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The document examines the intersection of South Africa's energy transition and the interdependencies of water, energy, and food security. It identifies significant barriers to policy coherence, including institutional silos, budget cuts to environmental departments, and the political influence of the coal lobby and agricultural sector. The brief concludes that without an integrated framework, the transition risks perpetuating unsustainable coal practices and exacerbating social inequalities, particularly in coal-dependent regions like Mpumalanga.

Natural Justice argues that the IRP2023 is a regression from previous plans and lacks a proper legal basis, as it functions as a policy instrument rather than an operational plan. The organization contends that the IRP2023 incorrectly prioritizes energy security over other national policy objectives like affordable access and environmental sustainability. It calls for the adoption of an Energy Justice Framework to address the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities, particularly regarding land, water, and gender equality, and recommends the development of a comprehensive Integrated Energy Plan (IEP) as mandated by the National Energy Act.

Natural Justice argues that the ICJ should recognize a State's obligation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions based on a 'fair share' principle and ensure a just transition from fossil fuels. The document emphasizes that Africa is the most vulnerable continent despite contributing less than 4% of global emissions, facing projected annual loss and damage costs between US$ 290 billion and $440 billion by 2030. It asserts that high-income, high-emitting States owe legal obligations to provide financial support via grants rather than loans and must provide reparations—including compensation and restitution—for internationally wrongful acts that cause climate harm.

The 2024 barometer identifies a shift toward embedding social justice in climate action and the rise of green macroeconomic governance, while warning against the 'gold rush' for critical minerals and the use of climate as a political 'wedge' issue.

The report warns that 'unabated' coal phase-down strategies—including co-firing, retrofitting with CCS, and using carbon credits—risk extending the life of fossil fuel infrastructure and providing incomplete emission reductions. It urges public development banks to avoid these 'false solutions' to ensure public funds support rapid coal retirement rather than prolonging coal usage.

The Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) supports the Special Rapporteur's findings that 'business as usual is a recipe for climate chaos' and urges states to implement mandatory human rights and environmental due diligence for corporate value chains. CIEL emphasizes that oil, gas, and coal are 'the key drivers of the triple planetary crisis' and calls for the elimination of investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) mechanisms, which it describes as a 'substantial obstacle to effective climate and environmental action'. The statement further advocates for the incorporation of the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment into national laws and a proposed legally binding instrument on business and human rights.

Denmark's power sector shifted from 3% renewable generation in 1990 to over 80% by 2020, driven by a 24-fold increase in wind capacity and a 76% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions. This transformation resulted from sustained R&D investment, feed-in tariffs, streamlined institutional planning via the Danish Energy Agency, strong international grid interconnection, and community ownership models. The government has set ambitious 2030 targets, including 100% renewable electricity generation, supported by a social safety net and dialogues with unions to ensure a fair transition for fossil fuel workers.

Costa Rica's 2019 National Decarbonization Plan established a midcentury net-zero target covering all greenhouse gases and sectors, except international shipping and aviation. The plan utilized a backcasting approach divided into three phases: foundations (2018–22), inflection (2023–30), and massive deployment (2031–50). This robust framework attracted nearly $1 billion in funding from the International Monetary Fund and Inter-American Development Bank, which incentivized the administration of President Rodrigo Chaves to maintain climate objectives despite a campaign focused on changing course from the previous government. Current priorities include the operationalization of 1,000 electric buses and agricultural emissions reduction, with a strategic shift toward attracting large-scale finance for specific sectors.

The document describes how South Africa's Presidential Climate Commission (PCC), situated within the Presidency, facilitates a just transition through a multi-stakeholder approach involving government, business, labor, civil society, and traditional leadership. It highlights the development of the Just Transition Framework, adopted by the Cabinet in August 2022, which was created through extensive evidence gathering, public workshops, community consultations, and expert essays to ensure the process was inclusive and tailored to those most impacted by the shift from fossil fuel-based economies.

The report argues that Poland, as one of Europe's most carbon-intensive economies, must adopt a diversified technology portfolio to achieve climate neutrality. It recommends a shift from coal (currently 70% of the power mix) toward a combination of renewables, nuclear energy, carbon capture and storage (CCS), clean hydrogen, and superhot rock geothermal energy. The authors emphasize that restricting technology options would significantly increase system costs and infrastructure needs. Key policy recommendations include implementing 'carbon contracts for difference' to advance CCS, prioritizing clean hydrogen for 'no regrets' industrial sectors, and reforming the nuclear industry through standardized, product-based business models. Additionally, the report calls for urgent action to reduce methane emissions from the oil and gas sector and the mapping of thousands of abandoned wells. Public polling indicates strong Polish support for advanced nuclear (63%) and superhot rock energy (66%).

