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The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) has written to the South African Department of Environmental Affairs to express concern over the lack of transparency and coordination regarding several climate change policy documents. The CER highlights a proliferation of reports and drafts—including the 'Pathways documents' and the 'National Climate Change Adaptation Strategy'—without a clear overall strategy or alignment between government departments. The CER specifically argues that climate mitigation modelling must reflect current research showing that new coal-fired power capacity is unnecessary and financially uncompetitive compared to renewables, urging the abandonment of remaining Kusile units and the exclusion of new coal plants from future scenarios.

The Centre for Environmental Rights, representing the Life After Coal/Impilo Ngaphandle Kwamalahle campaign, has raised concerns to the South African Minister of Environmental Affairs about ambiguities in greenhouse gas (GHG) and pollution prevention reporting. The campaign argues that current regulations allow for aggregated company-level reporting instead of the necessary facility-level data, which undermines the National Greenhouse Gas Inventory and South Africa's international obligations under the UNFCCC and Paris Agreement. They also highlight contradictions in the submission and review timelines for pollution prevention plans and call for greater public transparency of emissions data.

The statement highlights Sweden's leadership in climate science and finance, its goal to become one of the first fossil-free welfare nations by achieving net zero emissions by 2045, and the necessity of using public finance to mobilize private investment for the green economy. It emphasizes the role of the IPCC and the Paris Agreement in guiding global action, noting that renewable energy is becoming increasingly affordable compared to fossil fuels.

The report examines India's coal dependency and the challenges of transitioning to a low-carbon economy. Using the AIM/Enduse model, it compares the Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) scenario with two 2°C pathways: a 'conventional' one relying on Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage (CCUS) and a 'sustainable' one shifting toward renewables, gas, and nuclear power. Key findings highlight the risk of significant stranded assets—including approximately 220 billion tonnes of unutilized coal reserves valued at USD 6.7 trillion—and the increasing vulnerability of coal power plants to water shortages, which already cause substantial generation losses. The report argues that while coal remains a mainstay until 2030, a managed phase-out is necessary to meet global climate targets, requiring synchronized actions in energy efficiency, renewable scaling, and the retirement of inefficient sub-critical plants.

The authors critique current integrated assessment modelling (IAM), specifically as used in the IPCC Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C (SR15), for being biased toward market-based policies and global cost-optimization while ignoring local priorities and institutional barriers. They propose a 'fit-for-purpose' paradigm where models are selected based on stakeholder-defined questions and indicators, rather than fitting questions to existing models. This bottom-up approach is presented as essential for creating inclusive, voluntary low-carbon transitions, particularly in complex environments like cities and coastal areas. The brief suggests that this shift in process—not necessarily in the models themselves—is required for future IPCC reports and the Paris Agreement's Global Stocktake.

The India Green Economy Barometer 2018 finds that while India has high potential for a green transition and has made significant strides in renewable energy and social inclusion, the overall progress is slow and insufficient. The report identifies key blockages, including the perception that environmental protection hinders economic growth and a lack of mature green financial markets. It highlights successes in solar capacity expansion and corporate social responsibility but warns that a 'business-as-usual' approach threatens long-term wellbeing due to natural resource overuse and rising inequality.

The South African energy services market, comprising small-scale embedded generation (SSEG) and energy efficiency, is driven by rising electricity costs and falling technology prices. The rooftop solar PV market is particularly strong in the commercial and industrial sector, with a projected total available market of R75 billion by 2035. Energy storage is identified as a future keystone of the SSEG market, with a potential value of R14.5 billion by 2035. Energy efficiency opportunities are estimated to reach R21 billion by 2035, with significant potential in green building and manufacturing. The report also highlights innovative financing mechanisms like Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) and the role of the Western Cape as a regional greentech hub.

The report highlights the South African agriculture sector as a robust investment environment, particularly in the Western Cape, which contributes 24% of the national agricultural GDP. It identifies key growth areas in controlled environment agriculture (CEA), drone technology for precision farming, and renewable energy, while emphasizing water scarcity as a primary driver for the adoption of these green technologies.

Singapore established itself as a regional petroleum trading hub by combining a strategic geographical location with a 'twin-track' industrial strategy of minimal regulation and strong institutional support. Starting with oil refining in the 1960s, the government transitioned toward the petrochemicals sector in the 1980s via the 'cluster approach' at the Jurong Island Export Processing Zone. While facing challenges from regional competition, land scarcity, and environmental concerns, Singapore has maintained its edge through massive infrastructure projects, such as underground rock caverns for storage, and proactive policy adaptation.

