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This executive summary describes a study by the Public Affairs Research Institute (PARI) into the effectiveness of parliamentary oversight in South Africa. The research examines the nature of the oversight function, the factors shaping it, and potential enhancements to hold the government accountable, particularly in the context of the 7th Parliament's grand coalition.

This report by Ember analyzes global power sector emissions and electricity generation for the first half of 2023, noting that emissions plateaued due to a historic decline in hydropower output that offset gains from wind and solar growth.

The Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ) argues that claims of an immediate fiscal crisis in South Africa are exaggerated by the National Treasury to justify unpopular budget cuts. The IEJ suggests that current revenue shortfalls and expenditure overspends are within historical norms and can be managed through alternative fiscal strategies, such as utilizing central bank reserves and increasing taxes on high-income earners, rather than through austerity measures that could contract the economy.

This policy brief by the Institute for Economic Justice argues that the 'fiscal crisis' reported by South Africa's National Treasury is exaggerated for political reasons and can be managed without destructive budget cuts, while warning that long-term sustainability depends on economic expansion.

This document is a PAIA Manual published in October 2023 by the Centre for Environmental Rights (CER), a non-profit law clinic based in Cape Town. The manual outlines the procedures and categories of information available to the public in accordance with the Promotion of Access to Information Act, 2000 (PAIA) and the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 (POPIA), ensuring transparency and the exercise of environmental rights.

The report by Global Energy Monitor (GEM) analyzes global coal mining employment and the necessity of a 'just transition' for workers. Using a new dataset from the Global Coal Mine Tracker, GEM estimates that nearly 2.7 million people are directly employed at operating coal mines. The report warns that hundreds of thousands of jobs are at risk due to planned mine closures by 2035 and 2050, regardless of climate policies, and that significantly more layoffs would occur if the world adheres to 1.5°C and 2°C warming scenarios.

The Universal Basic Income Coalition (UBIC), a group of South African civil society organisations, advocates for a universal basic income (UBI) for adults aged 18 to 59 to address structural unemployment, extreme inequality, and poverty. The coalition proposes a rights-based macroeconomic shift away from fiscal austerity toward a redistributive system where a basic income is guaranteed, unconditional, and pegged to national poverty lines to ensure human dignity and social protection.

This guide, published by Natural Justice in October 2023, provides information about an application by TotalEnergies EP South Africa B.V. (TEEPSA) and its partners to produce oil and gas in Block 11B/12B off the south coast of South Africa. It outlines the proposed activities, potential environmental and social impacts, and the process for public commentary on the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) report.

This briefing by the Public Affairs Research Institute (PARI) evaluates the progress of the South African government in implementing the recommendations of the Zondo Commission on state capture. It argues that while some legislative steps have been taken, many executive promises remain vague, and critical structural weaknesses in Parliament, the criminal justice system, and state-owned entities (SOEs) have not been adequately addressed.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) provided formal submissions on the Draft National Appeal Regulations 2023 under the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA), 1998. The CER argues that several proposed regulations create barriers to public participation, violate principles of administrative justice, and are inconsistent with existing NEMA provisions, particularly regarding appeal timeframes and the use of standardized forms.

This briefing by the NewClimate Institute evaluates the progress of 16 countries against 1.5°C-aligned benchmarks for decarbonising the power sector. It argues that a global transition to clean power must be achieved within a generation, requiring the phase-out of coal and fossil gas by 2040, with developed nations moving faster. While some countries show progress in coal phase-outs and renewables, the briefing highlights a critical lack of explicit fossil gas phase-out plans and concerns over China's coal plant permitting.

The Centre for Environmental Rights, acting on behalf of Appellants, submitted a statement to the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment opposing a request by Tetra4 (Pty) Ltd for condonation regarding the late filing of its responding statement in an appeal against an environmental authorisation granted on 13 July 2023.

This report by Ember analyses Chinese customs data from the first half of 2023, detailing a 34% increase in solar module exports. It highlights that while global manufacturing capacity is sufficient to meet 1.5C climate pathways, bottlenecks in installation and grid integration are leading to an accumulation of solar panel stocks in warehouses, particularly in Europe.

This report examines market trends in the sugar cane sector, focusing on the impact of sustainability standards on producer incomes in developing countries and the challenges faced by smallholder farmers.

The Joint Strategic Resource (JSR), a group of experts coordinated by the Public Affairs Research Institute (PARI), submitted public comment on the Public Procurement Bill 2023. The JSR argues that the Bill continues to follow an 'administrative paradigm' focused on rigid compliance and expenditure control, rather than a 'strategic contracting paradigm' that would allow for flexibility, professional expertise, and better service delivery outcomes.

The Procurement Reform Working Group (PRWG) issued a statement on 11 September 2023 regarding the Public Procurement Bill [B 18-2023]. While the PRWG views the creation of a single national legislative framework as a positive step toward simplifying a system currently governed by over 100 pieces of legislation, it warns that the Bill's current draft contains critical flaws. These include ambiguous definitions of 'preferential procurement' and 'public procurement', and an over-reliance on subordinate legislation and the law-making powers of the National Treasury and Public Procurement Office rather than concrete statutory rules.

The Institute for Economic Justice argues that the South African National Treasury is using fears of a "fiscal cliff" to justify unwise spending cuts while ignoring alternative revenue-raising strategies and the severe social consequences of austerity.

An analysis by Ember on per capita coal power emissions across G20 economies from 2015 to 2022, highlighting that while over half of these nations have seen declines, Australia and South Korea remain the highest polluters per capita.

The Corporate Climate Finance Playbook provides a framework for companies to strategically deploy, manage, and raise capital to meet climate goals. It categorizes instruments into capital deployment, management, and raising, emphasizing the need to match financial tools to the innovation stage of climate initiatives. Through case studies from companies like Microsoft, Autodesk, and Salesforce, it demonstrates how blending philanthropy, venture capital, and sustainability bonds can accelerate the transition to net zero.

The Global Electricity Mid-Year Insights 2023 report by Ember analyses global electricity generation from January to June 2023. It finds that global power sector emissions plateaued, increasing by only 0.2%, as significant growth in wind and solar was offset by a historic decline in hydropower generation caused by droughts.