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The Centre for Environmental Rights, acting for groundWork, has requested an extension of the time period to institute judicial review proceedings against the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment's decision to grant an Environmental Authorisation Amendment for Richards Bay Gas Power (Pty) Ltd.

The brief asserts that gas appliances release harmful pollutants, including nitrogen dioxide (NO2), fine particulate matter (PM2.5), and carbon monoxide (CO), which lead to respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses. It highlights that indoor pollution levels can be significantly higher than outdoor levels and that vulnerable populations, particularly children and communities of color, are disproportionately affected. Furthermore, it argues that gas appliances contribute to outdoor air pollution and climate change through the emission of criteria pollutants and methane, with methane leaks from stoves and water heaters potentially reaching 110 Gg per year. The document concludes that building electrification is a critical public health intervention that can provide substantial monetized health benefits, estimated at $3.5 billion annually for California.

Analysis of 19 Winter Olympic host cities shows an average February warming of 4.8 °F since 1950, with some cities like Oslo warming by 9.8 °F. A University of Waterloo study indicates that under a high-emissions scenario, only one host city (Sapporo) would reliably provide safe and fair outdoor snow sports conditions by the 2080s. The Paralympic Games face higher risks due to their typical March scheduling, which coincides with warmer temperatures and a higher probability of rain.

The Global Climate and Health Alliance and the Health and Climate Network submit that health is a prerequisite for the Paris Agreement's success and should be an explicit outcome of the Global Stocktake. They highlight that while 94% of countries include health in National Adaptation Plans, financing remains a critical barrier, with only 0.5% of some multilateral adaptation funding allocated to health projects. The submission emphasizes the significant health co-benefits of mitigation in energy, food, and transport sectors and calls for the quantification of health as a non-economic impact under loss and damage.

The report finds that the 2020 target of restoring 150 million hectares of forest was not met, with only 18% achieved by 2019. It highlights the difficulty of monitoring restoration progress due to the limitations of satellite data and notes that in regions like Central America, gross tree cover gains have been offset by higher rates of loss. The document argues that achieving the 2030 goal requires transforming the enabling environment through quantified targets, strengthened policy and finance, and more consistent monitoring frameworks.

The report assesses the cyclical nature of violence in South Sudan and the failure of successive peace agreements to establish lasting stability. It argues that durable peace requires a multi-level approach that links local and national processes, prioritises long-term investment over 'quick-fix' events, and integrates livelihood support with social cohesion. The authors highlight the devastating humanitarian cost, noting that 8.3 million people needed assistance as of October 2021, and emphasize that resilience-building must address root causes of inequality and justice rather than treating resilience as an end goal. A key identified opportunity for innovation is addressing the gendered dimensions of conflict-driven hunger, which the report argues has been overlooked in national peace frameworks.

Nigeria faces severe developmental challenges including endemic corruption, insecurity, and an overdependence on oil exports. Projections indicate that without intervention, Nigeria will have the highest number of poor people globally by 2050. The report proposes a 'Super Nigeria' scenario combining improvements in governance, human capital, infrastructure, agriculture, and economic diversification to potentially make Nigeria the fifth largest economy globally by 2050.

The paper assesses how the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) and the sustainability movement shape the industrialisation trajectory of the SADC region. It argues that while 4IR technologies offer opportunities for leapfrogging legacy industries and formalising the informal sector, they also risk creating high-tech enclaves, global monopolies, and 'gig-economy sweatshops'. The authors propose a reimagined strategy that integrates 4IR and green economy goals to achieve broad economic wellbeing rather than focusing solely on job creation.

The report examines the alignment between DFI funding and national strategic priorities in Ethiopia, Ghana, and Kenya. It finds that while national plans are generally aligned with SDGs, DFIs often operate based on internal strategies rather than national plans. The analysis identifies specific sectoral gaps where DFIs could provide financial additionality, particularly in ICT and healthcare, and proposes a four-step framework for DFIs to better align investments with country-level strategic sectors.

