#of infrastructure that urbanised area in Australia would

[radlymona]

Something I hate is that when I see people from school who go on summer m euro trips, they’ll post pictures of locals on balconies as if it’s meant to be a cool artsy but comes off looking they’re borderline zoo animals from the photographer’s perspective

[highlinetreecare]

Why Tree Maintenance is Essential for Urban Spaces

Tree maintenance is essential for urban spaces in Australia for several vital reasons. In an increasingly urbanised world, street trees are complex systems that, if well managed, provide multiple benefits due to extensive infrastructural and population densities. This blog will explore the key benefits of tree maintenance and how professional arborists in Geelong facilitate this while contributing to a greener earth.

1.   Enhancing Air Quality

Trees are necessary to improve air quality in cities. They remove carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxides from the air and pump oxygen through photosynthesis. Through adsorption, trees help clear the environment of harmful particulate matter from automobile or industry emissions.

Maintenance problems enhance the trees' health, implying that they will affect more air to clean and thus reduce respiratory problems among people in the city.

2.   Combating Urban Heat Islands

This is true mainly because concrete, asphalt, and other surfaces in cities reflect less heat than those found in the countryside—this is known as the urban heat island effect.

Trees planted around the area minimise the heat because they act as shade, evaporate moisture, and cool the environment by transpiring.

By maintaining trees, cities can combat rising temperatures, lower energy consumption, and create more comfortable living spaces for residents.

3.   Supporting Biodiversity

In increasingly urbanised environments, trees offer essential habitats for wildlife, including birds, insects, and small mammals. They create corridors for wildlife movement and shelter in otherwise barren areas.

Regular maintenance helps these ecosystems thrive, providing food and shelter for diverse species. Expanding green spaces is crucial for ecological balance and preventing city biodiversity loss.

4.   Managing Stormwater Runoff

The organisation of stormwater runoff is one of the vital factors in arboreal cover in urban centres. Irrigation water runoff is conserved when a tree is well managed because it and its leaves and branches collect some rainfall before it hits the ground.

Tree roots also improve the soil structure because the water can easily penetrate the soil surface. This avoids floods, lessens the loading of stormwater drains, and enhances water management in urban spaces.

Appropriate stormwater management through timber is vital in Australia because city regions can revel in frequent flash floods at some stage in rainy seasons.

5.   Improving Mental Health and Well-being

Various studies indicate that green spaces are linked to psychological functioning and the overall well-being of individuals. City life is stressful due to noise, air and physical pollution, and overcrowding, which can cause stress and mental fatigue.

People can walk around trees to create a relief area or relax and eliminate stress. Various research has indicated that tree exposure decreases arterial blood pressure, presumably because of mental fatigue, and boosts imaginative and rational capabilities.

Maintenance keeps those green areas functional and safe for residents and ensures they provide positive impacts.

6.   Enhancing Aesthetic Value

Trees give visual appeal to those areas which would otherwise be dull concrete structures. Trees act as buffers to sharp edges of buildings and roads and, therefore, help to create beauty and attractiveness in urban areas.

Professionals who maintain trees help create attractive spaces for citizens and tourists, making cities more inviting. The aesthetic values of trees go a notch higher than beautification; they create an enhanced environment, making living in urban areas more enjoyable.

7.   Reducing Noise Pollution

Trees are mighty at reducing noise pollutants in city spaces. Their dense canopies and the ability of their leaves and branches to absorb and reflect sounds make them sound breakers.

Trees help generate better environments near areas with traffic, sounds of construction, and other forms of noise.

This type of pollution concerns people living in areas with high noise levels, which enhances their well-being since it can cause stress-related health problems.

8.   Increasing Property Values

Urban trees significantly enhance property values. Homes and businesses near trees or green spaces typically command higher prices, as people are willing to pay more for access to nature.

This trend is increasing in congested urban areas. Local governments and property owners can boost property desirability by maintaining trees, benefiting local economies and supporting long-term urban development.

9.   Promoting Social Cohesion

Forests preserve trees and green landscapes for social meetings, hence improving togetherness. In overpopulated urban centres, commercial areas and boulevards, public gardens, and squares provide places for meetings and various events.

Regular maintenance keeps these areas safe and welcoming, fostering a sense of belonging. Additionally, trees can hold cultural significance, serving as landmarks or symbols of environmental connection.

10.                  Ensuring Safety and Reducing Risks

Preventing disasters demands tender, loving care: overgrown branches, dead wood, and weak tree structures pose risks to people and property. Dead branches during storms or high winds can harm a building or any vehicle or even hurt passersby.

Preventing accidents can be achieved through regular inspections, which enable the identification and management of specific hazards through removal and pruning.

By minimising the chances of accidents, safe trees contribute to maintaining the security, safety, and comfort of people and properties in urban areas.

In a Nutshell

Maintaining trees in urban spaces is crucial for fostering healthier, sustainable, and resilient regions. Appropriately tree removal in Gisborne can help manage overgrown or damaged trees, ensuring safety and enhancing the overall aesthetic of urban environments.

Proper tree care supports environmental health, complements citizens' quality of life, and allows cities to adapt to the challenges of climate change and urban growth.

However, as cities expand, it becomes equally important to focus on tree management because trees play numerous roles in societies.

[researchvishal]

Railway System Market Revenue, Future And Business Analysis By Forecast 2033

A railway system is a network of tracks, trains, and related infrastructure used to transport people and goods by rail. Railway systems are used all over the world and have played a significant role in the development of transportation and commerce. They are typically designed to move large quantities of goods or people quickly and efficiently over long distances.

Railway systems typically consist of several key components, including:

Tracks: Tracks are the physical infrastructure that supports and guides the trains as they move. They are made up of rails, ties, and other components that are designed to withstand the weight and pressure of the trains.

Trains: Trains are the vehicles that move along the tracks. They consist of locomotives, which provide the power to move the train, and railcars, which are used to transport goods or people.

Stations: Stations are the points where passengers can board and disembark from trains. They typically include platforms, ticket offices, waiting areas, and other facilities to support passengers.

The railway system market is valued at US$ 28,278.1 million as of 2023. The market is expected to advance at a CAGR of 4.8% during the forecast period. By 2033, the market is expected to cross an estimate of US$ 45,192.2 million.

Global urbanisation is accelerating, which has increased discretionary income. This has encouraged many people to start purchasing their own cars, which has increased traffic congestion. As a result, people in the workforce, especially, have begun using services like metro lines and electric trains. This could result in a rise in demand for railroad infrastructure during the forecast era.

Additionally, governments all over the globe are spending enormous sums of money upgrading the rail infrastructure. This is primarily due to an increase in freight transit. Additionally, the use of railroads is consistent with the use of sustainable energy sources. Many economies are placing a focus on "Green Transportation." Since the investors would concentrate on electrifying railway transportation, this would eventually result in a rise in the use of railways. This would result in the decrease of greenhouse gases.

Apart from that, even if the railways make use of fuel, the fuel consumption is way less as compared to airlines. In addition to that, the load capacity associated with railways is way higher than the airlines. Thus, the market might witness surge in the number of investors.

With the implementation of the internet of trains, the railway system industry is anticipated to experience a renaissance in the truest sense. The internet of trains provides everything on a silver platter, whether it be dependability, safety, or maintenance. In addition, it has the capacity to collaborate with AI, which would further revolutionise the market in the future. All of these elements are anticipated to increase railway system sales during the anticipated time.

