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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 South Africa Green Economy Barometer 2018 evaluates the country's transition to a sustainable economy, awarding it a '5 out of 10'. While South Africa has strong policy foundations like the National Development Plan and the Green Economy Accord, the report finds that the economy remains locked into 'brown' energy systems, with 90% of electricity still generated from coal. Progress in renewable energy has been stalled by a gridlock between the national utility Eskom and independent power producers. The report highlights a critical gap in supporting the informal sector and small enterprises, noting that 'green jobs' created through public works programmes often lack security and decent wages. Environmentally, the country's ecological footprint continues to exceed its biocapacity, and biodiversity hotspots remain in a dire state. Financially, while green bonds and sustainable finance innovations have emerged, fossil fuel subsidies persist. The document concludes that national plans remain too focused on economic growth rather than social development and the integration of natural capital into decision-making.

The Berg Water Management Area (WMA) faces a projected water supply deficit of approximately 300 million m3 per year by 2040, which could cost the region over R146 billion and 650,000 jobs annually. Current planning systems are fragmented, treating water and economic development as independent variables, and local municipalities often lack the capacity to secure off-budget financing for infrastructure. The brief recommends that the Western Cape Government support municipalities in integrating water planning into Integrated Development Plans (IDPs), advocate for a regional water utility, and employ hydro-economic modelling to prioritise interventions.

The South African waste landscape is shifting toward a resource-efficient economy driven by legislative changes and rising landfill costs. In the Western Cape, significant opportunities exist for alternative waste treatment (AWT) of organics, e-waste processing, and the reuse of builders' rubble. The report highlights the role of Operation Phakisa and Industry Waste Management Plans (IndWMPs) in unlocking feedstocks and creating jobs, while noting barriers such as inadequate source separation and a lack of reliable data.

The report examines the Berg Water Management Area (WMA) as a 'constrained catchment' where water demand is projected to outstrip supply due to climate change, population growth, and urbanisation. It identifies a misalignment between legislated water allocation processes and economic development planning, noting that water is often treated as an independent variable rather than a co-dependent factor. To address this, the study developed a regional hydro-economic GIS model to forecast water requirements and value the economic opportunity costs of supply deficits, and a Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) tool for the Saldanha Bay Local Municipality to prioritise development applications based on socio-economic outcomes rather than a first-come-first-served basis. Findings indicate that while the City of Cape Town dominates regional economic value, the West Coast municipalities of Swartland, Saldanha Bay, and Bergrivier face the most significant constraints to future development. The report recommends the creation of a regional water utility and the use of the provincial government's Sustainable Water Management Plan (SWMP) as a forum for integrated planning.

The City of Cape Town (CoCT) is challenging the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) over the interpretation of section 34 of the Electricity Control Act (ECA). NERSA maintains that a Ministerial determination is required before it can license an independent power producer (IPP) to generate new capacity. The CoCT argues that section 34 is an empowering provision that does not preclude others from establishing generation capacity if licensed, and further contends that the section is unconstitutional as it interferes with the city's duty to provide electricity to its inhabitants.

The report identifies five primary lignocellulosic waste streams in the Western Cape: invasive alien vegetation (IAV), industrial composite wood materials, pallets, paper sludge, and green waste. It evaluates the current utilisation of these resources, the barriers to unlocking their value—such as high logistics costs for IAV and chemical toxicity in composites—and identifies potential business partners and stakeholders. The analysis concludes that while some streams like paper sludge and green waste have established markets, others like IAV and composite woods offer opportunities for higher-value products and energy recovery if technical and logistical challenges are addressed.

The report identifies a significant gap in the adoption of value-addition technologies for industrial organic wastewater in the Western Cape, noting that only 1% of companies have implemented such solutions. While biogas generation is the most common application, other recovered resources include white starch, whey, and composting materials. Key barriers to adoption include high capital requirements, lack of awareness, and the fact that many Western Cape companies produce wastewater volumes below the 1ML/D threshold typically required for a viable business case. The document highlights specific companies already implementing these solutions, such as Simba PepsiCo and Parmalat, and identifies potential partners and technology providers within South Africa.

The City of Cape Town is issuing a Green Bond of up to R1 billion, accredited by the Climate Bonds Initiative’s Standard, to fund a variety of climate action projects. These projects include the procurement of electric buses, building energy efficiency, water management, sewerage effluent treatment, and coastal protection. The City intends to raise the bond in July 2017, requiring updates to its Domestic Medium Term Note (DMTN) programme to comply with JSE Debt Listing Requirements and the Municipal Finance Management Act.

