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The Life After Coal campaign, comprising the Centre for Environmental Rights (CER), groundWork, and Earthlife Africa Johannesburg, submitted formal objections on 29 January 2020 to Eskom's applications for alternative emission limits at the Medupi and Matimba power stations. The campaign argues that the applications are procedurally and substantively unlawful, violate the South African Constitution and environmental laws, and rely on a flawed air quality modelling approach in a priority area already suffering from poor air quality.

The Life After Coal Campaign, represented by the Centre for Environmental Rights, calls for the urgent promulgation of a robust Climate Change Act and the abandonment of new fossil fuel projects in South Africa. The document highlights the lack of transparency regarding greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions data from the Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries (DEFF) and argues that non-compliant coal-fired power stations must be decommissioned as part of a just transition. It further asserts that South Africa's current commitments under the Paris Agreement are inadequate and must be revised to align with the 1.5 degree Celsius limit to avoid severe regional climate impacts.

The ASSEGAIA Alliance launched the Declaration for the Protection of Sacred Natural Sites in January 2020, calling for the regeneration of the Earth to be central to decisions regarding these sites. The Declaration proposes a conservation model featuring a central 'no-go' zone and a buffer zone for ecologically sensitive activities, managed by Spiritual Guardians. The Alliance seeks to identify and protect such sites globally using international rights of Nature.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) provides a table of comments and proposed amendments to the 2019 Draft Mine Community Resettlement Guidelines. The CER argues that the guidelines must move beyond simple consultation toward Free Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC), expand the definition of compensation to include non-material losses, and ensure that resettlement processes are enforceable through amendments to the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act (MPRDA).

The Green Economy Coalition (GEC) has established a 10-year action plan (2020–2030) to drive structural economic reform globally. The strategy identifies five systemic flaws in current economic models—including outdated metrics like GDP and short-termism in finance—and proposes five key interventions: reforming governance, financial systems, economic sectors, inequality, and the valuation of nature. To achieve these, GEC will pursue four pathways: telling new narratives, building critical mass through citizen dialogue, influencing policy via tools like the Green Economy Tracker, and transitioning to a decentralized 'network of networks' structure. The goal is to ensure that by 2030, inclusive green economy principles are central to decisions made by policymakers, business leaders, and citizens.

The document announces the availability of the Block 3B/4B EIA Report regarding oil and gas exploration rights granted in 2019 to a joint venture consisting of Africa Oil SA Corp, Ricocure (Pty) Ltd, and Azinam Limited off the west coast of South Africa.

The report examines several green energy initiatives across Africa, highlighting a recurring failure to conduct meaningful public consultation and respect land rights. Through case studies on green hydrogen in South Africa and Namibia, nuclear and geothermal power in Kenya, and wind energy in Kenya, the document demonstrates how 'green' labels are often used to bypass human rights standards. It concludes with recommendations for international financiers and states to mandate human rights targets and prioritize the rights of Indigenous peoples and marginalized communities in the Just Energy Transition.

The document outlines proposed oil and gas exploration activities by a joint venture (Africa Oil SA Corp, Ricocure (Pty) Ltd, and Azinam Limited) in Block 3B/4B off South Africa's west coast. It details the planned drilling of up to five wells, the associated logistics involving ports and helicopters, and the potential environmental and social risks. Key concerns include impacts on marine biodiversity, noise pollution, disruptions to fishing and tourism livelihoods, and the contribution of fossil fuel expansion to the climate crisis. Conversely, it notes potential short-term economic gains and job creation. The guide provides a timeline for the EIA process and instructions for the public to submit comments by 8 February 2024.

The Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources (DMR) granted environmental authorisation on 30 June 2025 for Shell Offshore Upstream South Africa B.V. and its partners to conduct oil and gas exploration in the Northern Cape Ultra Deep (NCUD) block. The project area is approximately 5,254km in size, located 300km offshore of Port Nolloth and extending towards Strandfontein in waters 2,500m to 3,200m deep. Shell plans to drill two exploration wells in the first year and three in the second, starting in 2026 or 2027. The document outlines the legal process for appealing this decision to the Department of Forestry Fisheries and Environment (DFFE) by 29 July 2025, noting that a filed appeal automatically suspends the authorisation under Section 47(7) of NEMA. It also highlights potential environmental and social risks identified in the draft Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA), including underwater noise affecting fish behavior, threats to critically endangered species like blue whales and leatherback turtles, and the risk of oil spills causing toxicity, suffocation of marine fauna, and the smothering of coastal habitats. Additionally, the guide notes potential negative impacts on small-scale fishing livelihoods, tourism, and the spiritual and cultural heritage of indigenous groups such as the First Peoples and Nguni.

The document examines the role of public-private partnerships (PPPs) in addressing infrastructure deficits in the SADC region, contrasting them with privatisation and traditional procurement. It identifies key barriers to PPP success in Africa, including political interference, lack of dedicated PPP units, and the risks of hidden debt through government guarantees. The author recommends establishing independent PPP units, formalising public consultation processes, and conducting rigorous due diligence on partners to ensure transparency and value for money in sectors such as energy, transport, and water.