However, massive investment, and long time to recover the invested amount are expected to challenge the market growth.

Thus, from the insights obtained from FMI analysts, it can be inferred that “surging urbanisation, increased government initiatives, application of internet of trains, and a number of other factors are expected to surge the market growth of railway system during the forecast period.”

Key Takeaways:

The railway system market is holding a valuation of US$ 28,278.1 million in 2023.

The market is expected to surge at a CAGR of 4.8% during the forecast period.

By 2033, the market might reach a valuation of US$ 45,192.2 million.

Based on the regional analysis, North America is expected to be the largest market during the forecast period.

USA market has a share of 21.8%.

Germany market has a share of 4.4%.

Japan market has a share of 5.7%.

Australia market has a share of 1.3%.

China market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.7%.

India Market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7.1%.

UK market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.1%.

Based on the application, the passenger transportation currently has the largest market share of 64.8%.

For more insights: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/railway-system-market

Competitive Landscape:

The key players operating in the railway system market are investing on profitable mergers and acquisitions. Apart from that, there are also massive investments being made on the R&D. Furthermore, the key players are also appointing some of the veterans who have not only served this niche, but related niches as well. Moreover, the manufacturers are also taking important steps to work on the sustainability goals.

In December 2022, Alstom had announced that it would be supplying an additional 49 Coradia Stream trains to Renfe in Spain.

Top Key Players are: ABB, Alstom, Hyundai Rotem, CRRC, Siemens, Thermo King, Knorr Bremese, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Toshiba, and Hitachi.

[jaydenh24]

Acrylonitrile Butadiene Rubber Market Report Forecast by Development, Trends, and Forecast (2021-2028)

The chemical and physical properties of acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (BR) depend upon the composition of nitrile polymer which in turn enables it for a wide range of applications. Acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (BR is a product of copolymerization of butadiene and acrylonitrile.  Acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (BR) is a synthetic rubber possessing excellent resistance of compression, adequate resilience, great elastomeric properties and tensile strength but has poor resistivity against flame and steam.

The growing application of acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (BR) by the automotive industry is inducing growth in the demand for acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (BR) globally. Data Bridge Market Research analyses that the acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (BR) market will witness a CAGR of 7.28% for the forecast period of 2021-2028. Therefore, the market would stand tall by USD 2.15 billion by 2028.

  Get Sample Copy of Report@ https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/request-a-sample/?dbmr=global-acrylonitrile-butadiene-rubber-market

 Growth and expansion of various end user industries will carve the way for lucrative growth opportunities for the acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (BR) market. Increasing unconventional gas and oil exploration activities will further boost up the acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (BR) market value. Great physical and chemical attributes of acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (BR) will help to excel its demand in marine applications. Rising technological advancements and research and development proficiencies will also create lucrative and remunerative acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (BR) market growth opportunities.

 However, fluctuations in the prices of raw materials will pose a big time challenge to the acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (BR) market growth. Availability of substitutes to acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (BR) will further prove to be a threat for the acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (BR) market growth.

 This acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (BR) market report provides details of new recent developments, trade regulations, import export analysis, production analysis, value chain optimization, market share, impact of domestic and localised market players, analyses opportunities in terms of emerging revenue pockets, changes in market regulations, strategic market growth analysis, market size, category market growths, application niches and dominance, product approvals, product launches, geographical expansions, technological innovations in the market. To gain more info on acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (BR) market contact Data Bridge Market Research for an Analyst Brief, our team will help you take an informed market decision to achieve market growth.

 Acrylonitrile Butadiene Rubber (BR) Market Scope and Market Size

The acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (BR) market is segmented on the basis of product type, application and type. The growth amongst the different segments helps you in attaining the knowledge related to the different growth factors expected to be prevalent throughout the market and formulate different strategies to help identify core application areas and the difference in your target market.

 On the basis of product type, the acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (BR) market is segmented into extra high AN Content (Above 45%), high AN content (36-45%), medium-high AN content (31-35%), medium-low AN content (26-30%) and low AN content (15-25%).

On the basis of application, the acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (BR) market is segmented into aviation industry, automotive industry, machinery manufacturing and others.

On the basis of type, the acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (BR) market is segmented into block type, particles/ crumb type and powder type.

Global Acrylonitrile Butadiene Rubber (BR) Market Country Level Analysis

Global acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (BR) market is analysed and market size, volume information is provided by country, product type, application and type as referenced above.

 Inquire About Report@ https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/inquire-before-buying/?dbmr=global-acrylonitrile-butadiene-rubber-market

 The countries covered in the acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (BR) market report are the U.S., Canada and Mexico in North America, Germany, France, U.K., Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium, Russia, Italy, Spain, Turkey, Rest of Europe in Europe, China, Japan, India, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Rest of Asia-Pacific (APAC) in the Asia-Pacific (APAC), Saudi Arabia, U.A.E, Israel, Egypt, South Africa, Rest of Middle East and Africa (MEA) as a part of Middle East and Africa (MEA), Brazil, Argentina and Rest of South America as part of South America.

 Asia-Pacific dominates the acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (BR) market in terms of market share, market revenue and production volume. The region will continue to flourish its dominance during the forecast period. Growth and expansion of automobile industry especially in the developing countries will further propel growth in the demand for acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (BR). Rising demand for acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (BR) from various end user verticals such as oil and gas, engineering, mining and so on will further create lucrative acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (BR) market growth opportunities. Rising urbanisation, construction of smart cities and infrastructural development will also bolster the acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (BR) market growth rate. ��  

 The country section of the nitrile butadiene rubber (BR) market report also provides individual market impacting factors and changes in regulation in the market domestically that impacts the current and future trends of the market. Data points such as consumption volumes, production sites and volumes, import export analysis, price trend analysis, cost of raw materials, down-stream and upstream value chain analysis are some of the major pointers used to forecast the market scenario for individual countries. Also, presence and availability of global brands and their challenges faced due to large or scarce competition from local and domestic brands, impact of domestic tariffs and trade routes are considered while providing forecast analysis of the country data.

 Competitive Landscape and Acrylonitrile Butadiene Rubber (BR) Market Share Analysis

The nitrile butadiene rubber (BR) market competitive landscape provides details by competitor. Details included are company overview, company financials, revenue generated, market potential, investment in research and development, new market initiatives, global presence, production sites and facilities, production capacities, company strengths and weaknesses, product launch, product width and breadth, application dominance. The above data points provided are only related to the companies’ focus related to nitrile butadiene rubber (BR) market.

 Browse Complete Report@ https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/global-acrylonitrile-butadiene-rubber-market

 The major players covered in the nitrile butadiene rubber (BR) market report are Versalis S.p.A., LANXESS, ZEON CORPORATION, KUMHO PETROCHEMICAL, Synthos, JSR Corporation, SIBUR International GmbH, ARLANXEO, OMNOVA Solutions Inc., TSRC, LG Chem, PetroChina Company Limited, AirBoss of America Corp., Atlantic Gasket Corporation, Precision Associates, Inc., Hanna Rubber Company, Dow, BASF SE, NANTEX Industry Co., Ltd. and Polimeri Europa among other domestic and global players. Market share data is available for global, North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific (APAC), Middle East and Africa (MEA) and South America separately. DBMR analysts understand competitive strengths and provide competitive analysis for each competitor separately.

