Latest news with #climateresilience
Zawya
2 days ago
- Health
- Zawya
Southern Africa Leaders Unite to Advance Bold Health Agenda for Resilience and Equity
Ministers of Health and senior representatives from ten African Union (AU) Member States in Southern Africa issued a renewed call for collective action on health financing, climate resilience, and outbreak preparedness as they gathered in Lilongwe from 24–25 July 2025 for the 4th Southern Africa Regional Ministerial Steering Committee (ReSCO) Meeting. The Government of Malawi hosted the meeting, which was officially opened by Hon. Khumbize Chiponda, Malawi's Minister of Health, representing the Right Honourable Vice President, Dr. Michael Biswick Usi. The meeting was convened under the theme 'One Region, One Health, One Future,' reaffirming the region's collective commitment to protecting the health of its people. ReSCO has become a vital platform for countries to align regional priorities and advance the continental health agenda, at a time when Southern Africa faces rising climate-related health threats, persistent disease outbreaks, and growing demands on frontline health systems. In his keynote address, Dr Jean Kaseya, Director General of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), called for transformative investments to secure Africa's health future. 'Africa's health future must be shaped by African leaders, for African people,' said Dr Kaseya. 'To get there, we must ignite a revolution in health financing, one that invests in regional institutions, accelerates local manufacturing, and ensures sustainable systems that serve our communities.' Over the course of the two-day deliberations, ministers resoundingly affirmed the urgency of collective leadership and regional unity in advancing health security. Opening the meeting, Hon. Dr Esperance Luvindao, Minister of Health and Social Services of Namibia, issued a powerful call for solidarity, urging Member States to act with resolve in confronting shared public health challenges. Reinforcing this message, Hon. Dr Elijah Muchima, Minister of Health of Zambia and Chair of the Africa CDC Governing Board, reminded delegates that 'One Region, One Health, One Future' is not merely a thematic expression, it is a strategic imperative that must drive coordinated action across the continent. The Committee adopted several major outcomes that will shape the region's health trajectory. These included the appointment of Hon. Dr Douglas T. Mombeshora as Regional Champion for Climate and Health, acknowledging the urgent link between environmental factors and public health threats. Hon. Dr Luvindao was also named Regional Champion for the Lusaka Agenda on Health Financing, reinforcing the region's drive to increase domestic investment in health. Member States also approved the Southern Africa Region Annual Report and endorsed major recommendations from the 8th Ordinary and 9th Extraordinary Regional Technical Advisory Committee (ReTAC) meetings. These included practical guidance on the implementation of the Continental Immunisation Strategy (CIS) and improved community-based outbreak surveillance. The Committee further adopted Africa CDC's 'Green Book' vision, a continent-wide pact aimed at rethinking health financing, governance, and service delivery. A key highlight of the meeting was the Southern Africa ReSCO Award Ceremony, which honoured visionary leaders for their outstanding contributions to strengthening public health across the region. Dr Kaseya was recognised for his exceptional leadership at the continental level. Dr Kalumbi Shangula, former Minister of Health and Social Services of Namibia, and Hon. Sylvia T. Masebo, former Minister of Health of Zambia, were celebrated for their enduring public service and unwavering commitment to regional collaboration. Dr Lul P. Riek, Regional Director of the Southern Africa RCC, received special commendation for his instrumental role in operationalising the Southern Africa Regional Coordinating Centre and advancing regional public health coordination. These recognitions highlighted a central theme of the meeting: that real progress depends not just on frameworks and funding, but on the commitment, leadership, and unity of those entrusted with protecting the health of communities. As the meeting concluded, Member States reaffirmed their resolve to scale up implementation of the African Union's 2 Million Community Health Workers Initiative, advance the Lusaka Agenda on Health Financing, and strengthen regional public health systems. With renewed solidarity and political will, Southern African countries are poised to turn commitments into action. The outcomes of the 4th Southern Africa Regional Ministerial Steering Committee Meeting mark a decisive shift, from dialogue to delivery. Africa CDC calls on all stakeholders, governments, and partners to act with urgency: invest in frontline capacity, empower health workers, and build resilient systems that leave no community behind. Namibia was selected as the host of the 5th Southern Africa Regional Ministerial Steering Committee Meeting in 2026. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).
The Guardian
14-07-2025
- Climate
- The Guardian
Tell us: how are you coping during UK heatwaves this summer?
