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The Green Economy Coalition (GEC) aims to mainstream the green economy concept by 2020, focusing on environmental limits, equity, and inclusion. Its strategy centers on four core activities: global advocacy to build a 'compelling story' of transition, collaborative action across five policy building blocks (measurement, finance, sectors, fairness, and nature), mobilizing national action through regional hubs, and expanding its network to 100 collaborating organizations. The GEC seeks to influence global institutions and national governments to adopt new economic performance measures, reform the finance sector, and integrate social fairness into green planning.

The Green Economy Coalition advocates for a systemic shift from narrow economic metrics like GDP toward a 'green economy' that prioritizes human wellbeing and ecological health. The report identifies five key action areas: redefining progress through new metrics, reforming financial flows to reduce short-termism, greening high-impact sectors (energy, food, housing, transport), investing in people to ensure inclusive growth, and managing natural systems to protect essential ecosystem services. It concludes with nine guiding principles for a fair and inclusive transition, emphasizing the need for multi-stakeholder engagement and a move away from resource-intensive growth.

The report argues that inequality and sustainability are deeply interlinked, with the wealthiest individuals contributing most to environmental degradation while the poorest bear the brunt of its impacts. Through case studies in the UK, India, and Kenya, and analysis of the energy, transport, waste, and food sectors, it identifies recurring patterns of 'double injustice' where marginalised groups are most vulnerable to climate change and pollution. The document highlights 'win-win' examples—such as distributed solar power in Bangladesh, Bus Rapid Transit in Bogotá, and insect farming in Thailand—to show that sustainable development can be designed to reduce inequality.

The Africa Eco-Soil Project, implemented by Africa Harvest Enterprises (T) in Morogoro, Tanzania, addresses soil degradation and the high cost of imported chemical fertilisers by producing organic alternatives. The project converts coconut husk waste into cocopeat and market food waste into nutrient-rich compost, distributing these through agro-input dealers to over 200 farmers and 20 corporate clients. By collaborating with farming cooperatives and international NGOs like the UNDP, the initiative provides training on sustainable agriculture and climate change to empower rural farmers. Despite its success in challenging the dominance of the chemical fertiliser industry, the project faces challenges including a reliance on diesel generators for production, the use of polyethylene packaging, and difficulties in securing non-donor funding for scaling.

The case study examines the Trans-Harmony Farms project by the Initiative of Trans with A Mission (ITWAM) in the Mbale and Manafwa districts of Uganda. It details how the initiative supports 29 LGBTQIA+ farmers by providing training in permaculture and agroforestry, creating a cooperative to bypass systemic exclusion from government resources, and developing a digital app to ensure safe market access. The document analyzes these efforts through five dimensions of transformative potential: alignment with local contexts, resource enablement, relationship building, challenging power structures, and supporting systems learning. It highlights the critical role of the 2023 Anti-Homosexuality Act (AHA) in exacerbating the marginalization of these farmers and the strategic use of trusted personal relationships with local government officials to navigate a hostile legal environment.

The Green Outcomes Fund (GOF) is a pioneering climate finance instrument in South Africa that uses an outcomes-based payment model to de-risk investments in green SMMEs. By providing grant funding to Catalytic Finance Partners (CFPs) upon the verification of specific green outcomes—primarily permanent job creation—the GOF aims to bridge the investment gap for high-potential green businesses. The pilot phase, launched in January 2020 with a total facility size of ZAR 488.1 million, has demonstrated that such incentives can encourage fund managers to invest in sectors they previously avoided due to perceived risk. Key findings highlight the necessity of business development support for SMMEs and the importance of deep sector expertise for fund managers. While the fund has successfully created green jobs and diverted waste, it has faced challenges with slow drawdown of funds due to a prevalence of low-skilled jobs and the disruptive impact of COVID-19. The GOF is now exploring scaling strategies, including expanding its model within South Africa and extending its reach to other African countries such as Rwanda, Ethiopia, and Uganda.

The document outlines the investment proposition for the Atlantis Special Economic Zone (ASEZ), focusing on its role as a greentech manufacturing hub. It details available land, infrastructure, and a range of national and municipal incentives, while providing specific cost data for electricity, water, and labour in the Western Cape region.

The document presents Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) as a method to maximize food yield using indoor facilities and climate-regulated systems. It identifies key drivers for CEA adoption in South Africa, including severe water scarcity, soil loss, and high rates of urbanization. The study highlights benefits such as year-round production, reduced food mileage through vertical farming, and improved pest control. To scale the industry, the document argues for increased access to affordable financing and dedicated resources for research, development, and skills training.

The document examines the necessity of post-investment technical support for green SMMEs in South Africa, noting that one-off investments are insufficient for scaling. Through a pilot project involving three circular economy SMMEs funded by the Anglo American Foundation and the Green Outcomes Fund, the study identifies recruitment of middle management, marketing, and R&D as primary growth barriers. Results from the six-month pilot include revenue increases between 10% and 114%, the creation of 735 direct and 818 indirect jobs, and improved access to new investors and customers. The report recommends extending project durations to at least one year and expanding funding to include cash flow and asset purchases.

