Search Climate Insights Directory

The document outlines the economic and environmental necessity for South Africa to raise its climate ambition in its second NDC. It emphasizes that transitioning from a coal-dependent economy to one powered by renewables is an economic imperative to avoid trade risks from Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanisms (CBAMs) and to unlock new industries like green hydrogen and electric vehicles. The briefing provides sector-specific recommendations for power, transport, and heavy industry, while stressing the need for deep public-private collaboration and the inclusion of SMEs to achieve a net-zero target by 2050.

The South African Climate Finance Landscape 2025 reports an annual average of ZAR 188.3 billion in climate finance for 2022-2023, dominated by energy mitigation (74.1%). While flows have increased since previous tracking periods, they remain below the estimated ZAR 499 billion per year needed to meet NDC and net-zero targets. Adaptation finance is significantly lagging at 11.3% of total flows, and just transition-aligned investment remains modest at ZAR 16.0 billion annually. The landscape is characterized by a strong domestic financial sector, with nearly 60% of flows originating domestically, while international finance is primarily driven by public sources and the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP).

The policy brief highlights the critical role of local governments in Africa and the Global South as implementers of climate adaptation, mitigation, and biodiversity goals. It identifies systemic barriers—including severe finance gaps, technical capacity constraints, and data deficiencies—that hinder municipal action. The authors recommend that South Africa's 2025 G20 presidency establish a multi-level climate governance declaration, a dedicated local climate action forum, and a specialized finance access facility to empower subnational governments as equal partners in global climate governance.

TotalEnergies (TEEPSA) is seeking environmental authorisation for oil and gas exploration in the southern Deepwater Orange Basin (DWOB) block, involving the drilling of up to seven wells at depths between 500m and 3,900m. The project faces legal challenges in the Western Cape High Court regarding northern block activities and potential risks to marine life, fishing livelihoods, and indigenous cultural heritage. Public comments on the draft Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) are open until 10 September 2025.

TotalEnergies (TEEPSA) is seeking environmental authorisation for offshore oil and gas exploration in the southern Deep Water Orange Basin (DWOB) block. The project involves drilling up to seven wells 211 km from the shore at depths between 500m and 3,900m. Potential risks include harm to migratory marine species from noise and pollution, reduced fishing income due to changes in fish behaviour, and impacts on the cultural heritage of Indigenous peoples and small-scale fishing communities along the coast from Port Nolloth to Cape Town. The public is invited to comment on the Draft ESIA Report until 10 September 2025.

The Leslie Hill Succulent Karoo Trust, managed by WWF South Africa, provides this manual to facilitate public access to its records and ensure the protection of personal information. It outlines the procedures for requesting records, the associated fees, and the rights of data subjects under South African law.

The National Parks Trust of South Africa, managed by WWF South Africa, provides this manual to facilitate public access to its records and ensure the protection of personal data. It details the application process for information requests, the associated fee structure, and the rights of data subjects to object to or correct their personal information.

The Table Mountain Fund, managed by WWF South Africa, has published a guide to facilitate public access to its records under the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) and the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA). The manual outlines the process for requesting information, the associated fees, and the rights of data subjects regarding their personal information.

The manual outlines the procedures for accessing records held by The WWF Nedbank Green Trust, which is managed by WWF South Africa. It specifies the types of records available, the required application process, the fee structure for requests, and the rights of data subjects regarding their personal information under South African law.

The manual outlines the legal procedures for requesting records from WWF South Africa (WWF-SA) and its associated trusts. It specifies the types of records available, the required application forms, the fee structure for requests, and the processes for objecting to or correcting the processing of personal information under South African law.

The Southern African Wildlife College Trust, managed by WWF South Africa, has published this manual to comply with the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) and the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA). It outlines the procedures for requesting records, the associated fee structures, and the processes for objecting to or correcting the processing of personal information. The Trust's primary objective is to fund education and training in nature conservation management at the Southern African Wildlife College, specifically subsidising costs for natural resource managers in SADC countries.

