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The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER), on behalf of several partner organisations, submitted a formal comment to the South African Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) regarding the proposed "Flexible Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) system." The CER argues that the shift from a rules-based system to one based on administrative discretion risks violating constitutional rights to a healthy environment and just administrative action, potentially weakening environmental protections and public participation.

This community toolkit provides guidance for individuals and affected parties on how to participate in the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process for onshore oil and gas projects, outlining the legal requirements for consultation and the steps for submitting formal comments.

Plan 1.5 issued a statement on October 29, 2025, urging the South Korean government to exclude reduction targets in the 50% range from the 2035 Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) discussions, asserting that approximately 95% of online public opinions support a 65% reduction target aligned with the 1.5°C goal.

This guide, published by Natural Justice in September 2025, provides instructions for South African communities on how to participate in the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process for oil and gas projects along the coastline.

This toolkit provides guidance for interested and affected persons (I&APs) and communities in South Africa on how to participate in and submit comments during the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process for oil and gas projects.

A letter from the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment and other organizations to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change Canada, urging the government to advocate for transparency and public participation in the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) on Plastic Pollution.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER), on behalf of the Life After Coal (LAC) coalition, submitted comments on the Gas Amendment Bill [B – 2023], arguing that accelerating gas infrastructure is irrational given the climate emergency and South Africa's extreme vulnerability to climate change. The submission criticizes the Bill for inadequate public consultation processes, lack of transparency regarding confidential information, and a failure to align with international climate targets such as the IPCC's 1.5°C benchmark.

Natural Justice provides a critique of Kenya's proposed Climate Change (Amendment) Bill, 2023, which aims to integrate carbon markets into the country's climate response. While acknowledging the potential for carbon markets to mobilize investment, the organization warns of risks regarding environmental integrity and the potential for developed nations to use credits to justify continued fossil fuel use. The statement highlights several deficiencies in the Bill, including the removal of specific representation requirements for marginalized communities and civil society in the National Climate Change Council, a lack of clear procedural guidelines for public participation, and ambiguous role definitions between national and county governments.

The 'Klimaataksie Handboek' is a guide published by Natural Justice in December 2021 to help South African communities build climate resilience through legal empowerment. It explains the science of climate change, identifies vulnerabilities, and provides a comprehensive toolkit for using legal mechanisms, public participation, and community organizing to protect environmental and human rights.

The Climate Action Handbook is a guide published by Natural Justice in December 2021 designed to help communities in South Africa build climate resilience through legal empowerment. It provides educational material on the causes and impacts of climate change, outlines the legal framework of South Africa, and offers a ten-step practical toolkit for communities to advocate for their rights and hold governments and corporations accountable.

This report, presented as an interview between CIEL staff, criticizes the COP26 presidency and the UNFCCC Secretariat for failing to deliver on a promise of the "most inclusive COP ever." It details how unprecedented restrictions on access to negotiating areas in Glasgow have marginalized civil society, Indigenous Peoples, and representatives from the Global South, thereby hindering the monitoring of key climate discussions and the inclusion of frontline perspectives.

This briefing memorandum, written by Danjelle Midgley of the Centre for Environmental Rights (CER), outlines the legislative process, key role-players, and estimated timeframes for the National Climate Change Bill following its introduction to the South African Parliament on 11 October 2021.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER), acting on behalf of groundwork, wrote to the National Energy Regulator SA (NERSA) on 6 July 2021 to request a 90-day extension for commenting on electricity generation licence applications for three Karpowership gas power projects. The CER argues that the public participation process is flawed and that the projects' national significance warrants wider advertisement beyond local newspapers.

The Centre for Environmental Rights, acting on behalf of groundWork and Earthlife Africa NPC, submitted a formal request to the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) on 5 November 2019 for written reasons regarding the approval of the updated Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) for Electricity published on 18 October 2019.

This briefing note from the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) argues for the integration of procedural rights—specifically access to information, public participation, and access to justice—into climate governance and the implementation of the Paris Agreement. It highlights the roles of the Aarhus Convention and the Escazú Agreement in promoting environmental democracy and provides specific recommendations for the COP-25 agenda to ensure climate policies are inclusive, rights-based, and gender-responsive.

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.

This briefing note from the Center for International Environmental Law outlines the international legal frameworks and specific UNFCCC entry points for promoting public participation and access to information in climate policies. It emphasizes the need for procedural rights to prevent harm to communities, particularly within the mechanisms of Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, and suggests ways to enhance the inclusivity of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and the intergovernmental negotiating process.

This briefing note from the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) outlines opportunities for UNFCCC Parties to enhance public participation and access to information within the implementation guidelines of the Paris Agreement, specifically in the context of COP-24.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER), representing several environmental and community organisations, sent a letter to the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) on 19 November 2018. The letter demands that NERSA conduct a formal public participation process regarding the draft Integrated Resource Plan for Electricity 2018 (draft IRP 2018), arguing that NERSA is legally required to do so before concurring with the Minister of Energy.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER), representing Earthlife Africa and groundWork, submitted a formal letter to the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) on 4 April 2018. The letter follows a public hearing held on 27 March 2018 regarding generation licence applications for the Thabametsi and Khanyisa coal-fired power stations, raising concerns about the hearing process and requesting further information on NERSA's procedural compliance.