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This document is a formal comment by groundWork submitted to the South African Department of Energy regarding the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) 2018. The author argues that the IRP 2018 fails to address the urgency of the climate crisis, underestimates the health and environmental costs of coal, and maintains an outdated energy model that prioritizes coal and gas over a rapid transition to renewables.

The Freshwater Research Centre (FRC) conducted a review of the Draft Environmental Impact Assessment Report (DEIR) for the Mokolo and Crocodile River (West) Water Augmentation Project (Phase 2A). The FRC concludes that the assessment of operational phase impacts on aquatic ecosystems is inadequate, particularly regarding water quality, hydrology, and the transfer of invasive biota between catchments.

This research paper evaluates the feasibility of establishing a state-owned export credit agency (ECA) in South Africa, concluding that such an institution is unnecessary due to the existence of a robust trade finance market and current fiscal constraints.

This briefing contains the applicants' notes for oral argument in a High Court case challenging the decisions of the Ministers of Environmental Affairs and Mineral Resources to permit mining in the Mabola Protected Environment (MPE). The applicants, a group of environmental and human rights NGOs, argue that the decisions were made without transparency, procedural fairness, or regard for the specific statutory duties imposed by the National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act (NEMPAA).

This research paper examines the potential for increasing economic inclusion in the coastal and marine tourism sectors of Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) states by promoting the participation of local small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

This research paper examines the Youth Employment Service (YES) initiative, a private sector-led programme launched in March 2018 to combat high youth unemployment in South Africa. While the initiative aims to create one million job opportunities over three years, the author argues that its success depends on overcoming structural barriers, including a poor education system, a technical recession, and the demands of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) submitted a formal request (CER-2018-DMR-0002) to the Department of Mineral Resources on 8 October 2018, seeking a wide range of records concerning the Operation Phakisa marine protected area network and offshore oil and gas activities.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) submitted a formal request to Eskom on 8 October 2018 for records and reports concerning the Medupi and Kusile coal-fired power stations. The request focuses on environmental compliance, Flue Gas Desulphurisation (FGD) installation progress, water supply arrangements, and communications with the World Bank and African Development Bank.

The Centre for Environmental Rights submitted a request to the Department of Environmental Affairs on 8 October 2018 for records concerning the Operation Phakisa marine protected area network. The request seeks public participation reports, representations from the Department of Mineral Resources and the Petroleum Agency of South Africa, justifications for a phased declaration approach, economic growth projections, and environmental authorisations for offshore oil and gas producers since 2006.

This research paper, produced by Friends of the Earth Africa (FoEA), proposes the establishment of a sui generis international tribunal to hold transnational corporations accountable for human rights violations. The document argues that existing national and international mechanisms are ineffective, allowing multinationals to operate with impunity through complex corporate structures and influence over governments. It provides a detailed proposed statute for an 'International Tribunal on Multinationals, Other Enterprises and Human Rights' (TIMEDH), emphasizing accessibility for victims, a shift in the burden of proof to companies, and a permanent seat in a southern state.

This report, produced by Friends of the Earth Africa with support from Friends of the Earth Europe and International, proposes the creation of a legally binding international tribunal to hold transnational corporations accountable for human rights violations. The document argues that existing national and regional mechanisms are insufficient to protect victims, particularly in the Global South, and provides a detailed draft statute for a 'sui generis' court designed to ensure access to justice and reparations.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines policies and strategies used by governments to promote direct local employment in the mining sector. It outlines a five-step process for developing local employment policies and categorizes interventions into regulatory 'stick'-based approaches and facilitative 'carrot'-based incentives. The document emphasizes the importance of matching labour supply with industry demand, promoting gender equity and Indigenous participation, and preparing for technological shifts such as automation.

This policy brief examines the opportunities and challenges of integrating women into the renewable energy (RE) value chain in Africa, with a specific focus on case studies from Rwanda and South Africa. It argues that while RE offers a unique chance to move away from the non-gender-aware patterns of traditional energy sectors, significant barriers remain in leadership, financing, and education.

This report by WWF South Africa examines the health challenges associated with unhealthy diets and food insecurity in South Africa. It explores the potential for collaborative industry initiatives between food manufacturers, retailers, government, and NGOs to address the 'triple burden of malnutrition' and the environmental impacts of industrial agriculture.

The report 'Young Leaders' by WWF South Africa documents the first decade of its Environmental Leaders internship programme (2008–2018), which aims to bridge the gap between university graduation and professional employment in the green economy. The programme focuses on developing scarce green skills through work-based learning, dedicated mentoring, and professional networking to combat high graduate unemployment in South Africa.

The 2018 Ocean Scorecard, published by WWF South Africa, provides an updated assessment of the state of South Africa's ocean economy and global fish stocks. It tracks progress against a 2016 baseline, highlighting critical declines in specific species, shifts in fishery exploitation levels, and progress in marine spatial planning and coastal livelihoods.

The Broad-Based Socio-Economic Empowerment Charter for the Mining and Minerals Industry, 2018, is a regulatory instrument published by the South African Minister of Mineral Resources to redress historical socio-economic inequalities. It establishes mandatory targets for ownership, procurement, employment equity, human resource development, and community development for mining right holders and certain license holders under the Diamonds Act and Precious Metals Act.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER), representing the Vaal Environmental Justice Alliance (VEJA), groundWork, and local community members, issued an urgent notice to the South African Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) on 26 September 2018. The notice demands that the DEA direct ArcelorMittal South Africa (AMSA) to remedy ongoing air, water, and soil pollution at its Vanderbijlpark operations, following the DEA's failure to act on a previous section 28(12) notice from June 2018.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER), on behalf of Earthlife Africa and groundWork, submitted comments on September 20, 2018, objecting to the Atmospheric Emission Licence (AEL) application for the proposed Thabametsi coal-fired power station. The CER argues that the project should be refused because it is located in an air quality priority area already in non-compliance with National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) and is predicted to cause further non-compliance, specifically regarding sulphur dioxide (SO2). The CER claims the Atmospheric Impact Report (AIR) is fatally flawed due to gross miscalculations of emissions, missing modelling data, and a failure to adequately assess cumulative and health impacts.

A statement by Friends of the Earth International calling for a radical systemic overhaul of global energy, food, political, and economic systems to prevent global warming from exceeding 1.5 degrees Celsius. The document argues that current incremental measures and 'false solutions' are insufficient and that a transition to decentralized, people-led renewable energy is necessary to achieve climate justice.