 Global Acrylonitrile Butadiene Rubber (BR) Market, By Product Type (Extra High AN Content (Above 45%), High AN Content (36-45%), Medium-High AN Content (31-35%), Medium-Low AN Content (26-30%) and Low AN Content (15-25%)), Application (Aviation Industry, Automotive Industry, Machinery Manufacturing and Others), Type (Block Type, Particles/ Crumb Type and Powder Type), Country (U.S., Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Rest of South America, Germany, France, Italy, U.K., Belgium, Spain, Russia, Turkey, Netherlands, Switzerland, Rest of Europe, Japan, China, India, South Korea, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Rest of Asia-Pacific, U.A.E, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, South Africa, Israel, Rest of Middle East and Africa) Industry Trends and Forecast to 2028

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[cliftonsteen]

Can Australia Grow Its Consumption of Locally Produced Coffee?

Australia has a well-established specialty coffee scene, characterised by independent cafés and high coffee consumption levels. In fact, it’s estimated that over 384 Olympic sized swimming pools of coffee are consumed by the nation every year.

A small group of producers have overcome financial and environmental challenges to grow Australian specialty coffee, and a dedicated audience drives local demand. Despite this, few outside the country have heard of Australian coffee – let alone tried it – and it makes up less than one percent of the coffee consumed domestically.

Here’s what makes Australian specialty coffee different from the rest, what challenges its producers face, and what could be keeping them from entering the international market.

You may also like A Specialty Coffee Shop Tour of Melbourne, Australia

Australia’s Return to Coffee Production

Coffee production is primarily concentrated in equatorial regions in parts of Africa, Asia, and South America. The average temperatures, precipitation received, soil conditions, and altitudes in these areas help coffee thrive. This isn’t to say that coffee can’t grow elsewhere, but that it would be more challenging for this to take place.

While Australia isn’t currently renowned as a coffee producer, it used to be. In the 1880s, it was successfully produced and even won awards in Paris and Rome. However, by the 1900s, this petered out, due to the rising cost of manual harvesting and production. In the eighties, coffee production started to make a comeback, with mechanical harvesting lowering labour costs and speeding up the process. Increased demand for specialty coffee further encouraged production. 

Today, the industry supports around 50 commercial coffee growers. Most are in south-east Queensland and north-east New South Wales, as these subtropical areas support coffee growth. According to Agrifutures Australia, “in the increasingly urbanised environment of the Australian subtropics, coffee is a most compatible crop to grow [here]. Its light environmental footprint fits in well with the high conservation value of this region.”

Australia produces Arabica, with tropical areas growing red Catuai or yellow Catuai, and subtropical areas growing the K7 variety. Lloyd Thom is a green coffee buyer for Campos Coffee, a specialty coffee roaster in Sydney, and says that red Catuai is mainly produced in North Queensland, as it can withstand the temperatures there.The conditions tend to produce mild coffees with a complex flavour profile, medium to low acidity, and natural sweetness.

Due to the industry’s relatively small size, processing is often undertaken by farmers on site. While wet processing is popular, other methods are also used. Rebecca Zentveld is Director of Zentvelds Coffee, a plantation and roastery in the Byron Bay hinterland of New South Wales. Her coffee is “fully washed, honey processed and natural/dry processed”. However, she also experiments by “adding yeasts in small batch lots to bring out nuances not experienced before.”

What Makes Australian Coffee Unique?

Australia currently produces a small volume of specialty coffee, harvesting up to 600 tonnes of green beans from about 850 000 trees every year. Production costs remain higher than in most producing nations, which in turn increases its selling price.

Almost none of the coffee produced is exported. Rebecca says that most of it is consumed locally – with a quarter sold online or directly from estates, a quarter from specialty stores and grocers, and a quarter through roasters selling to cafés or who have their own cafés. She explains, “Australian estate coffee is easily all sold and value-added within Australia.”

While their production capacity is small, local producers do benefit from natural advantages. Growing coffee in naturally cooler microclimates within Australia’s subtropical areas means that coffee is naturally free of pests and diseases. With little in their environment to stress them, the coffee will also contain 10–15% less caffeine, as they only produce it when threatened.

As Australian producers have access to quality infrastructure, machinery, and agricultural research, they can afford to keep up with the latest advances in coffee production. Rebecca explains that growers are educating themselves on the latest technology and environmental management practices and as a result can produce coffee without harming the land, waterways, and wildlife. This is accomplished through replanting rainforest corridors, avoiding the use of harmful chemicals, intercropping with legumes, and promoting tree health and pollination through insectaries and beehives.

The country has also embraced the trend for value-added seed to cup experiences. Some producers are tapping into existing tourism efforts to show consumers (and buyers) that their coffee is high quality and being grown in their backyards. They can offer consumers a taste of it and explain how its flavours are shaped by its unique growing conditions. 

Rebecca says that reliable access to water, the climate, and the area’s rich volcanic soils have helped produce coffees with desirable and valuable characteristics. It’s helped her “bring out a natural chocolate flavour and sweetness in the coffee”. For example, her Ernesto Roast has “sweet chocolate notes, plus raisin and fruitcake notes”.

Challenges Facing Today’s Australian Producers 

Australian coffee production might be light years ahead of what it was some hundred years ago, but that doesn’t mean it’s overcome all its challenges. 

Land prices remain high due to real estate competition, meaning there aren’t many plots available at the attitudes required for successful production. Additionally, labour and production costs remain higher than in other countries. As Rebecca says, “our real wage cost is at least ten [times that of] most coffee-producing nations.” Danilo de Andrade is Quality Control Manager for 3Brothers Coffee, a coffee importer in Brisbane. He says that because of these higher costs, it’s “difficult for Australian producers to compete with other origins that can produce better quality coffees at a lower price.”

The changing climate is also a complicating factor. Liam Smith is Producer at Tamborine Mountain Coffee Plantation in Queensland. He says, “Weather in any farming endeavour is a challenge… We have extended dry spells followed by… six months annual rainfall in one week, which is usually during our picking season. This can also affect the [coffee] drying process.”. 

Lloyd says that changing climates can also increase biosecurity risks and make maintenance more challenging. He explains that “The changing climate puts the trees at risk of pests… This is compounded by diseases being present in neighbouring countries such as Papua New Guinea. Many coffee professionals travel to farms in affected countries and return to Australia, and carrying in seeds without biosecurity checks puts the industry at risk.”

Danilo feels that another challenge to local production is that consumption isn’t as high as it could be locally and internationally, as most countries don’t realise Australia produces coffee or prefer to stick to the origins that they’re used to. “We’re naturally attracted to complex and identifiable flavours from coffees grown at higher altitude locations such as Ethiopia and Colombia… I think Australia’s potential is yet to be discovered by the coffee industry.”

Selling Australian Coffee Locally & Internationally

While Australian producers are recouping their current production costs and can meet their production demands, this will not necessarily guarantee them long term success. Danilo feels that it’s important for local consumption and production to increase, as COVID-19 has already negatively impacted the economy. He says, “The industry can support Australian coffee production by featuring Australian [coffee] in their cafés. This will in turn help our local economy which is always a bonus – especially now.” 

