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The document presents draft regulations for the Trade Exposure Allowance under section 10 of the Carbon Tax Act, 2019, in South Africa. These regulations establish a mechanism to provide transitional support to specific sectors and subsectors to mitigate the risk of carbon leakage and maintain industry competitiveness while implementing carbon pricing to meet Paris Agreement goals.

The December 2019–January 2020 issue of the Peace & Security Council Report examines the African Union (AU) Peace and Security Council's (PSC) effectiveness in conflict prevention, the challenges of its membership election process, the AU's efforts to rationalise its numerous external partnerships, and the progress of its Youth, Peace and Security agenda.

This case study describes the first climate change court case in South Africa, where the non-profit Earthlife Africa challenged the environmental authorisation of the Thabametsi coal-fired power station due to the absence of a climate impact assessment.

This policy briefing by the South African Institute of International Affairs argues that the electric vehicle (EV) revolution presents Southern African states with an opportunity to transform their economic trajectories through a systemic innovation approach. It advocates for a 'just e-volution' that integrates the mining, automotive, and energy sectors to move toward a low-carbon economy, specifically suggesting a 'Green New Deal' for the SADC region to avoid becoming a dumping ground for obsolete internal combustion engine technology.

This case study, part of a larger report on BRICS nations, analyzes the fiscal relationship between the South African government and fossil fuels, focusing on revenue dependence and the impact of subsidies.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development argues that BRICS governments must prepare their budgets for a fiscal transition as the clean energy transition reduces revenues from fossil fuel production and consumption.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER), acting on behalf of groundWork and Earthlife Africa NPC, submitted a formal request to Minister Gwede Mantashe for written reasons regarding the promulgation of the updated Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) for Electricity published on 18 October 2019.

The Centre for Environmental Rights, acting on behalf of groundWork and Earthlife Africa NPC, submitted a formal request to the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) on 5 November 2019 for written reasons regarding the approval of the updated Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) for Electricity published on 18 October 2019.

An open letter from a coalition of environmental activists to President Cyril Ramaphosa urging that the South Africa Investment Conference (5–7 November 2019) prioritize responsible investment over the exploitation of natural resources, specifically opposing the weakening of water use regulations to attract business.

This monograph examines the use and misuse of less-lethal weapons (LLWs) within South African prisons and by the South African Police Service (SAPS) Public Order Police (POP) units during crowd management from 2013 to 2018. It analyzes the legal and regulatory frameworks of the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) and SAPS, highlighting systemic failures in accountability, the use of equipment as instruments of torture, and the lethal consequences of weapons marketed as 'less-lethal'.

This report reviews the status of marine and coastal ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) in South Africa, detailing the country's policy frameworks, institutional arrangements, and practical implementation of nature-based solutions to enhance climate resilience.

This report by Dr. Ranajit Sahu provides technical comments on the Provisional Atmospheric Emission License (PAEL) issued to Thabametsi Power Company (Pty) Ltd. The author argues that the PAEL permits the use of outdated, inefficient sub-critical Circulating Fluidized Bed (CFB) technology and relies on flawed Atmospheric Impact Reports (AIRs) that underestimate pollution impacts. Sahu contends that the plant will exacerbate existing air quality violations in the Waterberg Bojanala Priority Area and that the license lacks adequate emissions monitoring and control requirements.

This document is a cover letter from the Centre for Environmental Rights, sent on 30 October 2019 to the Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries, submitting an appeal on behalf of Earthlife Africa and groundWork. The appeal seeks to set aside a provisional atmospheric emission licence (PAEL) issued to Thabametsi Power Company (Pty) Ltd.

This research paper examines Russia's strategic re-engagement with Africa, framing the first Russia-Africa summit as a symbolic effort to assert global influence and bypass Western economic sanctions. The author argues that Russia's turn toward the continent is part of a broader multi-vector foreign policy aimed at promoting a multipolar international system to counter US dominance.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER), representing groundWork and Earthlife Africa, submitted a formal statement to the Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries opposing the proposed Musina-Makhado Special Economic Zone (SEZ), also known as the South African Energy and Metallurgical Special Economic Zone (EMSEZ). The CER argues that the project's environmental impact assessment (EIA) process is fatally flawed and that the project poses severe risks to water resources, air quality, and climate commitments.

This position paper by the Public Affairs Research Institute (PARI) proposes reforms to the appointment and removal processes of senior leaders within South Africa's key criminal justice institutions. It argues that political manipulation, corruption, and patronage have eroded the independence and legitimacy of these bodies, necessitating a shift toward transparent, merit-based selection mechanisms to ensure the rule of law.

The Lab, managed by the Climate Policy Initiative, launched six financial instruments in 2019 targeting climate mitigation and adaptation in developing countries. These instruments focus on blue carbon, sustainable agriculture, sustainable cities, and energy access, contributing to a total of 41 instruments that have mobilized nearly US$ 2 billion since 2014.

The Integrated Resource Plan (IRP 2019) is a strategic electricity infrastructure development plan for South Africa, designed to balance least-cost electricity supply and demand while considering security of supply and environmental impacts. The document updates the previous IRP 2010–2030 to reflect lower-than-expected GDP growth, declining electricity demand, and the deteriorating performance of Eskom's existing power plants.

This market study, published in October 2019 by FSD Africa, EAVCA, and the IFC, examines the barriers and opportunities for pension funds in East Africa to invest in private equity. While regulatory frameworks in Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda generally allow such investments, actual allocation remains low due to knowledge gaps, risk perceptions, and a strong preference for government bonds. The report recommends tailored capacity building for trustees and regulators to increase the adoption of private equity as a growth asset.

The October 2019 Peace & Security Council Report by the Institute for Security Studies examines critical security and governance challenges facing the African Union (AU), focusing on the threat of foreign terrorist fighters, the internationalisation of the Libyan conflict, the implementation of the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance, and the political crisis in Guinea-Bissau.