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The National Chairman's Annual Statement of the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA), delivered on 27 March 2013, analyzes South Africa's strategic position within a multipolar world. It discusses the role of the BRICS forum, the necessity of strengthening ties with other African regional powers, and the impact of domestic instability and military casualties in the Central African Republic on South Africa's global prestige and soft power.

The 2013 BRICS Youth Communiqué, presented by Youth@SAIIA learners at the 5th BRICS Summit in Durban, outlines recommendations for the establishment of a BRICS Development Bank (BDB). The document advocates for a bank that is independent of government political agendas, inclusive of all member nations regardless of financial status, and focused on sustainable development in the developing world.

This research paper by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) examines the drivers and challenges associated with Climate-Compatible Development (CCD). It defines CCD as a "development first" approach aimed at minimizing climate damage while maximizing human development opportunities in a low-carbon, resilient future. The document identifies five primary socio-political drivers—national awareness of adaptation, energy security, economic opportunities, access to climate finance, and government leadership—and seven key implementation challenges, including high costs, political opposition, and institutional limitations.

This research paper by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the diplomatic and economic relationship between Russia and South Africa within the frameworks of BRICS and the G-20. It argues that while political collaboration is strong and serves Russia's goal of a multipolar world order, economic ties remain significantly underdeveloped and below their potential.

The 2013 SAIIA Young Leaders Declaration is a statement of recommendations for the Post-2015 Development Agenda, formulated by South African youth during the 2nd Annual South African Institute of International Affairs Young Leaders Conference in Johannesburg. The document outlines priorities across three thematic areas: addressing inequalities, managing conflict, violence and disasters, and ensuring environmental sustainability.

This research synthesis brief by the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) outlines strategies for transitioning biomass-dependent energy economies toward cleaner cooking stoves and fuels. It emphasizes the need for market transformation over isolated project installations, advocating for user-centered design and a deeper understanding of the social, cultural, and economic drivers of household energy decisions.

This executive summary describes a study by IRENA on financial mechanisms and investment frameworks for renewable energy (RE) in developing countries. The study analyzes global RE finance flows, provides recommendations for national policy design, and presents case studies from Asia, Africa, and Latin America to support the scaling up of renewable energy for climate mitigation.

This 2012 CDKN fact sheet details technical assistance provided to Bangladesh to lead international climate negotiations on 'Loss and Damage' and the development of a participatory M&E tool for community-based adaptation that has since been replicated in Africa.

The research paper argues that while South Africa does not fit the original economic profile of the Brics, its political influence justifies its membership. It suggests the group focus on mutual learning, trade facilitation, and financial cooperation while cautioning South Africa to prioritize pragmatism over ideology, maintain strong bilateral ties, and leverage its role as a political gateway to Africa.

In a speech delivered on 3 September 2012, Deputy Minister Ebrahim outlined South Africa's foreign policy and its role within the UN Security Council (UNSC), specifically regarding peace and security in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). He advocated for the pacific settlement of disputes over military intervention, criticized the use of the veto by permanent UNSC members, and called for the reform of the Council to include permanent representation for Africa and Latin America.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the process of establishing a multistakeholder Internet public policy dialogue in Togo. It details the country's ICT landscape, the methodology used for public consultations between 2010 and 2011, and the resulting policy needs, emphasizing the gap between infrastructure growth and the lack of formal national ICT policy.

This policy brief by the Institute for Security Studies analyzes the draft South African Defence Review 2012, concluding that it is unrealistic due to a lack of fiscal planning and an overly rigid 30-year vision. The author argues that the draft fails to prioritize short-term operational needs, contradicts its own collaborative security goals by emphasizing autonomous defence, and ignores critical gender mainstreaming requirements.

This chapter from the GEO-5 report analyzes the state of the global atmosphere, highlighting that while ozone depletion and lead in petrol have been successfully addressed, climate change remains the most critical issue. Greenhouse gas concentrations are currently on track to exceed the 2°C warming limit, with a significant gap remaining between emission pledges and necessary targets. The report notes mixed progress in air quality, with high particulate matter levels persisting in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, and advocates for an integrated policy approach to address climate change, air quality, and ozone depletion simultaneously.

This report presents the results of a three-year investigation into the triple bottom line (TBL) performance of 1,337 small, medium-sized and micro enterprises (SMMEs) in developing countries. Conducted by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) for the SEED Initiative, the study analyzes the social, environmental, and business targets of these enterprises across three cohorts of applicants. It highlights the critical role of technology, skills training, and research partnerships in the 'green economy,' while identifying significant barriers such as lack of financing, inadequate local environmental enforcement, and gender-based disparities in business management capacity.

This policy brief, produced by Energeia and supported by CDKN and Fundacion Futuro LatinoAmericano, analyzes the outcomes of the COP17 meeting in Durban (December 2011) and the resulting Durban Platform for Enhanced Action, focusing on the role and future strategy of Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries.

This research paper by the Stockholm Environment Institute uses the Climate and Regional Economics of Development (CRED) model to analyze the gap between current climate-economic policy recommendations and the emission reductions required to limit global warming to 2°C. The authors argue that conventional models, such as DICE, often underestimate climate damages and ignore international equity and the needs of future generations. By incorporating updated science, lower discount rates, and cross-regional investments from rich to poor countries, the CRED Optimal scenario demonstrates that it is possible to achieve a high probability of staying below 2°C while simultaneously reducing global income inequality.

This report documents a study group session held on 12 March 2012, organized by the South African Institute of International Affairs and the International Development Law Unit at the University of Pretoria. The session focused on South Africa's strategic approach to its membership in the BRICS group, analyzing the value-add of the alliance to South Africa's economic priorities and discussing challenges related to global economic governance, trade imbalances, and internal inequality within the BRICS nations.

This research paper by Trudi Hartzenberg for the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) examines the intersection of trade, investment, and competition policy in South Africa. It analyzes how South Africa balances the need for foreign direct investment (FDI) and global trade integration with domestic development goals, particularly employment creation. The paper details the evolution of South Africa's competition regime, the role of the Competition Act of 1998, and the complexities of managing cross-border mergers, using the Walmart-Massmart transaction as a primary case study.

The report analyzes the failures of 'first wave' environmentalism surrounding the 1987 Bruntland Report and the 1992 Rio Earth Summit to provide lessons for 'second wave' environmentalism in 2012. It evaluates the High Level Panel on Global Sustainability's efforts to address these errors through a focus on relative urgency, a narrative on green growth, and engagement with mainstream economic planning.

This policy brief by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) argues that the success of the Rio+20 UN Conference on Sustainable Development depends on integrating a rights-based approach. It examines the historical evolution of human rights and environmental linkages from 1972 to 2002 and critiques the January 2012 Zero Draft of the Rio+20 outcome document for failing to recognize the fundamental right to a healthy environment.