Featured Post

NEWS: Coastal wetlands are unable to adapt to the rate of sea-level rise and are constrained by infrastructure

Posted by on
Wetlands, precious ecosystems that shield coastlines, safeguard drinking water from saltwater contamination, and nourish diverse wildlife, face a dire threat from the accelerating pace of sea-level rise, driven by global warming. Wetlands have historically adapted to rising sea levels by expanding upward and inland. However, predictions indicate that the waterline will soon shift far too rapidly for wetlands to keep pace. Consequently, future decades may witness the tragic loss of these vital wetland ecosystems. Wetlands along coastlines have historically played valuable roles for people and wildlife, but are now facing the threat of sea-level rise. As temperatures rise, sea levels are rising at an accelerating rate, and wetlands are unable to keep pace by building upward and migrating inland. This is due to human-induced climate change and the burning of fossil fuels, which has warmed the oceans and melted glaciers. Sea levels are now rising at about 10 millimeters per year, and are
0

How can the Construction industry assist in the current national disaster?

Posted by on
The South African Covid-19 Construction Rapid Response Task Team is set up to deal with amongst other issues  identifying opportunities where the construction and built environment can assist in the national disaster

How and where can the South African Construction and built environment industries assist in this national disaster?


Construction task team helps soothe industry issues amid Covid-19 battle


The global economy has been thrown into turmoil as the world struggles to combat the spread of Covid-19.

South Africa’s economy has been particularly hard hit by the double blow of the lockdown and further downgrades by ratings agencies.

The Covid-19 Construction Rapid Response task team has been established with participation from key industry bodies to look at the recovery of the industry after South Africa's lockdown to curb the spread of Covid-19 ends.

“This is unprecedented and has placed the country in a very challenging position, requiring sacrifice by the population and businesses to comply with the lockdown, but at the same time requiring definitive action by government to implement structural economic reforms and address poor economic growth while dealing with the pandemic.New partnerships will be required to navigate through these turbulent times,” says John Matthews the chairperson of the task team.


Some of the key issues that the task team is dealing with immediately are identifying opportunities where the construction and built environment can assist in the national disaster and relief efforts both on a volunteer and professional basis; interpreting regulations for peers; exploring relief measures specific to the construction sector; supporting emergency procurement for the next 12 months; and discussing interventions for the recovery of the industry.

Further, the task team is engaging with government around paying service providers within the required 30-day time period, and making sure that infrastructure projects do not get cancelled.

The task team is made up of experts from Master Builders South Africa, the Association of South African Quantity Surveyors, the Western Cape Property Development Forum, the Black Business Council in the Built Environment, the South African Institute of Architects, Cox Yeats Attorneys and Master Builders KwaZulu-Natal.

This article was first published here

Comments

Post a Comment