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The Centre for Environmental Rights, acting on behalf of groundWork, the South Durban Community Environmental Alliance (SDCEA), and the Vaal Environmental Justice Alliance (VEJA), submitted comments on 5 February 2013 regarding the draft National Dust Control Regulations published on 7 December 2012 under the National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act, 2004 (AQA). The submission argues for stronger protections for vulnerable populations, more rigorous monitoring standards, and the inclusion of government entities in enforcement.

The document advocates for a multi-scale analysis of the Water-Energy-Food (WEF) nexus to improve cooperative governance and resource management. It presents a continuum of assessment tools, ranging from qualitative index building and opportunity analysis to quantitative hydro-economic and integrated modelling (such as WEAP and LEAP). These tools are designed to identify trade-offs, mitigate supply bottlenecks, and support sustainable infrastructure planning in transboundary macro-regions and at the local level.

The paper explores the synergies between community based natural resource management (CBNRM) and community based adaptation (CBA), arguing that poverty reduction, governance, and ecosystems are the primary overlapping drivers for both approaches. It highlights that while local incentives drive initial CBNRM action, the scaling of these efforts to national and regional levels depends on an enabling environment consisting of policies, institutions, capacity, and collaboration.

A study of 50 companies in Southern Africa identifies a split in trade barriers between SACU members and non-members, with common constraints including customs delays, corruption, and infrastructure deficits. While large firms can manage these hurdles, the environment is not conducive to small-business growth. The report recommends the implementation of a SADC-wide business visa, uniform labour permit regulations, and improvements to weighbridge and border crossing systems to facilitate trade.

The document outlines systemic inefficiencies at SADC borders, including endemic corruption, inadequate infrastructure, and bureaucratic hurdles that delay logistics. It highlights specific failures in electronic customs systems, such as at the Beitbridge Border, and contrasts the restrictive work permit environment in Botswana with the more efficient systems in Mozambique and Mauritius.

Lobatse Clay Works faces significant operational and financial hurdles when exporting bricks in Southern Africa, primarily due to inconsistent weighbridge readings, varying vehicle permit and insurance costs—including a newly introduced carbon tax—and divergent regional policies such as VAT calculations. The firm reports that the Southern African Customs Union (SAUC) tariff structure favors South Africa over Botswana's interests. Despite participating in SADC forums, the company perceives a lack of progress on these long-standing trade barriers, noting that engagement with policymakers has yielded no outcomes.

Vodacom operates in Southern Africa facing a dichotomy between heavily regulated communication services and capital infrastructure challenges, including customs delays, high taxation, and corruption. The company leverages its size to engage with international, regional, and national bodies—such as the ITU, CRASA, and SADC—to influence policy and facilitate market penetration. While Vodacom finds regional interaction through CRASA positive, it critiques SADC for grouping communications with transport in a single protocol. The document also notes a trend of increasing government ownership and intervention in the sector, which creates tensions between the state's role as regulator and operator.

The handbook examines climate change impacts in southern Africa, noting that surface temperatures are projected to rise throughout the 21st century. It argues that some global temperature increases are linked to human influence and recommends integrating climate risk and adaptation measures into development planning, creating new coordination mechanisms for disaster risk reduction, and establishing inclusive institutional frameworks for stakeholder participation.

The report examines the potential of sugar cane bioenergy to improve rural livelihoods, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and decrease fossil fuel imports in Southern and Eastern Africa. Drawing on experiences from Brazil and India, it asserts that sugar cane is a highly efficient global resource that requires increased investment, technology transfer, and international cooperation to support regional economic competitiveness and sustainable development.

The report assesses climate change adaptation preparedness in southern Africa to support requests for finance and fund administration. Focusing on Zimbabwe, it finds that the country lacks a specific climate change policy, relying instead on fragmented sectoral policies across environment, water, agriculture, and disaster management, highlighting a need for mainstreaming and harmonisation.

