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The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER), acting for Earthlife Africa Johannesburg and groundWork, submitted a letter to the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) on 16 February 2018 requesting the postponement of public hearings for the proposed Thabametsi and Khanyisa coal-fired power stations. The CER argues that pending litigation over environmental authorisations, missing water and atmospheric emission licences, and the lack of a promulgated new Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) prevent NERSA from making a legally consistent and public-interest-based decision.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) has notified the Portfolio Committee on Environmental Affairs of its intention to challenge the Minister of Environmental Affairs' January 30, 2018, decision to uphold the environmental authorisation for the proposed Thabametsi coal-fired power station. The CER argues the decision is unreasonable and unlawful, as it relies on an outdated energy policy to justify a project with very high greenhouse gas emissions and water scarcity risks, contradicting a previous High Court judgment regarding the necessity of independent climate impact assessments.

This Independent Verification Statement, issued by First Environment, Inc. on February 16, 2018, confirms that the New York State Energy and Research Development Authority's (NYSERDA) Residential Solar Financing Revenue Bonds, Series 2018A, align with the Climate Bonds Standard v2.1 and Solar Sector Criteria v2.1.

This report by Good Governance Africa examines the transition to sustainable energy in Nigeria and the broader West African region. It highlights the gap between the region's abundant renewable energy potential and its current energy deficits, emphasizing the need for coherent governance, regional integration, and the urgent leveraging of fossil fuel revenues to fund green infrastructure before hydrocarbon assets become stranded.

This research paper outlines three critical areas of reform required for Cyril Ramaphosa to restore South Africa's national strength and international standing following the presidency of Jacob Zuma. The author argues that the country must restore the rule of law, reform the management of state-owned enterprises (SOEs), and invest in education to combat high youth unemployment and economic stagnation.

This research paper examines technology and financing options for urban stormwater management, specifically focusing on the use of stormwater markets to incentivize private investment in decentralized green infrastructure.

This report addresses the risk of stranded assets resulting from the sustainability transition, arguing that while 'green finance' for new technologies is well-documented, there is insufficient focus on the 'old' industries and assets that may become economically unusable. The document introduces a practical framework designed to help the financial community identify and quantify these risks to reduce unnecessary investment and negative social consequences.

The Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) submitted recommendations to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) regarding the Draft Guidelines on Effective Implementation of the Right to Participate in Public Affairs. CIEL argues that the guidelines must address the systemic constraining of fundamental rights, specifically emphasizing the intersection of environmental decision-making, human rights, and the opacity of international investment agreements.

Friends of the Earth criticizes a two-year congressional budget deal for increasing the Pentagon budget by $160 billion while providing only $128 billion for social and environmental spending, and for including tax subsidies for fossil fuels and biomass.

Natural Justice issued a statement mourning the passing of Rodney Sibuyi, the Chief Executive of the Kukula Traditional Health Practitioners Association, highlighting his leadership in developing biocultural community protocols and advocating for the rights of traditional healers.

Friends of the Earth opposes a draft 5-year oil and gas leasing plan by the Trump administration that would expand offshore drilling off the coast of California. The organization highlights the risks of environmental disaster and supports state-level legislation in California to block the necessary fossil fuel infrastructure for new leases.

This Overview Brief from the NAP Global Network examines monitoring and evaluation (M&E) within the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) process, specifically focusing on the experiences of developing countries in designing and implementing adaptation M&E systems.

A letter from the Life After Coal Campaign to the Chairman of Eskom's Board of Directors, arguing that Eskom's reliance on coal-fired power is economically unsustainable and creates severe liabilities regarding human health, water, and the environment.

This policy brief from the International Institute for Sustainable Development introduces the role of strategic communications in supporting National Adaptation Plan (NAP) processes, emphasizing the need for tailored messaging to improve government engagement with citizens and stakeholders.

This document is a speech delivered by a representative of the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) regarding the domestic governance and economic priorities necessary to restore South Africa's international influence and internal stability.

This briefing by the Center for International Environmental Law reviews the status of human rights, gender equality, and other social considerations within the negotiations for the Paris Agreement's implementation guidelines as of February 2018. It analyzes four key agenda items—Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), Adaptation Communications, the Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF), and the Global Stocktake (GST)—detailing the proposals made by various countries and the extent to which these social dimensions were reflected in the co-facilitators' notes following COP-23.

This policy brief by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) analyzes the distribution channels for rural credit in Brazil. It argues that the current design of financial services, characterized by a complex and geographically uneven network of banks and cooperatives, creates additional uncertainty for farmers. The brief highlights a mismatch between the supply of credit and the actual agricultural potential of different regions, suggesting that simplifying the structure of rural credit could improve policy effectiveness and resource allocation.

This policy brief by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) and the Núcleo de Avaliação de Políticas Climáticas da PUC-Rio (NAPC), in partnership with the Banco Central do Brasil (Bacen), analyzes the distribution channels of rural credit in Brazil. The document argues that the current design of rural credit policy and its distribution through banks and cooperatives create artificial fluctuations and uncertainties for producers, as access to financing is often determined by the geographic presence of financial institutions rather than local agricultural potential.

This technical briefing by the Climate Policy Initiative analyzes the Brazilian Supreme Court's (STF) rulings on the constitutionality of Law 12.651/2012 (the new Forest Code). The authors argue that by judging legal provisions separately rather than addressing the core issue of the July 22, 2008, time limit, the court has created contradictory rulings that threaten legal certainty and the effective implementation of environmental regulations.

This guide by Friends of the Earth International provides a compilation of strategies and experiences for communities and Indigenous Peoples to declare their territories free from threats such as REDD, financialization of nature, mining, fracking, and GMOs. It frames these declarations as exercises of autonomy and political practices aimed at realizing collective human rights and defending traditional ways of living against an extractivist corporate model.