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The World Resources Institute recommends that the US target a 50% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 compared to 2005 levels. This target is presented as achievable through an "All-in" strategy combining federal and local action, with the power sector providing over 60% of the necessary reductions. The briefing asserts that this transition would create millions of jobs, with renewable energy investments generating more than twice the jobs of fossil fuel spending. Furthermore, it argues that such a target is essential for the US to regain international credibility and inspire other major emitters ahead of COP26.

The paper examines Canada's pandemic response, highlighting how a strategy of virus mitigation over suppression, combined with the privatization of long-term care and a lack of workplace protections, disproportionately harmed racialized people, women, and Indigenous communities. It further critiques Canada's international conduct, specifically its hoarding of vaccine doses and opposition to waiving intellectual property rights for vaccines in the Global South.

The Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ) reports that only about one-third of South Africa's R500-billion Covid-19 rescue package has materialised, citing a systematic failure in implementation and the impact of austerity measures. The statement asserts that economic recovery is impossible without first providing comprehensive rescue and relief, particularly as unemployment has reached 43% (expanded definition). The IEJ recommends increasing income support, fully allocating the R100-billion job protection fund, expanding public employment programmes, and increasing taxes on wealthy individuals to fund these measures. It also highlights corruption, noting that the Special Investigating Unit was investigating R10.3-billion in spending on Covid-19 goods and services as of February 2021.

The report analyzes 19 National Adaptation Plan (NAP) documents, sectoral health plans, and Green Climate Fund proposals to assess the integration of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). It finds that while health is universally prioritized as a sector for adaptation, specific SRHR issues are rarely addressed. The document argues that climate change negatively impacts SRHR and that the denial of these rights increases climate vulnerability. It recommends using existing gender and health guidelines, incorporating SRHR into vulnerability assessments, and fostering collaboration between government bodies responsible for climate, gender, and health to ensure inclusive and rights-based adaptation strategies.

The document examines how the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of e-governance tools, specifically social media and smartphones, to maintain public service delivery. It highlights South Africa's use of WhatsApp chatbots and the 'COVID Alert SA' contact tracing app as innovative examples, while noting that the 'digital divide' and concerns over surveillance and fake news remain significant barriers to digital governance across Africa.

The report details South Africa's transition from a secret nuclear weapons programme to a global advocate for nuclear disarmament and peaceful nuclear use. It analyzes the current nuclear governance framework, the state of aging facilities like the Koeberg Nuclear Power Plant, and the political and financial turmoil surrounding nuclear expansion plans, particularly during the Zuma presidency. The document highlights systemic challenges including state capture, dwindling expertise, and fragmented governance, while outlining the Ramaphosa administration's more cautious approach to adding 2,500MW of nuclear capacity.

The paper examines the GCF's 'direct access' modality, which allows developing country institutions to receive funding without international intermediaries. While 62 such entities were accredited by November 2020, 42 (67%) had not yet received project approval. The authors analyze four support mechanisms—the Readiness Programme, Project Preparation Facility (PPF), Simplified Approval Process (SAP), and Enhancing Direct Access pilot—finding that high costs, complex application processes, and restrictive funding rules create significant bottlenecks. The paper recommends automating 'kick-off' funding upon accreditation, streamlining the SAP, and allowing preparatory funds to cover internal staff time.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER), representing groundWork, Earthlife Africa, and the Mining and Environmental Justice Community Network of South Africa, submitted formal objections to the Revised Draft Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the proposed Musina-Makhado Special Economic Zone (EMSEZ). The CER argues that the EIA is fatally flawed due to procedural unfairness, inadequate public participation, and significant gaps in specialist studies regarding climate change, water scarcity, air quality, and human health. The document asserts that the project's high negative environmental impacts likely outweigh its projected socio-economic benefits and that an environmental authorisation should be denied.

The Zimbabwe APRM Popular Sensitisation (ZAPS) project, led by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) and the SIVIO Institute, seeks to support Zimbabwean civil society organisations (CSOs) in influencing the national African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) process. Following a pre-planning meeting on 29 January 2021, the project intends to establish a CSO Working Group to identify 10-12 key governance issues and produce an evidence-based 'spotlight report' for the government and the APRM Secretariat. The project is scheduled to run for six months, with a sensitisation workshop planned for February 2021 and a working group meeting in March 2021 to select governance priorities.

The report analyzes climate finance in South Africa for 2017-2018, tracking an annual average of R62.2 billion. It identifies a significant gap between current funding and the R8.9 trillion estimated by the IFC as necessary to achieve South Africa's Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) by 2030. Public finance averaged R22 billion annually, with a strong domestic preference, while private finance averaged R35.3 billion, focused exclusively on mitigation. The document recommends developing standardized climate finance definitions, improving public-private coordination, and scaling blended finance to leverage private capital.