The document examines the AU's struggle to implement the 2014 Convention on Cyber Security and Personal Data Protection, noting that only seven of 55 member states had ratified it by October 2019. It compares the AU's approach to the EU's role as a 'norm entrepreneur' through regulations like the GDPR and the Cybersecurity Act. The author highlights Mauritius as a continental best practice for holistic national cyber strategy and recommends that the AU adopt 'Agile Governance Principles', engage more with civil society, and establish a continental body similar to the European Network and Information Security Agency (ENISA).

The document details how human-induced climate change is altering ocean chemistry and temperature, leading to acidification, oxygen loss, and rising sea levels that threaten African coastal communities and marine biodiversity. It highlights the melting of high-mountain glaciers in East Africa, affecting water security and increasing landslide risks. The guide emphasizes that urgent greenhouse gas emission reductions are the primary way to limit these damages, while early investment in disaster risk reduction and nature-based solutions, such as 'blue carbon' ecosystems, can reduce future costs and enhance resilience.

The report evaluates the DBSA and IDC using the Fair Finance Guide International (FFGI) methodology, finding that both institutions lack strong policy commitments to a low-carbon transition despite their developmental mandates. The DBSA showed strength in nature and power generation policies but failed on climate change targets, while the IDC ranked lowest among six assessed DFIs due to a critical lack of publicly available policies.

The document argues that while there are signs of a transition to green economies—such as accelerating renewable energy deployment in China and India and the adoption of wellbeing budgets in New Zealand—the 'brown economy' still dominates. It highlights that fossil fuel subsidies (US$ 5.2 trillion) nearly equal the investment needed for Sustainable Development Goals (US$ 5-7 trillion). The report calls for a systemic shift from extraction to restoration and from GDP-centric measures to wellbeing and natural capital accounting, providing specific recommendations for governments, businesses, and civil society to accelerate a just transition.

Pitstop Lodge, an eco-conscious restaurant in Gordon's Bay, South Africa, installed a hybrid-microgrid consisting of a 70kWp solar PV system, a 100kVA generator, and a 178kWh battery pack after Eskom failed to extend the electricity grid to its location. This system provides a constant electricity supply, reducing generator use to two hours per day and resulting in annual carbon offsets of 104 tCO2 and energy savings of approximately 105,014kWh.

The V&A Waterfront in Cape Town has diverted over 11,000 tonnes of waste from landfills over five years, reducing disposal costs by up to 36%. The precinct focuses on organic waste due to its high volume—nearly 70% of landfill waste—and its impact on climate change. Key initiatives include source separation, a waste tariff structure to incentivise tenants, green leases, and the use of an 'eco-intelligence dashboard' for real-time data. The project has resulted in annual GHG emission savings of 4,147 tonnes and the creation of 86 permanent daily jobs. The long-term goal is zero waste to landfill by 2023, with plans for an on-site waste-to-energy plant.

The document examines the South African energy storage market, highlighting the shift toward hybrid solar PV and battery systems to mitigate the economic impact of record load shedding. It identifies Lithium-ion (specifically Lithium Iron Phosphate) and Lead Acid as the dominant technologies, while noting that Vanadium Redox Flow and Hydrogen storage face barriers due to limited market penetration and the need for specific use-case analysis. The brief provides cost benchmarks for Li-ion systems and models a hybrid solar PV and storage scenario where the return on investment is estimated at 8-12 years, noting that this period could be reduced if business continuity benefits are factored in.

Elgin Fruit Juice installed an anaerobic digester to convert organic waste into electricity and thermal energy, achieving 30-40% operational energy savings. To address low energy demand during the off-crop season (July-December) and the lack of a grid-feed-in license, the company formed Elgin Bio-digestion to use excess biogas as a coal replacement in boilers, saving R2.2 million annually and reducing carbon emissions.

The Cape Agulhas Municipality (CAM) has implemented a phased smart water management system to replace manual monitoring of its groundwater sources. By deploying a LoRaWAN IoT network and digitising infrastructure in a pilot town, Suiderstrand, the municipality has achieved significant reductions in operating costs, vehicle travel, and carbon emissions. The project aims to provide a real-time holistic view of the water network to ensure the sustainable management of aquifers and improve service delivery efficiency.

The document examines the GreenPitch Innovation Challenge 2019 as a mechanism to strengthen Cape Town's economic resilience by supporting green Small, Medium and Micro-Sized Enterprises (SMMEs). It argues that multi-stakeholder collaboration and pitching events help fragmented cleantech start-ups overcome resource gaps—such as lack of financial assets and networks—to better address climate-related stresses. The challenge attracted 40 nationwide entries, resulting in five finalists and providing the winner, Nubrix, with R 30,000 in business development support.