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The report assesses the South African utility-scale renewable energy sector, primarily driven by the REIPPPP. It highlights the programme's success in procuring over 6,300 MWp of capacity and attracting R194 billion in investment. The document details the role of government policies, the shift toward competitive tariffs for wind and solar PV, and the strategic importance of local content and socio-economic development. It also identifies opportunities for municipal power procurement and the development of green technology hubs, specifically in the Western Cape.

The report examines South Africa's renewable energy landscape, highlighting the success of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REI4P) in attracting R195 billion in investment and creating 26,790 jobs. It argues that South Africa possesses world-class solar and wind resources that could allow for a 70% renewable energy share by 2040, reducing costs and emissions. However, the document identifies significant barriers, primarily the state utility Eskom's reluctance to sign power purchase agreements and a historical path-dependency on coal. It also discusses the rise of rooftop photovoltaics and the necessity of a 'just transition' to protect workers in the coal sector.

The document commemorates Andries Steenkamp, an outspoken leader from the Kalahari and the Khomani San community. He is recognized for his significant contributions to indigenous peoples in South Africa and his involvement in Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) cases concerning Hoodia, Scelletium, and Rooibos.

South Africa's 2nd Biennial Update Report (2016) provides a comprehensive assessment of the country's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from 2000 to 2012, highlighting the energy sector as the primary contributor. It outlines national mitigation strategies, including the introduction of a carbon tax and carbon budgets, and details the financial resources mobilized from bilateral and multilateral sources. The report also describes the development of a national monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) system and the National Greenhouse Gas Inventory System (NGHGIS) to improve data accuracy and transparency.

South Africa faces a severe water crisis driven by climate change, population growth, and crumbling infrastructure. The report argues that the country must shift its focus from building new infrastructure to managing demand through water efficiency. Key opportunities for savings include improving agricultural irrigation (30-40%), reducing municipal leaks and household waste (12-30%), and increasing industrial efficiency. The document emphasizes the role of the business community in disclosing water use and investing in water-saving technologies to avoid economic instability and social unrest.

The National Environmental Compliance and Enforcement Report 2015/16 details the activities of South Africa's Environmental Management Inspectorate (EMI). It records a total of 2,647 EMIs, with a significant increase in proactive inspections and a rise in administrative notices. The report highlights enforcement trends in 'brown' (pollution/waste), 'green' (biodiversity), and 'blue' (marine/freshwater) sectors, noting a stabilization in rhino poaching numbers. It also documents specific legal cases, legislative updates, and capacity-building efforts for inspectors and prosecutors.

The report examines the South African utility-scale renewable energy market, primarily driven by the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP). It details the growth of wind and solar PV, the impact of local content requirements, and the role of the Western Cape as a greentech hub. It also identifies expansion opportunities within the SADC region and other African nations, while noting infrastructure constraints at Eskom.

The 'Environmental Impact Assessment Guideline for Renewable Energy Projects' outlines the regulatory framework and procedural requirements for deploying renewable energy technologies in South Africa. It details the environmental impacts of various technologies—including wind, solar, biomass, and hydropower—and maps these to the specific national legislation and authorisations required under the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA) and other sectoral laws. The guide provides a structured approach to the Basic Assessment (BA) and Scoping and Environmental Impact Reporting (S&EIR) processes, including timeframes, stakeholder roles, and mitigation strategies to ensure sustainable development.

The report examines the critical pressures facing South African agriculture, including resource scarcity, climate change, and socio-economic inequality. It highlights the interdependence of food, water, and energy systems, warning that current trends in soil degradation, water over-abstraction, and biodiversity loss threaten long-term productivity. The document calls for a shift toward sustainable farming practices, improved land-use planning, and coordinated governance to protect the natural resource base while feeding a growing population.

The report examines the legal landscape for indigenous peoples and local communities in South Africa, highlighting a tension between constitutional human rights and state-led developmental interests. While frameworks like the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act (NEMBA) provide for benefit-sharing in bioprospecting, other sectors—particularly mining and large-scale infrastructure—often prioritize national interests over community rights. The document notes that the lack of a permanent communal land tenure regime and the 1913 cut-off date for land restitution significantly hinder the self-determination of groups like the Khoi-San. It concludes that while co-management models in protected areas exist, they often fail to decentralize power effectively.

