South Africans have been urged to protect themselves against the effects of climate change. This comes in the wake of the high temperatures that the country has been experiencing. Most parts of the country have been experiencing heatwaves, as a result of changes in temperatures. Although there wi...
Impact of heatwave on human health and climate change mitigation
Media briefing Climate change experts from the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) will brief the media on the current status of climate change in the country, and shed light on the complex health impacts it has on South Africans. The current heat conditions in South Africa have...
CSIR working closely with the community of Stinkwater in Hammanskraal to improve the quality of groundwater
The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) is working with the community of Stinkwater in Hammanskraal to improve the quality of ground and surface water in the area. The organisation shared some of its findings on the quality of groundwater at a media briefing held in Pretoria on ...
CSIR water experts briefs media on the latest water quality research
Water experts from the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) briefs the media on strategies used by a peri-urban community in Hammanskraal to access water, the quality of water accessible to the community and the health risks. CSIR studies also show that some of the common househo...
CSIR and industry collaborate to advance adoption of waste plastics in road construction in SA
The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), in collaboration with the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI), as well as the plastics and road industries, is working on a demonstration project to evaluate the feasibility of using waste plastic in local road construction. The pr...
A healthy mix of energy sources: The future of energy in South Africa
In the face of global efforts to cap carbon emissions and halt the depletion of finite natural resources, a global energy transition is imperative. The CSIR recently delivered a presentation on energy transition in South Africa to the Portfolio Committee on energy and mineral resources in which C...
CSIR researchers document climate adaptation measures developed by the world’s indigenous communities
For centuries, the world’s indigenous communities have developed climate change mitigation practices that have sustained countless generations. A compendium containing some of these practices will be launched during the Stockholm International Water Institute World Water Week taking place between...
Comprehensive guide on neighbourhood planning and design now available
The Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation, Lindiwe Sisulu, officially launched The Neighbourhood Planning and Design Guide on 9 July 2019 in Cape Town. The CSIR was contracted by the Department of Human Settlements to update and revise the previous guide, commonly known as the Red B...
The Neighbourhood Planning and Design Guide (Red Book): Creating Sustainable Human Settlements
The Neighbourhood Planning and Design Guide is a comprehensively updated and revised version of its predecessor, the Guidelines for Human Settlement Planning and Design, also known as the Red Book.
The development of the new Red Book was initiated, coordinated and funded by the national Department of Human Settlements. The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) was responsible for the management of the development process and the preparation of the final document.
Scientists warn that the environmental release of engineered nanomaterials in household products needs attention
Studies say scientists and industrialists need to collaborate to find ways to reduce risks Some of the most common household products, including sunscreens, hair relaxers, lotions and cleaning detergents, contain engineered nanomaterial ingredients that, when released into the environment, have t...