South Africa forced to import maize, worst drought since 1992 - Radio 2000 - 1 April 2015

An outbreak of foulbrood disease has killed 40% of the Western Cape's bee population this year, threatening food production. There have been reports that the disease could spread to other provinces. How do we fix this problem?

Outbreak Kills 40% of Western Cape Bees - Radio 2000 - 22 April 2015

Energy storage remains one of our biggest challenges in the modern age. But tech companies are responding positively to what could be one of the biggest commercial opportunities of our time. 

Positive Developments In Energy Storage - Radio 2000 - 29 April 2015

The 200 biggest oil, coal and gas companies seem to be finding more coal, gas and oil reserves ready for extraction.  In contrast to tech companies, the fossil fuel sector is pursuing the same growth model rather than innovating for a sustainable future.

Fossil Fuel Sector: Same Old Story? - Radio 2000 - 29 April 2015

A fly farming facility in the Western Cape is recycling food waste into animal feed. This is a game changing business, home grown by local entrepreneurial brothers, Jason and David Drew. They have been doing research and development over the last five years at their Stellenbosch test facility, where they were processing 10 tonnes of food waste a week into animal feed. 

Recycling Food Waste With Flies - Radio 2000 - 3 May 2015

The concept of a solar road emerged last year, and now one has been piloted in the Netherlands that is producing more energy than expected. Will solar roads become the way of the future?

Solar Roads: The Way Of The Future? - Radio 2000 - 3 May 2015

Listen to the Interview Michael Avery had with Raldu Nel (CEO of BCI) on Classic Business on 7 May. 

Learn more about the exciting topics of this year’s Sustainability Summit 2015 and how industry and academia can participate in the conversation.


Michael Avery Interview with Raldu Nel (CEO of BCI) on Classic Business - 7 May 2015

The IMF just released a report revealing that the fossil fuel industry is still benefitting from direct and indirect subsidies from world governments, to the tune of $5.3 trillion. 

Are Fossil Fuels Still Subsidised? - Radio 2000 - 20 May 2015

In an effort to curb waste across the food supply chain, France has introduced a new law that now makes it illegal for supermarkets to throw away edible food. 

France’s Supermarkets Tackle Food Waste - Radio 2000 - 27 May 2015

While treasury looks at the implementing a carbon tax in 2016, let’s examine another environmental tax, the plastic bag levy. How has it fared since its introduction back in 2004, and are there lessons to be learnt?

Plastic Bag Levy: Success Or Failure? - Radio 2000 - 10 June 2015

China is sub-Saharan Africa’s biggest trade partner, which seems to have clear benefits for the region. As time goes on, however, some real sustainability risks are emerging. 

China: SA’s Unsustainable Trade Partner? - Radio 2000 - 10 June 2015

Pope Francis warned today that a variety of human activities - from a blind worship of technology to a reliance on fossil fuels - risk irreparably ruining the planet, stealing its stunning beauty and rich diversity from future generations. This situation, the pope said in a sweeping and sharply worded manifesto, can no longer be met with irony and distain. Climate change is a reality and it’s getting worse…

Pope Francis Speaks Out On Climate Change - Radio 2000 - 18 June 2015

A damning research report published by three top US universities have confirmed that the Earth is officially entering its 6th extinction phase, with many species – including our own - being threatened. 

Earth Enters Its 6th Extinction Phase - Radio 2000 - 24 June 2015

13 more renewable energy project bids have been successful, and have been added to Round 4 of South Africa’s REIPPP program that was announced in April. Back then there was some doubt that this would happen, so this is good news indeed.

13 More RE Project Bids Successful - Radio 2000 - 24 June 2015

The iconic toy company, LEGO, is committed to moving toward more sustainable materials in the production of their products. This is quite a turn around after the story covered a little while back about LEGO. 

LEGO redeems itself after severing ties with Shell - Radio 2000 - 22 July 2015

Ocean debris and more specifically plastics finding their way into the ocean is a massive challenge for so many reasons. Here is an update on this issue as well as some of the initiatives being put in place to reverse this trend?

Positive developments in the clean-up of our oceans - Radio 2000 - 22 July 2015

With COP21 climate negotiations taking place in Paris in November, there has been a hive of climate change related activity in the USA with both government and business committing to deep cuts in coal use and significant investment into renewables. It also seems to be quite a big topic in the upcoming US presidential elections. Kevin James gives us an update:

The Yin and Yang to Obama’s Clean Power Plan - Radio 2000 - 5 Aug 2015

In South Africa there seems to be much hype around the government’s new pet project, named ‘Operation Phakisa’, which aims to unlock the ocean economy. Kevin James gives us his thoughts on this initiative and whether he believes it will indeed be as beneficial as they are claiming:

‘Operation Phakisa’: exploiting the ocean economy in a hurry - Radio 2000 - 5 Aug 2015

A damning article was published in the Mail and Guardian last week giving some insights into the state of the country’s more than 800 water treatment plants and by association, the state of our natural water systems. Kevin James gives us the overall message:

The abysmal state of South Africa’s water systems and infrastructure - Radio 2000 - 12 Aug 2015

Interesting trends are emerging in the global energy mix where renewable energy is now the second biggest generator of electricity globally. It seems like the clean energy wave is growing and not slowing down any time soon. Here is what Kevin James had to say:

Renewable Energy overtakes Natural Gas in Global Energy Supply - Radio 2000 - 20 Aug 2015

Regarding nuclear energy, Kevin James gives us an update as well as his current thoughts on the South African government’s quite controversial nuclear energy procurement:

South Africa’s Undercover Nuclear Energy Deal - Radio 2000 - 20 Aug 2015

Professor Tim Noakes believes the only way the World could save itself from a sugar diabetes and obesity pandemic is through a “high fat–low carb” (LCHF) diet. 

