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WEFsat-Mining Tool User Guidance Manual
The WEFsat-Mining Tool User Guidance Manual describes a methodology for assessing how mining affects the water-energy-food nexus. It guides users through a four-step process: establishing a community WEF baseline, identifying mining-specific influences, determining mitigation and enhancement actions, and summarizing findings for decision-makers. The tool utilizes a framework focusing on availability, access, supporting infrastructure, and supporting policies.
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Document type: Guide
Water-Energy-Food Resource Book for Mining
The document introduces the WEF security concept to operationalize sustainable development in mining. It details a conceptual framework based on availability, access, supporting infrastructure, and supporting institutions/policies. The guide provides a review of existing sustainability indicators and introduces WEFsat-Mining, an Excel-based tool for stakeholders to assess current WEF status, identify mining influences, and determine mitigation or enhancement actions. It also outlines stakeholder engagement practices and a four-stage participatory scenario planning process for regional landscape investment.
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Document type: Guide
The regionalisation of the South Sudanese crisis
The report analyzes how the internal conflict in South Sudan has become an arena for regional power struggles. It details the competing interests of Uganda and Sudan, the security concerns of Ethiopia and Eritrea, and the economic and hydropolitical motivations of Kenya and Egypt. The author argues that these external interventions, particularly the military involvement of Uganda and the proxy interests of Sudan, have regionalized the crisis and undermined the mediation efforts of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD).
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Document type: Report
The impact of climate change on the achievement of the post-2015 sustainable development goals
The report argues that a high-ambition climate agreement aiming to limit global warming to 2°C is essential for achieving the SDGs by 2030, particularly those related to poverty, inequality, and energy. Using Integrated Assessment Modelling (IAM), the study compares a high-ambition scenario (RCP4.5/SSP1) with a low-ambition scenario (RCP8.5/SSP3). Findings indicate that under a low-ambition agreement, poverty levels in 2030 could be 80–140% higher in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa compared to the high-ambition scenario. Case studies in Dominica, Jamaica, Pakistan, and Uganda highlight that while the specific sensitivity of SDGs varies by country, poverty and energy goals are consistently most at risk under low-ambition climate policies. The report emphasizes a reciprocal relationship: ambitious SDGs are necessary to implement a high-ambition climate deal, and a high-ambition deal is necessary to realize the SDGs.
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Document type: Report
2015 Stockholm Summit on Natural Capital: 9 Use Cases and the Natural Capital Science-Technology Platform
The report details the application of natural capital science and software tools across various sectors to integrate ecosystem services into decision-making. Key examples include the Inter-American Development Bank's infrastructure planning in Latin America, China's massive reforestation and zoning efforts, and corporate sustainability initiatives by Dow, Unilever, and Coca-Cola. It highlights the role of the Natural Capital Project's open-source tools, such as InVEST and OPAL, in quantifying the trade-offs between economic development and the preservation of natural assets like watersheds and coastal habitats.
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Document type: Report
The water-energy-food nexus in Latin America and the Caribbean
This report provides an overview of the water-energy-food nexus in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), focusing on the interdependencies between these sectors and the challenges posed by climate change, population growth, and resource distribution.
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Document type: Report
IISD Handbook on Mining Contract Negotiations for Developing Countries
The IISD Handbook on Mining Contract Negotiations for Developing Countries (Volume 1) outlines a strategic framework for host governments to move from a 'win-lose' to a 'win-win-win' negotiating paradigm involving the state, companies, and local communities. It emphasizes the critical importance of the pre-negotiation phase, including resource valuation, interdepartmental coordination, and the establishment of a 'social license to operate.' The guide analyzes the legal interplay between domestic law, investment contracts, and international treaties, while cautioning against stabilization clauses that may hinder future sustainable development regulations. It also provides detailed advice on maximizing economic linkages through local purchasing, employment, and downstream processing, as well as managing social and environmental risks, including climate change adaptation.
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Document type: Guide
NOTICE OF APPEAL IN TERMS OF SECTION 96(1) OF THE MINERAL AND PETROLEUM RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT ACT, 2002
This document is a formal notice of appeal filed on 30 March 2015 by eight environmental organisations, represented by the Centre for Environmental Rights, against the granting of mining right MP30/5/1/2/2/1/0069MR to Atha-Africa Ventures (Pty) Ltd (AAV). The appeal seeks to set aside the right and suspend its operation, arguing that the proposed Yzermyn underground coal mine is located in the Mabola Protected Environment and the Wakkerstroom Wetlands Area, regions of irreplaceable biodiversity and critical hydrological importance.
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Document type: Statement
THE WATER-ENERGY-FOOD NEXUS IN LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN
The report examines the water-energy-food (WEF) nexus in Latin America and the Caribbean, highlighting how the region's reliance on natural resources creates critical trade-offs. It argues that while LAC is resource-abundant, fragmented governance and climate change threaten security. The document proposes a framework for action based on infrastructure, information, institutions, and investment to transition toward climate-compatible development.
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Document type: Report
The Water Sector – GreenCape Market Intelligence Report 2015
The report assesses the water-stressed environment of South Africa and the Western Cape, highlighting the risk that water scarcity may constrain economic development. It outlines the governance structure under the National Water Act and Water Services Act, identifies seven key opportunity areas for the private sector—including invasive alien plant clearing and wastewater treatment—and discusses infrastructure projects such as the Clanwilliam Dam and various desalination plants. It also notes significant barriers, particularly chronic skills shortages in municipal engineering and management.
