Search Climate Insights Directory

The document highlights the interconnectedness of nature, society, and the economy, using the devastating floods in KwaZulu-Natal as a catalyst for discussing climate risks. It outlines South Africa's efforts to transition from fossil fuels via a US$8.5 billion Just Energy Transition Partnership and its progress in expanding protected land and marine areas. The text emphasizes the role of innovative financing, such as the World Bank's US$150 million "Rhino Bond," and nature-based solutions in achieving sustainable development. Finally, it situates these efforts within global frameworks like the Paris Agreement and the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework, as well as regional initiatives like the African Union Climate Change and Resilient Development Strategy and Action Plan.

The Life After Coal/Impilo Ngaphandle Kwamalahle Campaign, represented by the Centre for Environmental Rights, groundWork, and Earthlife Africa, submitted comments on the Climate Change Bill, 2022. The submission argues that the Bill is insufficient to address the climate emergency and lacks the urgency, ambition, and enforcement mechanisms necessary to meet South Africa's international obligations under the Paris Agreement and protect constitutional rights.

Natural Justice submitted comments on the draft Climate Change Bill (B9-2022) to the South African Portfolio Committee on Environment, Forestry and Fisheries on 27 May 2022. The organization argues that the Bill lacks the urgency required to address the climate crisis, fails to set ambitious emission reduction targets, and provides insufficient protections for constitutional rights and vulnerable communities.

This Rule 16A Notice, filed by the Centre for Environmental Rights on behalf of GroundWork Trust and the South Durban Community Environmental Alliance, raises a constitutional issue regarding the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment's decision to refuse an appeal on 20 November 2021 concerning an Environmental Authorisation granted to Phinda Power Producers (Pty) Limited.

A collaborative scientific study found that human-induced climate change approximately doubled the probability of the extreme 2-day rainfall that caused devastating floods in eastern South Africa in April 2022, increasing the event's intensity by 4-8%.

Natural Justice critiques the South African Oceans Economy Master Plan to 2035, stating it lacks concrete analysis on greenhouse gas mitigation and contradicts global scientific consensus by proposing offshore oil and gas exploration. The commentary highlights a 'troubling absence' of biodiversity considerations and fails to address the needs of small-scale and subsistence fishers. It further argues that the plan's job creation claims lack factual support and that the public participation process was flawed, excluding many marginalized coastal communities.

The document details the environmental and social safeguard compliance for the uThukela MPA Ecosystem Based Management Project in South Africa. It outlines the disclosure of the Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP), the Stakeholder Engagement Plan, and the Grievance Mechanism, ensuring accessibility in both English and isiZulu for local communities. The project focuses on the protection and restoration of ecosystems in the uThukela Banks Marine Protected Area and associated estuarine zones to reduce climate-related socio-ecological risk.

The report finds that biomass supply chains, particularly those using lignocellulosic biomass, could offset a significant portion of the approximately 4,000 coal trucking jobs expected to decline during South Africa's energy transition. By modelling four SAF production pathways, the study estimates that nearly 75% of current coal trucking jobs could be directly transitioned to biomass transport using existing side tipper trucks. Additional opportunities exist for super link and tanker drivers, though these may require capital investment for truck conversion or specialized training. The analysis concludes that embracing a bio-based and circular economy is essential for an inclusive just transition for workers in the coal value chain.

The report assesses the South African large-scale renewable energy market, focusing on the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP) and the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) 2019. It identifies significant growth potential in solar PV, onshore wind, and battery storage, while highlighting critical barriers such as grid saturation in the Northern and Western Cape and the financial instability of the state utility, Eskom. The document also explores emerging opportunities in green hydrogen production and local manufacturing of components, supported by the Atlantis Special Economic Zone in the Western Cape.

South Africa has the technical potential to produce between 3.2 and 4.5 billion litres of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) annually, depending on the use of green hydrogen. The most cost-efficient route is the first-generation alcohol-to-jet (AtJ) pathway using sugarcane A-molasses, while the largest volume potential comes from processing invasive alien plants (IAPs) and garden waste via Fischer-Tropsch synthesis. A domestic SAF industry could create over 100,000 direct green jobs, including significant opportunities for coal-truck drivers in transition, and improve the national balance of trade by up to R170 billion per annum.

South Africa has the technical potential to produce 3.2 to 4.5 billion litres of SAF annually, depending on the use of green hydrogen. The most cost-efficient route is the first-generation (1G) alcohol-to-jet (AtJ) pathway using sugarcane A-molasses, while the largest volume potential comes from invasive alien plants (IAPs) and garden waste via gasification and Fischer-Tropsch (GFT) synthesis. A domestic SAF industry could create over 100,000 direct green jobs, improve the national balance of trade by up to R159.5 billion per year, and provide alternative livelihoods for coal truckers in mining regions.

