Search Climate Insights Directory

The conference addressed the role of nuclear science and technology in Africa's development, focusing on institutional regulation, the inclusion of women and youth, and the future of nuclear energy and disarmament. Key discussions highlighted the potential of nuclear power to address energy deficits and the use of nuclear isotopes for climate change adaptation in agriculture. Panellists emphasized the need for 'nuclear justice' and the demystification of nuclear technology to overcome public fear and institutional roadblocks.

The document analyzes the intersection of the AfCFTA and climate action, arguing that while the agreement has minimal environmental references, it can be adjusted to eliminate barriers to environmental goods and services. It emphasizes the need for a phased decarbonization approach for fossil-fuel-dependent nations and suggests that instead of adding a new Environmental Protocol, existing continental climate strategies should be reinforced. The text calls for increased climate financing, technology transfer from partners like the EU and US, and the promotion of a circular economy to ensure that increased intra-African trade does not lead to higher greenhouse gas emissions.

The document details technical improvements to the BWDSS, including the development of a PostgreSQL timeseries provider, the creation of maintenance scripts to optimize database size, and a guide for operationalizing FEFLOW groundwater models. It identifies performance bottlenecks in specific jobs and recommends the implementation of regular maintenance tasks and improved error handling in Python scripts to enhance system resilience.

The document details two court cases aimed at halting Shell's seismic surveys off South Africa's Wild Coast. While one urgent interdict was dismissed, another was granted on 28 December 2021, based on potential harm to the constitutional, spiritual, and cultural rights of local communities. The applicants argue that Shell lacked necessary environmental authorizations under the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA), failed to properly consult stakeholders, and ignored climate change impacts. They seek to set aside the exploration rights granted to Impact Africa and Shell, and to establish a legal precedent that an Environmental Management Programme (EMPr) under the MPRDA is not a substitute for a NEMA environmental authorization.

The Mauritius–China Free Trade Agreement (MCFTA), effective January 1, 2021, is analyzed as a likely geopolitical tool rather than an economic driver, given the extreme trade imbalance between the two nations. The authors argue that Mauritius lacks the capacity to penetrate the Chinese market, and the agreement may exacerbate its trade deficit. While the MCFTA is China's first FTA with an African nation, the paper suggests it serves as a strategic base for China to influence the broader African market and the AfCFTA, while potentially acting as a 'laboratory' for future continental engagements.

The author contends that Africa's industrialization is hindered by a fragmented policy landscape where countries are often subject to three or more overlapping industrial strategies. This coordination failure, combined with poor infrastructure and low innovation capacity, has led to 'de-industrialisation' in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the industrial sector's contribution to GDP has declined relative to the primary sector. To leverage the AfCFTA, the paper proposes a unified industrial policy focusing on pooled resources for infrastructure, regional product specialization, SME growth, clean energy transitions, and the development of indigenous technologies.

The document argues that while Aid for Trade (AfT) is a vital tool for sustainable development, there is a significant mismatch between the low levels of development assistance for plastic pollution and the high financial flows to the petrochemical sector. It identifies specific capacity-building needs for developing countries—such as circular economy strategies, technology access, and regulatory frameworks—and proposes short- and medium-term deliverables for WTO members to integrate plastic pollution priorities into AfT work programmes.

The document examines the relationship between climate change and conflict in Africa, asserting that climate change functions as a 'risk multiplier' that exacerbates existing political, social, and economic tensions. It highlights that while some regions like the Horn of Africa, the Sahel, and the Lake Chad Basin are particularly vulnerable, the path from climate impact to violence is indirect, often mediated by resource scarcity, forced migration, and institutional weakness. The report calls for the Global North to fulfill climate finance commitments and for African nations to adopt evidence-based, community-informed adaptation strategies that are sensitive to local conflict dynamics to prevent future instability.

The briefing outlines a strategic framework for G20 nations to integrate forest conservation into climate action. It proposes six key measures: legal commitments to minimize deforestation, a collective goal to plant 1 trillion trees by 2030, food system transformation, safeguarding Indigenous rights, improving non-timber forest product markets, and establishing high-quality nature-based carbon credit policies. The author emphasizes Indonesia's role as a 'carbon superpower' to lead by example through expanded moratoriums, social forestry permits, and robust carbon credit frameworks.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER), representing several environmental and community organisations, has requested the urgent intervention of the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) regarding the environmental authorisation of the Musina-Makhado Special Economic Zone (MMSEZ) project. The CER argues that the Limpopo Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism (LEDET) is not the lawful competent authority due to a conflict of interest and that the project's scale and transboundary implications require national-level oversight under the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA).