Rebecca adds that this will require a buy-in from roasters and cafés, as that they should “choose to pay a real fair premium to reward Australian growers and give it the recognition it deserves… in other words, promote it as a real ‘crop to cup’ low coffee miles specialty.”

Lloyd says that buyers will also need to cooperate, and that this will involve “buying directly from farmers at a price [that] reflects their growing costs”. He adds that by getting involved in the coffee’s farming and production, they can work with farmers to ensure the coffee is specialty grade. This will also benefit the farmer, Danilo explains, by helping them add value to their coffee. By learning the nuances and skills of roasting and packing their product, they can better justify its price, rather than selling it as a commodity to green bean brokers.

Many producers have entered competitions with their coffees, and Lloyd mentions the Royal Agricultural Show and Sydney Fine Food Show as being some of them. However, the most well known event dedicated to specialty coffee is the Australian Coffee International Awards. This ceremony demonstrates that more producers than ever are realising the importance of independent quality scores in getting local buyers interested in their specialty coffee – and possibly attracting international sales interest. This year’s awards saw over 800 entries, with coffees graded as Gold, Silver, or Bronze according to their scores. Rebecca says that competing for these awards also benefits roasters, as it helps them get industry recognition. 

The Future of Australian Specialty Coffee 

Australian coffee has something unique to offer, but the local supply chain is somewhat disconnected. Many local coffee shops and consumers are unaware it exists in the first place, while buyers and roasters don’t know what production costs or the quality of what is produced.

Increasing overall demand will require educating local and international consumers on what Australian coffee has to offer, why it’s priced the way it’s priced, and why they should consume more of it. This will ensure that the country keeps producing its coffee for years to come, and won’t disappear again as it did before. 

Enjoyed this? Then Read What’s Keeping Producing Countries From Growing Coffee Consumption?

Photo credits: Zentvelds Coffee, Campos Coffee, Tamborine Mountain Coffee Plantation

Perfect Daily Grind

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[superstarstrategies]

The power of Secondary Cities

Secondary Cities, or Intermediate City Municipalities (ICMs) could be a key driver of the real estate market.

By 2050, two-thirds of the world’s population will live in cities; this equates to some 6.5-billion urbanites. It’s a number that may be hard to comprehend, yet just two years ago, in 2018, there were already 4.2-billion people living in global cities, 40 percent of which are in African cities.

According to the World Bank, the number of people living in African urban areas will double to more than one-billion by 2042, which is considered unprecedented. The problem is that existing cities were not built to handle such huge numbers, they simply tend to sprawl if there is space to do so or if not adequately developed.

South Africa’s biggest cities – Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg, Pretoria - all face this problem, which is further compounded by a dim national economic outlook, and rapid urbanisation and population growth. Solving any kind of housing problem or a city sprawl is not also not as simple as devising a one-size-fit-all formula as each city comes with its own specific needs, goals and challenges. This makes a strong case for the continued development of Secondary Cities.

Somewhat of a sleeping giant, Secondary Cities in South Africa are home to more than 15% of the population (Marais et al. 2016a) and they contributed some 27% to South Africa’s GDP in 2016.

Nomfundo Dlamini, Programme Manager: Productive Cities at the South African Cities Network says that the development of the Integrated Urban Development Framework (IUDF) Implementation Plan in 2016 has been critical in unlocking investment and development synergies for inclusive, resilient and liveable cities and towns.

Defining an Intermediate City Municipality

“Initially 97 areas were classified into three tiers based on population size, those being: below 100 000 residents; between 100 000 – 600 000 (intermediate); and above 600 000. Secondary Cities fall into the intermediate category of which there are currently 39 municipalities, identified by National Treasury, and there is an array of factors that caused these Intermediate City Municipalities (ICMs) to emerge.

“The average population size of a metro is 2.56-million versus an average ICM of 355,896. Thus the economics and developmental complexities and challenges would be vastly different,” says Dlamini. “Large metropolitan areas have mainly diversified their economies to the tertiary sector, that being, for example business and its allied commercial services, whereas secondary cities may still have substantial parts of their economics directly or indirectly linked to primary (raw materials) or secondary (manufacturing) sources.

“This actually makes secondary cities more vulnerable; should any or part of the primary or secondary economies fail, the impacts can be far more devastating on the community whose average household incomes are relatively smaller than some metros.”

As it is, Dlamini confirms, ICMs are under strain, as are all municipalities, especially with the macro economic crisis, climate change and the instability of state-owned enterprises that help municipalities generate their income and revenue through water and electricity service provision. “But the sustainability of ICMs remains strong at 39, even though they face challenges in governance and service delivery provision.”

Contemporary and modern

Despite their vulnerability, Secondary Cities are exceptionally valuable because they present prospects of employment and a better quality of life. Their growth means they have a huge influence upon the future economic development of the entire country. One of the major drivers will be in hosting, for example, localised production or transport hubs, for people or goods to and from the major cities.

South African’s are well adapted to long commutes, be that by car, train, taxi or bus, which also makes a case for more affordable home ownership in nearby ICMs rather than in acquiring property in the expensive (and what may be) better developed, primary metro’s.

Costly upgrades to existing metro precincts also increases cost-of-city-living versus the new developments that ICMs motivate, which are often more sustainable homes with green belts and parklands, good local schooling, and modern infrastructure. Even if such features don’t exist in the early phases, they will certainly have been planned for as part of the municipal town planning growth strategy.

ICM urban planning has a far more contemporary nature than the metro’s of old, given that town planners have, in modern times, a plethora of analyses and trajectory’s to work from, allowing them to anticipate long-term needs, and work towards the potential of an ICM becoming a primary metro of the future.

Promotion to a metro

To become recognised as a major city, the SA Cities Network says the following is considered:

·         The demographics: city population, migration trends, population density and percentage share of the national population;

·         The economy: economic growth rates and city’s share of national Gross Domestic Product;

·         Income levels: personal and per capita income;

·         The city’s public finances – annual total revenue and per capita revenue;

·         Employment capacity; and

·         Any other indicators – such as access to services.

There are obviously pro’s and con’s in making a decision to move to a Secondary City, but international trends in Europe, Australia and the US suggest that Secondary Cities present as ‘new’ prime real estate opportunities for investors, particularly for the youth or young family. With remote work and flexible working hours also on the increase, the Secondary City real estate migration may just be the next property boom.

Source : Private Property

[pulsenigeria]

Can Africa be the big Brexit winner?

Starting at next week’s Commonwealth summit, smart moves from both sides could benefit the UK and Africa.

BY RONAK GOPALDAS

Following the 2016 Brexit referendum, Britain needs to forge new and strong strategic alliances and trade relationships. Where and how does Africa feature in this equation?

Despite significant challenges, both Britain and Africa could emerge as winners from a rapidly shifting and uncertain global landscape. Smart policies and diplomacy could allow Britain to capitalise on the indifferent economic attitude the rest of the Western world has towards Africa. And African countries with strategic clout and collective bargaining acumen could broker favourable trade and investment deals rather than have terms dictated to them, as has been in the past.

First, to offset the detrimental effect of a split from Europe, Britain needs to look to alternative trading partners to catalyse its economy. Using foreign policy as an economic stimulus is vital in achieving this, and Africa is appealing in this regard. For British businesses, Africa’s high growth rates, urbanising population and growing consumer market provide a marketplace for British goods and services.