Natural Justice argues that proposed amendments to the s24H Registration Authority Regulations under the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA) would create prohibitive financial and procedural barriers for the public. Specifically, the requirement that only a registered environmental assessment practitioner (EAP) may perform tasks related to appeals under section 43 of NEMA would effectively bar impoverished communities and landowners from appealing Environmental Authorisations (EAs) and subsequently seeking judicial review. The organization contends this violates the constitutional right to procedurally fair administrative action and undermines South Africa's Just Energy transition by complicating the oversight of large-scale solar and wind energy projects.

Natural Justice argues that South Africa's Gas Master Plan is incompatible with the country's climate commitments and the Climate Change Bill. The submission highlights risks including fugitive methane emissions, fossil fuel dependency, and the potential for inadequate compensation for land expropriation. It calls for a transition toward renewable energy, the adoption of the 'free prior and informed consent' (FPIC) principle for affected communities, and a more transparent public participation process.

Between 1970 and 2021, 97% of 244 analyzed U.S. stations experienced shrinking winter cold snaps, with an average reduction of six days. The most significant decrease occurred in Las Vegas, Nevada, where cold snaps shortened by three weeks. These trends contribute to broader ecological and economic risks, including increased pest populations, reduced snowpack for water supplies, and threats to winter recreation and crop growth requiring winter chill.

The report finds that the 'Alarmed' segment of the Six Americas, younger adults, and people of color are the most likely to support or personally participate in non-violent civil disobedience against activities that exacerbate global warming. While support for organizations engaging in such actions is higher than the willingness to personally participate, the data indicates millions of American adults are open to these tactics.

The document examines the Forest Conservation and Management (Amendment) Bill, 2021, which seeks to remove the requirement for the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) to recommend petitions for the variation of public forest boundaries before they are forwarded to the National Assembly. While proponents argue that KFS has used its power to block legitimate petitions and that the Constitution does not require such recommendations, Natural Justice and other opponents warn that this change would politicize the process and remove mandatory safeguards, including Independent Environmental Impact Assessments and public consultation. The document asserts that such changes could exacerbate climate challenges like prolonged droughts and extreme heat by compromising forest integrity.

The policy brief examines the role of science-policy interfaces (SPIs) in identifying environmental risks and informing global policy since the 1972 Stockholm Conference. It analyzes successful models like the IPCC and IPBES, while evaluating current proposals for new SPIs focused on chemicals and waste and food systems. The author highlights the challenges of power imbalances and the need for credibility, inclusivity, and transparency in SPI design.

A collective of South African organisations expresses grave concern over the targeting of migrants in homes and workplaces, warning that political calls for forced removals could trigger widespread xenophobic violence similar to the 2008 events. The statement argues that migrants are used as scapegoats for systemic issues like corruption, state failure, and pandemic-exacerbated unemployment. It calls for the South African Police Services to act against vigilantism, the government to initiate a national dialogue, and the implementation of the National Action Plan to Combat Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance. The authors note that anti-migrant sentiment is a global phenomenon and highlight that climate change and political instability will necessitate a human-rights-based approach to migration.

This research paper provides a baseline 'state of knowledge' on disaster risk science to support the development of a global research agenda for risk-informed development. It traces the evolution of disaster studies from emergency management to proactive disaster risk reduction (DRR) and outlines the interdisciplinary nature of disaster science.

The Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) has updated the domain name for its 'Climate Change in Latin America' MOOC to https://cclatam.iai.int/ to better reflect its administration and ownership. While the course remains popular, the IAI states it urgently requires updates to align with current climate change trends and improve interactive tools, inviting parties and donors to provide support for this re-design.

This policy guide by the International Institute for Sustainable Development advocates for the integration of health and environmental sectors to address the "triple planetary crisis" of climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss. It aims to bridge the gap between health professionals and global environmental policy negotiations to support planetary health and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) evaluates the first year of the Biden administration's efforts to restore scientific integrity and address environmental and health crises. The report assesses progress in rehiring government scientists, rolling back previous administration initiatives that harmed the environment and climate, and identifies urgent areas requiring further action across nine specific issue areas.