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The Institute for Economic Justice and other civil society organisations argue that the South African government's March 2021 response to the United Nations Committee on Social, Economic and Cultural Rights does not show sufficient progress in implementing recommendations, specifically regarding social assistance for adults aged 18 to 59 with little or no income.

This policy brief examines the impact of the G7's proposal on the taxation of the digitalised economy on African countries, arguing that the US-led amendments to the OECD/G20 Inclusive Framework (IF) favor developed nations and risk reducing tax revenues for developing economies.

This report by the Centre for Environmental Rights, authored by Robert Scholes and Francois Engelbrecht of the Global Change Institute, details the human-caused climate impacts affecting southern Africa. It highlights the region's status as a climate 'hotspot' where warming is occurring at twice the global average rate, leading to severe risks for agriculture, water security, human health, and biodiversity. The document emphasizes that the severity of these impacts depends on global mitigation efforts, with warming above 2°C posing catastrophic risks to staple crops and livestock.

This report by Global Energy Monitor and E3G analyzes the significant contraction of the global coal power project pipeline between 2015 and 2021. It argues that a global commitment to 'no new coal' is feasible, as a majority of proposed projects have been cancelled due to poor economics and shifting climate policies.

The September 2021 Peace & Security Council Report by the Institute for Security Studies examines critical stability challenges across Africa, focusing on the appointment of a high representative for the Horn of Africa, the diplomatic rift between Algeria and Morocco, the prevalence of enforced disappearances, security sector reform failures in South Sudan, and Sudan's decision to surrender Omar al-Bashir to the International Criminal Court.

The September 2021 Global Update from Climate Action Tracker reports that global climate action continues to lag behind the requirements for limiting warming to 1.5°C. While some countries have updated their NDCs, the 2030 emissions gap remains significant (20-23 GtCO2e). The report introduces a new rating system where only The Gambia is rated as overall 1.5°C compatible, while most developed nations are rated as 'Insufficient' or worse due to inadequate climate finance and policy implementation. It further critiques the lack of transparency and robustness in most national net zero targets and highlights the continued reliance on coal and gas in several major economies.

This report by the Public Affairs Research Institute (PARI) evaluates whether the current South African model for providing basic municipal services—electricity, water, and sanitation—reduces poverty or entrenches inequality. It concludes that the cost-recovery model is a 'lose-lose' system that impoverishes low-income households by forcing them to sacrifice food expenditure to pay for services, while simultaneously failing to ensure the financial viability of municipalities.

The G20, responsible for 75% of global GHG emissions, currently has commitments that put the world on a trajectory for 2.4°C of warming. While announced but non-formalized pledges could lower this to 2.1°C, only a comprehensive shift where all G20 members align with 1.5°C pathways and mid-century net zero targets could limit warming to 1.7°C. The report identifies a 23 GtCO2e emissions gap for 2030 and warns that many net zero pledges are unrealistic without significantly stronger near-term (2030) targets. Achieving the 1.5°C goal will require G20 leadership, action from non-G20 countries, and the fulfillment of climate finance commitments to developing nations.

This research paper analyzes the first 29 long-term low greenhouse gas (GHG) emission development strategies (LTSs) submitted to the UNFCCC by June 2021. The authors identify common trends in midcentury targets, mitigation modeling, sectoral transitions, and governance frameworks, noting a significant shift toward net-zero goals and a broader focus on societal transformation beyond simple mitigation modeling.

This techno-economic evaluation by Clyde Mallinson analyzes the South African Risk Mitigation Power Producers Procurement Programme (RM4P). The report argues that the Request for Proposals (RFP) was designed for gas-dominated projects, creating restrictive rules that unfairly penalize renewable energy and storage projects, thereby making gas projects appear more cost-competitive than they are. The author suggests that a technology-agnostic, system-integrated approach could significantly reduce tariffs and carbon emissions.

This expert report by Nicholas King, commissioned by the Centre for Environmental Rights, analyzes the projected physical, socio-economic, and ecological impacts of climate change on youth and future generations in South Africa from 2021 through 2060 and beyond. It argues that under current 'business as usual' trajectories, large portions of the country may become uninhabitable, leading to systemic collapses in food and water security, infrastructure, and mental wellbeing.

The report details a 2021 workshop for the Lesotho APRM Popular Sensitisation (LAPS) Project, aimed at reviving Lesotho's engagement with the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) after its national structures collapsed around 2015/2016. Through peer-learning from Namibia, Botswana, South Africa, and Zimbabwe, the project seeks to empower non-state actors to identify 12 key governance issues for a civil society submission by June 2022, addressing national challenges such as political instability and lack of social cohesion.

This research paper examines the lack of collective cooperation among the BRICS nations (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) regarding COVID-19 vaccine development, distribution, and intellectual property rights, arguing that the bloc missed an opportunity to demonstrate its capacity for global crisis management.

The 2021 Women's Day Youth Statement, produced by the Youth Policy Committee Gender Working Group, outlines recommendations to achieve gender equality in South Africa. It calls for the dismantling of patriarchal systems through enhanced female leadership, intersectional approaches to oppression, and the inclusion of LGBTQIA+ individuals. The statement highlights critical failures in the implementation of existing policies, particularly regarding gender-based violence, sexual harassment in education and employment, and the digital divide.

This statement by the Youth Policy Committee Gender Working Group of the South African Institute of International Affairs highlights the disparity between South Africa's progressive constitutional protections for LGBTQIA+ individuals and the lived reality of hate crimes, discrimination, and systemic violence they face.

This report by the Climate Bonds Initiative examines how green and transition bonds can facilitate South Africa's shift from a coal-dependent energy system to a low-carbon economy. It analyzes the specific challenges of the South African market, the roles of major emitters like Eskom and Sasol, and provides frameworks for credible transition finance to avoid greenwashing.

The 'Just Recovery Renewable Energy Plan for Africa' by Friends of the Earth Africa proposes a transition to a 100% renewable energy independent continent by 2050. Based on modelling by Dr. Sven Teske, the plan aims to eliminate energy poverty and address the dual crises of climate change and Covid-19 through a people-centred, democratic energy system that prioritises social justice and gender equity over corporate profit.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER), on behalf of itself and groundWork, submitted comments on the draft Gas Amendment Bill [B9 – 2020] to the Portfolio Committee on Mineral Resources and Energy. The CER argues that the Bill fails to account for the climate emergency, lacks adequate public consultation and access to information, and irregularly encroaches upon environmental regulatory powers reserved for the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment.

A statement by the Institute for Economic Justice analyzing the socio-economic drivers behind the July 2021 violent protests in South Africa, arguing that while the arrest of Jacob Zuma was a trigger, the unrest is rooted in systemic inequality, poverty, and failed economic policies.

This final synthesis report by the Centre for Environmental Rights provides strategic and technical guidance on managing sulphur dioxide (SO2) emissions from old solid fuel combustion plants in South Africa, specifically focusing on Eskom and Sasol facilities. The report utilizes a cost-benefit analysis (CBA) to recommend minimum emission standards (MES) based on plant lifetime and economic viability, concluding that reducing SO2 emissions is technologically feasible and provides significant net societal benefits through improved public health and macroeconomic growth.