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Document type: Report
Final water governance learning workshop Sassari, Italy 14-16 October 2015
The CADWAGO final workshop in Sassari, Italy, brought together 35 researchers and practitioners to discuss systemic water governance and climate adaptation. The event featured project findings on governance praxis and co-learning, external perspectives on catchment management in the UK and disaster management in Australia, and a field visit to Arborea, Sardinia. A central highlight was 'La Rasgioni' (the water court), a traditional conflict resolution process used to facilitate dialogue between dairy farmers and institutional authorities regarding nitrate pollution. Participants concluded that effective water governance requires moving beyond traditional stakeholder participation toward conscious co-learning and systemic designs that reconcile conflicting interests.
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Document type: Report
Case Study: Tijuca National Park, Brazil
Tijuca National Park in Rio de Janeiro was restored starting in the 1860s to address severe water crises caused by deforestation for coffee and sugarcane. Through a combination of active planting and passive recolonization, 3,200 hectares were restored, resulting in improved water supplies, air quality, and the reintroduction of numerous native species. The project succeeded due to strong leadership from the Brazilian Imperial Court, technical assistance from the Botanical Garden of Rio de Janeiro, and adaptive management to combat fire threats. However, the document notes that early restoration involved the expropriation of land and the use of slave labor.
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Document type: Case study
Evaluando la Huella de Carbono y la Huella Hídrica de ciudades andinas como una estrategia para promover un desarrollo compatible con el clima: el caso de La Paz, Bolivia
The document details the first carbon and water footprint assessments for the city and municipal government of La Paz, Bolivia, using 2012 as a base year. It identifies the transport sector as the primary source of greenhouse gas emissions and the residential sector as the main contributor to the water footprint. The project led to the creation of a reduction action plan, the inclusion of environmental measures in the 2014 municipal budget, and the implementation of pilot projects such as a waste-to-energy system at the Municipal Zoo and peri-urban organic farming. Key challenges identified include data scarcity, the need for high-level political commitment, and the impact of a polarized political environment.
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Document type: Case study
Responsible Alternative Fibers: Assessment Methodology 2014
The Responsible Alternative Fibers Assessment Methodology (RAFAM) is a risk-screening tool developed by WWF to identify environmental and social impacts of non-wood fiber crops. It employs a two-step process: an initial screening of 24 key issue areas followed by detailed additional guidance for any identified risks. The methodology covers site inventory, ecological integrity, environmental impacts, and social-political considerations, aiming to establish an aspirational benchmark for 'ideal' alternative fiber feedstocks that are renewable, legally sourced, and socially beneficial.
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Document type: Guide
Mining and Biodiversity: Evaluating EAP standards in the sector
The study assesses 62 mining applications in Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal to determine if EAPs are following the six core principles of the Mining and Biodiversity Guidelines (MBG). It finds significant gaps in adherence, particularly regarding the use of biodiversity information and best practice environmental impact assessments. The report highlights a performance gap between larger and smaller EAP consultancies and argues for the urgent formal registration and regulation of EAPs under a professional body like EAPASA to ensure sustainable development and protect water and food security in South Africa's grasslands.
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Document type: Report
From Research to Results: Greener Pathways for the SADC Region
The document identifies five priority policy intersections for the SADC region, noting that over half of the region's countries have economies where fewer than eight sectors account for 75 per cent of exports, primarily focusing on minerals or agriculture.
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Document type: Policy brief
Adaptive Policy Analysis of Saskatchewan's 25-Year Water Security Plan
The report applies the ADAPTool to Saskatchewan's 25-year Water Security Plan, finding that while the plan provides indirect support for adaptation, 133 of 198 adaptation actions lack direct program support. It notes that five of the seven reviewed policies are vulnerable to climate change and concludes that the ADAPTool is not well suited for plans that have not yet been implemented.
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Document type: Report
Shale Gas and Fracking
The report identifies significant risks associated with shale gas extraction, including regulatory failures, threats to climate goals, and water scarcity. It specifically challenges claims that fracking will lower energy bills in the UK and warns of potential negative impacts on energy security.
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Document type: Report
Mainstreaming Sustainable Development into National and Subnational Development Planning in Latin America and Caribbean
The report details a rapid foresight exercise and backcasting analysis conducted with 18 practitioners from Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) to identify gaps in sustainable development planning. It emphasizes the need to transition from siloed, sector-based planning to integrated, multistakeholder processes that align national visions with subnational implementation. The document outlines a capacity-building agenda for 2014-2015 focusing on vertical and horizontal collaboration, cross-cutting policies for water, energy, and food security, and the shift from expenditure-based reporting to objective-based monitoring, evaluation, and reporting (MER). It also maps existing regional networks, such as REDEPLAN and CLAD, to coordinate knowledge sharing and avoid duplication of efforts.
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Document type: Report
Summary of Capacity-building Needs to Advance Sustainable Development Planning and Implementation
The report identifies four core areas for improving sustainable development (SD) planning: multistakeholder participation, integrated vertical planning across government levels, cross-sectoral policy integration, and monitoring, evaluation, and reporting (MER). Across Africa, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America and the Caribbean, the report finds a prevalence of 'silo' sectoral planning and a lack of institutional frameworks for stakeholder engagement. It argues for the creation of national SD councils chaired by heads of state and the adoption of 'glocal' planning to align global goals with local implementation. Key capacity gaps include a lack of data for evidence-based policy, poor coordination between governmental and non-governmental agencies, and limited technical skills for information management at subnational levels.
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Document type: Report