For Africa, the nature and scale of its development challenges, combined with its commodity export dependence, means that improved partnerships and increased demand for goods and services are welcome. Through trade, investment and donor support, there is huge scope for UK Inc to grow a more prosperous Africa while boosting its own economy.

There is huge scope for UK Inc to grow a more prosperous Africa while boosting its own economy

Second, the ‘pivot to Commonwealth’ is a strategy that has long been flaunted as a positive spin-off from Brexit. Indeed, many advocates of Brexit had argued that once the UK was freed from the chains of the European Union (EU), it could pursue a buccaneering future as ‘Global Britain’.

Given the cultural affinity with its former colonies, the linguistic, legal and educational symmetry, and sizeable diaspora in the UK, Britain has an advantage over other countries regarding Africa. Its deep historical (albeit controversial) relationships with regional powerhouses like South Africa, Kenya and Nigeria could help secure trade and investment deals.

This year’s Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in London from 16-20 April is a clear attempt to both solidify and expand the UK’s network of influence with historical allies in a post-Brexit world.

Third, British rapprochement with Africa is likely to be well received in terms of trade policy. Africa’s relationship with the EU has often been tense, largely on account of the protectionist and distortionary polices Europe employs in the agricultural sector through the Common Agricultural Policy.

The UK has long been a proponent of freer and more equitable trade and would probably generate better opportunities for African markets to export their produce. This could be positive news for countries like Ghana (cocoa), Kenya (flowers and tea) and Ethiopia (coffee) in particular, who will benefit from fairer deals and better market access.

Thus disaffected countries may now see scope for more beneficial bilateral deals with the UK. Sensing this opportunity, Tanzania in 2016 refused to ratify the Economic Partnership Agreement with the EU, holding out for a more favourable deal with the UK. This could well be a sign of positive things to come – for both the UK and Africa.

But there are challenges.

Given the tight timelines for renegotiating trade deals with the World Trade Organisation, African countries’ placing on the list of priorities is unclear. African countries will likely fall behind larger trading partners like China, India and Brazil in the pecking order of who would offer more immediate and scalable benefits. Europe alone – with at least 759 treaties to be renegotiated – will probably receive most of the time and attention of British policymakers.

  Britain must offer Africa a compelling value proposition to counter the surety and scale of EU offers

There is thus a risk that Africa’s status will be relegated to a ‘nice-to-have’ rather than a ‘must-have’ – especially given its low levels of integration into the global economy in terms of global trade (2% according to the World Economic Forum).

Success will also depend on the institutional bandwidth of the British government to execute ambitious plans. The country’s bureaucracy is already stretched and suffers from a lack of co-ordination, according to Nick Oliver, an infrastructure financier with NMS International Group.

If a new relationship with Africa is going to thrive, it also needs to be ‘business unusual’ for the UK. Given the country’s colonial past, any new relationship must be a strategic partnership of equals. Any attempt to re-engineer ‘Empire 2.0’ will fail.

Further, the UK will be negotiating from a position of weakness rather than strength. Europe remains Africa’s largest trading bloc and the multiple market access offered is still attractive to African countries. Britain will need to offer a compelling value proposition to counter the surety and scale that the EU offers.

Success in Africa for the UK will require not only cultural sensitivity, but also an appreciation of what African states actually want from a trade and investment perspective. This is an unenviable task on a continent with 54 vastly different counties, each with different priorities and preferences.

Collectively, Africa’s leaders could broker a game-changing deal that reshapes UK-Africa relations

Symbolically, too, Britain needs to show Africa that it matters. The last UK head of state to visit Africa was Tony Blair in 2007. Emmanuel Macron’s first overseas trip, just a week after his inauguration as French president, was to Mali in 2017, while German Chancellor Angela Merkel visited Africa in 2016. Both leaders knew that these visits were important in shaping their strategic interest amid changing geo-political and economic influences in Africa. Britain is at a disadvantage here and needs build trust among African policymakers.

But African leaders must also play their part in getting this arrangement to work effectively. African states must use their negotiating power to their advantage. With other global powers jockeying for influence in Africa, both commercially and otherwise, competition is intense. But a strong and engaged Western partner to the continent is currently lacking, and this is where Britain could act as a counterweight to China’s muscular approach and increased interest from India and Japan.

To take advantage says Rohitesh Dhawan, director of strategy at Eurasia, African countries must be aware of the negotiating tactics used by countries such as Australia, New Zealand and India who have built fertile ground for detailed trade talks. ‘Keeping abreast of the acts of other countries can also help African nations know which issues the UK is more able to make concessions over (and is less hamstrung for negotiating space) than others, and where they should place their bets.’

Tactics, pragmatism and scalability are key – especially in light of the muscle that Africa could wield through the newContinental Free Trade Area agreement. By using its collective power, and prioritising agriculture, the continent’s leadership could broker a potentially game-changing deal that could reshape the nature of UK-Africa relations.

With Brexit negotiations at a critical juncture, it is still unclear whether the UK will emerge as ‘Great Britain’ or ‘Little England’. But the deadline is fast approaching and Britain would do well not to ignore Africa as it charts forward. With some out-of-the-box thinking, there are compelling reasons why the continent may yet emerge as a huge ally to the UK.

Ronak Gopaldas, ISS Consultant and Director at Signal Ris

Can Africa be the big Brexit winner? Can Africa be the big Brexit winner? Starting at next week's Commonwealth summit, smart moves from both sides could benefit the UK and Africa.

[conversci]

The Next Pandemic – A Hypothetical

Event date: 7 March 2016

Julie Egan - Melbourne

The recent widespread outbreak of Zika virus infection ensured a full house for this panel discussion that brought together experts in public health, infectious disease, bioethics and media to discuss responses to past and future pandemics.

A pandemic is a new infection that goes around the world whereas an epidemic is generally more localised, explained Professor Peter Doherty, who shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1996 with Swiss colleague Rolf Zinkernagel, and has been involved in research on infection and immunity for 50 years. Pandemics need not necessarily result in ‘terrible infections’; although swine flu was very infectious, severe disease was mainly restricted to poorer communities in the 2009 pandemic.

Pandemics can be ongoing, for example, AIDS, which was first reported in 1981. Many pandemics don’t hit the headlines, such as norovirus, the most common cause of food-borne acute gastroenteritis, which infects millions of people every year.

Where do pandemics come from?

‘Environmental changes are really significant in terms of drivers of new and emerging diseases’, said Professor Sharon Lewin, Director of the Doherty Institute and an infectious diseases physician with particular interests in the cure of HIV infection. She cited changes in how we live and farm, climate change, deforestation, changing animal habitats, and urbanisation. Climate change will have an effect on mosquito-borne infections by changing mosquito habitats. Ebola, which is though to have spread from killing non-human primates for food, can be seen as a function of poverty, said Doherty.

Discussion moderator, Dr Norman Swan, broadcaster and journalist, quoted medical historian Roy Porter: ‘Whenever we change the way we live, new diseases emerge’.

Managing pandemics

‘Those who suffer most are those who are most vulnerable’, said Michael Moore, CEO of the Public Health Association of Australia and President elect of the World Federation of Public Health Associations. The Ebola pandemic, which began in Guinea in December 2013, spread in West Africa because of the vulnerability of the people due to poverty.