The Leslie Hill Succulent Karoo Trust, managed by WWF South Africa, has published this manual to comply with the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) and the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA). It outlines the procedures for requesting records, the fees associated with such requests, the categories of information held by the Trust, and the mechanisms for data subjects to object to the processing of their personal information or request its correction.

The National Parks Trust of South Africa, managed by WWF South Africa, has published a manual to facilitate public access to its records and ensure the protection of personal data. The document outlines the legal framework, the process for requesting information, the associated fees, and the rights of data subjects regarding their personal information.

The WWF Nedbank Green Trust Manual outlines the procedures for requesting information and managing personal data under the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) and the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA). The Trust, founded in October 1990 and managed by WWF South Africa, focuses on community-based conservation and endangered species. It specifies that annual financial statements are available without a formal request, while other records—including administration, financial, and governance documents—require a prescribed application and a request fee of R140.00 for non-personal requesters. The document also details the categories of personal information processed, the conditions for trans-border data flows, and the mechanisms for data subjects to object to processing or request the correction and deletion of their information.

The Nature-Based Infrastructure Global Resource Centre conducted a cost-benefit analysis of nature-based infrastructure (NBI) in Cape Town's Diep/Sand River and Zeekoe catchments. The study finds that NBI interventions—such as creating retention ponds, establishing wetlands, and removing invasive species—offer significant economic returns, with benefit-to-cost ratios up to 2.07 and net benefits reaching ZAR 133 million over 25 years. These gains are primarily driven by avoided costs in dredging and canal refurbishment, reduced flood damages, and the creation of over 60 local jobs annually. The analysis indicates that NBI is particularly valuable under pessimistic climate scenarios with high flood risks, providing a cost-effective alternative to grey infrastructure upgrades.

The report argues that South Africa's current free basic services (FBS) for electricity and water are insufficient to lift households out of poverty, providing only 'survival access' rather than 'developmental access'. It finds that for 40% of the population living below the lower-bound poverty line, current tariffs are unaffordable, often forcing a trade-off between paying for utilities and purchasing adequate nutrition. The document identifies 'adverse inclusion'—where physical connection to a grid exists but the terms of use are restrictive or unaffordable—as a primary barrier to socioeconomic development. It recommends increasing free electricity from 50kWh to 150kWh and water from 6kl to 8kl per month for the poorest 7.5 million households, while replacing municipal discretion in indigent registration with a national policy.

The document outlines the work of the Global Solidarity Levy Task Force (GSLTF) in developing 16 tax options targeting undertaxed, high-emission sectors to bridge the trillion-dollar financing gap for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Agreement. It highlights the potential for these levies to generate over $500 billion in annual revenue and calls for developing countries to engage in the design and assessment of these mechanisms to ensure equitable access to funds. The brief details the GSLTF's efforts to build political momentum through international forums and its submission to the Baku to Belém Roadmap to support the New Collective Quantified Goal on Climate Finance.

The document outlines a strategy for South Africa to develop its green hydrogen ecosystem by prioritizing trade-focused investments that deliver local benefits. It identifies critical hurdles, including inefficient ports and a lack of domestic electrolyser manufacturing, and proposes solutions such as 'green corridors' for marine fuels and regional certification standards. The brief emphasizes that social acceptance, particularly regarding water scarcity and community consultation, is essential for the sector's viability.

A factsheet detailing a judicial review application filed by The Green Connection and Natural Justice to challenge the environmental authorisation granted to Total Energies EP South Africa (TEEPSA) Block 567 (Pty) Ltd for oil and gas exploration drilling off the Western Cape coast.

The Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) and the Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ) oppose a proposed VAT increase in South Africa, claiming it disproportionately harms low-income households, African women, and people with disabilities. They argue that such a regressive tax is incongruent with the constitutional mandate for transformative governance and social justice. Instead, the organizations advocate for progressive alternatives, including wealth taxes, increased company tax, and improved tax collection efficiency, to address budget shortfalls without exacerbating hunger and poverty.