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WWF South Africa's Environmental Leaders programme has supported 128 interns over a decade, addressing high graduate unemployment by providing work-based learning and mentoring. The programme focuses on scarce green skills, resulting in 76% of participants finding employment directly after their internship, with 37% of those in newly created positions. It emphasizes transformation and diversity, recruiting from 20 universities across South Africa and partnering with 32 host organisations across government, NGO, and private sectors.

This guide outlines the application process for businesses seeking to invest in the Atlantis Special Economic Zone (ASEZ), emphasizing a requirement for 'greentech' ventures and a multi-agency evaluation process.

The document advocates for the adoption of Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA), specifically conservation agriculture and agro-ecology, to address South Africa's challenges with water scarcity, land degradation, and climate change. It proposes transitioning smallholder and commercial farmers to these practices to secure food supplies and create jobs in the 'Catchment Economy' and land restoration. The brief outlines specific policy needs, including the finalization of the Climate Smart Agricultural Strategic Framework and the use of blended finance and green bonds to fund the transition.

The policy brief examines how South Africa can leverage agriculture and land reform for job creation. It highlights the current dominance of large-scale commercial farming and the failures of previous land reform efforts. The document proposes three scenarios for job growth, ranging from a modest 220,000 net jobs through commercial intensification to 1,263,000 net jobs if 60% of commercial farmland is redistributed to market-oriented smallholders. It concludes that while significant livelihood opportunities exist for smallholders, the potential for high-wage, secure employment in the sector is limited and depends heavily on state capacity and irrigation access.

The report defines and maps 22 national Strategic Water Source Areas for surface water (SWSA-sw) and 37 for groundwater (SWSA-gw) in South Africa, including transboundary areas in Lesotho and Swaziland. It links these areas to major urban centres and agricultural sectors, highlighting that a small percentage of land provides a disproportionate amount of the region's water. The study identifies significant threats from invasive alien plants, mining, and land degradation, and recommends integrating SWSAs into national policy, legislation, and spatial planning to ensure long-term water security.

The trade mission, held from May 22-25, 2018, focused on sharing Dutch expertise in waste management and circular economy practices with South African government and private sector entities. Activities included site visits to waste management and composting facilities, sector workshops on secondary materials and bio-based economies, and the development of business cases for insect-derived animal feed and invasive species valorisation. The mission identified specific needs in South Africa for crushing standards in construction and demolition waste and the implementation of quality control systems for secondary materials.

The report evaluates the South African legal framework for wild animal welfare, highlighting a critical divide between biodiversity conservation (managed by the Department of Environmental Affairs) and animal welfare (managed by the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries). It finds that the primary welfare statute, the Animals Protection Act of 1962, is outdated and contains loopholes—specifically the use of the term "unnecessary"—that dilute protection. The report identifies significant failures in the permitting system, noting that provincial authorities often ignore national TOPS regulations and omit welfare conditions from permits. It concludes with recommendations for a standardized national electronic permit database, increased enforcement capacity, and the integration of welfare mandates across environmental and agricultural departments.

The document details how Iselula Crushing processed rubble from a historical berm in Hermanus to be used as fill and aggregate for schools, roads, sidewalks, and a mall. The project recovered 19,600 tonnes of material, resulting in material cost savings of R2.4 million and landfill cost savings of R2.1 million, while converting four temporary jobs into permanent positions due to increased demand for secondary construction materials.

The report examines the transition of public procurement from a back-office function to a strategic tool for delivering government services and addressing climate change. It highlights a global trend toward reforming procurement laws to ensure value for money across the lifecycle of assets and aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to shift markets toward sustainable consumption and production. The document defines sustainable public procurement as a mechanism to reduce environmental impact, create positive social and economic outcomes, and foster markets for innovative, climate-friendly technologies and infrastructure.

South Africa is overexploiting its renewable water resources, with more than 60% of its rivers currently overexploited. Forecasts indicate that demand will increase across agricultural, industrial, and municipal sectors through 2035, driven by population growth, urbanisation, and industrial expansion. The report highlights critical vulnerabilities, including deteriorating wastewater treatment facilities—where nearly 25% are in a 'critical state'—and high levels of non-revenue water (approximately 36% of municipal consumption). To avoid a national crisis, the authors recommend implementing tiered water pricing, expanding the use of treated wastewater, and increasing sustainable groundwater extraction. The report also notes that transitioning from coal-based energy to renewables would reduce industrial water demand. While large-scale infrastructure projects are planned, the report argues they are insufficient without aggressive demand reduction and efficiency measures.

The ATI Network Shadow Report 2018 details systemic failures in South Africa's access to information framework, noting low compliance rates among public bodies and significant barriers to obtaining data from private entities. It highlights specific cases where denied information jeopardized the right to education and environmental protection, while also discussing legal victories regarding political party funding and non-profit transparency.