Zimbabwe lacks a formal climate change policy, strategy, or national adaptation strategy, relying instead on a fragmented collection of uncoordinated programmes and various pieces of legislation, including the Environment Management Act of 2002, to guide its climate activities.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER), acting for groundWork and the Vaal Environmental Justice Alliance (VEJA), submitted a statement to the Department of Environmental Affairs on 31 January 2012. The document objects to proposed amendments to the National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act, 2004’s list of activities resulting in atmospheric emissions, arguing that the changes generally relax emission limits, extend compliance time-frames, and were developed through a non-transparent process that favored industry representatives over affected communities.

The document translates the global scientific findings of the IPCC SREX report into a regional context for Africa, emphasizing that disaster risk is increasing due to both climate change and socio-economic factors. It argues for an integrated approach that combines disaster risk management (DRM) with climate change adaptation (CCA) and sustainable development. Key regional findings include projected increases in heatwaves and droughts in Southern Africa and increased heavy precipitation in Eastern Africa. The report highlights the extreme vulnerability of coastal cities and the agricultural sector, while advocating for national legislative frameworks, early warning systems, and international financial mechanisms to build long-term resilience.

The document translates the global findings of the IPCC SREX report into an African context, emphasizing that disaster risk is increasing due to both climate extremes and rising human vulnerability and exposure. It details observed and projected temperature and precipitation trends across West, East, and Southern Africa, while arguing for the integration of disaster risk management (DRM) and climate change adaptation (CCA) into national development policies. The report highlights the particular vulnerability of the agricultural sector and coastal cities, and suggests a shift from incremental to transformational changes in governance and partnerships to build long-term resilience.

The document examines the tensions and opportunities in the relationship between the South African government and its business sector regarding activities in Southern Africa. It highlights a domestic legacy of mistrust rooted in apartheid and ideological differences, which hinders coordinated economic diplomacy. While South African corporate expansion supports regional growth, it has also led to perceptions of 'neo-imperialism'. The paper discusses the ANC's call for a business code of conduct and recommends a 'perceptions audit', improved diplomatic skills, and increased dialogue between business and parliament to align national economic interests with regional development goals.

The document examines the economic crisis in Malawi, noting that while the country saw an average of 7% growth over five years driven by debt relief and aid, these funds were largely spent on consumption and a fertilizer subsidy rather than productive capacity. This led to a trade deficit reaching 21% of GDP in 2010 and severe foreign exchange shortages. The author argues that the resulting economic instability, combined with electricity cuts and a poor tobacco season, created the conditions for the 2011 protests.

Minister Rob Davies outlines South Africa's trade strategy, emphasizing the use of tariffs as a tool for industrial policy and the pursuit of regional integration through the Tripartite FTA. He expresses skepticism regarding the 2011 window for the WTO Doha Round, arguing that the 2008 text is unbalanced and fails to address agricultural distortions or the needs of emerging economies. The Minister also highlights the importance of strengthening ties with BRICS nations to move beyond exporting primary products toward mineral beneficiation and industrialization.

The report identifies rigid technological pathways and outdated institutional frameworks as primary obstacles to meeting climate mitigation goals in South America and Southern Africa. It argues that regional energy integration is superior to national reliance as it allows access to low-opportunity-cost resources from neighboring countries. The text emphasizes that transitioning to renewable technologies like solar and wind requires comprehensive system changes and strong government policy to overcome existing economic and regulatory lock-ins.

The report examines electricity security in Southern Africa and South America, highlighting the heavy reliance of South Africa on coal and Brazil's dependence on hydropower. It argues that while both regions have vast renewable energy potential, adoption is hindered by technological lock-in, risk-averse financing, and restrictive government policies. The document advocates for regional energy integration and policy reforms to diversify energy mixes and improve sustainability.

The research predicts a global decline in internal armed conflict, with the proportion of countries in conflict expected to drop from 15.1% in 2009 to 7.1% by 2050. This trend is driven primarily by projected improvements in education and infant mortality rates. While Western Asia and North Africa are expected to see significant reductions, conflicts are predicted to remain more concentrated in East, Central, and Southern Africa, as well as East and South Asia.