The paper examines the rise of Eurobond issuance in Africa as governments seek alternatives to aid, noting that sovereign credit ratings from Moody’s, Fitch, and S&P are essential for market access. It finds that most African countries' ratings have deteriorated since their first assessment, leading to higher borrowing costs and prioritizing debt repayment over human rights and health during the COVID-19 pandemic. The authors criticize the 'big three' for their oligopolistic nature, unreliable methodologies, and limited physical presence in Africa, recommending increased regulation, accountability, and transparency in how Eurobond funds are utilized.

The document examines the rise of Eurobonds as a development financing tool in Africa and the corresponding increase in sovereign credit ratings assigned by Moody's, Fitch, and S&P. It finds that most African countries' ratings have deteriorated since their first assessment, increasing borrowing costs and sometimes forcing governments to prioritize debt repayment over public health and human rights during crises like COVID-19. The authors criticize the 'big three' for their oligopolistic nature, lack of local presence, and use of unsolicited ratings, recommending stricter regulation, better local knowledge, and transparent project-linked borrowing.

The report describes the creation of a groundwater monitoring network in Brackenfell, Western Cape, commissioned by WWF South Africa and implemented by GEOSS South Africa. Following a significant increase in borehole drilling during the 2015-2019 drought, the project conducted desktop assessments and a hydrocensus of 111 properties to identify groundwater use patterns. The study found that most boreholes were drilled between 2016 and 2020, targeting the Tygerberg Formation. Four Solinst Leveloggers were deployed in private and public boreholes to track water levels, with data integrated into the Table Mountain Water Source Area Groundwater Dashboard. Key stakeholder concerns identified include high iron content in the water and risks of over-abstraction.

The report describes the creation of a groundwater monitoring network in Constantia and Bergvliet, Western Cape, commissioned by WWF South Africa. Following a significant increase in borehole drilling during the 2015-2019 drought, GEOSS South Africa conducted a desktop study and hydrocensus of 309 properties. The project resulted in the installation of five Solinst Leveloggers in private boreholes, with data fed into a public Groundwater Dashboard for the Table Mountain Water Source Area. Findings indicate that most boreholes target the Springfontyn and Peninsula Formations, with water levels ranging from 7 to 16 mbgl and quality classified as "good" to "marginal".

The global coal fleet grew by 18.2 GW in 2021, primarily driven by China, which commissioned 25.2 GW of new capacity. While COP26 led to an increase in the number of plants with phase-out dates to 750 (550 GW), a significant gap remains to meet the 1.5C pathway, which would require retiring an additional 1,100 GW. Public financing for new international coal projects has largely ceased following pledges from G20 countries, including China, Japan, and South Korea. However, some nations continue to rely on unproven 'clean coal' technologies like carbon capture and storage (CCS) to extend plant lifetimes.

The report details a global landscape where coal capacity is increasingly concentrated in China, while other regions face a decline in new projects. Despite a record number of phase-out announcements following COP26, the global fleet grew by 18.2 GW in 2021, primarily due to Chinese expansion. The document argues that 'clean coal' technologies are costly and ineffective distractions from the necessary total phase-out of coal power.

The report finds that while many countries are committing to end coal power, global capacity increased by 18.2 GW in 2021, driven primarily by China. While OECD countries and several non-OECD nations are cancelling projects, China's continued expansion and the use of unproven 'clean coal' technologies in some developed nations hinder alignment with the 1.5°C Paris Agreement target.

The report analyzes the integration of sustainable development goals within the WTO's Joint Statement Initiative on Investment Facilitation for Development. It highlights challenges in replicating the Trade Facilitation Agreement's special and differential treatment (S&DT) model, specifically regarding the complexity and timeline of needs assessment reports. The text reviews proposals for sustainable investment provisions, including Responsible Business Conduct (RBC), anti-corruption measures, and domestic supplier databases. Additionally, it explores the potential role of 'home state measures' in facilitating outward foreign direct investment that aligns with sustainability goals.

Natural Justice critiques the draft Forest Law of Mozambique for failing to distinguish between native and planted forests, neglecting sustainable forest management, and ignoring the socio-cultural rights of local communities. The organization warns that the law's focus on economic exploitation and lack of deterrent sanctions for illegal logging and corruption could lead to the extinction of precious tree species by 2029. Key recommendations include incorporating the principle of non-regression, establishing clear community consultation processes, and implementing robust monitoring and training systems to combat organized forest crime.

The 2022 scorecard by Reclaim Finance finds that 30 of the world's largest asset managers hold US$ 550bn in major fossil fuel developers and generally fail to restrict investments in new coal, oil, and gas projects. Despite many pledging carbon neutrality by 2050, the report argues their engagement policies are 'toothless,' lacking clear demands for absolute emission reductions or the cessation of new supply projects. Passive investment is highlighted as a significant loophole, with most managers failing to apply exclusion rules to their passive portfolios.