Dr Stewart Condon, President of Médecins Sans Frontières Australia, reported from the frontline. What happened in West Africa, he said, involved extremely vulnerable populations who had been exposed to civil war with no health systems to support primary and secondary health care. ‘As a result, you saw one of the biggest outbreaks handled badly, with hundreds of people dying’. Local governments and authorities made mistakes in priority setting that fuelled the epidemic.

Much of the failure to manage Ebola was cultural, suggested Swan. Safe ways to dispose of bodies were antithetical to community beliefs about burial practices. Cultural barriers to discussing safe sex practices had also initially hindered education in the early days of the AIDS pandemic.

Panellists agreed that the international community had failed. According to Condon, international health regulations framework for how the World Health Organisation (WHO) and member states could work together in such a situation did not support a good response or even good surveillance of what was happening.

The Australian response was heavily influenced by the fact that it was West Africa which was affected.  ‘If that had happened in Papua New Guinea or Indonesia the Australian government would have had a totally different response’, said Lewin. There was also a feeling that medical teams needed to be kept closer to home in case an epidemic broke out nearby.

Ebola was never a serious threat in Australia, said Doherty, where we have modern medical services and good communication. ‘If it had got into Papua New Guinea that could have been a problem for us’.

HIV was a major pandemic that did make it to Australia. A key factor in the response was leadership and coordination across the whole country that engaged scientists, government and community, said Lewin.  Probably one of the most important steps in the early days was access to clean needles which was revolutionary in Australia and not done anywhere else. There is now a consistent number of new infections a year and access to new treatment and pre-exposure prophylaxis is available.

‘We live in a global world and diseases travel globally’, said Professor Jeremy Sugarman from the Johns Hopkins Berman Institute of Bioethics in the US. An internationally recognised leader in biomedical ethics, he stressed the importance of remembering our ethical obligations. Those with expertise in science and medicine and building infrastructure have a moral obligation to provide assistance, he said, citing ‘common decency and the notion of charity’.

Scientific responses

The scientific response to Ebola was impressive according to Lewin. The responsible virus was soon identified. Technology has now advanced such that a new pathogen could probably be identified in a couple of weeks, said Doherty. The 1918 influenza epidemic killed maybe 50 million people but the virus was not isolated for another 13 years. SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) first emerged in 2002 and was identified in a couple of months. It’s essential to understand what you are dealing with and how the virus behaves, he said.

It was already known, said Sugarman, from the few people treated in the US for Ebola, that very intensive first-rate medical treatment could get people through the illness but that level of care was not available in Africa. Although there were already candidate antiviral drugs, a crucial ethical question was how to roll out experimental treatments in the setting of an outbreak. Normally, the effectiveness of a drug is tested by comparing it to placebo, but ‘when everyone is dying, you don’t need a placebo group’, said Doherty.

By 2008, Ebola vaccines were already at an advanced stage of development. Vaccines had been tested for safety but not for their ability to produce a good antibody response. There was not sufficient economic motive to continue, said Doherty.

Responding to a pandemic involves more than looking at the biology, it means looking at where resources are going to come from and how they are to be spent, said Moore.

Preparing for future pandemics

Once the crisis is over, help often stops. Strengthening health systems in poor countries is absolutely key, said Lewin. This involves long-term program decisions on investment in foreign aid. Another area where Australia can make a huge contribution is in the science.

Moore explained that the Communal Disease Networks Australia, an arrangement between states and territories, does have emergency plans but argued for better coordination to avoid the ongoing financial struggle between states and territories. What was needed was something similar to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the US.

We don’t invest in preparedness for pandemics in the same way we invest in military defence. ‘We’re programmed to think about bad guys, we’re not programmed to think about bad bugs’, said Doherty.

Getting the message over

Neil Mitchell, host of 3AW Mornings and veteran journalist, pointed out the difficulty of engaging the public. How could he sell the message that devoting resources to, for example, TB was important? There needs to be an ‘element of constructive fear’, he said.  Swan suggested a possible story: multiple drug-resistant TB in PNG, ‘just a tinny ride across the Torres Strait’.

Panellists agreed that transparency was essential. ‘If people understand that scientists, doctors, medical professionals don’t know everything but they’re working on it 24/7, that’s better than “it’ll be fine” ‘, said Condon. Secrecy and ideas of conspiracy held back understanding of AIDS.  Conspiracy theories are already emerging about Zika virus.

We need to engage communities that can deliver health messages, particularly when governments aren’t trusted, said Lewin. The gay community played a crucial role in education about HIV.

Local voices need to be heard. Local community leaders were involved in Senegal and Thailand, said Doherty. In the Ebola outbreaks, survivors were included in health teams. ‘It was powerful for communities to know that you don’t die 100% of the time’, said Condon.

What will be the next pandemic?

‘We do know for certain that at some stage we’ll get another influenza pandemic’, said Doherty. Diseases which we don’t regard as pandemic now and which don’t get media attention, such as tuberculosis, could become significant. Lewin pointed out that we just don’t know. There are many rare viruses. Who could have could have imagined HIV? Who could have predicted Zika and the link with microcephaly? The big threat is antimicrobial resistance, she said, bacteria that are resistant to multiple drugs. ‘We are seeing more and more cases of drugs that are resistant to all known antibiotics’. There has been no profit motive for drug companies to develop new antibiotics, said Doherty.

However, the doomsday scenario of a global pandemic that wipes out the human race is not going to happen, said Doherty. ‘The greatest risk that worries us is a substantially dysfunctional world due to climate change’.

Preparing for the next pandemic

Panellists agreed that better global structures were needed.  Concerns were raised about WHO’s resources and budgeting for emergency responses. Moore pointed out WHO’s lack of flexibility and problems with contributions from member states. WHO’s Global Influenza Surveillance Network has, however, been very successful; it was the first to pick up on SARS, said Doherty.

Lewin pointed to the success of The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

After our experience with Ebola, we are now dealing with the Zika epidemic differently, she said. The WHO has even been accused of overreacting. Condon was more pessimistic. Disease outbreaks which are potential pandemics such as the Katanga meningitis outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of Congo, won’t be dealt with until they hit the Western world, he said.

This event was produced in partnership with the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity and the Club Melbourne Ambassador Program.

What people said about the event:

The event got together a diverse group of people from Melbourne with an interest in infectious diseases

Gives us the opportunity to find like-minded individuals who are grappling with some of the pressing issues in science.

Such networking event allow us to share information, experience, challenges as well as providing new opportunity to enlarge our knowledge, develop business relationship etc.

It is a good chance to maintain existing relationships and also to develop new ones. Technology and science develops at a fast pace, - this event helps you keep informed of advances particularly outside of your immediate interests.

One of the outstanding events - really first rate panel and discussion.

The knowledgeable participants blended in well under the skilful direction of Norman Swan.

It is such a privilege to hear from so many experts with diverse perspectives and skills. A mature and interesting conversation.

Keep up the good work. The value of long term science must be understood by an enlightened electorate.

Professor Peter Doherty is an amazing man, articulate, intelligent and warm to the audience. The entire panel was intelligent and insightful. A wonderful event.

