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The 2020 Global Electricity Review by Ember analyzes global electricity generation changes in 2019, highlighting a record 3% fall in global coal-fired generation and a corresponding 2% drop in power sector CO2 emissions. While the EU and US saw significant coal collapses, China's coal generation rose, making it responsible for over half of global coal generation for the first time. Wind and solar generation grew by 15%, though the report notes that this growth rate is slowing and may be insufficient to meet Paris Agreement goals without concerted global effort.

This March 2020 report by Global Energy Monitor and partners tracks the global development of coal-fired power plants in 2019. It highlights a general global decline in new coal plant starts and pre-construction activity, contrasted with a net increase in global capacity driven primarily by China. The report details the shift in financing away from Western commercial banks toward public finance, particularly from Japan and China, and notes a record low in global coal plant utilization.

Boom & Bust 2020 is a report by Global Energy Monitor and partners analyzing global coal-fired power plant development in 2019. It details a general decline in the pipeline for new coal capacity, driven by financial restrictions and climate commitments, though this trend is countered by significant new capacity coming online in China.

This report by Global Energy Monitor and partners analyzes global coal-fired power plant trends in 2019, noting a general decline in new project planning and construction, contrasted by a net increase in global capacity driven primarily by China.

The 2019 Global Coal Plant Tracker report reveals a contradictory trend: while the global pipeline for new coal plants has shrunk by two-thirds since 2015 and generation fell by 3% in 2019, net global capacity actually increased by 34.1 GW due to a surge of new plants in China. Western commercial banks have largely ceased direct financing for coal, but Chinese state banks and Indian state-owned finance corporations continue to provide significant funding. The report emphasizes that current trends are insufficient to meet the IPCC's goal of an 80% reduction in coal use by 2030 to limit global warming to 1.5°C.

This report by Global Energy Monitor, Sierra Club, Greenpeace, and CREA analyzes global coal power plant trends in 2019. It highlights a general decline in new coal development and operational capacity globally, though this trend is heavily skewed by China, which continued to increase its capacity. The report details the financial pressures on the coal industry, the role of public funding, and regional shifts in Southeast Asia, South Asia, and the OECD.

This research report by the Institute for Security Studies assesses South Africa's first year as an elected non-permanent member of the UN Security Council (UNSC) for the 2019-2020 term. It examines the country's efforts to recalibrate its foreign policy under the Ramaphosa administration, its role in fostering African unity among council members, and its leadership during its October 2019 presidency.

The March 2020 Peace & Security Council Report details the African Union's (AU) response to the COVID-19 pandemic, political instability in Guinea-Bissau and South Sudan, geopolitical competition in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, and the AU's marginal role in the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam dispute. It also outlines South Africa's priorities as the 2020 AU chair, focusing on 'Silencing the Guns', the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and gender equality.

This policy brief examines the role of resilient ecosystems in climate change adaptation (CCA) and disaster risk reduction (DRR), specifically for coastal cities in Africa. It advocates for nature-based solutions, such as Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) and Ecosystem-based Disaster Risk Reduction (Eco-DRR), to reduce vulnerability to extreme weather events. The document highlights a significant gap in African regional policies that explicitly link biodiversity conservation with DRR and provides recommendations for mainstreaming these approaches into national and regional development strategies.

This policy brief by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the implementation of public-private partnerships (PPPs) within the Southern African Development Community (SADC). It distinguishes PPPs from privatisation, highlights the potential for PPPs to address infrastructure deficits in Africa, and provides recommendations for improving governance, transparency, and public engagement to attract investment while avoiding hidden debt.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER), on behalf of itself and clients groundWork and Earthlife Africa, submitted a statement to the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy opposing the draft Upstream Petroleum Resources Development Bill, 2019. The CER argues that the Bill is a flawed replication of the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act (MPRDA) that fails to address the climate emergency, violates constitutional rights to administrative justice, and improperly encroaches upon environmental regulatory powers.

This research paper outlines the strategic opportunities for South Africa in 2020 as it concurrently chairs the African Union (AU) and serves as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. The author argues that South Africa can reclaim its continental prestige by focusing on three priority areas: conflict resolution ('Silencing the Guns'), the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), and the improvement of governance through the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM).

This research paper examines Turkey's strategic efforts to expand its influence in North and East Africa to counter regional isolation and secure energy interests. It focuses on Turkey's military and political support for the Government of National Accord (GNA) in Libya, its diplomatic tensions with Greece, Cyprus, Egypt, and France over Mediterranean exclusive economic zones, and its broader 'Open to Africa' policy exemplified by its deep involvement in Somalia.

This research paper examines the capacity of green bonds to bridge the global adaptation finance gap, specifically focusing on private sector involvement. The author concludes that while green bonds can finance adaptation, they currently do so to a very limited extent and are unlikely to significantly close the finance gap due to geographic mismatches, project scale issues, and a general lack of corporate climate risk awareness.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) submitted a letter to the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy on 31 January 2020, providing comments and proposed amendments to the Draft Amendments to the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Regulations, 2019. The CER criticized the timing of the public comment period, stating it occurred during the festive season, which hindered their ability to engage with clients and partners and compromised the public participation process.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) submitted comments and proposed amendments to the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy regarding the draft Mine Community Resettlement Guidelines, 2019. The CER expressed concern that the public commenting period coincided with the festive season, which they argue compromised the public participation process by hindering engagement with clients and partners.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) provides a supplementary table of comments on the National Environmental Management Laws Amendment Bill, 2017 [B14D-2017]. The document details proposed amendments to several South African environmental laws, including the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA), the Protected Areas Act (NEMPAA), and the Integrated Coastal Management Act (NEMICMA), offering specific critiques and alternative wording to strengthen environmental protection and enforcement.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) provided comments on the 2019 Draft Amendments to the MPRDA Regulations, advocating for stronger protections for affected communities. Key recommendations include explicitly including civil society in the definition of interested parties, replacing 'consultation' with 'free, prior and informed consent' for customary communities, and improving the transparency and accessibility of public notices. The CER also raised significant objections to proposed changes in the appeals process and the imposition of fees for appeals, citing concerns over administrative justice and access to justice.

A cover letter from the Centre for Environmental Rights to the Department of Mineral Resources submitting a formal request for access to records under the Promotion of Access to Information Act, 2000, specifically regarding the Tormin SLP 2019.

The Life After Coal campaign, comprising the Centre for Environmental Rights (CER), groundWork, and Earthlife Africa Johannesburg, submitted formal objections on 29 January 2020 to Eskom's applications for alternative emission limits at the Medupi and Matimba power stations. The campaign argues that the applications are procedurally and substantively unlawful, violate the South African Constitution and environmental laws, and rely on a flawed air quality modelling approach in a priority area already suffering from poor air quality.