Search Climate Insights Directory

President Nelson Mandela's address at the Kosovo, Africa and Humanitarian Intervention Conference, delivered on 25 August 2000, discusses the disparity in international willingness to intervene in conflicts in Africa compared to Kosovo and emphasizes the need for global accountability and dialogue to prevent human rights violations.

This report by the Institute for Security Studies examines the proliferation of small arms and light weapons in Southern Africa, focusing on the failures of disarmament and demobilisation in UN peacekeeping operations and the subsequent rise of illicit arms trafficking. It argues that the lack of effective weapons control during conflict resolution processes has fueled regional instability and criminal activity, while proposing a coordinated regional approach involving SADC, SARPCCO, and the OAU to manage stocks and reduce the culture of violence.

This report by the Institute for Security Studies analyzes the evolution of security architectures in Southern Africa, tracing the transition from the informal Front-Line States (FLS) alliance to the formal structures of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), specifically the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security, the Inter-State Defence and Security Committee (ISDSC), and the Southern African Police Chiefs Co-operation Organisation (SARPCCO).

This research paper examines the growth, structure, and regulation of the private security industry in South Africa as of 1999. It analyzes the industry's shift toward performing functions traditionally reserved for the police, the resulting tensions regarding accountability and human rights, and the industry's expansion into other African nations.

This research paper by Mark Malan of the Institute for Security Studies examines South Africa's potential roles in resolving the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as of March 1999. It analyzes various scenarios—ranging from a firm peace agreement to the absence of a cease-fire—and proposes an unconventional 'Renaissance peacekeeping' model that co-opts belligerent statutory forces into a multinational operation.

This research paper assesses Western efforts to develop African peacekeeping capabilities in the late 1990s, specifically focusing on the 'P-3 Initiative' (US, UK, and France) and Danish contributions. The authors argue that while these capacity-building programs provide tangible training and equipment, they are primarily driven by Western domestic political desires to avoid direct military or financial involvement in African conflicts. The document also details the institutional, financial, and operational limitations of African regional bodies like the OAU, SADC, and ECOWAS in managing peace and security independently.

This research paper by the Institute for Security Studies evaluates the early development of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security. It argues that the Organ is currently underdeveloped, operating primarily at the summit level and through the military-focused Inter-State Defence and Security Committee (ISDSC), while lacking mechanisms for human rights and democratic governance. The authors propose a comprehensive structural overhaul, including the creation of a Political Co-operation Council, an Institute for Democracy and Human Rights, and a permanent multinational secretariat to move the Organ from a reactive 'fire brigade' role to a proactive regional security framework.

This research paper by the African Forum and Network on Debt and Development (AFRODAD) examines the relationship between escalating sovereign debt in Africa and the subsequent erosion of human rights. The authors argue that high debt-servicing obligations force governments to implement austerity measures and cut spending on essential public services, thereby compromising basic needs and hindering the achievement of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. The paper analyzes debt trends, the impact of various relief initiatives, and the role of civil society, ultimately calling for a human rights-based approach to debt management and the cancellation of debts for highly indebted countries.

This policy brief by the African Forum and Network on Debt and Development examines resource-backed loans (RBLs) and the collateralisation of mineral resources in African countries. It explores how these financial mechanisms can unlock infrastructure funding for resource-rich but capital-poor nations, while warning of significant risks including debt sustainability crises, lack of transparency, and the erosion of competitive public procurement processes.

This document is a confirmatory affidavit and professional curriculum vitae submitted by David Ogier, an independent Climate, Risk, and GIS Specialist, to the High Court of South Africa Eastern Cape Division. Ogier confirms the accuracy of expert maps (FA 10 and FA 11) prepared for a legal matter involving the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy and other respondents, including Shell Exploration and Production South Africa BV and BG International Limited.

The Critical Minerals and Metals Strategy for South Africa is a national roadmap designed to transition the country from a raw material supplier to a global hub for processed critical minerals and high-value end products. The strategy focuses on leveraging South Africa's vast reserves of platinum group metals, manganese, and vanadium to support the global energy transition, specifically in sectors like electric vehicles, green hydrogen, and renewable energy. It outlines six strategic pillars—geoscience mapping, value addition, R&D, infrastructure, financial instruments, and regulatory harmonisation—to drive industrialisation, job creation, and economic resilience while navigating complex geopolitical tensions and promoting regional integration within Africa.

A letter from the CITES Secretary General to Greenpeace International clarifying the status of the Review of Significant Trade in Afrormosia (Pericopsis elata) from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

This report by the Center for International Environmental Law provides an overview of the risks and persecution faced by land and environmental rights defenders in 2013. It details how individuals protecting natural resources and indigenous rights are targeted by state forces and non-state actors, including corporations and organized crime, often in the context of large-scale investment projects and extractive industries.

The Healthy NDC Scorecard is a visual tool designed to evaluate whether national climate commitments (NDCs) are sufficient to protect human health, measuring them against the Paris Agreement and science-aligned targets.

This report by Ember examines how the closure of the Strait of Hormuz exposes the fragility of global fossil fuel dependencies, particularly in Asia, and argues that scaling 'electrotech' (EVs, solar, wind, batteries, and heat pumps) provides a viable path to energy security and economic independence.

This report by Friends of the Earth International analyzes how 17 international agreements, declarations, and normative standards support community forest management (CFM). It identifies key rights—including self-determination, consultation, territorial rights, livelihoods, women's rights, and traditional knowledge—that underpin successful CFM and provides a legal framework for advocates to pressure governments and private sectors to recognize and protect community-led forestry.

This document provides the key terms and methodology for the Forest Declaration Assessment, focusing on indicators for forest loss, degradation, and restoration. It details the use of a linear reduction pathway to reach 'gross zero' deforestation by 2030 and outlines the data sources and cost-effectiveness thresholds used to estimate global restoration potential through 2050.

The Financial Inclusion Using Agency Banking Project (2019-2022), funded by FCDO and implemented by Equity BCDC in the DRC, aimed to increase financial access for unbanked rural and peri-urban populations. By May 2022, the project had deployed 2,982 agents, disbursed over $1m in loans to MSMEs, and created financial awareness for over 8.2 million people.

This report analyzes the financial lives of refugees in Uganda, highlighting a shift from regular employment to self-employment and the adoption of new financial tools like mobile money and ASCAs. While overall earnings have decreased for many, women have seen significant gains in employment and income. The study emphasizes the role of 'grit' in adaptation, the importance of remittances (especially in Kampala), and the continued challenges regarding healthcare access and high costs of basic needs like charcoal.

This fact sheet describes the activities of Persistent Energy Capital, a venture builder and fund that provides equity and support to green innovators in Sub-Saharan Africa, highlighting its partnership with FSD Africa Investments (FSDAi).