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The South African Climate Finance Landscape 2023 report finds that while annual tracked climate finance reached an all-time high of R131 billion between 2019 and 2021, this remains significantly below the estimated annual needs of R334 billion to R535 billion. The landscape is heavily dominated by domestic private sector debt, with clean energy receiving the vast majority of funding, while adaptation and low-carbon transport remain severely underfunded.

The document argues that the 2023 Farm Bill should be used to make US agriculture net zero by 2040 and reverse species decline. It proposes expanding the Grassland Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), strengthening the Sodsaver provision to prevent native prairie conversion, and increasing funding for regenerative agriculture and technical assistance. It also recommends reducing food loss and waste, improving freshwater management, and ensuring bioenergy supports only advanced fuels with at least 50% life-cycle GHG reductions. Additionally, it emphasizes increasing equity for Tribal Nations and historically underserved producers.

The report analyzes the intersection of voluntary sustainability standards (VSSs) and sustainable finance in eight agricultural commodity sectors. It argues that while VSSs effectively address environmental and social risks—such as deforestation and labor rights—they often lack the rigorous economic and business management criteria that financial service providers (FSPs) require for due diligence. By benchmarking 12 VSSs against sustainable finance frameworks, the document identifies gaps in areas like corruption prevention, economic viability, and climate adaptation. It recommends that VSSs align their criteria with FSP needs, that FSPs develop preferential loan programs for certified farmers, and that governments support land tenure and infrastructure to improve investment readiness.

The WWF Groundwater Awareness Project, funded by the Danish government via the Table Mountain Water Source Partnership, implemented an educational campaign in Cape Town primary schools to highlight the importance of groundwater. The project included multimedia lesson plans, a poster competition involving 15 schools, and a celebratory field trip for 38 top-performing students to the Greenpoint Urban Park on 28 February 2022. Additionally, a billboard campaign sponsored by Tractor Outdoor ran from 1 February to 31 March 2022 across the Western Cape, with two video billboards recording a combined total of 743,429 playouts.

The Green Economy Climate Finance Database 2022, developed by GreenCape with support from the Western Cape Department of Economic Development and Tourism, tracks over 150 financing opportunities across approximately 125 stakeholders, with a total available value of ZAR 25 billion. The report identifies a market failure characterized by a mismatch between available climate finance and a bankable pipeline of projects, noting a particular scarcity of high-risk early-stage finance and venture capital in South Africa. While clean energy is the primary focus of available funding, the database covers eight financial instruments, including debt, equity, and grants, primarily targeting small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and projects in the growth phase.

The document outlines a comprehensive educational campaign by WWF South Africa and The Greenpop Foundation to teach students in grades 4-7 about groundwater, aquifers, and the risks of contamination. It includes detailed lesson plans using physical models to demonstrate aquifer structure and borehole extraction, as well as a poster competition designed to spread awareness within the Cape Town community. The materials highlight the specific vulnerability of the Cape Flats Aquifer due to its sandy soil and high permeability.

The document outlines the structure of South Africa's public water sector, which spent R 41.5 billion on infrastructure procurement in the 2019/2020 financial year. It details the roles of entities like the Department of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation (DHSWS) and Water Services Authorities (WSAs), and explains the predominantly used design-bid-build procurement model. The guide provides a comprehensive breakdown of bidding requirements, including B-BBEE compliance and the necessity of registering on the Central Supplier Database. It also highlights the importance of strategic partnerships to overcome bidding barriers and lists available platforms for trialling innovative water technologies.

The document outlines China's 60-year effort to manage desertified lands, particularly in northern China, through a combination of government policies, forestry programmes, and eco-industrialization. Key interventions such as afforestation and water conservation have helped restore arid and semi-arid ecosystems.

The document details a climate-smart agricultural model in Maharashtra, India, that empowers rural women by combining sustainable farming techniques, financial support, and capacity building. Since 2015, 41,000 women have adopted the model, managing 30,000 acres of dry land through organic farming and water conservation. The approach has increased crop yields by 25%, raised incomes by 25%, and saved households approximately US$497 annually. Key components include the use of local seeds, biopesticides, drip irrigation, and the creation of a community-resilient fund. The model has since scaled to over 60,000 women across 810 villages in Maharashtra and has been replicated in Bihar and Odisha.

