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The submission argues that the draft SAREM over-relies on private investment and fails to sufficiently address the impact of the global supply chain crisis on renewable energy costs. It advocates for a state-led industrial policy, including the use of import tariffs and the central role of Eskom in renewable generation, to avoid 'boom-bust' cycles and ensure a just transition for workers. Key recommendations include establishing a 'decent work' framework, implementing aggressive local content requirements (suggesting 50% for future RFPs), and creating a technology transfer system to support local manufacturing.

The document examines the 'policy integration puzzle,' specifically why political intentions for environmental policy integration (EPI) often fail to translate into practice. Drawing on the 'Policy Integration for Sustainability' (PIntS) project, it analyses the Swedish energy and agriculture sectors, identifying a lack of strategic thinking and a gap between agency-level learning and ministerial-level decision-making. It proposes a 10-point action plan based on trust, ownership, capacity, and knowledge. Additionally, it provides an international perspective on OECD trends, noting a peak in EPI interest in the mid-1990s followed by a decline due to concerns over economic competitiveness. The report concludes that while 'easy wins' in pollution control have been achieved, systemic challenges like climate change require deeper 'double-loop learning' and stronger political leadership.