[thandisizwemgudlwa]

Water, energy still a pipedream for many Africans

FEATURE - THE SOUTHERN TIMES

Jul 01, 2016

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By Thandisizwe Mgudlwa

An opportunity for African governments to provide water, energy and other services to those in need and control speedy urbanisation to the continent’s cities could be on the horizon.

It is a well-known fact that an emerging region like Southern Africa is hamstrung by the overwhelming influx of thousands of its rural citizens yearly – to its poorly resourced cities – by people in search of a ‘better life’.

This is compounded by the thousands of illegal immigrants from other African countries and elsewhere.

What the flocking of many of these, mostly poor and unskilled, people to African commercial cities leads to is overcrowding and straining of infrastructure and amenities that are not equipped like those of Europe and America, for example.

With little prospect of employment or creating their start-ups, many will join the masses that are already unemployed and living in poverty and underdevelopment.

Societal ills like crime, disease, homelessness and poverty, to name a few, would ‘skyrocket’, leaving governments with inadequate resources to turn around the situation, and provide the better services they always promise the electorate during election time.

But now, all that could be issues of the past. At least if what Pumpmakers claim is true. The Austrian organisation has launched the Pumpmakers Platform.

This programme is said to be a virtual marketplace that helps people help themselves by providing individuals, local companies, NGOs and volunteers with free access to the easy-to-use do-it-yourself (DIY) solar pump.

The system comes with a global network to implement projects for everyone where there is a need of water.

According to Pumpmakers, “This helps reduce the global water shortage, strengthens the local economy, creates jobs and prevents migration from rural areas.”

Also noted is that the group has successfully installed DIY Solar Pumps in Africa and Europe since 2012.

“A single pump system provides up to 1 000 people a day with clean drinking water.”

And that building on the success of these first projects, new Pumpmakers projects will follow in Somalia, Morocco, Zambia, Cameroon and Tanzania.

The expansions would allow entrepreneurs, local companies, NGOs and individuals requiring water every day to register themselves free of charge on the Pumpmakers Platform, and present their company, organisation or project to a global community.

Furthermore, “Pumpmakers are on the lookout for new project entries and water wells as well as existing sources of water with and without water pumps (for example, hand pumps or diesel-powered water pumps), which may be replaced by or equipped with a DIY Solar Pump.

Dietmar Stuck, an experienced Austrian well-builder, founder and CEO of Pumpmakers explains, “There is a huge need for safe, clean drinking water in Africa. To date, however, more than 300 000 hand pumps are inoperative or broken.

“That’s why our DIY Solar Pump and the Pumpmakers Platform present an ideal solution. Project entries on our world map will provide us with the information we need to realise these projects together with our partners.”

Back in 2010, Stuck developed the world’s first DIY Solar Pump together with his team of experts, using the latest technology as well as a sustainable and patented concept.

“All materials as well as the individual parts of the pump are maintenance-free and corrosion-free. What’s more, the pump is affordable and has been designed for easy assembly, even in the remotest corners of the world. Due to the fact that we only use renewable solar energy to pump water from a depth of 100 metres, our system incurs no running costs. The optional hand pump can be used for operations at night.

More importantly, our DIY Solar Pump works independently from wind and fuel. It is the ideal substitute for conventional systems that are often too expensive or require a lot of maintenance.”

According to Pumpmakers, just basic DIY skills and a few parts that are readily available locally are required to assemble and instal the solar pump.

The pump kit, piston and gear unit as well as suitable tools or advertising material can be purchased via the webshop of the multilingual Pumpmakers Platform

“The parts needed for the pump tower can either be obtained locally or via the webshop. Videos and images provide step-by-step assembly instructions,” the group says.

The new platform offers local companies and start-up entrepreneurs, the Pumpmakers, a straightforward business model and the support they need.

“Pumpmakers can present their services to the global community, network with NGOs, customers or fellow Pumpmakers, report on their DIY Solar Pump project and upload images and videos.”

A world map highlights water supply needs and shows the status of current projects.

Meanwhile, the 2012 book ‘Capital Cities in Africa: Power and Powerlessness’ looks at the contemporary issues facing these cities.

According to the editors of this book, capital cities have always played a role in nation and state building.

“Typically, the state projects its power through the urban landscape and layout of its capital city. Power is asserted via the capital’s architecture, its public monuments and the names of its streets and public places. But these urban symbols of authority are fluid and subject to change as ideologies and political landscapes shift.”

In the book, a range of authors present a set of multifocal studies of sub-Saharan African capital cities. From Dakar to Conakry, Nairobi to Luanda, the chapters deal with the historical development of these capitals, their political dramas, their levels of service delivery and their location within the ethnic, economic and demographic fabric of their nations.

What emerges from the studies is a sense of the power of African capitals, in terms of their political importance and their proximity to the centre of patronage and redistribution.

But what is also revealed is their powerlessness, in the face of both massive immigration and the resultant service demands of exploding populations and ethnopolitical violence.

The primary historical focus of the book is the period since political independence from European colonialism, some 50 years or less (2010 marked the 50th year of independence for many countries in Africa).

Hence, much of the urban and built landscape discussed is of recent construction, while colonial traces are still significant.

Each study provides a short historical context of the city and nation state, while concentrating on the urban geology of the capital, on its use of monuments and names of streets and identifying pertinent spaces where public rallies, marches and other forms of mobilisation have taken place.

While each city has its own individual national trajectory after independence, they also share a common demographic feature.

In contrast to Europe, where rapid urbanisation is past, sub-Saharan Africa is experiencing a process of urbanisation that is moving at extraordinarily great speed.

The studies and concluding overview cover west, central, East and southern Africa, and British, French, Portuguese and Boer colonialisms, with some mention of German, Italian and Spanish legacies.

The contributors succeed in bringing a range of diverse disciplines to the discussion – from historical to geographical to political – which need to be taken to account by all stakeholders committed to the development of Africa.

According to Stuck, there is a great demand, not only in Africa but also increasingly in South America, Asia and Australia. Therefore, the next series production of the DIY Solar Pump commenced in March 2016.

“Compared to many traditional water pump systems that are often maintenance prone and expensive, the investment of about US$7 500 for the maintenance-free DIY Solar Pump is amortised over about one to two years.”

However, “Even individuals or volunteers who want to make a difference can help fight the global water crisis.

“They can invest time and effort by joining the Pumpmakers Platform and highlighting their project on the world map.

That way, they can effectively draw sponsors’ and organisations’ attention of the need for water in their region.”

Stuck adds, “Our goal is to provide thousands of people worldwide with access to safe, clean drinking water and give those wanting to start their own business the support they need.

“That is why we came up with a unique DIY concept. It makes people more self-sufficient and effectively helps fight the global water shortage and poverty.”

Today, almost 800 million people still have no access to safe, clean drinking water. As a result, some 10 000 people die every day – most of them are children under the age of five.

Another study of note is ‘Alternatives to Privatisation: Public Options for Essential Services in the Global South’ published that confirms that the number of people in the global south without access to basic services is staggering.

Globally, more than 1.1 billion people are not able to obtain safe water supplies, 2.4 billion people do not have access to improved sanitation facilities, and 1.4 billion do not have electricity, with the vast majority of these people living in Asia, Africa and Latin America.

“The interconnectivity of these service deficits makes matters worse, a lack of clean water, inadequate sanitation, no electricity for the refrigeration of food and health supplies and a shortage of medical personnel all combine to wreak havoc on people’s lives.

