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The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER), on behalf of Earthlife Africa and groundWork, submitted formal objections on 14 June 2022 to the Integrated Water Use Licence Application (IWULA) for Phase 2A of the Mokolo Crocodile River (West) Water Augmentation Project (MCWAP-2A). The CER argues that the project is an unnecessary inter-basin transfer designed to support coal expansion, which contradicts South Africa's climate commitments and poses severe risks to aquatic ecosystems and local communities.

The Institute for Economic Justice evaluates the draft South African Climate Change Bill against the 2022 IPCC WGII report. While the Bill aligns with IPCC definitions of adaptation and vulnerability and acknowledges the risks of extreme weather, the author finds it insufficient in several areas. Key gaps include the lack of a formal climate emergency declaration, missing definitions for 'resilience' and 'exposure', insufficient transparency and accountability mechanisms, and a lack of specific timeframes and responsible parties for implementation. The document argues that the Bill must better integrate socio-economic rights and traditional knowledge to effectively protect vulnerable groups, including women, youth, and rural communities.

The document outlines the reciprocal relationship between food systems and climate change, noting that agriculture and food systems contribute 31% of global greenhouse gas emissions. It encourages journalists to move beyond 'problem' stories by highlighting systemic solutions, such as regenerative agriculture and the reduction of food waste, while emphasizing the importance of climate justice and the role of women in agriculture. The guide specifically highlights the impact of industrial agriculture, the vulnerability of global food systems exacerbated by conflict and pandemics, and the critical need to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius to maintain food security.

The report evaluates wastewater treatment options for the Hartenbos estuary, finding that while a hybrid solution is most effective at reducing nutrient pollution, an artificial wetland offers the highest net benefits if ecological and tourism gains are included. It also highlights that reusing 50% of treated wastewater for irrigation by 2060 could support 330 additional hectares of agricultural land, enhancing water security and job creation.

The IAI Regional Assessment (ER-IAI) employs a co-production model to bridge the gap between scientific knowledge and policy decision-making in the Americas. By utilizing a seven-stage iterative methodology—including surveys, interviews, and policy analysis—the ER-IAI aims to identify specific information needs of governments to guide IAI's research funding and capacity-building priorities. The process seeks to move beyond linear 'push' or 'pull' models of science-policy interaction, instead fostering a multidirectional exchange to ensure scientific output is both feasible to produce and usable for policymakers.

The IAI Regional Assessment (IAI-RA) employs a co-production model to bridge the gap between scientific research and policy-making in the Americas. By utilizing a seven-stage methodology—including surveys, interviews, and policy analysis—the IAI aims to identify specific information needs of member governments to better prioritize research funding and capacity building for global environmental change.

The report describes the creation of a groundwater monitoring network in Constantia and Bergvliet, Western Cape, commissioned by WWF South Africa. Following a significant increase in borehole drilling during the 2015-2019 drought, GEOSS South Africa conducted a desktop study and hydrocensus of 309 properties. The project resulted in the installation of five Solinst Leveloggers in private boreholes, with data fed into a public Groundwater Dashboard for the Table Mountain Water Source Area. Findings indicate that most boreholes target the Springfontyn and Peninsula Formations, with water levels ranging from 7 to 16 mbgl and quality classified as "good" to "marginal".

The report details the creation of a groundwater monitoring network in Noordhoek, Western Cape, commissioned by WWF South Africa and implemented by GEOSS South Africa. Following a drought from 2015 to 2019, the area saw a surge in private boreholes and wellpoints. The project involved a desktop study, a hydrocensus of 158 properties, and the deployment of four Solinst dataloggers in private boreholes. Key findings highlight stakeholder concerns regarding E-coli contamination from soakaway systems and the potential for seawater intrusion. Data from the network is integrated into the Table Mountain Water Source Area Groundwater Dashboard to provide public visibility of water level trends and seasonal fluctuations.

The report details the creation of a citizen-science groundwater monitoring network in Scarborough and Kommetjie, Western Cape, commissioned by WWF South Africa. Following a significant increase in borehole drilling during the 2015-2019 drought, the study employed desktop searches and a hydrocensus of 105 properties to identify groundwater users and monitoring sites. Four Solinst Leveloggers were deployed to track water levels and temperature, with data integrated into the Table Mountain Water Source Area Groundwater Dashboard. Findings indicate that borehole depths range from 1 to 60 metres, with water levels between 2.5 and 4 mbgl and electrical conductivity values between 54.8 and 150.7 mS/m. The report recommends continued stakeholder engagement and quarterly data downloads to ensure sustainable groundwater management.

The report finds that human rights are not systematically referenced in the reviewed NAPs, with few countries using them to guide the planning or implementation process. While some plans, notably Fiji's, demonstrate a strong commitment to human rights-based approaches, most others only make indirect or superficial references to rights. The authors argue for the development of detailed guidance to integrate social, political, administrative, and legal entry points into the NAP process to better protect vulnerable groups.

