THE 2026 PLANETARY HEALTH Check, released by scientists at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, issues a severe and unequivocal warning regarding the future of human life on Earth. Synthesizing cutting-edge data from leading global researchers, the landmark report diagnoses an escalating planetary emergency, revealing that seven of the nine planetary boundaries – which […]
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Natural filter cleaning polluted South African river for watering food gardens
By Kevin Winter, Senior Scholar in Environmental & Geographical Science, University of Cape Town. First published in The Conversation on 12 August 2026 Every day, millions of litres of polluted water flow through many South African rivers and disappear into the sea. In South Africa, the small Stiebeuel River in Franschhoek, about 75 kilometres east […]
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Biodiversity: Africa’s herbarium collections need to be digitised
By Ronell R Klopper, Extraordinary Lecturer, University of Pretoria;Hester Steyn, Plant taxonomist at the National Herbarium, South African National Biodiversity Institute; Marianne Le Roux, e-Flora Coordinator, South African National Biodiversity Institute. First published in The Conversation on 26 August 2026 UNIVERSITIES AND BIODIVERSITY institutes have hidden treasures: their collections of pressed plant specimens. These are […]
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Gardening for migrating birds
By Staff Writer EVERY YEAR, billions of birds representing more than 100 species complete an epic journey to spend the southern summer in South Africa. They escape freezing winters in Europe and Asia, or fly from other parts of Africa to chase the seasonal rains and warm weather. These incredible long-distance travelers start arriving in […]
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Biodiversity: A Reader
by GST Staff Krill fishing in Antarctica and the fight to protect the Southern Ocean WITHOUT THIS HUMBLE crustacean, which swarms in vast numbers in the polar seas, the entire Antarctic ecosystem as we know it wouldn’t exist. Krill eat the phytoplankton that blooms in Antarctic waters, helping capture and store atmospheric carbon, and providing […]
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The green transition: Path forward or technological wizardry?
By Brian Lloyd, originally published on 31 July 2026 by Resilience.org RECENT WEATHER EVENTS have prodded media outlets to insert climate change into their coverage, so I thought it might be a good time to revisit an exchange about “the green transition” that clarified for me, at least, much of what I find troubling about […]
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Biodiversity recovery in Dutch fresh water turning back into decline
The recovery of Dutch freshwater nature is faltering. Environmental policy bore fruit for years, but in several areas, the upward trend has stalled or is even heading in the wrong direction again. “Biodiversity recovery in streams and rivers has turned into decline,” warn the World Wildlife Fund… Read more in NL Times…
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Tourism: A Reader
by GST Staff 3 pillars shaping Africa’s next hospitality chapter THE CONVERSATION AROUND African hospitality has shifted. For years, the continent was framed in terms of “untapped potential”; today, that potential is translating into sustained, undeniable growth. The industry has moved beyond recovery and into a phase of sophisticated expansion that is reshaping the global […]
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Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa: how they stack up on reusing waste
By Aifani Confidence Tahulela – Researcher, Durban University of Technology; Fulufhelo Netswera – Deputy Vice Chancellor for Research and Postgraduate Studies, University of Venda. First published in The Conversation on 13 May 2026 THE GLOBAL ECONOMY STILL largely follows a simple pattern: extract natural resources, manufacture products, use them and then throw them away. This […]
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The Future of Forests
By Richard Heinberg, originally published by Resilience.org Our species’ origin and destiny are entangled with the roots and branches of trees. We evolved in and around trees, and we’ve learned to breed and plant them for their fruit, nuts, wood, and blossoms, taking their seeds with us as we migrated-hence the English walnut, native to […]
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