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This research paper examines how the trade war between the US and China, alongside President Trump's critical mineral diplomacy, creates a strategic window for African nations to transition from raw material exporters to green technology manufacturing hubs. It argues that countries rich in minerals like cobalt and lithium can leverage geopolitical competition to secure technology transfer, domestic value addition, and diversified investment portfolios.

This briefing by the Environmental and Energy Study Institute describes the critical mineral supply chain and the United States' efforts to secure domestic sources for its clean energy transition. It details the stages of the supply chain, the U.S.'s high reliance on imports, the environmental and social impacts of mining, and the legislative and executive actions taken to promote onshoring and secondary recovery.

A statement by the Institute for Economic Justice and partners calling on the South African government to implement domestic tax reforms for high-net-worth individuals and multinational corporations to align with its international commitments.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development examines the role of state-owned power companies (SPCs) in driving clean energy transitions within emerging markets and developing economies, featuring case studies from India, Indonesia, South Africa, and Viet Nam.

A report by Ember detailing the increasing dominance of BRICS nations in global solar power generation, highlighting that these countries accounted for over half of the world's solar electricity in 2024, led primarily by China, India, and Brazil.

A research paper by the South African Institute of International Affairs analyzing the 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran in June 2025 and the subsequent diplomatic response from BRICS members.

This document is a keynote address by Dr Basani Baloyi of the Institute for Economic Justice to the G20 Empowerment of Women Working Group. It argues that the care economy is the essential foundation of all economic activity and calls for G20 nations to transition from a model where care is invisible and undervalued to one where it is recognized as a public good and a driver of inclusive economic growth.

The Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ) submitted comments to the Finance Standing Committee regarding the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) Amendment Bill [B26 – 2018]. While supporting the transition to sole state ownership of the bank to align with international norms, the IEJ argues that ownership changes alone will not resolve policy incoherence or achieve sustainable economic growth. The IEJ advocates for a broader review of the SARB Act to expand the bank's mandate toward green structural transformation and increase coordination between monetary and fiscal policy.

The Renewables Bulletin: BRICS Edition provides data on the energy transition across BRICS nations, highlighting the dominant role of China in renewable electricity generation and capacity, while noting varying levels of progress in solar and wind adoption across the bloc.

This policy brief by the Institute for Economic Justice argues that G20 countries must establish a coordinated, finance-backed roadmap to phase out oil and gas. While G20 nations have expanded renewable capacity, they continue to provide massive subsidies to fossil fuels, creating economic and political barriers to transition. The document highlights the specific role of South Africa's 2025 G20 presidency in leading equitable discussions on subsidy reform and financing for the Global South.

This policy brief by the Public Affairs Research Institute (PARI) argues that South Africa's current Free Basic Services (FBS) policy provides only a 'survival level' of electricity and water, which is insufficient to lift households out of poverty. The author proposes restructuring the FBS to provide 'developmental levels' of access—specifically 150kWh of electricity and 8kl of water per month for a targeted group of 7.5 million households—and shifting administration from municipalities to a social grant system managed by an independent agency like SASSA to improve equity and delivery.

This briefing note by the Forum on Trade, Environment, & the SDGs (TESS) examines the intersection of international trade and the sustainable bioeconomy. It provides a typology of trade-related policy instruments—including price-based measures, economic incentives, and regulatory requirements—that governments can use to promote nature-positive economic growth. The document emphasizes the need for international cooperation, particularly through the G20, to align these policies, avoid trade frictions, and support low- and middle-income countries in their transition to a sustainable bioeconomy.

This policy brief by the Africa Policy Research Institute examines the role of private sector investment in unlocking Africa's renewable energy (RE) potential. Using Nigeria as a case study, it identifies financial, regulatory, and infrastructural barriers that hinder the scaling of clean energy and provides strategic recommendations to create a more predictable and attractive investment environment.

This research paper argues that South Africa and the European Union (EU) should deepen their strategic interdependence in critical minerals to navigate geopolitical uncertainties and avoid the 'blackmailing logic' of mineral-for-security deals. It highlights the complementary nature of their economies, the EU's financial commitments to South Africa's energy transition, and the need to reconcile the EU's desire for strategic autonomy with South Africa's goal of domestic value addition.

This report by Global Energy Monitor (GEM) analyzes the potential for repurposing abandoned and soon-to-be-closed surface coal mines into solar photovoltaic (PV) power plants. It argues that these sites are ideal for solar development due to their existing proximity to grid infrastructure and the need for land reclamation, offering a pathway to align clean energy goals with local job creation and environmental restoration.

This research paper outlines the priorities of South Africa's 2025 G20 presidency, which focuses on the theme "Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability." The document details South Africa's efforts to center African developmental concerns within the G20, specifically targeting debt sustainability, climate adaptation finance, and the mitigation of illicit financial flows to ensure the grouping remains relevant amidst global fragmentation.

African Civil Society Organisations are calling on the South African G20 Presidency to lead a justice-driven energy transition by prioritizing value-addition and beneficiation of critical minerals within the Global South. The group advocates for people-centred governance, including Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC), transformed industrial financing, and the establishment of a Global Critical Energy Transition Minerals Skills Compact to ensure that the transition addresses inequality and energy poverty in Africa.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER), on behalf of the Life After Coal Campaign, submitted comments on the Presidential Climate Commission's (PCC) draft recommendations for South Africa's 2030–2035 Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) update. The submission emphasizes the need for high mitigation ambition to avoid fossil fuel lock-in, the integration of social justice, and the urgent implementation of adaptation measures in accordance with the Climate Change Act.

This research paper examines Turkey's strategic efforts to secure critical raw materials (CRMs) in Africa to support its domestic industrial goals in defence, electric vehicles, and renewables. It analyzes Turkey's diverse engagement modalities—ranging from direct extraction to integrated industrial hubs and security-linked partnerships—and proposes a trilateral cooperation framework involving the European Union (EU) and African nations to align standards and enhance supply chain resilience.

The Centre for Environmental Rights, on behalf of MACUA and MEJCON-SA and jointly with Natural Justice, submitted formal objections to the Motuoane Exploration Right 386 application. The submission argues that the project's scoping report is deficient in its assessment of climate change, air quality, and groundwater impacts, and that the public participation process was exclusionary and legally inadequate.