The term ‘environmental refugees’ is defined by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), as “those people who have been forced to leave their traditional habitat, temporarily or permanently, because of a marked environmental disruption (natural and/or triggered by people) that jeopardized their existence and/ or seriously affected the quality of their life”. ‘Environmental disruption’ means any physical, chemical, biological changes in the ecosystem/resource base that render it temporarily/permanently, unsuitable to support human life.

Climate change is rapidly emerging as one of the most serious threats that humanity may ever face. The impact of climate change on livelihoods is creating a new kind of casualty: environmental refugees. Rising sea levels, desertification, weather-induced flooding, and frequent natural disasters have become a major cause of population displacement. This is an issue of concern as it is a drawback in efforts of enhancing human security.

According to a report by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the number of refugees worldwide grew from 9.9 million in 2007 to 11.4 million in 2008. The same report identifies climate change as one of the leading causes of the global rise in refugees, along with conflict. The International Red Cross concurs that climate change disasters are now a bigger cause of population displacement than war.

According to AfriForum, the disbanding of specialist police units is partly to blame for the increase in rhino poaching.  The former Endangered Species Protection Unit was disbanded together with the other police special units.  According to media reports, 126 rhinos have already been slaughtered this year.  That is six more than the total number of 120 rhinos poached during 2009.

AfriForum's spokesperson on environmental affairs, James Kemp, said that the specialist unit was disbanded without an effective alternative being established in its place.

"We welcome the Minister of Environmental Affairs' initiative to establish a task team to investigate rhino poaching, but in the light of the increase in incidents, AfriForum would like to know when such a unit will be fully functional," Kemp stated.

AfriForum has also received complaints from employees of provincial nature reserves in Limpopo.  According to these sources, the average age of employees in Limpopo's reserves is 55 years.  The employees are not equipped with the required anti-poaching skills either.  According to them, there is a desperate need for younger appointments, as well as comprehensive training.

"It is essential for people combating poaching at grassroots level to have access to the necessary funding, skills and equipment.  The provincial government and the Minister should start discussing these issues in order to combat poaching jointly in a more efficient manner," Kemp added.

Statement issued by James Kemp, Afriforum Spokesperson for Environmental Affairs, July 15 2010.  

The African continent has experienced a general increase in rhino poaching in recent years. In South Africa, National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) sources indicate that a total of 122 rhinos were killed and dehorned. So far 80 rhinos have already been killed this year. In the first two weeks of the year, seven rhinos were killed in the North West Province and an equal number in the Kruger National Park.

The alarming spike in rhino poaching has been attributed amongst other things to the growing sophistication of the criminal syndicates involved in these activities. In other words organised crime has gained a foothold in this illegal activity. In his 2008 article “Tip of the Horn”, Ian Michlers details the various role players involved in the complicated killing and dehorning of rhinos, trafficking of the horns and facilitating of the trade. Syndicates have been set up as a result of the highly lucrative nature of the trade. Whilst prices vary, they can be as high as R19 000 per kg of rhino horn. Law enforcement in the Southern African region is faced with the mammoth task of keeping tabs on highly organised and sophisticated criminal syndicates with trans-continental connections. South Africa’s law enforcement architecture proved recently that, with better and more effective organization, these criminal syndicates can be successfully confronted.

South Africa's State-owned power utility Eskom, which produces about one-half of the country's greenhouse gas emissions, is at "severe regulatory risk", nationally and internationally, from climate change, a newly released study asserts.

The 105-page report, entitled ‘Climate Change: Risks and Opportunities for the South African Economy', states that the greatest risk to Eskom lies in the introduction of carbon pricing, which could prove "financially crippling" to the utility.

However, it also noted that, owing to a lack of effective competition in the electricity market, it is expected that any carbon-related costs could be passed on to consumers in the form of higher electricity prices, and remedial measures would be required to address inflationary pressures and social equity concerns.

The Carbon Disclosure Project estimates that Eskom's greenhouse gas emissions amounted to 223-million tons in 2000, or some 51% of South Africa's total emissions.

The new report, which has been compiled jointly by Camco and Trade and Industrial Policy Strategies (TIPS), with support from the British High Commission, also warns that Eskom could also face global regulatory threats, over and above any possible national emissions cap and/or carbon-pricing mechanism.