation in the field of ocean research and conservation and the beach clean-up it is holding at Surfers’ Corner, Muizenburg, on Saturday morning. Time: 9h-12h. Bring along gloves and a bucket to collect the…

In this week’s edition of Being Green, Glynis Crook speaks to Honest Chocolate co-owner, Anthony Gird, about their efforts to make their products sustainable and environmentally friendly and how climate change is impacting cocoa bean production. To find out more about their chocolate and workshops, visit their website: honestchocolate.co.za…

In this week’s edition of Being Green, Glynis Crook speaks to Greenpop’s Zoe Gauld-Angelucci about the organisation’s incredible urban greening and forest restoration projects and the Reforest Fest is it holding in the Overberg on the Easter weekend.By Glynis Crook

In Being Green this week, Glynis Crook speaks to Victor Sterling, co-owner of Delheim Wine Estate, about the importance of soil quality and the farm’s practice of planting cover crops between the vine rows.By Glynis Crook

Reminder to not waste water as dam levels drop below two-thirds About a week ago, the Western Cape Department of Water and Sanitation reminded residents of the need to be cautious about the amount of water they use. This as dam levels in the region collectively stood at 65.8 per cent. In Being Green this week, Glynis Crook speaks to climate scienti…

The vital research marine science undertakes in our ocean is underpinned by intricate and detailed policy and global governance frameworks to enable sustainable use and support the protection of the ocean. NOC's Head of Marine Policy, Alan Evans, joins the podcast in our season finale to talk about the significance of policy and laws - including th…

In this week’s edition of Being Green, Glynis Crook speaks to Shani Judes, director of the Wavescape Surf and Ocean Festival which takes place from 1-14 March. It features a host of events focusing on ocean conservation, including a beach clean-up, documentaries, and a charity auction of surfboards painted by South African artists. Find out more on…

In this week’s edition of Being Green, Glynis Crook speaks to Christiaan Gildenhuys, a postgraduate student in Stellenbosch University’s Department of Botany and Zoology, who has co-written a paper about the 400-year-old history of oaks in the Cape, and why they are now becoming a problem.By Glynis Crook

The release of carbon is one of the reasons why we are seeing temperature increases across our planet every year... but what role does the ocean play in absorbing it? Dr Socratis Loucaides, Head of Analytical Sciences at NOC, tells us all about the importance of monitoring carbon in our ocean and some of the exciting projects that are enabling this…

A major United Nations report on the world’s migratory species, published earlier this week, has found that nearly half of them are in decline and are increasingly in danger of being wiped out. Of the over 1,189 species assessed, researchers found that more than one in five of the already threatened species now face extinction. In this week’s editi…

In Being Green this week, Glynis Crook speaks to Dr Wentzel Coetzer, a conservationist and member of the Greater Kabeljous Partnership, that has launched a campaign to preserve two key sites in the area of Jeffrey’s Bay that are home to several endangered animal and plant species.By Glynis Crook

Autosub Long Range, famously known as Boaty McBoatface, had a busy 2023 and is set to continue to be at the forefront of autonomous ocean exploration this year. ALR Operations Engineer Stewart Fairbairn joins the podcast to tell us about the ALR's recent successes and the exciting missions it will undertake in 2024 and beyond. Learn more about Boat…

In Being Green this week, Glynis Crook speaks to Nora Thiel, co-owner of Delheim Wine Estate, about conservation efforts at the farm. It is not only a WWF-South Africa Conservation Champion but was also recently named the 2024 Conservation Pioneer for the Cape Winelands region, in the Great Wine Capitals’ “Best of Wine Tourism” awards.…

In Being Green this week, Glynis Crook speaks to Hugh Tyrrell, director of Green Edge and a specialist waste management and recycling consultant, about problems with waste collection in townships that seem to have come to a head this week with reports that the mayor tabled a motion to place the executive director of urban waste management on suspen…

The oceans are often a place where man-made structures and functions meet with the incredible marine ecosystem - but how do both these contribute to how loud it is beneath the surface? DHI's Frank Thomsen joins the podcast to tell us all about underwater sound and the impacts it has on ocean life. Learn more about Frank and DHI - https://www.dhigro…