The report argues that electric orchard tractors are well-suited for the low-speed, high-torque requirements of South African horticultural farms, particularly in the citrus industry. It estimates a potential market of 1,480 electric tractors by 2030, which could save up to 5,200 tonnes of CO2 annually if powered by renewable energy. While initial capital costs are higher than diesel alternatives, the report identifies a payback period of less than six years due to lower fuel and maintenance costs. It further proposes a local manufacturing model developed by Nelson Mandela University, suggesting that producing 300 units annually by Year 5 could create 53 direct jobs.

The report argues that solar thermal technology is an ideal fit for South Africa's food and beverage industries, where up to 77% of energy use is for heating, mostly below 250°C. While the current local industry is dominated by domestic water heaters, there is a significant opportunity to scale industrial applications. The report estimates that replacing non-coal fuels with solar thermal could save 158,685 tonnes of CO2e per annum, while replacing coal could save 942,556 tonnes. Financial viability is high for replacing fuels other than coal, with potential Internal Rates of Return above 10% over 20 years. However, barriers include a lack of sustained demand, a skills gap in industrial design, and limited familiarity among financial institutions.

The report argues that redirecting surplus food—edible food that is not 'true waste'—can alleviate hunger for 13 million South Africans while providing cost savings and tax benefits to food firms. It highlights that 95% of food waste in South Africa occurs before the consumption stage, with agricultural production (26%), processing/packaging (25%), post-harvest handling (24%), and distribution/retail (20%) being the primary sources. The document details the environmental impact, noting that Food Forward's donation of 4,400 tonnes of food in 2017/8 avoided 17,400 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions. It identifies barriers such as liability concerns and date labelling, while proposing solutions like 'Good Samaritan' legislation and the use of technology platforms like FoodShare to coordinate logistics.

The document argues that eco-blend cements, which use industrial by-products like fly ash and slag to replace clinker, offer the most feasible near-term path to reducing the carbon footprint of South Africa's cement industry. It highlights that while these materials are abundant locally, regulatory caps on clinker substitution (currently 35%) and outdated structural standards act as primary barriers to wider adoption.

The document analyzes how biophysical climate impacts and international trade shifts threaten employment in South Africa's chemicals sub-sector, while identifying job creation potential through mitigation and adaptation interventions.

The 'First Draft Carbon Tax Bill 2015: Response Document' is a December 2017 report by the Centre for Environmental Rights (representing the National Treasury's responses) that details public comments and government feedback on the design of South Africa's carbon tax. It addresses key policy issues including revenue recycling, tax-free allowances for trade-exposed sectors, the treatment of the electricity and aviation sectors, and the alignment of the tax with South Africa's Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement.

The report examines border carbon adjustments (BCAs) as a tool to prevent carbon leakage and incentivize climate ambition among trade partners. It analyzes past proposals in the EU and US, evaluates the legal constraints imposed by the WTO, and provides a comprehensive design framework. The authors recommend a BCA focused on imports of primary goods from energy-intensive sectors, utilizing global sectoral benchmarks for emissions and ensuring revenues benefit developing countries.

The report finds that while a majority of US registered voters believe global warming is happening and human-caused, there is a significant political divide, particularly with conservative Republicans. Despite these divisions, there is broad cross-party support for various clean energy policies, such as renewable energy research and tax rebates for energy-efficient vehicles. However, support for more restrictive measures, like carbon taxes or strict emission limits on coal plants, is lower among conservative Republicans. The report also notes a gap between voters' willingness to advocate for climate policy and their actual engagement in such activities.

The report finds that while a majority of US registered voters believe global warming is happening and human-caused, there is significant political polarization, particularly among conservative Republicans. Despite this, there is broad cross-party support for various clean energy policies, such as renewable energy research and tax rebates for energy-efficient vehicles. However, a gap exists between the willingness of voters to advocate for climate policy and their actual engagement in such activities.

The research simulates the economic effects of a 20 per cent tariff hike and a border carbon tax across North American industries. It finds that while the U.S. would face the largest absolute GDP and welfare losses, Canada would experience the highest relative decline in employment. Crucially, the study concludes that trade barriers are ineffective for reducing carbon-intensive energy output or greenhouse gas emissions and may actually reduce renewable energy use in favor of liquefied natural gas.

The document assesses the current state of global carbon pricing, noting that most prices are below USD 10, far below the USD 40-100/tCO2 levels recommended by the High-Level Commission on Carbon Prices to meet Paris Agreement goals. It advocates for a 'climate policy portfolio' that combines carbon taxes or cap-and-trade systems with complementary measures to address non-price barriers and avoid 'waterbed effects' through price floors. The brief also calls for the abolition of counterproductive policies like fossil fuel subsidies and the use of carbon revenues to fund a just transition and fight energy poverty.