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The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) submitted comments on 27 March 2013 regarding the draft Infrastructure Development Bill, 2013. The CER argues that the Bill is vulnerable to Constitutional challenge because it disregards national environmental policies, undermines the functions of provincial and local governments, and conflicts with the Promotion of Administrative Justice Act, 2000 (PAJA). While supporting the goal of streamlined approvals, the CER asserts that the Bill's proposed fast-tracking of infrastructure projects risks bypassing essential environmental impact assessments (EIAs) and public participation processes.

This research paper examines South Africa's strategic role within the BRICS forum, specifically focusing on how it leverages its membership to advance African infrastructure development, regional integration, and economic restructuring under the NEPAD framework.

The National Chairman's Annual Statement of the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA), delivered on 27 March 2013, analyzes South Africa's strategic position within a multipolar world. It discusses the role of the BRICS forum, the necessity of strengthening ties with other African regional powers, and the impact of domestic instability and military casualties in the Central African Republic on South Africa's global prestige and soft power.

This commentary proposes an actor-centered, risk-based approach to defining limits to social adaptation to climate change, arguing that identifying these limits is essential for assessing potential consequences and maintaining the rationale for greenhouse gas emission reductions.

The 2013 BRICS Youth Communiqué, presented by Youth@SAIIA learners at the 5th BRICS Summit in Durban, outlines recommendations for the establishment of a BRICS Development Bank (BDB). The document advocates for a bank that is independent of government political agendas, inclusive of all member nations regardless of financial status, and focused on sustainable development in the developing world.

This research paper presents a long-term scenario for deep greenhouse gas (GHG) abatement in Seattle, Washington, focusing on a 'core' emissions framework and bottom-up scenario analysis to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.

This report examines the socio-economic challenges facing Mozambique, specifically focusing on the critical shortage of skilled labor and the constraints imposed by restrictive foreign labor regulations. It argues that Mozambique could accelerate its development by adopting a more liberal regional approach to skills transfer and professional migration, leveraging its position within the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) wrote to Minister Susan Shabangu on 13 March 2013 seeking urgent clarification on the legal status of the Chrissiesmeer Biodiversity Site. Despite previous statements by the Minister that mining in the area was prohibited, the CER notes the absence of a formal declaration in the Government Gazette and the acceptance of a mining right application by Duiker Mining (Pty) Ltd for the proposed Harwar Colliery.

This research paper outlines an approach to understanding household cooking preferences in poor communities in Lusaka, Zambia, to improve the success of clean-cookstove interventions and reduce climate risks associated with charcoal use.

A joint statement from several environmental organizations to President Barack Obama urging the development of a national strategy for liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports based on comprehensive economic and environmental assessments.

The Energy 101 Model Curriculum is a peer-reviewed, interdisciplinary undergraduate framework developed by APLU and the U.S. Department of Energy. It aims to create energy-literate citizens by combining the science of energy (physical and biological processes) with the social sciences (economics, ethics, and policy). The curriculum is divided into five units and is supported by the NTER open-source educational platform. Testing began in early 2013 at the University of Maryland, with further implementation planned at Maryland community colleges.

This policy brief by the Institute for Security Studies provides analysis and recommendations for African states participating in the United Nations negotiations for the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) scheduled for March 2013. It argues that a legally binding international instrument is necessary to regulate the transfer of conventional arms, ammunition, and technology to preserve human security and prevent human suffering, particularly in Africa, which is heavily impacted by armed conflict.

This document is the testimony of Michael Obeiter delivered on March 6, 2013, to the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Energy & Commerce, Subcommittee on Energy & Power, focusing on the balance between the U.S. energy boom and environmental impacts, specifically methane leakage from natural gas systems.

This research paper synthesizes an SEI-led study on carbon capture and storage (CCS), concluding that current development paths are insufficient for CCS to be commercially available by the end of the decade or to contribute significantly to CO2 emission reductions.

Friends of the Earth President Erich Pica issued a statement expressing grave concerns regarding the nomination of Ernest J. Moniz as Secretary of Energy due to his support for nuclear power and fracking, while expressing support for the nomination of Gina McCarthy as EPA Administrator.

This briefing analyzes the political environment surrounding Kenya's 2013 elections, examining the impact of a new constitutional framework, the role of the International Criminal Court (ICC), and the persistence of ethnic tensions and socio-economic grievances.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) published this March 2013 report to provide comparative context for recommendations made in a previous report titled 'Unlock the Doors'. The document examines how corporate disclosure levels vary across different jurisdictions based on domestic and international legal requirements.

A submission by the Human Rights & Climate Change Working Group and partner organizations to the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action, arguing that the 2015 climate agreement must explicitly integrate human rights obligations into its guiding principles, mitigation, adaptation, and financing frameworks.

This report by the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment and partners examines the health and economic costs of coal-fired electricity generation in Alberta. It details the pollutants emitted by coal plants, their specific impacts on vulnerable populations, and uses multiple modeling approaches to estimate the resulting premature deaths, illnesses, and societal costs. The report argues that the true cost of coal power is not reflected in market prices, effectively subsidizing coal at the expense of public health.

The CDKN East Africa Climate Finance Workshop, held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on 25-26 March 2013, brought together 25-30 economic planners, investors, and donors to share best practices and plan future climate finance activities in Eastern Africa.