Development banks to invest at least R60bn by 2030 in ocean plastics fight
The UN estimates that on current trends, plastic waste entering the water could triple to up to 37-million metric tons per year by 2040, from around 11-million tons in 2021.
Of particular concern is the growth in microplastics, which have contaminated all the major oceans, as well as the soil and air, finding their way into animals, plants and humans.
Launching the second iteration of the Clean Oceans Initiative as a UN conference kicks off in Nice, France, the European Investment Bank's (EIB) project lead, Stefanie Lindenberg, said the amount could rise further as other partners join.
Also including French, German, Spanish and Italian lenders and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the original initiative deployed €4bn (R80.95bn) of pledged investments between 2018 and May 2025, ahead of a year-end target, said EIB vice-president Ambroise Fayolle.
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Daily Maverick
6 hours ago
- Daily Maverick
How a DRC coltan mine feeds the tech world and funds M23 rebels
M23 rebels are in control of the lucrative coltan mines in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, perpetuating violence, exploiting workers and enticing foreign investors as fragile peace talks unfold. Under the watchful eye of M23 rebels in the hills around the Congolese town of Rubaya, a line of men in rubber boots ferry sacks full of crushed rocks up winding paths cut into the slopes. The labourers are hauling coltan ore, a mineral that powers the modern world. The ore will be loaded onto motorbikes and eventually shipped thousands of kilometres away to Asia. There it's processed into tantalum, a heat-resistant metal that fetches more than $300 per kilogram and is in high demand by makers of cellphones, computers, aerospace components and gas turbines. Rubaya produces about 15% of the world's coltan, all dug manually by impoverished locals who earn a few dollars a day. Control of this mine is the biggest prize in a long-running conflict in this central African nation. The area was seized in April 2024 by M23, a rebel group the UN says has plundered Rubaya's riches to help fund its insurgency, backed by the government of neighbouring Rwanda. The armed rebels captured even more mineral-rich territory in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) this year. The region and its mineral wealth are in the spotlight because M23 and the DRC pledged to sign a peace deal at a ceremony in Qatar's capital, Doha, this month. The US is mediating parallel talks between the DRC and Rwanda, dangling potentially billions of dollars in investment if hostilities cease. On 12 August, the US Treasury sanctioned other alleged participants in minerals smuggling in the DRC, including Pareco-FF, a pro-government militia that the US said controlled the Rubaya mining site from 2022 to early 2024, before M23's takeover. M23's advance poses the most serious threat to the Kinshasa government in at least two decades of conflict rooted in Rwanda's 1994 genocide, during which about one million of Rwanda's Tutsi ethnic group were killed by Hutu militias. Rwanda's government has long denied that it traffics in coltan looted from its neighbour or that it backs M23. But Rwanda's ruling party, mainly headed by Tutsis, shares the same concerns as the Tutsi-dominated M23 insurgents over the purported threat posed by rival Hutu groups operating in the eastern DRC. M23 now controls two key DRC cities – Goma and Bukavu – on the border with Rwanda. UN investigators say that it is through these cities that minerals are illegally trucked to Rwanda, where the ore is mixed with Rwandan coltan production in a bid to disguise its provenance before export. Reuters reporters visited Rubaya in March and were told by M23 officials that the rebels had imposed a tax on mineral traders of 15% on the value of coltan they buy from the informal miners who work the area. Mud and motorbikes Simply reaching Rubaya's sprawling, beehive-like maze of pits is a major undertaking. Reuters journalists who visited the mining sites in March had to abandon their four-wheel-drive Land Cruisers after the vehicles became stuck on the muddy road from Goma. They walked 5km to reach the town and then hopped on the back of motorcycles with rebel officials to reach the pits. Activity in Rubaya begins before dawn, when thousands of miners descend on the pits cut into the rolling hills of North Kivu province, where many toil in 12-hour shifts. The tunnels can be as deep as 15m underground. Once fragments of ore are dislodged, porters carry sacks of the rubble to the surface. There, other workers, including women and children, wash the ore before laying it in the sun to dry. It is then stacked on the backs of motorbikes that carry it to one of several depots in the nearby town of Rubaya, where it is sold to traders. UN experts and human rights activists have long warned that profits from illegal mining are funding conflict. They say the trade has brought little wealth to local people and that child labour is common. Some US entrepreneurs have also set their sights on Rubaya's coltan treasure as President Donald Trump seeks to broker a peace deal to end the conflict and promote development of the region's mineral wealth. Texas hedge fund manager Gentry Beach, who is chairperson of investment firm America First Global and helped raise funds for Trump's election campaign in 2016, was part of a consortium looking to negotiate rights to the Rubaya mine, according to a person with direct knowledge of the matter. The Financial Times earlier reported Gentry's interest in Congo's coltan. The source told Reuters that Beach's group had proposed to the DRC government taking a majority stake in the mine, with Kinshasa retaining a 30% interest. Beach confirmed his interest in the project to Reuters, but declined to provide additional details. Some US legislators are pushing back. In an 8 August letter to Trump and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, more than 50 Democratic congress members criticised what they said was the administration's lack of transparency in its negotiations with the DRC. They also raised concerns about a potential conflict of interest in a Trump ally angling for rights to develop the Rubaya mine. White House deputy press secretary Anna Kelly said in a 5 August statement that the agreement between the DRC and Rwanda arranged by Trump had the potential to lead to lasting peace and stability in the region. The president's vision was a 'win-win outcome where all parties benefit… through cooperation and shared prosperity'. The US-backed accord does not include M23, which is part of a separate, parallel mediation led by Qatar that seeks to end hostilities. The success of these talks in Doha is key to any lasting peace – and to making Rubaya safe for investment and development by Western mining interests. Some diplomats and analysts are dubious about the prospects for a speedy resolution. The DRC and M23 pledged in Doha to reach a peace deal by 18 August. But progress has been jeopardised by the killing of at least 319 civilians in eastern DRC last month, according to the UN, which says M23 carried out the attacks. Meanwhile, the US-brokered deal calls for Rwandan troops to pull out of the DRC. But Rwandan President Paul Kagame said last month he was not sure the agreement would hold. Another formidable undertaking would be transforming Rubaya's crude system of coltan extraction into a modern operation, said a diplomat who is closely following events. 'No one talks about the feasibility of giving out these mining concessions and running them, especially since the whole mine is artisanal mining,' he said. – Reuters/DM This story first appeared in our weekly Daily Maverick 168 newspaper, which is available countrywide for R35.
