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This 2015 briefing note by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) outlines key issues and priorities for the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) ahead of the COP 21 climate conference in Paris. It emphasizes the need for an ambitious, legally binding agreement that addresses the specific vulnerabilities of Africa, ensures equity through the Common But Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDR) principle, and closes significant financial and ambition gaps to limit global warming.

This briefing note, published by the International Institute for Sustainable Development in October 2015, outlines the key issues and priorities for the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) ahead of the 21st Conference of the Parties (COP21) in Paris. It emphasizes the need for a legally binding agreement that addresses the specific vulnerabilities of Africa, ensures climate equity, and secures financial commitments from developed nations to support both mitigation and adaptation efforts.

This report, published by Natural Justice and Namati, synthesizes strategies and lessons from a 2013 symposium of 20 expert advocates working to protect community lands and natural resources across Africa. It provides a practitioner-focused guide to confronting threats such as state-driven mega-projects, large-scale land concessions, and exclusionary conservation. The document emphasizes the importance of community self-definition, the use of biocultural community protocols, and the necessity of multi-pronged advocacy strategies that combine legal education, community mobilization, and strategic engagement with government and media.

The report analyzes the crisis in South Africa's municipal water and sanitation services, finding that while infrastructure access has expanded, functional service delivery is hampered by a critical shortage of basic operational skills (e.g., plumbers, electricians). This 'hollowing out' of the local state is attributed to a historical low valuation of technical trades and 'managerialist' reforms that prioritized high-paid senior management over essential technical staff.

The 2015 SAIIA Sasol Environmental Sustainability Project (ESP) is an educational competition for South African Grade 10-12 learners designed to build knowledge of environmental sustainability through research, presentations, and youth negotiations.

This report, published by the South African Institute of International Affairs in 2015, examines the state of governance and accountability in Africa. It analyzes both continental frameworks, such as the African Union's Agenda 2063 and the African Peer Review Mechanism, and domestic institutions, including parliaments, courts, and ombudsman offices, to identify the drivers of democratic progress and the persistence of authoritarian tendencies.

The SEI Initiative on Fossil Fuels and Climate Change, launched in January 2015, aims to research and influence the supply side of fossil fuel development to align with a 2°C global warming limit. The initiative focuses on the emissions implications of infrastructure, the political economy of extraction, and the role of international governance. It utilizes case studies in Colombia, South Africa, Indonesia, Norway, and the U.S. to explore the transition away from fossil fuel dependence.

This feasibility report, commissioned by the Department of Trade and Industry and produced by GreenCape, evaluates the establishment of a greentech Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Atlantis, a suburb of Cape Town. The report concludes that a small-scale SEZ is viable, particularly if it focuses on manufacturing rather than services, and recommends a 'high road refurbishment' model as the most financially and economically attractive option to attract both large anchor tenants and smaller greentech firms.

The National Exemption Regulations, 2014, establish the formal process for applying for and processing exemptions from the National Environmental Management Act, 1998, its regulations, or related notices. The regulations detail the submission requirements, public participation mandates, and the decision-making timelines for the Minister of Environmental Affairs, the Minister responsible for mineral resources, or the MEC.

The Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations, 2014, establish the legal procedures and criteria for preparing, submitting, and deciding upon applications for environmental authorisations in South Africa. The regulations detail two primary assessment paths—Basic Assessment and Scoping and Environmental Impact Reporting (S&EIR)—and mandate the appointment of independent environmental assessment practitioners (EAPs) to manage the process. They also set strict timeframes for government decisions, requirements for public participation, and protocols for the auditing and amendment of environmental management programmes (EMPr) and closure plans.

The Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations, 2014, establish the legal procedures and criteria for preparing, submitting, and deciding upon applications for environmental authorisations in South Africa. The regulations detail two primary assessment paths—Basic Assessment and Scoping and Environmental Impact Reporting (S&EIR)—and mandate the involvement of independent Environmental Assessment Practitioners (EAPs) and specialists to mitigate detrimental environmental impacts.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) submitted written comments on December 1, 2014, regarding the Draft Regulations for financial provision for the rehabilitation, closure, and post-closure of mining operations in South Africa. While the CER views the draft as a "welcome improvement" over previous systems, it argues that the regulations are too narrow in scope, lack sufficient definitions for 'rehabilitation' and 'specialist', and contain loopholes regarding trust deeds and the duration of 'care and maintenance' periods.

The South African Constitutional Court declared the automatic inclusion of child offenders on the National Register for Sex Offenders unconstitutional, ruling that it violates the principle that a child's best interests must be paramount. The Court held that sentencing courts must have the discretion to decide on registration based on individual circumstances. Parliament was given 15 months to remedy the legislation.

This research paper analyses the legal dispute regarding the Premier of the Western Cape's authority to appoint a commission of inquiry into police inefficiency in Khayelitsha. It examines the resulting judgments from the Western Cape High Court and the Constitutional Court to clarify the scope of provincial policing powers versus national competency in South Africa.

This research paper by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the governance of Namibia's fisheries since independence in 1990. It analyzes the country's efforts to rebuild fish stocks, capture economic rents, and promote local ownership through 'Namibianisation' policies, while highlighting the ecological challenges of the Benguela Current ecosystem and the risks of developing new deep-sea fisheries.

The Supreme Court of Appeal of South Africa ordered ArcelorMittal (AMSA) to disclose environmental records, including a 'Masterplan' on pollution levels at its Vanderbijlpark plant, to the Vaal Environmental Justice Alliance (VEJA). The court ruled that VEJA's request was valid under the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) for the protection of environmental rights, emphasizing that corporate secrecy is unacceptable in matters of environmental protection and that public participation is essential for constitutional enforcement.

This briefing by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the agenda of the 2014 G-20 Summit hosted by Australia, focusing on the interconnectedness of global economic growth, resilience, and development.

This report by the Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) analyzes the implementation of the Promotion of Access to Information Act, 2000 (PAIA) in South Africa between January 2010 and August 2014. It details the challenges in accessing environmental governance and management records from government departments, parastatals, and private bodies, highlighting a trend of using the protection of third-party commercial information to refuse requests.

This report by Friends of the Earth International, Corporate Europe Observatory, and the Transnational Institute examines how the British-South African corporation Anglo American uses its political influence and lobbying networks to protect its coal business and promote 'false climate solutions' while causing significant social and environmental harm at the El Cerrejón mine in Colombia.

This report by Friends of the Earth International, Corporate Europe Observatory, and the Transnational Institute examines how the British-South African mining company Anglo American uses its influence to promote 'dirty energies' and 'false solutions' to the climate crisis. It focuses on the environmental and social impacts of the El Cerrejón coal mine in Colombia and the company's lobbying efforts within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).