The UK has experienced its third heatwave of the summer, with the UK Health Security Agency issuing amber heat health alerts across parts of England over the weekend. Last month was the warmest June on record in England and the second-warmest for the UK, according to provisional Met Office figures. It comes as a report from the UK Green Building Council found that the country's schools, care homes and offices are not equipped for the effects of global heating, with the organisation urging the government to take climate resilience seriously. We want to hear from you. How are you coping with the heat this summer at work and at home? What impact has hot weather had on you this year? Have you been forced to make lifestyle changes recently to cope with the temperatures? Share your experience of hot temperatures in the form below or by messaging us. Please include as much detail as possible, for instance the impact at home and at work. Please give as many specific examples as possible. Please note, the maximum file size is 5.7 MB. Your contact details are helpful so we can contact you for more information. They will only be seen by the Guardian. Your contact details are helpful so we can contact you for more information. They will only be seen by the Guardian. If you include other people's names please ask them first. Contact us on WhatsApp at +447766780300. For more information, please see our guidance on contacting us via WhatsApp. For true anonymity please use our SecureDrop service instead. If you're having trouble using the form click here. Read terms of service here and privacy policy here.
Zawya
14-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Novel project to enhance Qatar's water security
Qatar - bNovate Technologies, a leader in advanced microbial water quality monitoring, will partner with Hamad Bin Khalifa University ( HBKU) in the SMART-Distribution project, a pioneering initiative to address critical challenges in Qatar's water distribution networks. The project seeks to enhance the resilience of Qatar's water infrastructure against climate-induced risks through innovative, real-time water quality monitoring and advanced risk assessment tools. The SMART-Distribution project, led by the Sustainability Division at HBKU's College of Science and Engineering ( CSE), in collaboration with bNovate and end-user Kahramaa, aims to increase the resilience of drinking water systems, enhancing both robustness and adaptability. This partnership will ensure the implementation of an agile, risk-based monitoring system that provides real-time data on water quality during storage and distribution. Water security in Qatar faces escalating threats from climate change, including limited freshwater resources and reliance on vulnerable alternative sources such as seawater desalination. This project will assess the climate readiness of Qatar's water distribution networks through a robust resilience and risk assessment framework . It will also deploy a real-time monitoring network mobile platform and evaluate water quality variations under controlled environments and real-world conditions at Qatar Foundation's Education City, serving as a Living Lab . Peter Desmond, assistant professor, CSE, emphasised the initiative's importance: 'The SMART-Distribution project represents a critical step forward in ensuring the resilience of Qatar's water infrastructure. By leveraging state-of-the-art technologies and collaborative innovation, we address current challenges and pave the way for sustainable water security in the face of climate change.' bNovate's CTO, Luigino Grasso, highlighted the company's role in the project: 'bNovate is thrilled to contribute our expertise in microbial water quality monitoring to this transformative project. Our advanced flow cytometry technology will be key in understanding microbial regrowth potential and biofilm development, enabling smarter, data-driven decisions to safeguard Qatar's water supply. This collaboration underscores our commitment to delivering market-led innovations that address real-world challenges.' The SMART-Distribution project aligns with the ambitious targets of Qatar's National Water Management Plan 2030, ensuring reliable water security amidst emergent climate-induced challenges. By fostering collaboration between HBKU, bNovate, and Kahramaa, the project adopts a cyclic innovation approach to generate tangible, end-user-focused solutions. © Gulf Times Newspaper 2022 Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Zawya
13-07-2025
- Science
- Zawya
BNovate Technologies partners with HBKU in groundbreaking SMART-distribution project to enhance Qatar's water security
Doha: bNovate Technologies, a leader in advanced microbial water quality monitoring, is proud to announce its participation in the SMART-Distribution project. This pioneering initiative addresses critical challenges in Qatar's water distribution networks. The project seeks to enhance the resilience of Qatar's water infrastructure against climate-induced risks through innovative, real-time water quality monitoring and advanced risk assessment tools. Water security in Qatar faces escalating threats from climate change, including limited freshwater resources and reliance on vulnerable alternative sources such as seawater desalination. The SMART-Distribution project, led by the Sustainability Division at Hamad Bin Khalifa University's (HBKU) College of Science and Engineering (CSE), in collaboration with bNovate and end-user Kahramaa, aims to increase the resilience of drinking water systems, enhancing both robustness and adaptability. This partnership will ensure the implementation of an agile, risk-based monitoring system that provides real-time data on water quality during storage and distribution. Peter Desmond, Assistant Professor, CSE, emphasized the initiative's importance: 'The SMART-Distribution project represents a critical step forward in ensuring the resilience of Qatar's water infrastructure. By leveraging state-of-the-art technologies and collaborative innovation, we address current challenges and pave the way for sustainable water security in the face of climate change.' This project will assess the climate readiness of Qatar's water distribution networks through a robust resilience and risk assessment framework . It will also deploy a real-time monitoring network mobile platform and evaluate water quality variations under controlled environments and real-world conditions