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The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER), acting for groundwork, Earthlife Africa, and Concerned Citizens of Lephalale, submitted comments on 15 June 2018 objecting to the Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR) and Waste Management Licence (WML) Variation Application for the Flue Gas Desulphurisation (FGD) Retrofit Project at Medupi Power Station. The CER argues that the FEIR is deficient due to missing data, a 'piecemeal' approach to environmental authorisations, and a failure to adequately assess water and waste impacts.

The document identifies water as a critical constraint to development in the Saldanha Bay Municipality (SBM), projecting that a growing water deficit will severely impact the local economy and jobs by 2040. It highlights that urban water requirements are expected to increase by approximately 99% by 2040 due to population and economic growth, while climate change is projected to increase agricultural water requirements by 44% between 2015 and 2040. The report warns that by 2040, the water deficit could cost the local economy R8.7 billion per year and 44,640 jobs annually, with the highest costs stemming from the urban water deficit.

The review finds that while the WEF nexus concept is widely used to expand the scope of analysis, it lacks a uniting methodology and has not yet demonstrated a clear ability to improve resource management or governance outcomes.

The project aims to enhance Jordan's resilience to climate change through a systemic 'water-agriculture-energy-climate change nexus' approach. It targets three regions—the Northern Highlands, Central Badia, and Southern Highlands—focusing on diversifying water supply, improving agricultural productivity via climate-smart practices, and integrating solar-powered irrigation. With an indicative total cost of USD 245 million (USD 50 million requested from the GCF), the project seeks to benefit 540,000 people, particularly rural poor and women, while reducing GHG emissions through solar energy and forest restoration.

The document analyzes water demand in the Berg WMA, highlighting that climate change will increase the water requirements of key crops like grapes, stone fruit, and citrus. It identifies a significant future water supply deficit, particularly in the municipalities of Swartland, Stellenbosch, and Drakenstein, and argues that the low economic 'value per drop' of agriculture compared to urban use will make securing additional water allocations difficult. The report recommends crop switching to low-water, high-value alternatives and investing in water efficiency technology to mitigate these risks.

The 2018 Green Economy Barometer for Mongolia highlights a significant gap between the country's legislative commitments and actual implementation. While the government has adopted the National Green Development Policy and Sustainable Development Vision 2030, Mongolia ranked 79th out of 80 countries in the 2016 Global Green Economy Index. The report argues that investing 4% of GDP into green development could reduce poverty to 10% and cut greenhouse gas emissions by 17% by 2030. Current challenges include severe air pollution in Ulaanbaatar, land degradation affecting 77.8% of land, and a precarious economic dependence on volatile mineral exports.

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.

The document highlights that while Cape Town's economy is less reliant on water-intense sectors than others, its massive scale makes it the region's primary water user and the area most affected by supply deficits. By 2040, the water deficit in Cape Town could cost approximately R100 billion in GVA and 403,877 jobs annually, representing 29% of the local economy.

The Life After Coal Campaign and Greenpeace Africa urge the South African Minister of Energy to halt the Thabametsi and Khanyisa coal-fired IPP projects. They argue these plants are legally precarious due to pending court challenges over climate and environmental authorisations, and are economically unnecessary given the availability of cheaper renewable energy. The authors highlight severe risks to water security and air quality in the Highveld Priority Area and Waterberg-Bojanala, while warning that the plants could become stranded assets due to greenhouse gas constraints.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER), on behalf of Earthlife Africa Johannesburg and groundWork, submitted supplementary objections on 5 March 2018 against the Water Use Licence Application (IWULA) and Integrated Water and Waste Water Management Plan (IWWMP) for the proposed Thabametsi coal-fired power station. The objections argue that the project is unnecessary due to excess electricity capacity, poses severe risks to the water-stressed Mokolo Catchment, and fails to account for climate change impacts and toxic coal ash disposal risks.

