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This policy brief examines the 'unjust' nature of the energy transition for youth in South Africa's Steve Tshwete Local Municipality (STLM). It argues that while the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy is necessary, young people are being marginalised through exclusionary land allocation policies, a lack of sustainable employment following the closure of coal-fired power stations, and the limited scope of renewable energy projects that fail to provide meaningful skills or long-term job security.

This research paper proposes a worker-centric climate response for South Africa, emphasizing state-led financing through a dedicated climate response fund to ensure an equitable transition to a green economy.

This policy brief by the Institute for Economic Justice examines the role of Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) in climate finance, focusing specifically on the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) in South Africa. It argues that the IDC's current operations are misaligned with climate goals due to a portfolio skewed toward carbon-intensive sectors and conservative lending practices, and proposes specific financial and governance reforms to support a just transition.

This policy brief argues that South Africa's Just Energy Transition must move beyond infrastructure to prioritize workers and economic diversification. It suggests that reallocating 10% of bank lending (R52.41 billion) and reforming retirement industry offshore limits (R600 billion) could provide necessary funding. Key recommendations include expanding the Green Finance Taxonomy to include worker transition plans and implementing green capital requirements to incentivize job-creating investments.

The 2025 Policy Bulletin: Climate Finance for Development, published by the Climate Policy Initiative and partners, provides actionable recommendations for Public Development Banks (PDBs) to accelerate low-emissions and climate-resilient development. It focuses on operationalizing Paris alignment, enhancing public-public collaborations, mobilizing private finance, and supporting just energy transitions in emerging markets and developing economies (EMDEs).

This policy brief by the Institute for Economic Justice argues that South Africa must adopt a more assertive domestic fiscal policy to address the climate crisis, rather than relying primarily on blended finance models. The author proposes a suite of domestic resource mobilisation (DRM) measures to generate approximately R100bn annually for climate priorities, focusing on state-led infrastructure, carbon pricing, and the creation of a dedicated climate response fund to ensure equity for workers and vulnerable households.

This briefing from the Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ) outlines the organization's efforts to advocate for reformed development finance to support a green and just transition, particularly in the Global South and South Africa. The IEJ emphasizes the need for state-led development strategies, democratic oversight of international loans, and human-rights-based approaches to sovereign debt restructuring.

This guide, published by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and Porticus, provides a strategic framework for philanthropic organizations to advance the reform of environmentally harmful subsidies (EHS). It argues that redirecting a portion of the USD 2 trillion annually spent on EHS could significantly fund biodiversity and climate goals. The document outlines a theory of change based on defining problems, identifying solutions, and creating political support to open 'policy windows' for reform.

This policy brief argues that Africa must transition from a reliance on international financial institutions to a model of economic, mineral, and energy sovereignty to unlock the full potential of its mining sector. The authors propose a 'resource leverage strategy' to exchange mineral access for technology transfer and local beneficiation, while advocating for the creation of independent African financial institutions and standardized resource reporting to reduce dependency on the Global North.

This policy brief by the African Food Systems Transformation Collective argues for a 'deep, just transition' approach to African food systems that prioritizes human rights, structural equity, and agroecology over industrialization. Using South Africa as a cautionary example of the failures of industrial agri-food systems, the document provides recommendations for philanthropic organizations to fund multi-sectoral coalitions, grassroots agency, and long-term, context-based research and advocacy.

This guide from the Center for International Environmental Law provides civil society organizations (CSOs) with tools and strategies to ensure that the 2025 Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) are based on human rights. It outlines the nature of NDCs under the Paris Agreement and provides a framework for CSOs to engage governments, participate in planning, and hold states accountable for their climate commitments.

This guidebook provides civil society organizations with tools and strategies to ensure that Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) are based on human rights, emphasizing the obligations of Paris Agreement Parties and the effectiveness of human rights-based climate policies.

Natural Justice provides a legal and rights-based critique of South Africa's 2025 draft Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC). While acknowledging progress in absolute emissions targets, the organization argues that the draft lacks the 'stringent' due diligence required by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and fails to provide concrete, costed implementation plans for adaptation and loss and damage. Natural Justice advocates for unconditional commitments to phase out fossil fuels, the integration of human rights indicators into monitoring frameworks, and the establishment of a grant-based domestic loss and damage facility funded by taxes on fossil fuel profits.

The Republic of Kazakhstan's Third Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0) outlines a comprehensive climate strategy for 2026–2035, aligning with its long-term goal of carbon neutrality by 2060. The document sets economy-wide emission reduction targets, details sectoral mitigation and adaptation measures, and establishes a framework for loss and damage and climate finance mobilization.

This research paper by the Africa Policy Research Institute examines the intersection of gender inequality and climate change, specifically within the African context. It argues that existing societal disparities magnify women's vulnerability to climate risks and that transformative climate action requires gender-responsive strategies, financial inclusion, and the integration of gender equity into international negotiations like COP29.

This briefing by Zero Carbon Analytics examines the financial and technical viability of phasing out coal-powered electricity in Asia. It argues that prioritizing the cessation of new coal projects is critical, as most existing plants will have recouped their investment costs by 2040. The document critiques co-firing as an expensive and inefficient alternative to retirement and highlights innovative financing models—such as renewables bundling and PPA replacements—that can make early retirement financially attractive. It emphasizes the need for concessional financing from developed nations to ensure a just transition for coal-dependent communities.

This case study examines the transition of the Sherburne County Generating Station (Sherco) in Minnesota from a coal-fired power plant to a clean energy hub. It details how Xcel Energy, the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC), and local stakeholders utilized federal incentives from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), along with a 'generator replacement' process to bypass interconnection queues, to replace coal capacity with solar and battery storage while supporting the local workforce and economy.

The November 2024 Peace & Security Council Report examines the African Union's (AU) efforts to integrate climate change into security frameworks, the strategic direction of Africa's foreign policy, the outcomes of the AU's first G20 Summit, and the coordination between the AU Peace and Security Council (PSC) and the UN Security Council (UNSC).

This briefing examines the challenges of implementing just transition policies in South Africa, highlighting the gap between national ambitions and local priorities, institutional capacity deficits at the subnational level, and the limitations of current financial mechanisms. It specifically analyzes the role of green hydrogen as a potential new value chain and emphasizes the need for transparent decision-making to maintain public legitimacy.

This policy brief by the Stockholm Environment Institute examines the challenges South Africa faces as it moves from the planning phase to the implementation of its just transition away from coal. It identifies critical misalignments between national and subnational priorities, institutional capacity gaps in coal-dependent regions, and the inadequacy of current financial mechanisms to support transformative, high-risk projects.