In Being Green this week, Glynis Crook speaks to Gaathier Mahed, a senior lecturer in geosciences at Nelson Mandela University, about an ancient system of drawing water from aquifers called a qanat. Not only is this ingenious method of water supply recognised by UNESCO as an outstanding example of traditional technology, but it is also an environme…

Scientists at Europe's Copernicus Climate Change Service on Tuesday confirmed that the world is dangerously close to a global warming limit as 2023 goes down as the hottest on record by a substantial margin. In Being Green this week, Glynis Crook speaks to Willem Landman, a professor in Meteorology at the University of Pretoria, about the report.…

The emergence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in society in recent years has given us a glimpse into the future - but how does it help us monitor and learn more about our ocean? Professor Sara Bernardini and Dr Fatma Jebri tell us more about how we currently use AI in NOC's research and how they see it progressing in the future. The latest story re…

PROUDLY SPONSORED BY GERLINDE MOSER OF RE/MAX. Being Green – Your window on the environment broadcast every Friday morning at 9.30. Glynis Crook will focus on key issues affecting our lifestyles, science and research outcomes, the quest for sustainable living and a healthier planet.By Glynis Crook

We’ve been hearing a lot this month about climate change and the impact the rise in global temperatures is having on so many aspects of our lives. One of these is the likelihood that the size, frequency, and severity of wildfires will increase in the years to come. In Being Green this week, Glynis Crook, speaks to Working on Fire managing director,…

Christmas is a wonderful time of the year, but it does tend to be excessive in terms of all the delicious meals we eat. And we shouldn’t forget that the world’s food system is a huge contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions. So, how can we keep the environment in mind when preparing all those special celebratory meals. To give us some ideas, …

Dreaming of a white Christmas? In the ocean's twilight zone it's a reality every day! In our first Christmas special, Dr Chelsey Baker and Dr Zoe Jacobs learn all about what marine snow is and how important it is in feeding and maintaining the marine ecosystem. Go under the surface and discover more about the twilight zone - https://noc.ac.uk/under…

There was a standing ovation on Wednesday morning when a landmark deal was agreed on at the end of the United Nations climate summit in Dubai. While it doesn't specifically mention the "phasing-out" of fossil fuels, it does call for parties to contribute to efforts to "transition away" from the use of fossil fuels in energy systems in a way that wi…

Some 120 governments have now signed a pledge to triple the world’s renewable energy capacity by 2030, essential to delivering the scale of emissions reductions needed globally to combat climate change. South Africa is not one of them, despite our abundant renewable energy sources. International NPO, The Climate Group, has released a report outlini…

The temperature of our ocean has been increasing with records being broken across the world in 2023, but what is causing this? Dr Joel Hirschi and Dr Zoe Jacobs sit down to discuss why this might be happening, and how the 'El Niño' climate phenomenon may be playing a key part in these changes. Check out our under the surface page on marine heatwave…

In Being Green this week, Glynis Crook speaks to Olivia Rumble of Climate Legal about what African countries are hoping for from this year’sBy Glynis Crook

In this week’s edition of Being Green, Glynis Crook speaks to Willem van der Westhuizen, one of the founders of the community-led project, ZeroToLandfill, which collects recycling and organic waste in the Little Mowbray-Rosebank area of the city.By Glynis Crook

How can everyone help towards fighting plastic pollution in the ocean across the world? Will Pearson, Co-Founder of Ocean Bottle, tells us the inspiration behind setting up the company, the extent of the damage caused by plastic pollution across the world, and how buying a reusable ocean bottle can make a real difference in coastal communities. Fin…

In this week’s edition of Being Green, Glynis Crook speaks to Stellenbosch University marine biologist, Dr Sara Andreotti, who together with a group of scientists and environmentalists has developed an eco-friendly shark barrier which is being used for the first time on a private island in the Bahamas.…

On Episode 247 I sit down with Meredith Rickel. Meredith is a friend of mine from CrossFit Roots and someone who I really enjoyed talking to. I had a fascinating conversation with Meredith today that ranged from talking about SEC Football to what happiness means to her, all the way to the climate and what's going wrong, what she thinks we can do ab…