The document outlines the economic and sustainability benefits of organic waste separation for Western Cape businesses, highlighting a provincial goal to ban the landfilling of all organic waste by 2027. It categorizes available waste-to-value solutions—including waste-to-pharma, food, feed, soil, and energy—and provides a framework for onsite management, such as appointing a waste champion and implementing source separation. The brief also details relevant legal frameworks, including the National Environmental Management: Waste Act and City of Cape Town by-laws, emphasizing the need for accredited service providers.

The report examines the transition of South Africa's waste sector from a landfill-centric model to a sustainable waste economy. It highlights a significant gap between current recycling rates (approximately 10%) and the potential resource value of R17 billion that could be unlocked through full recycling. In the Western Cape, the report identifies key opportunities in recyclables, organics, e-waste, and construction and demolition waste, while noting that municipal financial constraints necessitate public-private partnerships to achieve a 20% waste diversion target by 2019.

The South African waste sector is transitioning from a landfill-centric model to one focused on waste diversion, driven by regulatory reforms and limited landfill airspace. While only 10% of waste is currently recycled, significant opportunities exist in the recovery of paper, plastics, glass, e-waste, and construction and demolition waste. In the Western Cape, the City of Cape Town generates 70% of the province's waste, presenting a concentrated market for alternative treatment. Waste-to-energy (WtE) projects face economic and regulatory hurdles, such as low landfill gate fees and electricity prices, but opportunities remain in small-scale biogas and large-scale REIPPPP projects. The report also highlights the role of Producer Responsibility Organisations (PROs) and the availability of green manufacturing incentives in Special Economic Zones like Atlantis.

The document argues that solar PV installations on packhouses are financially viable, particularly for larger systems, due to high daytime energy needs for cooling. It provides a model of financial feasibility and four case studies demonstrating electricity cost reductions and CO2 emissions avoidance. The brief also outlines the regulatory and technical requirements for feeding excess electricity back into the grid within various Western Cape municipalities.

The report identifies a growing demand for energy-efficient construction in South Africa, driven by electricity price increases of over 200% since 2009 and the mandatory SANS 10400 XA regulations. It highlights significant opportunities in bulk insulation for public sector housing, estimated at over R9 billion over five years, and the rise of Light Steel Frame Building (LSFB) methods in residential and commercial sectors. The Western Cape is positioned as a strategic hub for green technology, supported by the Atlantis greentech Special Economic Zone (SEZ) and local government incentives.

The report analyzes South Africa's renewable energy landscape, divided into utility-scale, commercial/industrial, and residential segments. It highlights the success of the REIPPPP in procuring over 5,000 MW and reducing tariffs, while noting that the lack of an updated Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) creates investor uncertainty. The Western Cape is positioned as a potential green economy hub, leveraging initiatives like the Atlantis Special Economic Zone and the SARETEC training center.

The report analyzes the South African waste sector, which is worth approximately R15 billion and employs 29,000 people. It highlights the Western Cape's higher recycling rates (14%) compared to the national average (9.8%) and examines various waste streams, including plastics, paper, glass, metals, e-waste, and construction and demolition waste. The document identifies significant barriers to waste-to-energy (WtE) projects, such as complex municipal procurement processes and regulatory hurdles, while outlining potential for biogas generation from agricultural and organic waste. It also details GreenCape's initiatives, such as the Western Cape Industrial Symbiosis Programme (WISP), to promote a circular economy.

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.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) reports that PAIA is poorly implemented in South Africa, with public bodies frequently refusing environmental information requests by citing the protection of third-party commercial interests. While some departments like the DEA show consistency, others like the DMR and various municipalities exhibit high refusal rates and poor response times. The report highlights a specific lack of transparency regarding oil refinery atmospheric emission licences and details litigation used to compel the disclosure of environmental records from corporate polluters.

The South African waste economy, valued at R15.3 billion, is transitioning from 'end of pipe' to 'cradle to cradle' solutions under the National Environmental Management: Waste Act. While the recycling rate stands at 19.6%, the sector faces significant hurdles in municipal procurement, feedstock security, and legal authorisation backlogs. In the Western Cape, municipalities like Cape Town, Drakenstein, and Stellenbosch are pursuing waste-to-energy and organic waste treatment to address critical landfill airspace shortages, with some landfills estimated to have less than 3 years of capacity remaining.

The South African waste economy is valued at R15.3 billion, representing approximately 0.51% of GDP. While the National Environmental Management: Waste Act (NEM:WA) has shifted the sector toward 'cradle-to-cradle' solutions, developers face significant hurdles, including complex municipal procurement processes, long legal authorisation backlogs, and difficulties in securing long-term feedstock agreements. In the Western Cape, limited landfill airspace—with some sites having less than three years of capacity—is driving a need for decentralized waste-to-energy and recycling projects.