IOL News
6 hours ago
- IOL News
Europe's Hyperloop Automotive Ambitions
Image: Supplied The Hyperloop concept is shifting rapidly from futuristic theory to practical reality at the newly opened European Hyperloop Centre (EHC) in Veendam, the Netherlands. The site represents a milestone for Europe as it brings together all the essential components of the system in one location, creating a collaborative hub where international developers can refine technologies and forge cross-border partnerships. For Europe, open borders are a defining achievement. The everyday ease of crossing between countries without checkpoints is a powerful symbol of integration, and the Hyperloop mirrors this same spirit of speed, connectivity and innovation on a new scale. The choice of Groningen, close to the German border within the Ems-Dollart Region, underscores the project's symbolic commitment to seamless regional and international movement. Inside the European Hyperloop Centre At the centre of the facility lies a 420-metre-long tube, assembled from 34 sections and featuring a unique switch mechanism branching off from one end. Designed as an open innovation environment, it enables researchers and industry partners from across the globe to test propulsion, levitation, stabilisation and switching at speeds up to 100 km/h. By lowering air pressure inside the tube to just one millibar, air resistance is almost eliminated, dramatically reducing energy consumption and positioning Hyperloop as one of the most sustainable transport solutions under development. Managing Director Kees Mark has also stressed that the vacuum technologies developed here have applications well beyond mobility. The EHC is supported by a broad coalition of industry players such as Hardt Hyperloop, POSCO, TATA Steel, Mercon, Denys, and Avitec, alongside technology partners including Hive and Bytesnet Groningen. Passenger capsule prototypes are already being tested with VR simulations and user feedback, while the Hyperloop Development Programme (HDP) – a public–private partnership – coordinates research and industrial collaboration across leading universities in Munich, Delft, Groningen, Emden/Leer, and Switzerland's EPFL. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading Testing the Future of Mobility The facility opened to the public in September 2024 with a demonstration run using magnetic levitation rather than wheels, with pods reaching 30 km/h. According to Marinus von der Meijs, Technology and Engineering Director at Hardt Hyperloop, the next stage will involve full-speed testing and lane-switching, a crucial step before passenger services can be launched – something anticipated around 2030. Visitors to the tube describe a strikingly futuristic atmosphere, with strips of coloured light along the walls enhancing the sensation of levitation and motion. Integrated systems for power, braking, communication and data are already in place, while pods are kept lightweight by minimising onboard equipment. At the switching junction, the greatest technical challenges emerge: stabilising pods while compensating for heat, centrifugal force and magnetic pressure. Here, researchers at Delft University of Technology have made significant breakthroughs. Political Momentum and Future Prospects Looking ahead, Mark notes that governments are beginning to integrate Hyperloop into their long-term mobility strategies, a sign of increasing political momentum. While he avoided predicting the location of the first commercial line, he stressed that Europe has the right combination of political will, technological expertise and collaborative spirit to lead the global race. If successful, the Hyperloop could become not only a flagship European innovation but also a transformative model of sustainable, borderless transport. Written by: *Cole Jackson Lead Associate at BRICS+ Consulting Group Chinese & South American Specialist * MORE ARTICLES ON OUR WEBSITE ** Follow @brics_daily on X/Twitter & @brics_daily on Instagram for daily BRICS+ updates
The South African
12 hours ago
- The South African
Sustainable tourism: Javier Hidalgo's vision and its impact on the industry
As the global tourism industry redefines its priorities, the name Javier Hidalgo remains closely linked to a strategic vision that combines innovation, sustainability, and local development. During his tenure as CEO of Globalia, Spain's leading tourism group, Hidalgo led an operational transformation that emphasised the need for a more efficient and socially responsible industry. From strengthening air routes to emerging destinations to modernising Air Europa's fleet—introducing aircraft with lower fuel consumption and reduced environmental impact—his leadership introduced concrete changes that laid the groundwork for what is now considered a more sustainable and accountable tourism model. 'We can't talk about competitive tourism without talking about sustainability. Profitability must go hand in hand with respect for the environment and local communities,' Hidalgo stated during his time leading the group. A core pillar of his strategy was the digitalisation of operations and improvements in energy efficiency, enabling Globalia to cut costs while moving toward alignment with the European Union's sustainability objectives. Hidalgo also championed the expansion of Air Europa in Latin America, reinforcing routes to culturally rich and economically promising destinations. This strategy contributed to decentralising tourism and creating value beyond major urban centres. Although no longer in an executive position, Javier Hidalgo remains active as a strategic advisor in key industry processes, and his name is associated with projects aimed at blending tourism, investment, and environmental responsibility. His long-term vision—one that anticipated many of the challenges the industry faces today—has been recognised for its integrative approach and its promotion of a tourism model that is cleaner, less invasive, and more committed to local partnerships. In an industry where sustainability is no longer optional but essential, Hidalgo's legacy continues to influence the debate around the future of Spanish and international tourism.
