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The report presents the 2024 South African F-List, detailing 42 contracts between local agencies and fossil fuel clients, and highlights the reputational risks of such partnerships. It critiques the role of PR in masking the environmental and health impacts of companies like Sasol and TotalEnergies, while calling for industry awards like The Loeries to stop rewarding fossil fuel advertising.

The Waste Management Flagship Programme seeks to expand a pilot project from 6 to 30 South African municipalities, diverting organic waste from landfills to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. The programme proposes five treatment technologies, including anaerobic digestion and composting, to be operated by private entities via service contracts. With a total cost of USD 72 million, the project requests a USD 50.67 million grant from the Green Climate Fund, arguing that grant financing is essential because waste treatment is not financially self-sustaining and would be unaffordable for secondary municipalities if funded via loans. Expected climate impacts include an annual reduction of 572,800 t CO2 eq. Beyond mitigation, the programme aims to create 938 jobs during construction and 404 annual operational jobs, while improving public health and food security through compost production and better waste collection in underserved areas.

The Green Economy Coalition (GEC) proposes a series of policy priorities to ensure a fair green transition. Key recommendations include reforming the global financial system to be more democratic and inclusive, adopting a 'try and see' piloting approach for SME policy interventions, and using natural capital accounting to uncover environmental dependencies and solve specific regional challenges.

The Global Resilience Partnership (GRP) emphasizes the role of youth as core contributors in climate resilience through a model that combines flexible funding, mentorship, and creative storytelling. By utilizing small, catalytic grants via the Knowledge Into Use (KIU) Awards, GRP supports arts-based initiatives—such as murals and theatre—to make technical climate data accessible to local communities. The report highlights the importance of 'proximate leadership,' where youth are integrated into decision-making roles and global policy spaces like the COP Resilience Hub. Key findings suggest that pairing financial resources with structured guidance and visibility enables young innovators to scale their impact and secure further investment.

The document details a 'closed loop' system where Cape Town Market diverts organic waste to Elgin Fruit Juice's anaerobic digester in Grabouw to produce electricity. The resulting digestate is transported back to Cape Town Market, where Ywaste uses it as a carbon-based additive to create compost for farmers. This synergy results in 1,400 tonnes of organic waste diverted from landfills annually, a reduction of 1,000 tonnes of fossil greenhouse gases, and an annual saving of R550,000 for Cape Town Market.

The Fugard Theatre in Cape Town generated approximately 110 half-used batteries per week due to performance safety requirements, leading to a stockpile of 3,000 batteries. WISP established a partnership to redirect these batteries to the City of Cape Town’s Disaster Risk Management Department and various charities for use in torches, radios, and medical devices. This initiative saves the City of Cape Town R21,000 annually and reduces the extraction of virgin materials. Because South Africa lacks battery recycling operations, spent batteries are sent to the Uniross collection programme for mineral extraction or concrete encapsulation and hazardous landfill disposal. An attempt to switch the theatre to rechargeable batteries was unsuccessful as they did not meet the technical specifications for the microphones.

The document details a resource efficiency project where WISP connected Farbe Designs, a clothing company in Stellenbosch, with CSK Material Handling to manage textile, plastic, and paper waste. Because the Western Cape lacks textile recyclers, CSK collects and bales the waste in Cape Town before transporting it to KwaZulu-Natal, where textiles are shredded for carpet underfelt production. The collaboration results in 20 tonnes of waste diverted from landfills annually and an estimated R8 000 in annual savings for Farbe Designs.

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 Western Cape Industrial Symbiosis Programme (WISP) connected Duferco Steel Processing and FS Smit with Cape E-Waste to manage stockpiles of electronic waste. This arrangement diverted over a tonne of hazardous waste from landfills, resulting in cost savings of R470 per tonne for the companies and the creation of three jobs for dismantling equipment.

The Atlantis Greentech Special Economic Zone (ASEZ) is a proposed hub in the Western Cape, South Africa, designed to cluster green technology industries. Building on a manufacturing hub established in 2011, the zone seeks formal SEZ status to provide investors with preferential corporate tax, employment tax incentives, and municipal subsidies. The site is positioned to leverage South Africa's Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Programme (REIPPP) and provides proximity to Cape Town and Saldanha port.

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.

