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This whitepaper by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) argues that current environmental assessments for transportation infrastructure in the Amazon fail to account for indirect effects, leading to an underestimation of ecological footprints. The authors propose a 'market access' approach using geoprocessing and statistical analysis to better quantify how reduced transport costs drive deforestation and agricultural expansion far beyond the immediate project site.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) has requested the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy to suspend a decision granting Mineral Sands Resources (Pty) Ltd (MSR) an amendment to its mining rights for the expansion of the Tormin Mine on the West Coast of South Africa. The CER argues that the decision was made without public participation and poses an irreparable risk to Critical Biodiversity Areas.

This case study by Natural Justice describes the illegal expansion of salt pans by Kurawa Industries Limited in Magarini Sub County, Kilifi County, Kenya. The expansion has caused water salinity that destroyed the coconut crops of a local family, while government agencies and the company have failed to provide licenses, permits, or compensation reports, a situation exacerbated by COVID-19 lockdown restrictions.

This document contains the minutes of a public meeting held on 11 March 2020 in Garissa Town, Kenya, regarding an addendum to the Environmental Impact Assessment (ESIA) for the proposed Lokichar to Lamu Crude Oil Pipeline (LLCOP) project. The meeting focused on a route re-alignment in Garissa County necessitated by the original path crossing Kenya Defence Force (KDF) land.

This case study describes the first climate change court case in South Africa, concerning the environmental authorisation of the 1200MW Thabametsi coal-fired power station.

A fact sheet by Natural Justice regarding an exploration right granted to a joint venture for oil and gas exploration in Block 3B/4B off the West Coast of South Africa.

This executive summary provides guidance for governments on establishing and improving legal frameworks for Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) and management plans within the large-scale mining sector. It outlines 20 essential components of a comprehensive legal framework, details government responsibilities across the mine life cycle—from exploration to post-closure—and offers a practical methodology for conducting gap analyses to align national laws with international best practices.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER), representing groundWork and Earthlife Africa, submitted formal objections on November 1, 2019, to the Final Scoping Assessment Report (FSR) for the proposed Musina-Makhado Special Economic Zone (also known as the Energy Metallurgical Special Economic Zone or EMSEZ). The CER argues that the FSR is fatally flawed due to inadequate public participation, a failure to conduct a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), and the appointment of an incorrect competent authority. The document details severe concerns regarding the project's impact on water scarcity, climate change, air quality, and biodiversity in the Limpopo Province.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER), representing groundWork and Earthlife Africa, submitted a formal statement to the Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries opposing the proposed Musina-Makhado Special Economic Zone (SEZ), also known as the South African Energy and Metallurgical Special Economic Zone (EMSEZ). The CER argues that the project's environmental impact assessment (EIA) process is fatally flawed and that the project poses severe risks to water resources, air quality, and climate commitments.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER), representing groundWork and Earthlife Africa, has formally requested the opportunity to comment on the final scoping assessment report for the proposed Musina-Makhado Special Economic Zone (SEZ). The CER objects to the adequacy of the public participation process and the content of the scoping report, requesting that the environmental impact assessment (EIA) process be paused until detailed objections are submitted.

This case study by Natural Justice reflects on the legal victory where the National Environment Tribunal (NET) in Kenya blocked the construction of the Lamu Coal Fired Power Plant by setting aside its environmental license due to inadequate public participation and the omission of climate change assessments.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) filed an appeal on July 9, 2019, against an environmental authorisation granted by the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) to Mineral Sands Resources (Pty) Ltd (MSR). The authorisation concerned the unlawful commencement of activities (Section 24G) at Tormin Mine on the Farm Geelwal Karoo 262 in the Western Cape. The CER argues that the authorisation is flawed due to a lack of practitioner independence and a failure to account for the site's location within critical biodiversity areas and a global biodiversity hotspot.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) filed an appeal on 9 July 2019 against an environmental authorisation granted by the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) to Mineral Sands Resources (Pty) Ltd (MSR). The authorisation concerned the unlawful commencement of activities (Section 24G) on the Farm Geelwal Karoo 262 in the Western Cape, specifically regarding the Tormin Mine.

This report is an appeal by the Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) against an integrated environmental authorisation (IEA) granted by the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) to Mineral Sands Resources (Pty) Ltd (MSR). The appeal contests the expansion of mining operations at Tormin Mine, arguing that the authorisation was granted through an unlawful circumvention of the mining right application process and fails to adequately protect Critical Biodiversity Areas (CBAs).

This 2019 report, commissioned by the Estonian Ministry of the Environment and conducted by the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) Tallinn and the Environmental Law Centre (KÕK), evaluates the effectiveness of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA/KMH) and Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA/KSH) processes in Estonia. Based on 78 questionnaires and five focus group discussions, the study identifies systemic strengths, such as the licensing of lead experts, and critical bottlenecks, including conflicting perceptions of the expert's role, prolonged procedural durations, and challenges in establishing realistic alternatives.

This amicus curiae submission, filed by Alburnus Maior, Centrul Independent pentru Dezvoltarea Resurselor de Mediu (ICDER), and Greenpeace Romania, argues that Gabriel Resources Ltd. failed to meet investor responsibilities and legal requirements regarding a proposed gold mine in Roșia Montană, Romania. The document contends that the company lacked due diligence on project feasibility, violated human rights related to adequate housing, and failed to obtain necessary environmental and archaeological permits under Romanian and EU law.

The Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) provides a series of recommendations to the Inter-American Investment Corporation (IDB Invest) to strengthen its draft Access to Information Policy. CIEL argues that the policy should align with international human rights standards and regional agreements, such as the Escazú Agreement, to ensure the safety and meaningful participation of affected communities, particularly in Latin America and the Caribbean.

This research paper by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the use of country systems (UCS) in Morocco, focusing on how Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) can better integrate local public financial management (PFM), procurement, and environmental and social frameworks (ESF) into their financing operations.

This report documents an expert meeting held in Ottawa on June 13, 2018, hosted by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD). The meeting brought together Canadian government officials, academics, and civil society representatives to discuss the reform of international investment law and the development of a progressive agenda for Canada, specifically regarding the revision of its Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (FIPA) model.

A letter from MacRobert Attorneys to the Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) regarding the environmental authorisation for a 600 MW coal-fired independent power plant for KiPower (Pty) Limited in South Africa. The letter confirms the developer's intent to conduct a Climate Change Impact Assessment (CCIA) following a specific court judgement.