A summary of the High Court judgment in Featherbrooke Homeowners Association NPC v Mogale City Local Municipality & Others, where the court found that state entities failed in their duty to manage stormwater, infringing on the constitutional right to a healthy and safe environment.

The January 6 Capitol attacks damaged the United States' reputation as a democratic leader, prompting various nations to reconsider their reliance on U.S. leadership. While the UK sees an opportunity for a values-based partnership under Joe Biden, Brazil's President Bolsonaro has aligned himself with Trumpism, potentially hindering cooperation on climate change. South Africa views the events as a cautionary tale regarding democratic fragility and a reinforcement of U.S. racial inequality. Turkey expects a return to predictable diplomacy but notes the need for humility in U.S. human rights advocacy. India and other Quad members may pursue more autonomous regional initiatives to counter authoritarianism, specifically from China, due to perceived U.S. domestic dysfunction.

This policy brief examines the social resilience of 15 communities in the Global South during the COVID-19 pandemic. It finds that resilience is multifaceted, involving assets, flexibility, social organization, learning, behavioral factors, and agency. The study highlights the critical role of community-based organizations, particularly women's and youth groups, in mobilizing resources and maintaining social cohesion. It recommends that policymakers target multiple social domains of resilience rather than focusing on a single policy angle, treating community organizations as key partners and investing in social capital to enhance collective action.

The author argues that Donald Trump pursued a 'herd immunity' approach to Covid-19 not for epidemiological reasons, but to frame public health measures as Democratic-led attacks on the working class and small business owners. By dismissing scientific expertise and associating mask-wearing with weakness, Trump leveraged the pandemic as a campaign tool to solidify support among his base, particularly the less-educated petite bourgeoisie, by presenting a choice between public health and employment.

The document calls for a shift from a destructive extractive model to one that prioritises human well-being and environmental preservation. It highlights the severe impacts of mining on water, soil, and air, and emphasizes that global coal use must drop by 80% in the next decade to maintain a 1.5°C temperature limit. In South Africa, failure to adapt could lead to interior temperature increases of up to 7°C by 2100, threatening health and agriculture.

This research paper by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) identifies key strategies to accelerate climate change adaptation across Africa. Based on interviews with African scientists and practitioners, the paper advocates for a shift toward locally-led, inclusive solutions that integrate indigenous knowledge with scientific projections. It proposes three primary investment pillars: enhancing people's skills and knowledge, building climate-resilient economies, and investing in nature-based solutions.

The South African government aims to mobilise R1 trillion from the private sector over 10 years via an Infrastructure Fund to address an infrastructure deficit and revive economic growth. The document argues that the current focus on 'de-risking' private investment—through blended finance, public-private partnerships (PPPs), and converting infrastructure into asset classes—often shifts excessive risk to the public fiscus and may fail to deliver developmental outcomes. It cites the Gautrain and prison facilities in Bloemfontein and Louis Trichardt as examples of costly public-sector liabilities. The author recommends that the state maintain leadership in structural economic transformation, specifically shifting away from fossil fuels and extractive industries, while implementing stricter governance, transparency, and human rights due diligence for all private-sector involvements.

The African green bond market is nascent and underdeveloped, with cumulative issuances of less than 1% of global volumes between 2012 and 2019. While South Africa, Morocco, and Nigeria lead the drive through national frameworks and issuances, the market faces significant barriers including a lack of technical capacity, insufficient supporting regulation, and a dearth of fiscal incentives. As of October 2019, 17 bonds totaling over US$2 billion had been issued across six states, with approximately 35% being climate certified. Opportunities for growth lie in greening infrastructure and sustainable urban development, provided that local conditions are reflected in guidelines and project pipelines are improved.

The document examines urban flood challenges in five Sub-Saharan cities, highlighting the transition from traditional grey infrastructure to Integrated Flood Risk Management (IFRM) and Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA). It details specific interventions across Accra, Cape Town, Durban, Nairobi, and Mombasa, emphasizing that effective flood governance requires multi-stakeholder collaboration and the integration of social principles to protect vulnerable populations in informal settlements.

The report documents community-led responses to the Covid-19 pandemic and climate risks across the Global South, highlighting the role of social capital, women's leadership, and local innovation in maintaining development progress. It identifies specific grassroots solutions—such as community grain banks, urban kitchen gardens, and village savings groups—and argues for a shift in external support toward flexible, locally-led financing and partnerships that recognise the expertise of community-based organisations.