The report argues that next-generation geothermal technologies, specifically Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) and closed-loop systems, can expand U.S. geothermal resource potential from 40 GW to over 5,000 GW by engineering reservoirs in ubiquitous hot rock. It outlines a two-phase pathway: reaching 'liftoff' by 2030 through 2-5 GW of deployment across 5-10 geologic settings, followed by scaling to 90-132 GW by 2050. Key barriers identified include high up-front capital costs, long federal permitting timelines (7-10 years), and the need for power purchase agreements (PPAs) that value clean firm and flexible power. The report highlights that the industry can leverage the existing oil and gas workforce and supply chain to accelerate deployment.

The report examines the gendered impacts of climate change and environmental degradation in South Africa, focusing on air pollution, water access, agroecology, and energy poverty. Through case studies, it highlights how women-led initiatives—such as legal challenges against air pollution in the Highveld, agroecology gardens in Burundi, solar energy projects in Johannesburg, and waste management in Durban—address systemic inequalities and build community resilience. It argues that a Just Transition must integrate an intersectional gender perspective to be effective.

The Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) analyzes the Revised Zero Draft of the Plastics Treaty, arguing that the instrument must include legally binding obligations to control primary plastic polymer production and eliminate hazardous chemicals to be effective. CIEL emphasizes the need for a 'shall' rather than 'should' framework, the inclusion of human rights and health dimensions, and the establishment of a dedicated financial mechanism and a robust transparency framework to ensure accountability and a just transition for affected workers and communities.

The IEJ Strategy 2023–2027 focuses on producing knowledge and shifting economic discourse to achieve systemic social and economic change. The plan identifies six programmatic projects targeting macroeconomic frameworks, feminist economics, and a just transition in energy and food systems. To support these goals, the IEJ is transitioning from siloed programme areas to a project-based organisational structure and implementing a comprehensive monitoring, evaluation, and learning framework. Financially, the organisation has seen significant growth, with budgeted expenditure rising from approximately R3.2 million in 2018/19 to R34.9 million in 2023, though it continues to seek more long-term core funding.

The report argues that South Africa must move beyond linear thinking and 'energy blindness' to embrace systems and futures thinking for its energy transition. It identifies critical leverage points—ranging from infrastructure and regulatory reform to paradigm shifts in economic growth—to avoid energy poverty and social unrest. The framework outlines four strategic priorities: championing cross-border collaboration for energy democracies, practicing active non-alignment in renewable energy diplomacy, challenging 'used' (borrowed) energy futures, and transitioning from growth-centric economic models to anticipatory energy governance.

The report outlines Colombia's energy transition pathways through 2052, evaluating five scenarios: Actualization, Modernization, Inflexion, Innovation, and Energy Transition (TE). It details the shift from coal and hydrocarbons toward non-conventional renewable energy sources (FNCER), including solar, wind, and hydrogen. The analysis covers demand-side efficiency in residential, industrial, and transport sectors, as well as the strategic role of critical minerals like copper and nickel. Economic evaluations using benefit-cost ratios indicate that while residential and tertiary efficiency measures are highly beneficial, industrial transformation requires significant capital investment and state support due to high private costs.

The PEN 2022-2052 is a long-term planning exercise by Colombia's UPME to transition the national energy matrix toward sustainability and decarbonization. It analyzes five scenarios—Actualization, Modernization, Inflexion, Innovation, and Energy Transition—ranging from conservative technological updates to ambitious transformations. Key focus areas include the electrification of transport, the integration of non-conventional renewable energy sources (FNCER), the development of a hydrogen economy, and the potential introduction of Small Modular Reactors (SMR). The report emphasizes that while Colombia has the capacity for carbon neutrality, current trajectories may not meet the 2030 NDC goal of a 51% emission reduction without accelerated implementation of efficiency and substitution measures.

The report analyzes the April 2022 floods in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, using attribution science to link the disaster to human-induced global warming. It argues that 'carbon majors'—the largest global GHG emitters—should be held accountable under the 'polluter pays' principle. The document explores the legal pathways in South African delictual law to seek compensation for both immediate losses and future climate resilience, while highlighting the disproportionate impact of such disasters on marginalized communities.

The IEJ criticizes the 2024 Budget for prioritizing debt stabilization over public services and economic growth. It highlights significant real-term cuts in non-interest expenditure, the erosion of social grant values, and underfunding of public employment and healthcare. The report proposes increasing taxes on high-income earners and corporations, expanding social grants to the food poverty line, and increasing public investment to 25% to drive infrastructure and job creation.

The document argues that the current ecological crisis is driven by fossil-fuel-based economic systems and excessive consumption. It calls for a fundamental shift in economic and behavioral patterns, emphasizing the interconnectedness of climate change, biodiversity loss, water scarcity, air pollution, and social inequality. The guide advocates for a 'just transition' that protects the poor and marginalized, who suffer most from environmental degradation despite contributing the least to it.