The document examines the global water and sanitation crisis, noting that 673 million people lack toilets and 2.1 billion lack safe drinking water. It critiques previous international efforts, such as the Millennium Development Goals, for using low-ambition indicators, and advocates for the more holistic Sustainable Development Goal 6. The brief emphasizes the intersection of water security with climate change, environmental degradation, and social inequality, calling for increased financing, better governance, and a human rights-based approach to ensure no one is left behind by 2030.

The report identifies significant gaps in the governance of the Table Mountain Strategic Water Source Area (TMSWSA), noting that groundwater management is currently a national mandate that lacks local enforcement and clear delegation to Catchment Management Agencies (CMAs). It highlights the vulnerability of the Table Mountain Group and Cape Flats aquifers to over-extraction and pollution, exacerbated by unregulated borehole drilling during Cape Town's 2016-2018 drought. To address these failures, the document proposes a flexible, multi-stakeholder Partnership Framework based on adaptive management, recommending WWF South Africa as the host institution and secretariat to coordinate between the City of Cape Town, the Department of Water and Sanitation, and local communities.

The report identifies a significant financing gap in Kenya's climate response, noting that while renewable energy is well-funded, adaptation sectors like water, forestry, and food security are underserved. To address this, it proposes three market-based instruments: the African Conservancies Fund (ACF) for wildlife and tourism, the Chyulu Hills Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) for watershed protection, and the Green Village Savings and Loans Association (GVSLA) for community-level resilience. The document emphasizes the role of blended finance and concessional funding in the early stages of these projects to mitigate risk and attract private investors.

The Republic of Nauru is seeking USD 1,304,546.00 from the Green Climate Fund to implement Phase One of its National Adaptation Planning. This 18-month project focuses on strengthening governance, updating climate projections, and developing a robust evidence base to inform the updated Republic of Nauru Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Management Framework (RONAdapt). Key activities include establishing a Climate Change Adaptation Technical Working Group, conducting private sector risk assessments, and creating a centralised climate information database. The project addresses critical vulnerabilities including sea-level rise, extreme heat, and the legacy of phosphate mining, which acts as a 'threat multiplier' for climate risks.

The briefing analyzes the Biden Administration's 2021 climate security reports, identifying climate change as a 'shaping threat' that necessitates a reexamination of national security assumptions. It argues that climate risks are current and future, wide-ranging, and exacerbate other security concerns, particularly in competition with China. The authors propose five 2022 priorities: mainstreaming climate security in regional strategies, linking adaptation with conflict prevention, maximizing whole-of-government science collaboration, increasing support for allies, and utilizing strategic foresight for worst-case scenarios.

Central Africa has experienced warming between 0.75°C and 1.2°C since 1960, leading to widespread losses in health, food security, and economic growth. Future risks include lethal heat exposure, severe biodiversity loss above 2°C, and significant GDP reductions. Adaptation requires increased finance, nature-based solutions, and improved climate services, though the region faces severe data constraints and funding gaps.

This fact sheet, published by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network in 2022, summarizes findings from the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report specifically for North Africa. It details observed climate changes, such as rising temperatures and shifting precipitation patterns, and projects future risks including increased heat-related mortality, biodiversity loss, and threats to food and water security. The document also outlines adaptation strategies, the necessity of increased climate finance, and the specific vulnerabilities of coastal cities and cultural heritage sites in the region.

The U.S. Government Global Water Strategy 2022-2027 establishes a whole-of-government approach to achieve a water-secure world. It prioritizes four strategic objectives: strengthening sector governance and financing, increasing equitable access to climate-resilient water and sanitation services, improving the conservation of freshwater resources, and reducing water-related conflict. The strategy emphasizes local leadership, the needs of marginalized populations, and the integration of climate resilience. Implementation is coordinated through the Interagency Water Working Group (IWWG) and focuses on High-Priority Countries (HPCs) identified by a data-driven needs and opportunity index. Specific agency plans from USAID, the Department of State, CDC, and others detail how they will leverage technical expertise, diplomatic engagement, and financial tools to meet these goals.

The document argues that climate change acts as a 'threat multiplier' in Africa, where risks are amplified by existing governance deficits and poor development. It emphasizes that while climate-driven scarcity can fuel conflict, causality is complex and depends on political and historical contexts. The authors advocate for integrating climate action into the broader development agenda, transitioning from a narrative of vulnerability to one of economic opportunity through renewable energy and climate-resilient infrastructure. Key recommendations include strengthening the evidence base for climate security, increasing climate finance flows, and expanding climate diplomacy beyond the UNFCCC to platforms like the G20 and the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement.

The Table Mountain Water Source Partnership project implemented a multi-layered approach to groundwater management in Cape Town, combining public awareness campaigns, citizen-science monitoring, and policy analysis. Key achievements include the launch of a public groundwater dashboard on 24 March 2022, the installation of dataloggers in four new residential areas, and the integration of groundwater data into the City of Cape Town's Bulk Water Decision Support System. The project culminated in the formal launch of the Table Mountain Water Source Partnership on 15 November 2021, consisting of nine founding members from government, academia, and the private sector to ensure sustainable groundwater governance.