This report analyzes the implications of the European Green Deal (EGD) for South African small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and broader trade. It examines the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), the Farm to Fork strategy, and the Circular Economy Action Plan, identifying significant risks in the automotive, mining, and agricultural sectors while highlighting potential export opportunities for environmental goods.

The document identifies that urban agriculture (UA) in Cape Town is often viewed only as a food security solution rather than a viable economic activity. It highlights that small urban farmers are frequently locked out of formal markets due to a lack of economies of scale, high investment requirements, and insufficient business management skills. To overcome these, the report suggests the use of formal co-operatives to aggregate produce, the adoption of specific food safety accreditations (such as SAGAP or GlobalGAP), and the development of local physical markets like agrihubs and farm stalls. It also emphasizes the role of online marketplaces and the Western Cape Department of Agriculture's Market Access Programme in bridging the gap between producers and off-takers.

The document highlights the critical waste management challenges in Cape Town, where landfills are reaching capacity and organic waste contributes significantly to methane emissions. It presents Inseco as a circular economy solution that processes organic waste using Black Soldier Fly (BSF) larvae to produce protein meal, oil, grubs, soil, and chitin. This process diverts waste from landfills, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, and provides sustainable alternatives to soy and wild fish protein. Inseco's operations are projected to save companies money on landfill fees, create jobs, and support biodiversity by reducing reliance on deforestation-linked soy and overfished wild fish stocks.

The document details the use of Black Soldier Fly (BSF) larvae to convert low-grade organic waste into high-value protein and oil for animal feed, pet food, and pharmaceuticals. It focuses on Maltento, a Cape Town company that processes organic by-products like spent brewery grain and fruit/vegetable pulp. The study argues that this circular economy approach reduces landfill reliance, lowers greenhouse gas emissions, and decreases dependency on volatile global imports of soy and fishmeal. In 2021, Maltento processed approximately 6,000 tonnes of organics, creating jobs and providing a more stable price for protein derivatives.

The document highlights the funding gap for green small, medium and micro-sized enterprises (SMMEs) in South Africa, noting that while the country requires significant annual investment to meet net zero and NDC goals, there is a low risk appetite for early-stage funding. It presents the FNF GreenPitch Challenge as a mechanism to source investment pipelines and support SMME investment readiness. As a specific example, it profiles BioAge, a 2023 pre-growth winner and agri-biotech startup producing the organic fertilizer Nitro-Gro, which aligns with sustainable agriculture market opportunities to improve soil health and crop resilience.

The report examines how the expansion of commodities, forestry, and biofuels—particularly sugarcane—affects soil carbon stocks in the La Plata Basin. It highlights that converting native vegetation to agriculture generally reduces carbon stocks, though no-tillage systems can mitigate these losses. Case studies in the Brazilian Cerrado demonstrate that pre-harvest burning of sugarcane and the removal of crop residues negatively impact soil bacterial communities and mycorrhizal associations, respectively.

The policy brief highlights the risks of nitrogen mismanagement in Latin America, where excess fertilizer use and poor wastewater treatment threaten ecosystems and food security. It advocates for the creation of specific policy frameworks and management tools, such as threshold levels for nutrient application, to prevent soil degradation and water pollution. The brief also notes that without improved wastewater treatment, coastal nitrogen levels in South America could triple by 2050.

This fact sheet outlines the adoption of good agricultural practices in coffee plantations to mitigate the impacts of climate change, market price volatility, and pests like coffee leaf rust (Roya), specifically within Mesoamerica.

The document assesses the critical loss of biodiversity in Latin America and the Caribbean, highlighting the 'empty forest syndrome' and the desertification of the Amazon due to gold mining. It emphasizes the vital role of ecosystem services, such as the water-regulating capacity of Andean páramos and soil organic matter for sustainable agriculture. The text argues for 'inclusive conservation' that integrates indigenous territories and traditional knowledge, noting that indigenous lands often maintain higher biodiversity. It also discusses the 'blue economy' potential of the region's marine ecosystems and the risks of 'green extractivism,' specifically how lithium mining for the global energy transition threatens Andean water resources. Finally, it examines how international trade in commodities, such as soy and leather from the Gran Chaco, drives deforestation, and advocates for the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and the Escazú Agreement to ensure environmental justice and peace.

The policy brief highlights the risks of improper nitrogen use in Latin American agriculture and wastewater management, advocating for evidence-based policies to prevent soil degradation and water contamination. It details a research project by the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) and the National Institute for Space Research (INPE) to monitor nitrogen cycles and develop management tools across several American countries.

The IAI's STeP Fellowship Program aims to strengthen the science-policy-diplomacy interface in Latin America and the Caribbean by training early-career scientists in communication, leadership, and science diplomacy. Between July 2020 and June 2021, the program conducted 20 virtual training sessions and established cohorts in Mexico and Argentina focusing on sustainable cities and agriculture. The program collaborates with international partners such as AAAS and Mitacs Canada, with fellows working on regional priorities including clean energy, circular economy, and climate-fragile polar regions. Expansion efforts are targeting new cohorts in biodiversity, climate change, and natural disaster risk mitigation, alongside specific institutional negotiations in Chile and Peru.