at Qatar Foundation's Education City, serving as a Living Lab . bNovate's CTO, Luigino Grasso, highlighted the company's role in the project: 'bNovate is thrilled to contribute our expertise in microbial water quality monitoring to this transformative project. Our advanced flow cytometry technology will be key in understanding microbial regrowth potential and biofilm development, enabling smarter, data-driven decisions to safeguard Qatar's water supply. This collaboration underscores our commitment to delivering market-led innovations that address real-world challenges.' The SMART-Distribution project aligns with the ambitious targets of Qatar's National Water Management Plan 2030, ensuring reliable water security amidst emergent climate-induced challenges. By fostering collaboration between HBKU, bNovate, and Kahramaa, the project adopts a cyclic innovation approach to generate tangible, end-user-focused solutions. About Hamad Bin Khalifa University Innovating Today, Shaping Tomorrow Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), a member of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science, and Community Development (QF), is a leading, innovation-centric university committed to advancing education and research to address critical challenges facing Qatar and beyond. HBKU develops multidisciplinary academic programs and national research capabilities that drive collaboration with leading global institutions. The university is dedicated to equipping future leaders with an entrepreneurial mindset and advancing innovative solutions that create a positive global impact. For more information about HBKU, its colleges, research institutes, and initiatives, please visit To stay up to date on our social media activities, follow our accounts on: LinkedIn, Instagram, X, and Facebook. For any media inquiries, please contact: media@ About the College of Science and Engineering One of the longest-established colleges at HBKU, the College of Science and Engineering (CSE) graduates the highest number of students and offers the largest portfolio of degree programs within the University. HBKU's CSE is home to the supplementary Division of Engineering Management and Decision Sciences, Division of Sustainable Development, and the Division of Information and Computing Technology, which together form a unique, multidisciplinary education and research environment of the highest calibre. For more information about HBKU's CSE, visit About bNovate Technologies bNovate Technologies SA is a multi-award-winning leader in water monitoring and analysis, propelling industrial microbiology into the digital age with rapid, automated solutions for the water utilities, food & beverages, pharmaceutical, cosmetics, and semiconductor industries. With its proprietary technology and Swiss-made BactoSense product line, bNovate delivers high-value microbial water quality data for efficient and sustainable water management. Trusted by European water professionals, bNovate is rapidly expanding its global presence. Discover more at For media contacts, please reach out to: bNovate Technologies SA pr@ About Kahramaa The Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation (Kahramaa) is responsible for transmitting and distributing electricity and water in Qatar, ensuring reliable and sustainable utility services for the nation.
Zawya
09-07-2025
- General
- Zawya
Scaling-Up Resilience in Africa's Great Green Wall (SURAGGWA) Signing: Senegal and Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Unite to Green the Sahel
On July 4th, 2025, the Government of Senegal and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) signed a major partnership agreement to implement the SURAGGWA project (Scaling-Up Resilience in Africa's Great Green Wall), an ambitious programme aimed at strengthening climate resilience in the Sahel region. The signing ceremony took place at the headquarters of the Ministry of Environment and Ecological Transition, in the presence of Professor Daouda Ngom, Minister of Environment, and Ms. Bintia Stephen-Tchicaya, Acting Subregional Coordinator of FAO for West Africa. A Large-Scale Project in Response to an Ecological Emergency Between 2005 and 2023, Senegal lost nearly 340,000 hectares of forest - an average of 17,000 hectares per year - due to agricultural expansion, bushfires, illegal logging, and overgrazing. This massive deforestation has reduced the carbon absorption capacity of Senegalese forests by nearly 46%, undermining efforts to combat climate change. In this alarming context, the SURAGGWA project takes on its full significance. With a budget of USD 222 million, including USD 150 million from the Green Climate Fund (GCF), the project aims to restore 1.4 million hectares of degraded land, reduce emissions by 65 million tons of CO₂, and sustainably improve the living conditions of 1.9 million people, especially women and youth. Messages of Hope and Responsibility In his address, Minister, Professor Daouda Ngom stated: 'For Senegal, the project plans to restore just over 80,000 hectares of degraded land, which will directly and indirectly benefit thousands of citizens. It will also help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, develop value chains for non-timber forest products, and strengthen the institutional capacities of the Senegalese Agency for Reforestation and the Great Green Wall (ASERGMV), to ensure the sustainability of the actions undertaken.' Ms. Bintia Stephen-Tchicaya emphasized: 'SURAGGWA is a deeply inclusive project that will build on the commitment of over 15,000 community groups, with at least 30% female participation. It mobilizes governments, civil society, the private sector, and regional institutions in a spirit of synergy and cooperation.' Regional Mobilization to Address a Shared Challenge The SURAGGWA project represents a collective response to desertification and climate instability affecting the Sahel region. Eight countries - Burkina Faso, Chad, Djibouti, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria and Senegal - are joining forces to restore land, revitalize local economies, and strengthen social cohesion. Led by the African Union under the Great Green Wall Initiative, SURAGGWA stands as a model of regional and multilateral cooperation, built on three pillars: ecological restoration, sustainable economic development, and environmental governance. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO): Regional Office for Africa.