PepsiCo is implementing a water stewardship approach to build resilience against climatic extremes, specifically at its Parow site in Cape Town. The company has achieved a total annual water saving of 147,892 m³ through various site-specific projects, including a R27.9 million investment in advanced batch peeling technology that reduced fresh water usage by 1.06m³/hr and increased annual revenue by R1.4 million. Beyond its facility, PepsiCo aims to be Net Water Positive by 2030 and has invested R29.8 million over five years in the Greater Cape Town Water Fund to restore ecosystems and remove invasive species. Additionally, the PepsiCo Foundation invested R6 million in safe water and sanitation projects across the Eastern Cape, Western Cape, and Limpopo.

The Western Cape Industrial Symbiosis Programme (WISP) connected Ywaste, a composting service provider, with two waste generators—Cape Town Film Studio (CTFS) and Samson Bedding—to source carbon-rich sawdust. Ywaste uses bokashi composting and vermiculture to convert organic waste into nutrient-rich soil. This synergy diverts approximately seven tonnes of sawdust from landfills annually and reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 2.3 tonnes per year.

Between 2012 and 2017, ACA Threads achieved a 70% reduction in water consumption by investing in new dye vat controllers, modifying dye recipes, using recycled cooling water, and implementing a hot drop capability. These measures reduced water use from 168 litres per kg of dyed thread in 2012 to 50 litres per kg in 2017, resulting in annual water savings of 50,000 kilolitres and financial savings of R1.9 million per year from a total capital investment of R4.5 million.

Bayside Shopping Mall in Cape Town implemented a rainwater and stormwater harvesting system consisting of six 10,000-litre tanks and two header tanks to supply non-potable water for irrigation and toilet flushing. The project required a capital investment of R 1.5 million and achieved a 93% reduction in water consumption for those specific uses, with annual savings of R 200,000 and a five-year payback period.

JG Afrika's Cape Town office reduced its water consumption by 67% between 2011 and 2017 through a phased approach of demand reduction and efficiency upgrades. Initial steps in 2012 and 2013, including reducing irrigation and installing waterless urinals, led to a 24% reduction in average annual water consumption. In response to the Western Cape drought in 2016 and 2017, the firm turned off irrigation entirely, implemented weekly consumption logging, and installed hold-flush toilets, low-flow tap aerators, and low-flow shower heads. These technical interventions were supported by staff education and awareness campaigns. To further increase resilience, the firm installed two 10,000-litre rainwater tanks. The total capital investment for these measures was R13,100, resulting in annual water savings of 727 kilolitres in 2017 and cumulative annual savings of R33,424 since 2011.

The document details an 18-month pilot by Golden Arrow Bus Services (GABS) using two BYD electric buses in Cape Town. The trial demonstrated that electric buses can handle steep local topography, such as Hospital Bend, and achieve significant energy cost savings of nearly 69% compared to diesel alternatives. To mitigate the carbon intensity of the South African grid, GABS has installed rooftop solar PV at six depots, reaching 1.7MWp by March 2023, though it estimates a need for 80 to 100MW of renewable capacity to fully electrify its 1,100-bus fleet. The study concludes that while electric buses have higher upfront costs, fuel savings allow them to pay for themselves over a 15 to 20 year lifespan.

The document identifies significant opportunities for industrial hemp in South Africa's textiles sector, particularly in Cape Town, which is positioned to be a processing hub due to its existing apparel businesses and retail head offices. While hemp offers environmental benefits—including higher CO2 absorption and lower ecological footprints than cotton or polyester—the industry faces barriers such as inconsistent feedstock supply, high processing costs, and a lack of local mid-stream processing capacity. The brief suggests that primary producers initially target export markets to build scale before localizing the full value chain.

The document identifies industrial hemp as a sustainable alternative for construction materials in South Africa, specifically focusing on hempcrete and hemp insulation. It highlights Cape Town's potential as a hub for these materials, citing the completion of the world's tallest hemp-based building. While hemp offers significant carbon sequestration and energy efficiency benefits, the sector faces barriers including high costs due to imported components and a lack of awareness among developers and professionals.

The document details a green finance mechanism where a solar developer finances, installs, and maintains a rooftop PV system on a commercial property. The property owner receives rental income, while the tenant purchases the generated electricity via a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA). A specific implementation for Pick n Pay in Brackenfell, Cape Town, resulted in a 22.12% reduction in the outlet's carbon footprint and created a new annual revenue stream of approximately R188,000 for the property owner.