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South Africa's National Climate Change Adaptation Strategy (NCCAS) acts as its National Adaptation Plan (NAP), aiming for a climate-resilient transition through a country-driven process involving 11 sectors and three spheres of government. The strategy addresses the expectation that climate change will exacerbate poverty and service access, with projections indicating drastic temperature increases—potentially over 6°C in some interior regions under low mitigation—and uncertain rainfall patterns.

A petition submitted by eight civil society organisations, represented by the Centre for Environmental Rights (CER), seeking intervener status in an appeal by the Practice Group (Pty) Ltd on behalf of Atha-Africa Ventures (Pty) Ltd. The appeal concerns a land-use change application for Portion 1 of Yzermyn 96 HT in the Dr Pixley Ka Isaka Seme Local Municipality, Mpumalanga, to transition the land from agriculture to mining.

The document analyzes the precarious transition of power in the Democratic Republic of Congo following the announcement that Félix Tshisekedi won the December 30 election with 38.57% of the vote. It highlights immediate hurdles, including contested election legitimacy, the risk of violence from supporters of Martin Fayulu, and the necessity of securing the acquiescence of Joseph Kabila's regime and the military. The author argues that regional stability depends on Tshisekedi's ability to cooperate with leaders in Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, South Africa, and Angola, as well as the continued engagement of the UN Security Council through MONUSCO.

A notice of appeal filed on 8 January 2019 by a mining company against a decision by the Dr. Pixley Ka Isaka Seme Local Municipality's Joint Municipal Planning Tribunal. The Tribunal had dismissed the company's land use application on the grounds of lack of locus standi. The appellant argues that the decision ignored national law (SPLUMA) and violated procedural fairness under PAJA.

The Mpumalanga Provincial Spatial Development Framework proposes a polycentric growth management model to address apartheid-era spatial imbalances and promote sustainable economic diversification. It identifies five key economic growth and innovation centres—Mbombela, Emalahleni, Middleburg, Secunda, and Ermelo—and a network of alternative growth centres to decentralise economic activity. The framework emphasises enhancing connectivity via the N4 Maputo Corridor and other strategic routes, protecting high-potential agricultural land and biodiversity, and transitioning the province's coal-dependent economy toward low-carbon and climate-resilient alternatives. It also outlines strategies for urban densification, the development of sustainable human settlements, and the creation of Rural Economic Zones (REZ) to transform rural livelihoods.

The document examines the persistent instability in Lesotho, focusing on the politicisation of the Lesotho Defence Force (LDF), the failure of frequent elections to provide legitimacy, and a small economy heavily reliant on government spending. It argues that while security sector reform and electoral changes are necessary, long-term stability requires diversifying the economy and improving the relationship with South Africa to reduce the competition for state resources.

The report identifies 5.5 million km2 of 'REMAIN' land in sub-Saharan Africa potentially available for biofuel production after accounting for food security and conservation. Under current conditions, RSB-compliant production on prime and good quality land could yield 165 mt of aviation biofuel per annum, with miscanthus identified as the most promising feedstock. However, this potential is projected to decrease by approximately 40% by 2050 due to cropland expansion for food and climate change impacts. The study concludes that the region could meet between 30% and 90% of the projected 2050 global demand for alternative aviation fuels, depending on whether moderately suitable land is utilized.

The document examines the reciprocal relationship between climate and land in Africa, highlighting how desertification and land degradation exacerbate food insecurity and poverty. It identifies specific risks for arid zones, the disproportionate impact on women and marginalized groups, and proposes integrated governance and sustainable land management practices to build resilience.

The document examines how climate change and unsustainable land management drive desertification and food insecurity in Africa, while highlighting sustainable land management practices and the necessity of integrated governance and gender-inclusive policies to build resilience.

The document argues for the alignment of provincial conservation laws with national legislation, the clarification of welfare mandates between government departments, and the standardisation of permitting processes to ensure the well-being of wild animals in South Africa.

The GEC 2019 briefing reviews the global transition to green economies, noting that while renewable energy and green finance grew in 2018, biodiversity loss and inequality remain critical. The document outlines the GEC's mission to champion inclusion, equity, and environmental limits through financial reform, natural capital accounting, and just transitions. It emphasizes that environmental protection is dependent on improving human livelihoods, citing specific examples of community-led success and the need for structural economic reform.