The South Africa Green Economy Barometer 2018 evaluates the country's transition to a sustainable economy, awarding it a '5 out of 10'. While South Africa has strong policy foundations like the National Development Plan and the Green Economy Accord, the report finds that the economy remains locked into 'brown' energy systems, with 90% of electricity still generated from coal. Progress in renewable energy has been stalled by a gridlock between the national utility Eskom and independent power producers. The report highlights a critical gap in supporting the informal sector and small enterprises, noting that 'green jobs' created through public works programmes often lack security and decent wages. Environmentally, the country's ecological footprint continues to exceed its biocapacity, and biodiversity hotspots remain in a dire state. Financially, while green bonds and sustainable finance innovations have emerged, fossil fuel subsidies persist. The document concludes that national plans remain too focused on economic growth rather than social development and the integration of natural capital into decision-making.

The Berg Water Management Area (WMA) faces a projected water supply deficit of approximately 300 million m3 per year by 2040, which could cost the region over R146 billion and 650,000 jobs annually. Current planning systems are fragmented, treating water and economic development as independent variables, and local municipalities often lack the capacity to secure off-budget financing for infrastructure. The brief recommends that the Western Cape Government support municipalities in integrating water planning into Integrated Development Plans (IDPs), advocate for a regional water utility, and employ hydro-economic modelling to prioritise interventions.

The Western Cape Industrial Symbiosis Programme (WISP) facilitated a one-off exchange where Apollo Brick accepted 55 tonnes of charred wood and ash from Pallet Cycle following a fire. The ash was incorporated into bricks, and the charred wood was used as kiln fuel, resulting in a saving of 16 tonnes of CO2e and R24,750 in disposal costs for Pallet Cycle.

The Western Cape Industrial Symbiosis Programme (WISP) connected Scan Display, a marketing company, with Sealand Gear, a bag manufacturer, to divert textile waste from landfills. Since October 2015, Scan Display has supplied 2 tonnes of polytwirl material annually to Sealand Gear, resulting in 54 tonnes of avoided CO2 emissions per year and significant cost savings for both companies.

The report argues that electric orchard tractors are well-suited for the low-speed, high-torque requirements of South African horticultural farms, particularly in the citrus industry. It estimates a potential market of 1,480 electric tractors by 2030, which could save up to 5,200 tonnes of CO2 annually if powered by renewable energy. While initial capital costs are higher than diesel alternatives, the report identifies a payback period of less than six years due to lower fuel and maintenance costs. It further proposes a local manufacturing model developed by Nelson Mandela University, suggesting that producing 300 units annually by Year 5 could create 53 direct jobs.

The report assesses the feasibility of solar thermal systems in South African hospitals, finding a total annual thermal energy demand of 370 GWh for domestic hot water. While current adoption is very low—with only 23 systems totaling 1,333 m² of collector area—the study suggests hospitals could feasibly meet 20% to 40% of their thermal needs through solar thermal capacity. A case study at Paarl Provincial Hospital indicates a potential internal rate of return (IRR) of 10% and a payback period of 12.3 years. However, widespread uptake is hindered by the prevalence of energy-efficient heat pumps, high upfront costs, and infrastructure challenges such as asbestos roofing and limited roof space.

The report argues that redirecting surplus food—edible food that is not 'true waste'—can alleviate hunger for 13 million South Africans while providing cost savings and tax benefits to food firms. It highlights that 95% of food waste in South Africa occurs before the consumption stage, with agricultural production (26%), processing/packaging (25%), post-harvest handling (24%), and distribution/retail (20%) being the primary sources. The document details the environmental impact, noting that Food Forward's donation of 4,400 tonnes of food in 2017/8 avoided 17,400 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions. It identifies barriers such as liability concerns and date labelling, while proposing solutions like 'Good Samaritan' legislation and the use of technology platforms like FoodShare to coordinate logistics.

The report analyzes the aftermath of the ANC's 54th national conference, where Cyril Ramaphosa narrowly defeated Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma. It argues that while Ramaphosa's victory averted a major crisis, the party remains deeply divided between 'reformists' and 'traditionalists,' placing South Africa in a 'muddling along' scenario. Key challenges include the potential recall of Jacob Zuma, avoiding a credit rating downgrade by Moody's, and managing the Tripartite Alliance. The author predicts the ANC will retain national power in 2019 but may lose its majority in Gauteng province, with the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) emerging as a potential kingmaker there.

The report examines the Berg Water Management Area (WMA) as a 'constrained catchment' where water demand is projected to outstrip supply due to climate change, population growth, and urbanisation. It identifies a misalignment between legislated water allocation processes and economic development planning, noting that water is often treated as an independent variable rather than a co-dependent factor. To address this, the study developed a regional hydro-economic GIS model to forecast water requirements and value the economic opportunity costs of supply deficits, and a Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) tool for the Saldanha Bay Local Municipality to prioritise development applications based on socio-economic outcomes rather than a first-come-first-served basis. Findings indicate that while the City of Cape Town dominates regional economic value, the West Coast municipalities of Swartland, Saldanha Bay, and Bergrivier face the most significant constraints to future development. The report recommends the creation of a regional water utility and the use of the provincial government's Sustainable Water Management Plan (SWMP) as a forum for integrated planning.