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 National Environmental Compliance & Enforcement Report 2013/14 details the activities of South Africa's Environmental Management Inspectorate (EMI). Key trends include a 12.26% increase in registered EMIs and a significant rise in reported environmental incidents. While industrial sectors like cement and refineries show improved performance due to proactive inspections, biodiversity crimes—particularly rhino poaching—remain a critical concern despite heavy court sentences. The report also highlights legislative updates, judicial precedents regarding the 'polluter pays' principle, and capacity-building initiatives for law enforcement and prosecutors.

The report assesses the feasibility of a greentech SEZ in Atlantis, South Africa. It identifies high-potential opportunities in wind turbine components, solar PV components, and solar water heaters, driven largely by government programs like the REIPPP. The study recommends a business case that prioritizes refurbishing existing industrial property over greenfield development to reduce costs and risk. It projects that a moderate demand scenario could create 1,440 direct permanent jobs and attract R650 million in FDI by 2030.

The 2014 South African elections saw the ANC retain power with 62.2% of the vote, though it experienced a real loss of 10.41% when controlling for registered voter growth. The DA increased its national vote share to 22.23%, consolidating its position as the official opposition, while the newly formed EFF secured 6.35% of the national vote and became the official opposition in Limpopo and the North West. The analysis highlights significant ANC losses in Gauteng and predicts highly competitive 2016 local government races in the City of Johannesburg, Tshwane, and Nelson Mandela Bay.

The document examines South Africa's struggle to transition from a high-carbon, coal-based energy economy to a green economy. It analyzes the role of the state-owned utility Eskom, the impact of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPP), and various financial and regulatory incentives designed to attract private investment in renewables. The author argues that while policy signals are positive, a lack of inter-departmental coordination and the entrenched nature of the minerals-energy complex hinder the transition.

The Pixley Ka Seme District Spatial Development Framework (2013-2018) provides a strategic spatial plan for a region in the Northern Cape, South Africa, characterized by vast landscapes and significant socio-economic challenges. Key priorities include leveraging the SKA project in Carnarvon, developing a renewable energy hub (particularly solar), and optimizing transport corridors (N1, N8, N10, N12) and the Orange River corridor. The plan emphasizes sustainable water management in a water-scarce region, the promotion of Karoo-based agro-tourism, and the integration of local municipalities to foster economic growth and poverty eradication.

The report details a period of transition for South Africa's energy efficiency sector. While new building codes (SANS 10400) and tax incentives (Section 12L) aim to institutionalize efficiency, the market for domestic solar water heaters has seen a decline and consolidation following the cessation of various Eskom subsidies. Conversely, the LED lighting and embedded generation sectors, particularly solar PV, show signs of growth and increasing price competitiveness.

The National Environmental Compliance and Enforcement Report 2014-15 details the activities of South Africa's 'Green Scorpions' (EMIs). It reports a 19.8% increase in registered EMIs to 2,294 and highlights a rise in criminal dockets by 8.5%. The report identifies illegal hunting and unlawful commencement of listed activities as the most prevalent crimes. It also documents specific industrial inspections, biodiversity enforcement focusing on rhinoceros and cycads, and the implementation of capacity-building programs for law enforcement and judicial officers.

The 2014 Blue Drop Report indicates a decline in national drinking water management performance, with the average score dropping from 87.6% in 2012 to 79.6% in 2014. While microbiological compliance remains high, chemical compliance and water loss management are identified as critical areas for improvement across various provinces.

The 2014 Green Drop Progress Report, published by GreenCape, provides a national overview of wastewater treatment performance in South Africa. It utilizes the Progress Assessment Tool (PAT) to track the Cumulative Risk Rating (CRR) of municipal, public, and private wastewater treatment plants, highlighting a general trend of increasing risk across the sector between 2013 and 2014.