Search Climate Insights Directory

Natural Justice (NJ) submitted a formal objection on 31 January 2022 to proposed amendments to the s24H Registration Authority Regulations, 2016 under the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA). NJ argues that requiring a registered Environmental Assessment Practitioner (EAP) to handle appeals and certain submissions would create prohibitive financial barriers for communities, effectively barring them from the appeals process and subsequent judicial review.

Natural Justice (NJ) submitted a critique of the South African Department of Mineral Resources and Energy's (DMRE) Gas Master Plan Base Case report on January 31, 2022. NJ argues that the plan is incompatible with climate commitments, lacks sufficient risk analysis regarding financial and environmental costs, and fails to provide adequate mechanisms for public participation and community compensation.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) submitted comments to the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment regarding proposed amendments to the Section 24H Registration Authority Regulations (EAPASA Regulations). The CER objects to further delays in the mandatory registration of environmental assessment practitioners (EAPs) and requests clarification to ensure that the amendments do not restrict the public's right to lodge internal appeals under section 43 of the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA).

This research paper by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) outlines how Canada can utilize federal legislation to advance a just transition, drawing on international best practices and interviews with 15 experts.

The Civil Society Working Group on State Capture issued a statement responding to the first part of the Zondo Commission's report on state capture in South Africa. The group welcomes the report's findings and recommendations, particularly regarding whistle-blower protection, but calls for more robust recommendations to catalyze wholesale state reform and demands swift action from law enforcement and professional oversight bodies to ensure accountability.

A press statement issued on 23 January 2022 by a collective of organisations, including the Public Affairs Research Institute and the Defend our Democracy Campaign, condemning the targeting of migrants in South Africa and calling for government intervention to prevent xenophobic violence.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER), acting for Earthlife Africa and groundWork, has formally raised concerns regarding the notification process and timelines for appealing the National Air Quality Officer's (NAQO) October 2021 decisions on Eskom's applications for postponement or suspension of compliance with Minimum Emission Standards (MES).

This research paper assesses the demand for remittance-linked insurance products (RLIPs) among migrants in South Africa sending money to Ghana, Malawi, and Zimbabwe. It finds that while senders are highly concerned about health, death, and education costs for themselves and their families, they rely almost exclusively on informal coping mechanisms and savings. The study highlights a significant trust gap in formal financial services, particularly among Ghanaian senders, and recommends that RLIPs be designed with small, discretionary premiums, clear terms, and a strong link to the wellbeing of the receivers.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) analyzes the necessity and design of federal just transition legislation in Canada. It evaluates international best practices from 12 jurisdictions to provide a framework for protecting workers and communities during the shift to a low-carbon economy, emphasizing social dialogue, Indigenous partnership, and corporate accountability.

This internal mid-term review (MTR) report evaluates the 'Table Mountain Water Source Area Partnership: Protecting critical groundwater' project, funded by the Danish Embassy and managed by WWF South Africa. The project aims to establish effective joint management systems for groundwater in the Table Mountain Strategic Water Source Area (TM-SWSA) by 2022 through a multi-layered Theory of Change involving groundwater monitoring, awareness raising, and governance. The MTR, conducted in late 2021, identifies successes in awareness raising and the establishment of a multi-stakeholder partnership, while highlighting challenges related to COVID-19, data accessibility, and the complexities of operating within an unequal urban environment.

This report by WWF South Africa analyzes the financing gap and investment opportunities for climate change adaptation and mitigation within the South African agricultural sector. It highlights the sector's vulnerability to extreme weather and the need for a 'just transition' that includes small-scale farmers. The document identifies specific market potentials for AgTech, regenerative agriculture, and renewable energy, while recommending the development of innovative financial instruments, technical assistance facilities, and concessional finance to unlock private capital.

This report by WWF South Africa explores the potential for transitioning coal truck drivers to biomass supply chains, specifically focusing on the production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). The analysis suggests that a significant portion of the approximately 4,000 coal trucking jobs in South Africa could be offset by transporting sustainable biomass, with side tipper truck drivers being the most directly transferable group.

This policy brief by the Africa Policy Research Institute examines the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Africa, highlighting the tension between the continent's central role in the AI supply chain and the dominance of foreign technologies. It analyzes emerging national AI strategies in Egypt, Mauritius, and Rwanda, and discusses risks associated with biometric surveillance, precarious digital labor, and the limitations of adopting European regulatory frameworks like the GDPR and the EU AI Act.

This fact sheet, produced by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN), synthesizes findings from the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) specifically for Southern Africa. It details observed climate changes, future projections, and the resulting impacts on health, biodiversity, food systems, and economies, while outlining adaptation strategies and critical investment needs for the region.

This factsheet, published by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network in 2022, distils findings from the IPCC's Sixth Assessment Report specifically for southern Africa. It details observed climate changes, future risks to health, food systems, and economies, and outlines adaptation strategies and critical investment areas needed to build regional resilience.

This document is an expert affidavit submitted by Susan Frances Brownlie, an Environmental Scientist and Environment Assessment Practitioner, in support of a legal matter in the High Court of South Africa. Brownlie confirms her authorship and the findings of a December 2022 report reviewing the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Environmental Authorisation for the proposed Musina Makhado Special Economic Zone in Limpopo.

This briefing by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) and the Global Initiative for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (GI-ESCR) synthesizes the activities of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) regarding climate change during 2020 and 2021. It details the CRC's increasing focus on state obligations to mitigate climate change, the role of financial and business actors in environmental harm, and the development of a forthcoming General Comment on children's rights and the environment.

The Climate Insurance Linked Resilient Infrastructure Financing (CILRIF) is a financial innovation designed to provide municipalities with long-term climate insurance and capital for resilient infrastructure. By linking insurance premiums to the implementation of adaptation measures, CILRIF incentivizes cities to invest in resiliency to reduce their long-term insurance costs and overall financing expenses.

This fact sheet by the Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ) provides an initial analysis of South Africa's Just Energy Transition Investment Plan (JET-IP), released on 4 November 2022. The IEJ argues that the plan relies too heavily on private finance and loans, which risks increasing national debt, exacerbating energy poverty through 'cost reflective' tariffs, and failing to provide adequate social security for workers in the coal sector.

This report by the Institute for Security Studies analyzes the challenges and opportunities for African nations in global climate change negotiations leading up to COP 27. It examines the structural weaknesses in African diplomacy, the complexities of balancing diverse national interests, and the influence of developed nations on climate policy and trade.