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The report argues that renewable energy infrastructure for mining can serve as 'horizontal linkage' to provide energy access and economic benefits to surrounding communities. It recommends that governments integrate these investments into local content policies and plan for long-term resilience through skills development, inclusive training, and mine closure planning to ensure benefits persist beyond the life of the mine.

The document outlines the procedural steps for verifying climate resilience in investments, detailing how to apply global and local thresholds to adapting measures and how to conduct investment-level assessments for adapted and enabling activities. It emphasizes the use of science-based climate projections, the identification of material climate impacts, and the prevention of maladaptation.

The report provides a detailed breakdown of aligned GSS+ debt volumes, issuer types, and geographic trends for Q1 2026, highlighting the continued dominance of green bonds and the European market.

African ClimateTech has grown significantly, with funding increasing from $206 million in 2016 to over $1.5 billion in 2025, now accounting for nearly 40% of all disclosed venture funding on the continent. However, this growth is highly concentrated: the top 10 companies raised as much as all other companies combined, and Energy accounts for roughly 65% of total funding. The report argues that the ecosystem is not a single market but a collection of applications maturing at different speeds. Energy Generation has reached 'Early Maturity,' while Mobility & Transport is in 'Late Frenzy.' Conversely, Water Access and Built Materials remain in 'Irruption.' A critical finding is that financial maturity, rather than technological readiness, is the primary constraint, with significant gaps in early-stage equity and working capital. The report advocates for 'tailored capital stacks' that combine grants, equity, and debt based on the specific maturity stage of each application.

Africa's green transition is projected to generate between 3.8 and 7.9 million jobs by 2030, rising to 65.9–84.5 million by 2050. The report argues that this growth will be service-led and decentralized, with indirect roles—such as installation, distribution, and maintenance—accounting for 56% of employment by 2030. Clean cooking is identified as the largest green value chain by 2030. However, the report highlights significant structural inequalities: 86% of 2030 green jobs are projected to be informal, and women remain concentrated in low-value roles despite high participation in sectors like clean cooking. The analysis of South Africa, Nigeria, and Kenya reveals diverse transition architectures, ranging from South Africa's formal, utility-scale model to Nigeria's nano-enterprise-driven decentralized approach. Key recommendations include directing finance toward service-led value chains, reforming TVET systems through modular programs, and extending social protection to informal workers via mobile platforms.

The document outlines a comprehensive approach to developing adaptation indicators, emphasizing that they must be grounded in a Theory of Change (ToC) and national context rather than solely in global frameworks. It details a 10-step process (grouped into design, implementation, and learning phases) to move from clarifying objectives to institutionalizing data collection and conducting regular reviews. The guide highlights the importance of using a mix of quantitative and qualitative indicators, ensuring gender and social inclusion (GESI) through data disaggregation, and piloting systems before full-scale rollout to ensure feasibility and data quality.

The South African Wholesale Electricity Market (SAWEM) is a proposed short-term trading platform for bulk electricity, expected to commence at the end of 2026. Governed by the Market Code and Rules, it allows power producers and large buyers to trade electricity one day ahead or in real-time. While intended to increase competition and transparency, concerns are raised regarding the conflict of interest since the Market Operator is housed within the National Transmission Company of South Africa (NTCSA), a subsidiary of Eskom. The document highlights that the market's design could either facilitate a transition to affordable renewable energy or entrench fossil fuel generation and financial risks for municipalities.

Motuoane Energy (Pty) Ltd is seeking to convert its existing Exploration Right (ER315) into a Production Right to extract helium and methane gas in the Free State. The proposed project includes drilling approximately 43 production wells, installing gas collection pipelines, and building a helium recovery and gas processing plant (CNG and/or LNG). Environmental Impact Management Services (Pty) Ltd (EIMS) is conducting the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), currently in the scoping phase. Affected communities, including Virginia/Meloding, Theunissen/Makeleketla, and Ventersburg/Mmamahabane, are invited to register as Interested and Affected Parties (I&APs) and submit comments by February 23, 2026.

The report examines the Democratic Republic of the Congo's current development path and simulates eight sectoral scenarios to identify pathways toward inclusive growth by 2043. It highlights the country's extreme poverty and dependence on commodity exports, while projecting that a combined policy push across manufacturing, governance, and agriculture could significantly increase GDP and reduce poverty.

The report analyzes Lesotho's development prospects up to 2043. Under the Current Path, GDP is projected to grow to US$7.6 billion, but poverty and food insecurity remain endemic. The report evaluates 11 sectoral scenarios, finding that the 'Free Trade' scenario offers the highest per capita income boost, while the 'Combined Agenda 2063' scenario could raise GDP per capita to US$7,375 and significantly reduce poverty to 27.7%. Energy access is identified as a critical constraint, with the 'Leapfrogging' and 'Infrastructure' scenarios proposing significant increases in electricity access through renewables and grid investment.