Professor Tim Noakes: Sugar Diabetes and Obesity Pandemic  - Radio 2000 - 16 Sept 2015

Porsche has released its “Mission E” electric concept vehicle that can accelerate from 0-100kmh in 3.4 seconds. 

Porsche Electric Vehicle - Radio 2000 - 16 Sept 2015

3D printing has become a fascinating buzz word for many in the past 5 years yet little is known of its versatility. An Italian company called WASP has developed a 3D printer which can print simple cost effective houses with natural materials such as mud, water, clay and fibres. 

WASP Home 3D Printer - Radio 2000 - 30 Sept 2015

The CSIR have issued a warning to Sub-Saharan Africa to expect disproportionate temperature changes due to global warming. This is however nothing new as Africa, specifically Sub-Saharan Africa, is expected to be more susceptible to the impacts of climate changes. 

CSIR Climate Change Warning - Radio 2000 - 30 Sept 2015

Kevin James of GCX Africa recently visited the Blank Canvas International Summit in Johannesburg and had interesting conversations with senior personalities in the mining sector including Mr. Sipho Nkosi CEO of Exxaro. 

Sustainability and Mining - Radio 2000 - 7 Oct 2015

It’s difficult to believe but Stanford University researchers found a common meal worm (larvae of the Darkling beetle) that can safely break down and live off a diet of Styrofoam. 

Researchers found worms that break down Styrofoam - Radio 2000 - 7 Oct 2015

BMW’s Pretoria plant will annually process approximately 40,000 tons of cattle manure and 20, 000 of organic waste. This will be fed into a biogas anaerobic digester from which the methane generated will be used to drive a gas engine

BMW powering up with Bio-Energy - Radio 2000 - 21 Oct 2015

Kevin James of GCX Africa was a speaker at the recent Metro Advance Forum at Arabella  on the 3rd and 4th of November. The event was hosted by Nomadic Verve and was attended by predominantly the public sector including several executive mayors.

Metro Advance Forum 2015 - Radio 2000 - 11 Nov 2015

In rural parts of Nigeria several communities have started building houses made from empty plastic bottles collected for free. The process is as follow: 1) bottles are collected, 2) filled up with soil and compacted, 3) the bottles are then stacked and layered on each other with clay, 4) the necks of the bottles are secured and connected with string 5) followed by a final layer of clay.

Plastic bottle houses of Nigeria - Radio 2000 - 27 Jan 2016

The Philippi Horticultural Area (PHA) on the Cape Flats has become a scene of controversy regarding new proposed developments on the sensitive farmland/wetland catchment area of the Cape Flats Aquifer. The Cape Flats Aquifer is a massive integrated groundwater system which is estimated to be 630km2 -  enough to supply a third of the City of Cape Town’s freshwater supply. 

Proposed development on the Cape Flats Aquifer - Radio 2000 - 4 Feb 2016

A lot has happened since the 74 year old highly acclaimed physicist and cosmologist Professor Stephen Hawking’s quoted in 1988 that “We are just an advanced breed of monkeys on a minor planet of a very average star. But we can understand the Universe. 

Stephen Hawking insights on the latest human advancements - Radio 2000 - 10 Feb 2016

The technology of using captured greenhouse gasses from the air to make plastic polymers was developed by California startup Newlight Technologies and used commercially by Dell Computers on its laptop sleeve covers.

The Body Shop’s use of reusable plastic packaging - Radio 2000 - 10 Feb 2016

GDP (Gross Domestic Product) remains the main benchmark for countries measuring their success. In recent years new and alternative measures have been developed to measure societal success. 

What is wellbeing? - Radio 2000 - 24 Feb 2016

Coffee pods have changed the way we drink coffee.   This tasty convenience, however, has an unsustainable downside being that the pods themselves are not recycled after use. European market leader Keurig brand’s K-Cup has particularly come under fire. 

Unsustainable Coffee Pods - Radio 2000 - 24 Feb 2016

A world first, one of South Africa’s biggest pork abattoirs based in Cape Town has been given the green light to convert all of its waste to a biogas facility.

Worlds First Pork Abattoir Waste to Energy Project coming to Cape Town - Radio 2000 - 9 March 2016

Available drinking water is something many of us take for granted, for some it is a challenging part of life that takes up many hours of precious time. Millions of people in developing countries struggle finding safe drinking water.

Warka Water innovation - Radio 2000 - 9 March 2016

As we all know we have inherited fossil fuels as the life blood of the global economy. Since the beginning of the industrial revolution which started in the late 18th century, the fossil fuel –namely the “oil and coal economy” started to emerge.

Fossil Fuel Addiction – It’s time to move on! - Radio 2000 - 23 March 2016

Renovagen, a solar energy company from the UK has developed the Roll Array, a high powered Solar PV (Photo Voltaic, powered by sunlight) type of carpet. It is a completely flexible, easy to transport, all in one microgrid. 

Roll Array Solar Energy Technology - Radio 2000 - 23 March 2016

Better Business Podcasts
The latest in sustainability news and how to make your business better. 
Thought leadership opinion and commentary from Kevin James (Sustainability Strategist, Futurist) and interviews with South African professionals and experts. Stay ahead of the curve through industry insights to be revealed on the show.
More audio and video can be found on www.gcxafrica.co.za and as podcasts through iTunes.

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