Between 2015 and 2018, Cape Town faced an unprecedented drought that threatened a 'Day Zero' scenario where water supply to 75% of homes would be cut. To prevent economic collapse and mass unemployment, the City of Cape Town (CCT) and Western Cape Government (WCG) formed the 'Economic Water Resilience Task Team'. This partnership included entities like GreenCape, Wesgro, and the National Business Initiative to mobilize businesses, provide technical guidance on water efficiency, and coordinate messaging. Despite punitive tariff increases and severe restrictions, the region avoided a macroeconomic jobs crisis, with the Western Cape and Cape Town both seeing decreases in their 2017/18 annual unemployment rates.

The document details the transition of South African municipal electricity distribution from a monopoly to a distributed generation model, focusing on the adoption of rooftop solar PV. It highlights the role of the City of Cape Town as a pioneer in developing SSEG policies and tariffs, supported by GreenCape and the Western Cape Government. The study identifies six levers to drive this transition, including technical support, regulatory certainty, and new finance models, to prevent the 'utility death spiral' where municipalities lose revenue as customers switch to renewable energy. By October 2018, 22 of 25 electricity-distributing municipalities in the Western Cape allowed SSEG, with 18 having NERSA-approved feed-in tariffs.

The document examines the IkamvaYouth programme in Atlantis, South Africa, which provides tutoring, mentoring, and career guidance to Grade 8-12 learners. It highlights the link between low education levels and high unemployment, noting that over 50% of unemployed people in 2018 had less than a matric qualification. The programme aims to create a skills pipeline for the Atlantis Special Economic Zone (ASEZ), a greentech manufacturing hub. In 2017, 94% of IkamvaYouth students in Atlantis passed their matric exams, compared to lower rates at feeder schools. However, the programme faces significant local challenges, including gang violence and poor internet connectivity, which hinder tutor recruitment and learner retention.

GreenCape implemented a four-part strategy to support water-intense industries in Cape Town during the 2015-18 drought, focusing on partnerships, prioritisation of high-employment sectors, short-term viable solutions, and long-term capacity building. Between June 2017 and August 2018, nearly 400 businesses received direct assistance, leading to an average consumption reduction of 41% and the safeguarding of 52,000 jobs among surveyed companies. The initiative utilised tools such as the 'Water Resilience Journey' methodology and a business case calculator to communicate financial risks and returns. Key lessons included the need for disaggregated data to avoid overlooking vulnerable sectors like the laundry industry and the value of leveraging businesses as 'corporate citizens' through initiatives like the Smart Water Meter Challenge.

The document outlines the challenges businesses face when extracting saline groundwater, specifically the production of brine during treatment processes like reverse osmosis. It categorizes brine management into direct discharge and treatment for resource recovery, noting that most solutions are constrained by high capital and operational costs or strict regulatory requirements. Key barriers include a 2019 liquids-to-landfill ban and high costs for sea outfall pipelines and crystallization technologies.

The document details the establishment of the South African Renewable Energy Technology Centre (SARETEC), a national accredited Solar PV Service Technician qualification, and the PV GreenCard voluntary quality assurance mechanism. It highlights the importance of local partnerships, international expertise (particularly from Germany), and proactive timing in addressing skills gaps to support both utility-scale and small-scale solar PV deployment in South Africa.

The document identifies that while high upfront capital costs limit the uptake of rooftop solar PV, several innovative green finance options exist for South African businesses. These include commercial bank funding (asset finance, term loans), Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE), Pay As You Save (PAYS), power purchase agreements (PPAs), and online impact investing platforms. It highlights that solar PV is technically mature, with payback periods typically between 3-8 years and a lifespan of up to 20 years. The brief also details specific offerings from banks like Absa, Nedbank, Standard Bank, and FNB, and lists tax and grant incentives such as 100% accelerated depreciation and the Green Tourism Incentive Programme.

The document details a partnership where Siyavana Solutions refurbishes end-of-life fuel pumps from Shell service stations to be resold back to Shell. This industrial symbiosis project diverted 16 tonnes of waste from landfills, including pumps, hoses, and computer boards, while generating up to R5 million in additional revenue and creating 9 permanent jobs.

The document details a project by GreenCape and the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom, supported by the City of Cape Town, to harness entrepreneurial innovation in response to the 2015-2018 drought. The central mechanism was a 'shark tank-style' competition designed to identify and support water-tech SMMEs, providing a platform for networking and business development to build long-term economic and climate resilience.