The document details how transnational corporations and agribusinesses in Central America disproportionately affect women through the looting of natural resources and environmental degradation. In El Salvador, Coca Cola's water extraction in Nejapa has depleted aquifers and polluted water sources, increasing the domestic burden on women. In Honduras, hydroelectric dams in La Paz have caused water scarcity and led to the murder of environmental activists, including Berta Cáceres. In Costa Rica, pineapple monocultures have contaminated water with agrotoxics, impacting women's health and care work. In Guatemala, sugarcane plantations on the Southern Coast have caused land grabbing, water shortages, and health issues due to aerial spraying and burning. Across all cases, women have emerged as key leaders in community resistance, organizing to defend their rights to water, land, and a healthy environment.

The report examines how corporate activities—including water extraction by Coca-Cola in El Salvador, hydroelectric projects in Honduras, pineapple monocultures in Costa Rica, and sugarcane production in Guatemala—disproportionately affect women's health, labor, and access to resources. It details the specific burdens placed on women, such as increased domestic labor due to water scarcity and health risks from agrotóxicos, while showcasing the emergence of women-led resistance movements and community-based research to challenge corporate power and state negligence.

The document warns that Stellenbosch Municipality faces a severe water deficit by 2040, driven by high urban growth and the water-intensive nature of its agricultural sector, particularly grape production. This deficit is projected to cost the local economy R10.3 billion per year and result in the loss of 56,602 jobs. Climate change is expected to further increase agricultural water requirements by 38% by 2040. The report recommends that the municipality decouple population growth from water consumption through conservation and demand measures to mitigate these risks.

South Africa is overexploiting its renewable water resources, with more than 60% of its rivers currently overexploited. Forecasts indicate that demand will increase across agricultural, industrial, and municipal sectors through 2035, driven by population growth, urbanisation, and industrial expansion. The report highlights critical vulnerabilities, including deteriorating wastewater treatment facilities—where nearly 25% are in a 'critical state'—and high levels of non-revenue water (approximately 36% of municipal consumption). To avoid a national crisis, the authors recommend implementing tiered water pricing, expanding the use of treated wastewater, and increasing sustainable groundwater extraction. The report also notes that transitioning from coal-based energy to renewables would reduce industrial water demand. While large-scale infrastructure projects are planned, the report argues they are insufficient without aggressive demand reduction and efficiency measures.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) is challenging the South African Minister of Environmental Affairs' decision to uphold the environmental authorisation for the Thabametsi coal-fired power station. Despite a Climate Change Impact Assessment (CCIA) and a peer review by EOH Coastal and Environmental Services identifying 'very high' greenhouse gas emissions and high water scarcity risks, the Minister justified the project based on the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) 2010. CER argues this reliance on outdated policy is unlawful, ignores South Africa's Paris Agreement commitments, and disregards current electricity surpluses and the cost-effectiveness of renewable energy.

The Life After Coal Campaign argues that Eskom's reliance on coal-fired power is economically unsustainable and causes severe health and environmental damage. The campaign advocates for the accelerated decommissioning of ageing stations and a just transition to renewable energy, citing studies that suggest this would reduce costs and save lives.

The Swartland Municipality faces significant water scarcity risks by 2040, driven by high population growth and the water-intensive grape industry. Projections indicate a potential water deficit of approximately 50 million m3 per year by 2040, which could cost the local economy R12.8 billion annually and result in the loss of 68,091 jobs.

The document advises Cape Town residents to assume untreated water from boreholes, rain tanks, and springs is unsafe due to microbes and chemicals. It recommends testing water against the SANS 241 standard and suggests boiling as the simplest microbial treatment. It also provides a comparison of various household treatment methods and guidelines for sterile storage using food-grade plastics.

The Bergrivier Municipality faces significant economic risks due to high water intensity in its key sectors, particularly agriculture. Projections indicate that changing climatic conditions and population growth will increase water requirements by 2040, potentially leading to a water deficit that could cost the local economy R3.1 billion and 16,229 jobs per annum.

The report highlights the South African agriculture sector as a robust investment environment, particularly in the Western Cape, which contributes 24% of the national agricultural GDP. It identifies key growth areas in controlled environment agriculture (CEA), drone technology for precision farming, and renewable energy, while emphasizing water scarcity as a primary driver for the adoption of these green technologies.