Fossil Free SA has just launched a campaign called Climate Hope to share a host of little-known truths about the best ways of ensuring a stable climate and a future in which we can all flourish.

The facts of Climate Hope, all backed by reputable research, are that a cleaner, greener future is well within reach.

“We can’t close down the coal industry, or jobs will be lost. In fact, we need more coal.”

This myth has been promoted for years by politicians including our Mineral and Petroleum Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe and the coal industry.

‍But the consensus from energy experts is that renewable energy creates far more jobs than coal, oil and gas – almost three times as many, one study finds.

Are South African parliamentarians investing through their pension funds in coal, oil, and gas companies, the primary drivers of climate breakdown?

Are they investing in companies that supply arms and commodities to regimes known to be abusing human rights? Fossil Free SA and Open Secrets are seeking answers to these questions.

We needed to revisit this question recently after our meetings with Allan Gray and Ninety One (see story above). The upshot: divestment alone cannot stop climate breakdown, but does have massive influence.

We’ve had many engagements with university students and some with lecturers at UCT and Stellenbosch University this year. They were far more receptive to our divestment message than than the asset managers Allan Gray and Ninety One, whose dismissals challenged us to explore, once again, the power of divestment.

V&A Waterfront has revoked permission for FFSA’s Investment Justice Walk to enter its precinct, forcing a route change. FFSA criticises this decision as undemocratic and inconsistent with the Waterfront’s stated commitments to sustainability and inclusivity. The walk, highlighting ethical investment and climate justice, will proceed on 15 November as planned.

FFSA’s Investment Justice Walk on 15 November 2024 will spotlight SA asset managers still funding fossil fuels. The walk, from St. George’s Cathedral to the V&A Waterfront, will highlight the role of finance in shaping society and call for ethical investment.

Fossil Free South Africa launched the Planet A Investment Guide, the country’s only ethical investment advisory. The guide highlights three sustainable South African funds as alternatives to fossil fuel investments. FFSA urges investors to seek expert advice while considering ESG-friendly options.

The Advertising Regulatory Board's appeal committee has dismissed TotalEnergies' appeal against a verdict in our favour − a warning to fossil fuel companies against greenwashing.

Look out for the seven bright, energetic young interns who have become the face of our #InvestFossilFree campaign at malls, markets and other public venues.  

Clean Creatives SA director Stephen Horn has drawn attention on social media to a far-reaching campaign of lies and “astroturfing” by public relations company MetropolitanRepublic (MR), working for TotalEnergies in Uganda. 

The rebuilding of Gaza could be a lightning rod for sustainable development across the region.

This overview was drafted by and edited with the assistance of an FFSA supporter who is an ESCA-registered Pr. Eng., with 12 years work experience in energy efficiency. Comments and possible updates are welcome.

As new evidence emerges internationally to show the efficacy of fossil fuel divestment for accelerating the global struggle to limit climate breakdown, Fossil Free SA has released its first report surveying SA institutions attempting to divest.

On 16 March, as guests of our co-hosts from the International Labour Research and Information Group (ILRIG), we presented a talk on climate issues as they may pertain to the labour movement at Community House, Salt River, in the Imam Haron Hall.

Sasol recently set new targets for greenhouse gas emissions reductions, particularly, a 30% reduction by 2030 and "net zero" by 2050.

After eight long years of trying to persuade UCT to stop investments in fossil fuels, the University of Cape Town’s Panel on Responsible Investment (UPRI) has now published its recommendation on divestment – which is, that UCT should divest from all fossil fuel investments by 2030!

Our latest campaign is calling on SA’s leading asset managers to create truly fossil fuel-free SA investment funds.

In support of groundWork's recent request "for a speedy and urgent investigation to arrest and put on trial those responsible for the murder of Mama Fikile Ntshangase", we are sending a follow-up letter to President Ramaphosa and Minister of Police Bheki Cele in support of groundWork and the Somkhele community.

We've been campaigning for UCT to stop investing in climate-breaking fossil fuels for seven years, while hundreds of global institutions have joined the movement. Over the past few months, many people and institutions have written to the new UCT Council in support of divestment.