The report identifies that financial service providers (FSPs) prioritize economic factors—specifically governance and business management—over environmental and social themes when assessing financial risk for agricultural investments. Key priorities include management experience, existing buyer relationships, land tenure, and projected cash flows. While climate change is the most important non-economic theme, with a preference for adaptation measures, social and biodiversity issues are often viewed as having more impact on sustainability than on financial risk reduction. The document recommends that agricultural producers seek capacity-building in business management and that voluntary sustainability standards (VSSs) integrate more economic criteria to help producers become more bankable.

The report examines the deep links between California's water and energy sectors, noting that water services account for approximately 20% of electricity and 30% of natural gas consumption, while hydropower provides an average of 15% of electricity. Using WEAP and LEAP modeling, the study finds that water conservation and potable reuse can reduce energy demands and costs, whereas desalination increases them. To achieve carbon neutrality by 2045, the report emphasizes the necessity of massive growth in solar, wind, and energy storage, alongside the continued role of low-cost hydropower. It also warns that federal policy interference could increase electricity production costs by $23 billion and raise CO2 emissions by 16% compared to the state's policy baseline.

The document details regional climate threats in four early primary states, emphasizing that rapid federal action to reduce emissions can significantly mitigate extreme heat, flooding, and economic loss. It highlights specific vulnerabilities such as agricultural productivity in Iowa, tidal flooding in New Hampshire and South Carolina, and water scarcity in Nevada, while advocating for national policies including carbon pricing and clean energy standards.

The document describes a partnership between the University of Cape Town’s d-school, GreenCape, and the City of Cape Town to introduce design thinking to youth. It focuses on a workshop for 180 Grade 6 learners from Wesfleur Primary School in Atlantis, using the challenge of saving water during a drought to teach human-centred problem solving. The study concludes that while young children can engage with the process, the approach is most effective for students in Grades 10-12.

Virgin Active reduced water usage in its Western Cape branches by 62% through a R24 million investment in technological and behavioural interventions, including low-flow fixtures, greywater treatment, and the closure of high-use facilities. These measures resulted in monthly municipal savings of R1,243,496 and a total payback period of 20 months.

The report details a March 2019 workshop aimed at addressing the opportunities and challenges of Voluntary Sustainability Certification (VSC) in Kenya's tea industry. Key findings highlight that while VSCs improve market access and environmental practices, they impose prohibitive costs and create 'certification fatigue' due to a multiplicity of standards. The document recommends the development of a national benchmarked standard, similar to the Kenya Flower Council's model, and the creation of a multistakeholder platform to implement a collective action plan.

Earthjustice honors the memory of Judge William Newsom, a former Board of Trustees member and environmental advocate who championed the protection of wilderness, wildlife, and water, and founded the Mountain Lion Foundation.

The Berg Water Management Area is a constrained system where water requirements are projected to exceed yield by 2019. A hydro-economic analysis indicates that by 2040, the water supply deficit could cost the region over R146 billion and nearly 650,000 jobs annually, with the City of Cape Town bearing the highest opportunity costs. The report identifies systemic failures in current top-down planning and financing, recommending the establishment of a Regional Water Utility and the use of multi-criteria decision tools to prioritize 'smart' water use over first-come, first-served allocations.

The guide outlines low-cost strategies for businesses to become 'green', focusing on energy efficiency, waste reduction, and sustainable procurement. Key recommendations include switching to LED lighting, installing low-flow water fittings, reducing paper waste through digital receipts, and incentivising reusable coffee cups. It also suggests dietary shifts toward locally-sourced vegetarian options, eliminating standby power consumption, implementing bike-to-work schemes, composting food waste, and purchasing second-hand furniture. Additionally, it advises employers to select ethical, green investment funds for employee pensions.

The guide outlines how urban gardens in the UK can mitigate the urban heat island effect, reduce energy consumption, and lower carbon footprints through strategic planting, water conservation, composting, and home-grown food production.

The Drakenstein Municipality faces significant water constraints due to urban growth and climate change, with urban water requirements projected to grow by 129% by 2040. Agriculture, particularly grapes which consume 80% of irrigated water, is a major driver of demand. By 2040, the estimated water deficit could cost the local economy approximately R10.5 billion per annum and 57,218 jobs.