The report forecasts Eswatini's development to 2043, noting that while GDP per capita is expected to rise to US$15,162 under the Current Path, poverty will remain high at 47.1%. It evaluates 11 sectoral scenarios, finding that the Free Trade scenario (AfCFTA implementation) offers the most significant potential for poverty reduction and income growth. The Combined Agenda 2063 scenario suggests GDP per capita could reach US$22,901 and poverty could drop to 24.5% if all interventions are implemented.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER), on behalf of several partner organisations, submitted a formal comment to the South African Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) regarding the proposed "Flexible Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) system." The CER argues that the shift from a rules-based system to one based on administrative discretion risks violating constitutional rights to a healthy environment and just administrative action, potentially weakening environmental protections and public participation.

In 2025, global coal capacity additions reached 97.4 GW, the second-highest on record, primarily driven by China and India, even as global coal-fired electricity generation declined by 0.6%. The report highlights a decoupling where coal is increasingly used as system insurance rather than primary generation, as wind and solar displace coal. While China and India dominate new development, coal activity elsewhere is shrinking and becoming more isolated. However, net capacity outside China rose by 5 GW due to a slowdown in retirements and rebounds in India.

The Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ) has announced it will attend the Conference of the Left (29-31 May 2026) in Johannesburg as an observer. While recognizing the event as an opportunity to engage with left formations on issues like climate and just transition, the IEJ declined a prominent role due to concerns over the lack of transparency in funding, the SACP's leadership role, and the failure to exclude individuals or organizations that violate principles of anti-racism and anti-corruption. The IEJ also highlighted the underrepresentation of feminist organizations.

The report projects that sub-Saharan Africa's population will grow to 1.976 billion by 2043, with carbon emissions nearly tripling to 650 million tons under the Current Path. While the Current Path sees GDP per capita reach US$5,996, the 'Combined Agenda 2063' scenario—integrating improvements in governance, education, health, and infrastructure—could increase GDP per capita to US$9,798 and drastically reduce extreme poverty to 7.3%. Key sectoral findings include the 'Leapfrogging' scenario's potential to raise electricity access to 81.7% and the 'Free Trade' scenario's role as the most carbon-intensive path, contributing 711 million tons of carbon by 2043.

The report forecasts that sub-Saharan Africa's population will grow to 1.962 billion by 2043, with a significant shift toward urbanization. While regional GDP is projected to increase substantially, reaching between US$6.2 trillion and US$6.7 trillion, GDP per capita growth is tempered by rapid population increases. The region is expected to face increasing food insecurity as agricultural demand outstrips production. Energy production is projected to shift toward renewables, yet total carbon emissions are forecast to rise by over 146% by 2043, with Nigeria expected to overtake South Africa as the region's largest emitter.

The document analyzes remittance flows in Africa, noting that in 2023, gross inflows reached approximately US$90 billion. While remittances provide critical household support and macroeconomic stability, the authors warn of a 'remittance trap' and 'Dutch disease' that can hinder long-term economic growth. The paper highlights the use of diaspora bonds in countries like Ethiopia, Kenya, and Nigeria to fund infrastructure, and forecasts that net inflows to Africa will likely increase to US$94 billion by 2043, although their share of GDP is expected to decline.

The report analyzes Africa's progress toward a demographic dividend, noting that most of the continent is in the early stages of this transition. While 11 countries have already entered a demographic window of opportunity, most others will do so much later, with some regions not reaching the critical 1.7:1 worker-to-dependant ratio until the mid-21st century. The author argues that realizing this dividend requires simultaneous improvements in fertility rates, health, education, and employment systems.

The document forecasts that the Combined Agenda 2063 scenario would significantly increase sub-Saharan Africa's GDP per capita to US$9,798 by 2043, compared to US$5,980 in the Current Path. It predicts a substantial reduction in extreme poverty to 7.3% and a nearly doubled total economy of US$12,295.2 billion. However, this growth is associated with higher carbon emissions, reaching 892 million tons by 2043.

The document examines illicit financial flows (IFFs) in Africa, estimating annual losses between US$50 billion and US$89 billion. It identifies commercial activities, such as Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) and trade misinvoicing, as the primary drivers (65%), while criminal activity and corruption account for 35%. These outflows reduce spending on health and education and increase reliance on predatory borrowing. The paper discusses countermeasures including the African Tax Administration Forum (ATAF), the OECD/G20 Inclusive Framework on BEPS, and the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), while highlighting challenges such as the US's role as a "secrecy jurisdiction" and limited administrative capacity in African nations.