Search Climate Insights Directory

This research paper examines the water crisis in Johannesburg as a symptom of broader systemic failures in South Africa's municipal and national governance. It argues that the inability to deliver basic socio-economic rights, such as water and sanitation, is driven by a combination of severe capacity constraints, corruption, and a national government strategy of fiscal consolidation that prioritizes debt reduction over constitutional obligations to citizens.

This document is a collection of abstracts for the COMPACT National Research Conference 2025, titled "Reimagining Developmental Local Government: New Approaches to Legacy Challenges." The abstracts outline various research papers and provocations focused on enhancing citizen participation, gender and youth inclusivity, innovative urban practices, and performance monitoring within South African municipalities.

The COP29 South African Youth Statement, presented by the Youth Policy Committee Global Change Working Group via Youth@SAIIA, outlines a comprehensive set of demands for the South African government delegation to COP29. The statement advocates for a climate justice approach that integrates human rights, gender equality, and social justice, calling for urgent reforms in water sanitation, waste management, and the energy transition to protect marginalized communities.

This case study describes a community dialogue initiative established in 2021 between the towns of Hoekwil and Touwsranten in the Western Cape, South Africa. Facilitated by the Institute for Security Studies, the initiative aimed to bridge racial and class divides to address shared safety concerns and economic instability.

This research paper analyzes the formation and policy implications of South Africa's new coalition government, termed a 'government of national unity' (GNU), following the 2024 elections. It examines the ideological tensions between the African National Congress (ANC) and its partners, specifically the Democratic Alliance (DA), and how these frictions may impact domestic social and economic priorities as well as foreign policy regarding BRICS, Russia, and Israel.

The GreenCape Market Intelligence Report 2024 focuses on investment opportunities in South Africa's energy services market, specifically rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) installations and behind-the-meter (BTM) lithium-ion energy storage. The report details the drivers of growth, such as rising electricity costs and loadshedding, as well as barriers including skilled labor shortages and port inefficiencies.

This insights brief by the Southern African Resilience Academy (SARA) examines the role of urban informality in building equitable resilience in cities across southern Africa and the Global South. It argues that while informality is often invisible or viewed as a challenge, it provides critical services, livelihoods, and innovation that can enhance urban resilience if harnessed through inclusive governance and partnerships.

This Request for Quotation (RFQ) issued by GreenCape seeks a service provider to develop the system requirements and solution architecture for an online platform designed to address skills priorities in the renewable energy sector. Funded by UK Pact, the platform aims to connect industry, Post School and Education Training (PSET) institutions, and Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs) to align graduate skills with industry competency needs.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) submitted a legal argument to the High Court of South Africa stating that, as a registered and accredited law clinic that provides free legal services and does not handle client funds or property, it is legally entitled to litigate without a fidelity fund certificate or a trust account.

In a speech delivered at the South African Institute of International Affairs on 26 April 2023, President Sauli Niinistö of Finland addresses the intersection of global crises, including climate change, food insecurity, and the war in Ukraine. He emphasizes the necessity of international cooperation, the importance of a fair climate transition for Africa, and Finland's decision to join NATO in response to Russian aggression.

The Gauteng High Court upheld a decision by the MEC for Economic Development, Environment, Agriculture and Rural Affairs to grant environmental authorisation for a light industrial township in Johannesburg on the condition that a stream remain in its natural course, rejecting the developer's preference to divert it.

This report by the Institute for Security Studies examines the drivers of conflict between local residents and foreign-born migrants in the Atteridgeville and Diepsloot townships of Gauteng, South Africa. The research concludes that tensions are primarily driven by socio-economic pressures—including high unemployment, poor service delivery, and competition for scarce resources—rather than innate xenophobia.

This report summarizes a two-day conference held in October 2023 by the Public Affairs Research Institute (PARI) and the Council for the Advancement of the South African Constitution (CASAC). The event focused on the implementation of recommendations from the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture (the Zondo Commission) to hold perpetrators accountable and reform state institutions to prevent future state capture in South Africa.

The Public Affairs Research Institute (PARI) and the Council for the Advancement of the Constitution (CASAC) hosted a conference on September 14-15, 2022, to analyze the final report of the Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture. The conference focused on enhancing state and private sector accountability through themes such as public procurement reform, whistle-blower protection, and the strengthening of governance institutions in South Africa.

A summary of a High Court of South Africa judgment where the City of Ekurhuleni Municipality successfully obtained an interdict against New Star Technology CC and Zhibing Yuan for operating a waste recycling facility without required environmental authorisations.

This policy brief examines the deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) in Africa, highlighting the tension between the potential for socio-economic growth and the risks posed by foreign technology monopolies, precarious digital labour, and human rights violations. It analyzes emerging national AI strategies in countries like Egypt, Mauritius, and Rwanda, while arguing that African policymakers must prioritize local capacity, inclusive infrastructure, and gender-sensitive labour protections to ensure AI serves national developmental priorities rather than external interests.

This research paper examines the drivers and consequences of increased Eurobond issuance and sovereign credit ratings in Africa over the last decade, arguing that the 'big three' rating agencies exert significant influence over African debt costs while lacking accountability and local context.

This research paper examines the drivers and consequences of the increased issuance of Eurobonds and sovereign credit ratings in Africa. It argues that while Eurobonds were intended to reduce reliance on aid, the dominance of the 'big three' rating agencies—Moody's, Fitch, and Standard & Poor's—has often led to deteriorating credit ratings, higher borrowing costs, and constrained policy space for African governments, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This policy brief by the Institute for Security Studies examines how adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and violence negatively impact human development in South Africa. Drawing on the Birth to Thirty (Bt30) cohort study, it argues that childhood adversity creates a cumulative risk that undermines health, education, and economic productivity in adulthood, thereby hindering national development.

This report by WWF South Africa examines the role of the informal waste sector in African cities, advocating for an "inclusive circular economy" that integrates reclaimers into formal waste management systems. It analyzes the operational status, socio-economic challenges, and policy landscapes of reclaimers in Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, and Uganda, arguing that their inclusion is essential for sustainable urban waste management and poverty alleviation.