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This policy brief examines the evolution of global hazardous waste regulation, from early marine pollution treaties to the Basel Convention and its Ban Amendment. It highlights the risks of 'toxic colonialism,' the challenges of managing rapidly growing e-waste streams, and the need for proactive governance to protect vulnerable populations during the energy transition.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) provided written comments on the Draft National Mine Closure Strategy 2021, published by the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE). While supporting the initiative to increase certainty in mine closure and rehabilitation, the CER argues that the strategy must better protect mining-affected communities, ensure meaningful public participation from the pre-feasibility stage, and align strictly with existing environmental legislation like the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA).

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER), representing groundWork and Earthlife Africa, submitted comments on July 23, 2021, regarding the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment's (DFFE) draft Guideline for considering climate change implications in environmental authorisations and licenses. While welcoming the initiative, the CER argues that the draft is insufficient to address the climate crisis and fails to meet the legal requirements of the Constitution and the National Environment Management Act (NEMA). The submission advocates for a 1.5°C warming limit as the primary benchmark for emissions assessments rather than Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), and calls for the inclusion of social costs of carbon and full lifecycle GHG emissions in project evaluations.

This policy brief by the Institute for Economic Justice argues that South Africa's initial COVID-19 relief efforts were insufficient and poorly implemented, leading to a humanitarian crisis during the country's third wave. The document proposes an immediate R70 billion emergency relief package to support businesses, protect wages, and sustain livelihoods.

This report by DNA Economics for the Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ) analyzes various progressive financing options to fund a Universal Basic Income Guarantee (UBIG) in South Africa. It evaluates the revenue potential of nine specific tax measures, including a Social Security Tax, Resource Rent Tax, and Luxury VAT, and models their impact on national debt and the primary balance over the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF).

This research paper argues that African countries should incorporate nuclear power into their energy mixes to address severe electrification gaps and align with global transitions toward cleaner energy. The author contends that nuclear energy is a viable economic and environmental option, provided that countries develop robust regulatory frameworks and leverage cooperative regional approaches to overcome challenges in financing and infrastructure.

This briefing by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the role of 'other effective area-based conservation measures' (OECMs) in Africa. It argues that OECMs, which are sites outside formal protected areas managed to deliver long-term biodiversity and socio-economic benefits, are essential for engaging local communities and achieving biodiversity targets. Through case studies in South Africa and Kenya, the document demonstrates how community-private sector partnerships can create sustainable livelihoods while protecting ecosystems, and calls for African governments to align on a community-centred conservation agenda for the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) COP.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER), acting on behalf of groundwork, wrote to the National Energy Regulator SA (NERSA) on 6 July 2021 to request a 90-day extension for commenting on electricity generation licence applications for three Karpowership gas power projects. The CER argues that the public participation process is flawed and that the projects' national significance warrants wider advertisement beyond local newspapers.

This policy brief by the South African Institute of International Affairs analyzes the strategic position of African states within the World Trade Organization (WTO). It argues that African nations must shift from a strategy of blocking new negotiations to one of active participation, particularly regarding the COVID-19 vaccine TRIPS waiver, the stalled Doha Round, and Joint Statement Initiatives (JSIs) on digital trade and investment.

This report uses the Global Subsidies Initiative – Integrated Fiscal Model (GSI-IF model) to analyze the potential for greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions and fiscal savings across 32 countries through fossil fuel subsidy reform (FFSR) and fossil energy taxation by 2030.

This report by Dr. Ranajit Sahu evaluates the technical and environmental feasibility of adding 1,500 MW of new coal generation as proposed in South Africa's 2019 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP). The author argues that 'clean coal' is a myth, asserting that any new capacity will inevitably cause significant air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, regardless of the high-efficiency, low-emission (HELE) technologies employed.

This technical report describes the Sustainable Asset Valuation (SAVi) methodology and its application to various infrastructure types to calculate the costs of environmental, social, governance, and climate risks, as well as externalities. It specifically explores how SAVi can be integrated into Indonesia's Vision 2045 (IV2045) system dynamics model to better inform low-carbon development and investment strategies by bridging top-down national planning with bottom-up asset-specific analysis.

This July 2021 issue of the Peace & Security Council Report by the Institute for Security Studies examines critical security and political challenges across Africa. It focuses on the African Union's (AU) struggle to implement maritime security strategies, the rise of cybercrime and the legislative responses in South Africa, the ten-year legacy of the Arab Spring in North Africa, and the impact of the June 2021 elections on Ethiopia's structural divisions.

This research paper assesses the implications of the African Peer Review Mechanism's (APRM) Expanded Mandate, a series of decisions taken between 2016 and 2019 to revitalise the agency. While the expansion has renewed momentum and increased membership, the author argues that the APRM must now consolidate these gains to avoid distracting from its core mission of comprehensive country reviews.

This report analyzes four historical industrial transitions in Australia, the US, the UK, and South Africa to identify lessons for managing the socio-economic shifts required by global decarbonization. It finds that transition planning is often too reactive, failing to occur before a crisis, and that ignoring pre-existing inequalities or transferring environmental costs to the public undermines 'just' outcomes. The authors argue that locally driven, bottom-up approaches, comprehensive worker support (including re-skilling and social safety nets), and the use of nuanced success indicators are essential for equitable regional regeneration.

The 2021 State of Cities Climate Finance report provides a comprehensive estimate of global urban climate finance, identifying a significant gap between current annual investments of USD 384 billion and estimated needs of USD 4.5 to 5.4 trillion. It analyzes the enabling conditions required to mobilize finance and offers recommendations for city, national, and international officials to accelerate low-carbon, climate-resilient urban development.

This policy brief argues for the adoption of a 'One Health' approach in Africa to simultaneously address human health, biodiversity loss, and the climate crisis. It specifically highlights the risks of the illegal wildlife trade (IWT) and the legal wildlife trade as drivers of zoonotic disease spill-over, warning that blanket bans on wildlife markets could inadvertently increase IWT and habitat destruction. The document recommends integrating IWT combatting into multi-sectoral policies and utilizing green stimulus packages to provide financial incentives and alternative livelihoods for rural communities most affected by economic decline.

A letter of condolence from the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) to the High Commission of Zambia to South Africa following the death of President Kenneth Kaunda.

The 2021 report by the NewClimate Institute evaluates climate action by subnational and non-state actors across ten major emitting economies, focusing on the progress of cities, regions, and businesses toward emissions reduction targets.

This briefing by the South African Institute of International Affairs outlines the policy processes and priorities for African nations leading up to COP26. It emphasizes the necessity of aligning Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and Long-term Low Emissions Strategies (LTSs) with net-zero trajectories and COVID-19 green recovery plans to achieve a climate-resilient world by 2050.