“These are service gaps that cost a lot of money for example, an estimated US$41 billion a year will be needed for energy infrastructure in Africa alone if universal access is attained by 2030. A major question is thus who will take responsibility for service delivery?

Privately-owned profit-driven corporations, or state-operated/public entities? All indications are that struggles over privatisation and its alternatives are going to feature prominently for many years to come.

“In this light, Alternatives to privatisation: Public options for essential services in the global South offers the first global survey of its kind to provide a rigorous platform for evaluating alternatives to private enterprise.”

The book looks at what constitutes alternatives, what makes them successful or not, what improvements have been achieved and what lessons have been learnt. This is backed up by examples in over 50 countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America, covering three sectors – health care, water/sanitation and electricity.

In this study, there are also contributions from a range of researchers, activists and NGO members, the publication is academically rigorous but also accessible to policy makers, analysts, unionists and others familiar with the debates on privatisation and its alternatives.

The question is, are African governments and stakeholders listening? Or will they act to change the conditions under which the people live at least by 2030?

Time will tell.

*Thandisizwe Mgudlwa is an internationally acclaimed journalist based in Cape Town, South Africa. He is the author of the best-selling children’s book – ‘Kiddies World’.

[cooldavidkentposts]

Digitalisation: helping business thrive and survive

Success stories of businesses using technology to advance were at the forefront of Siemens’ Digitalize 2019 conference. The event showcased discussions on cybersecurity, smart infrastructure, scalability in manufacturing, Australia’s energy transition, future of work in the industry and opportunities presented by Industry 4.0. At the core of these discussions was digitalisation; particularly its role within organisations of all sizes — from large entities such as Powerlink Queensland and Deloitte; start-ups such as Brogan’s Way distillery; and SMEs such as Sage Automation and HeliMods.

Energy transition

The digitalised world is demanding change in the energy sector, perhaps more so than any other. The centralisation of the industry has brought new demands that have seen previous innovations rendered outdated much faster than anticipated.

Powerlink Queensland Executive General Manager Kevin Kehl discussed the challenges his company was facing and boiled it down to the ‘three Ds’: the decarbonisation of power generation; the decentralisation of customers and storage; and digitalisation itself, which, if capitalised on, could facilitate and enhance the other two.

Kehl cited the importance of predicting customer behaviour as critical to shaping the energy transition. He explained that Powerlink Queensland conducts a household energy survey every two years, with the local distribution companies in Queensland, to discover what customers are thinking in order to help predict  behaviours and expectations.

“I think, irrespective of any policy objectives, consumers will largely lead the change as they have,” Kehl said. “Indeed, that’s going to be the biggest driver of the change for us.”

Customers are investing more capital in rooftop solar and increased storage, making transmission infrastructure the glue that holds together the system. Australia is predicted to be the most distributed grid worldwide in the next decade and Kehl emphasised that this will require a much more dynamic and information-intensive approach.

Smart infrastructure

Urbanisation is occurring across the world, with approximately 55% of the global population currently living in urban areas. Predictions suggest that by 2050, this will rise to 68%. Australia is no exception. Melbourne, for example, is predicted to have 7.3 million people by 2050, up from the current 4.6 million who live there now.

It’s clear that new approaches need to be adopted, such as the building of smart infrastructure, which is key to sustainability. According to Siemens Global Head of Urban Development Martin Powell, combining infrastructure with data analytics will provide countless opportunities to counter these problems.

“Using weather data analytics to gather readings on air quality could allow cities to create low-emission zones,” Powell said. “We could introduce ‘no school on bad air days’ or penalise people who drive in the affected areas.”

Other innovations are based on the idea of the digital twin, allowing for ideas and concepts to be worked through digitally to find any problems before any money is spent. This would also allow for different cities facing similar problems to share data and make adjustments according to their own unique challenges.

“We are applying machine learning so that we can reduce the amounts of maintenance that we need across our cities,” Powell added.

Scalable manufacturing in Industry 4.0

Industry 4.0 and automation is being increasingly adopted by small and medium manufacturers, debunking the myth that it’s only of value and affordable to big companies.

Hon. Cameron Dick, Queensland State Minister for State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning, commended the state’s manufacturers for being “well advanced on their Industry 4.0 journey”, calling it a showcase of the diversity in the sector.

Case study: Kaiju Brewery

Kaiju Brewery co-owner Callum Reeves explained that his brewery exemplifies the scalability of modern automation technology.

Reeves’ business was growing at a rate of 100% per annum but faced the issue of losing consistency with expansion. Technology came to his rescue.

“One of the biggest things is maintaining the quality that people expect of your brand as you scale,” Reeves said.

Reeves’ passion for technology and futureproofing is what encouraged him to begin using Deacam’s Fermecraft technology combined with Siemens’ MindSphere software to monitor the brewing process and ensure each brew remained uniform.

The investment in upgrading automation and digital technology has prepared Kaiju for the next few years of manufacturing.

Case study: HeliMods

Queensland-based SME HeliMods utilised digital twin technology to track and change product designs to make a real, practical difference to its helicopter operators.

HeliMods CEO Will Shrapnel said, “You wouldn’t set up a workshop with physical assets and leave them lying about the place. It’s no different in the digital world. If you’re going to invest in digital technologies, you[’ve] got to understand how those assets are going to be used, re-used, stored and how you’re going to develop them over time. It’s critically important,” he said.

Cybersecurity

Unlike most industries in the current climate, there is less of a requirement to transition from an old model, but a need to grow the sector to meet the demands of the digital world.

AustCyber CEO Michelle Price said that, “Digitalisation is both an opportunity and a risk, but you must be on top of your game and vigilant.

“There are enormous opportunities available to us when we embrace cybersecurity and recognise that it is an investment in our future.”

Australia is claimed to be the number one per capita ransomware target in the world and is in the top 10 nations for email phishing attacks. Australia also has a $3 trillion superannuation system that, according to Price, “makes every single corner of every single populated space in Australia a high-value target”.

Price challenged businesses to take stock of their own security and ask themselves if they are “cyber prepared or cyber scared?”

Futureproofing the workforce

It’s important to recognise that the future of work will require an adjustment to the way in which employees are continuously trained and upskilled, as well as changes in the higher education sector to ensure that students are being prepared sufficiently for the workforce.

Professor Bronwyn Fox, Director of the Manufacturing Futures Research Institute at Swinburne University of Technology, was involved in a panel on the subject and discussed the work Swinburne is doing in partnership with Siemens and Ai Group to facilitate this education process.

“We’ve learnt a lot from our partners in Germany and we’ve learnt a lot from the Austrian Industry 4.0 network, which has allowed us to really translate that to the Australian environment,” Fox said.

“We can create six cyber-physical labs that are an immersive environment for industry leaders and newcomers to come and understand the concepts of digitalisation.”

Collaboration from industry leaders, tertiary education institutions, unions and government agencies is crucial for the future of employment.

Ultimately, the consistent message across all speakers and discussions at the conference was that everybody needs to be able to adapt and cooperate so that the Australian market can thrive.

Image courtesy of Siemens Australia.

source http://sustainabilitymatters.net.au/content/sustainability/article/digitalisation-helping-business-thrive-and-survive-732543160

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