The IEJ criticizes the South African National Treasury's 'fiscal consolidation' approach, arguing that budget cuts during a recession are procyclical and retard economic recovery. The document asserts that there is significant fiscal space due to tax overruns and IMF funding, which should be used for a Universal Basic Income Grant (UBIG) and job creation initiatives. It warns that prioritizing debt reduction over public expenditure has led to real declines in spending for education and social grants, which undermines human capital and socio-economic rights.

The study examines how the decentralisation of education governance to SGBs under the South African Schools Act of 1996 functions in practice. It finds that in underperforming schools in KwaZulu Natal, SGBs are often ineffective due to low parental participation, significant capacity deficits, and a tendency for principals to dominate decision-making. While SGBs have legal powers over teacher appointments and financial oversight, these are often undermined by political influence, lack of training, and a reactive approach to support from district officials. The paper concludes that the current system of governance is ineffective in underperforming schools, which increases the administrative burden on principals and fails to strategically improve learner outcomes.

The Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ) critiques the South African National Treasury's approach to debt reduction through expenditure cuts, asserting that such austerity is economically flawed and violates constitutional and international human rights obligations. The report highlights the negative impacts of budget cuts on education and healthcare, noting that the 2021 Budget's non-interest spending is projected to contract at an annual real average rate of 5.2 per cent. To counter this, the IEJ suggests utilizing additional fiscal space from SARS revenue windfalls and IMF funding, implementing progressive taxes such as a wealth tax and social security tax, and launching a GDP-linked stimulus package. The document advocates for a Universal Basic Income Guarantee (UBIG) and the conduct of gendered human rights impact assessments to guide fiscal policy.

The document advocates for the use of Other Effective area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs) in Africa to bridge the gap between biodiversity protection and community livelihoods. It highlights that while traditional protected areas often displaced local populations, OECMs allow for diverse governance—including community and private partnerships—that can deliver both conservation and economic gains. Through case studies in South Africa and Kenya, the briefing demonstrates how these models can generate income via tourism, sustainable ranching, and ecosystem services. It concludes that African governments should collectively advocate for community-centred conservation in the post-2020 global biodiversity framework, provided that rights-based approaches, innovative financing, and context-specific research are prioritised to avoid elite capture and ensure equitable benefit distribution.

The Centre for Environmental Rights, acting for groundWork, submitted a formal objection on 18 June 2021 to the Water Use Licence (WUL) application for the Nseleni Independent Floating Power Plant (NIFPP) at the Port of Richards Bay. The objection argues that the 12-page application is 'woefully deficient and incomplete,' failing to provide necessary data on water resource impacts, climate change, and the full scope of associated infrastructure to allow for an informed decision.

The research paper explores the concept of a restoration economy in Africa, focusing on the South African 'Working for Wetlands' programme. It identifies key enablers for success, such as linking restoration to poverty relief and vocational training, while noting constraints like bureaucratic rigidity and over-reliance on public funding. The author argues that for Africa to 'build back better' post-COVID-19, ecological restoration must be integrated into development planning and funded by the production sectors (mining, agriculture, forestry) that impact ecosystems, moving toward a circular economy model.

The document outlines systemic governance failures in South Africa from a youth perspective, highlighting exclusion from political decision-making, extreme economic inequality, and poor infrastructure in education and health. It argues that while progressive policies often exist on paper, implementation is slow and unsystematic, particularly regarding land reform, climate change transition, and youth employment. The submission recommends institutionalising youth quotas, expanding social protection through a basic income grant, and reforming the electoral system to allow independent candidates.

Natural Justice (NJ) submits that while the Upgrading of Land Tenure Rights Amendment Bill is necessary to address the unconstitutionality of the 1991 Act—which discriminated against women by automatically converting tenure rights to ownership for men—the proposed mechanisms remain flawed. NJ argues that the reliance on Government Gazette notifications is unrealistic for rural women and that the top-down state-led arbitration process ignores local family-level tenure structures. The submission calls for the permanent adoption of the Interim Protection of Informal Land Rights Act and a shift toward local knowledge-based tenure determination.

The Institute for Economic Justice reports that only about a third of South Africa's R500 billion COVID-19 rescue package had been utilized by February 2021. While social security and wage relief saw significant spending, other areas like the credit guarantee scheme and municipal funding suffered from disastrous underspending and lack of transparency. The report highlights that the expiration of social grants and the TERS scheme occurred just before the second pandemic wave, potentially plunging millions into hunger and leaving workers without support.