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This 2020 industry brief by GreenCape outlines the financial and regulatory case for solar PV adoption by businesses in South Africa, highlighting cost savings, payback periods, and regional feed-in tariff availability.

This 2020 industry brief by GreenCape examines the on-site treatment and reuse of grey- and blackwater to non-potable standards in South Africa. It outlines the technical processes for treating organic wastewater, the various technology variants available (such as pre-fabricated or constructed systems), and the regulatory landscape governed by the National Water Act and the National Environmental Management Act. The document highlights the economic and operational drivers for on-site treatment in both urban and rural settings, providing case studies from the Western Cape to demonstrate water and cost savings.

This case study describes a circular economy intervention facilitated by the Western Cape Industrial Symbiosis Programme (WISP) to connect a plastic crate manufacturer with a local recycler of HDPE and PP plastics.

This monograph examines the use and misuse of less-lethal weapons (LLWs) within South African prisons and by the South African Police Service (SAPS) Public Order Police (POP) units during crowd management from 2013 to 2018. It analyzes the legal and regulatory frameworks of the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) and SAPS, highlighting systemic failures in accountability, the use of equipment as instruments of torture, and the lethal consequences of weapons marketed as 'less-lethal'.

This report reviews the status of marine and coastal ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) in South Africa, detailing the country's policy frameworks, institutional arrangements, and practical implementation of nature-based solutions to enhance climate resilience.

This policy brief examines the role of inter-sectoral collaboration and coordination in preventing violence in South Africa, using the Western Cape's After School Game Changer (ASGC) as a primary case study. It argues that violence prevention requires a holistic approach involving government, NGOs, and academic institutions to provide safe environments and life skills for youth, particularly in impoverished areas.

This report, produced by the South African Civil Society Working Group on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, provides a 'Citizens’ Report' to offer an alternative perspective to the government's Voluntary National Review (VNR). It evaluates South Africa's progress on six specific Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Quality Education (Goal 4), Decent Work and Economic Growth (Goal 8), Reduced Inequalities (Goal 10), Climate Action (Goal 13), Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions (Goal 16), and Partnerships for the Goals (Goal 17). The report generally finds that while South Africa possesses strong policy and legal frameworks aligned with the 2030 Agenda, there is a significant gap in implementation, public awareness, and the inclusion of civil society in the monitoring and review processes.

A statement by a representative of Natural Justice detailing first-hand observations of the negative impacts of mining and large-scale infrastructure projects in South Africa and Kenya, arguing that current development models prioritize corporate interests over human rights and environmental sustainability.

This case study examines the IkamvaYouth programme in Atlantis, South Africa, a non-profit initiative designed to build resilience among disadvantaged high school students through academic support, career guidance, and peer-to-peer networking. The programme aims to bridge the gap between education and employment, specifically preparing youth for opportunities within the Atlantis Special Economic Zone (ASEZ) greentech hub.

This case study examines the Atlantis Renewable Energy Challenge (AREC), an annual non-curriculum inter-school competition for junior and high school students in Atlantis, South Africa. Launched in 2016 by GreenCape in partnership with the City of Cape Town, the programme aims to build resilience among youth by exposing them to the green economy and renewable energy sector to prepare them for future employment opportunities, particularly those linked to the Atlantis Special Economic Zone (ASEZ).

The South Africa’s Low-Emission Development Strategy (SA LEDS) 2050 is a strategic framework designed to transition South Africa to a low-carbon growth path by 2050. It aligns national policies with the Paris Agreement and the country's Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC), focusing on a 'peak, plateau and decline' emissions trajectory. The strategy outlines sectoral measures for energy, industry, agriculture, forestry, and waste, while emphasizing a 'Just Transition' to ensure socio-economic upliftment and job security during the shift away from fossil fuels.

The report 'Young Leaders' by WWF South Africa documents the first decade of its Environmental Leaders internship programme (2008–2018), which aims to bridge the gap between university graduation and professional employment in the green economy. The programme focuses on developing scarce green skills through work-based learning, dedicated mentoring, and professional networking to combat high graduate unemployment in South Africa.

This report provides a management framework for South Africa's Strategic Water Source Areas (SWSAs), which produce over 50% of the region's mean annual runoff from 10% of the land. It details the economic importance of SWSAs, their role in supporting millions of people and the national economy, and provides specific implementation guidelines for the forestry, agriculture, and mining sectors to mitigate impacts on water quality and quantity. It advocates for the integration of SWSA maps into strategic spatial planning and the expansion of protected areas.

This briefing by the Climate Bonds Initiative explores the synergies between green bonds and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), arguing that climate mitigation and adaptation are essential for achieving the 2030 Agenda. It identifies six specific SDGs that benefit directly from green bond investment and emphasizes the need for climate risk disclosure across all thematic bond labels to ensure long-term sustainability.

This briefing by the Climate Bonds Initiative explores the synergies between green bonds and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), arguing that climate mitigation and adaptation are essential for achieving the 2030 Agenda. It identifies six specific SDGs that benefit most directly from green bond investment and emphasizes the need for climate risk disclosure across all thematic bond labels to ensure long-term sustainability.

This fact sheet provides a municipal snapshot of the Drakenstein Municipality (DM), detailing the critical constraints water scarcity and climate change pose to its future economic development, urban growth, and agricultural productivity by 2040.

This industry brief describes the Pay As You Save (PAYS) financing model designed to accelerate the adoption of electric buses in South Africa by removing the barrier of high upfront capital costs.

This GreenCape briefing argues that investing in water efficiency and alternative water sources is financially sound for businesses even after droughts end. Using three business models (office, medium manufacturing, and large manufacturing), it demonstrates that solutions like smart metering, retrofitting, and effluent reuse can reduce municipal water reliance by up to 70% and costs by 60%, with most solutions paying back within six years.

This fact sheet by the Climate Bonds Initiative outlines key public sector green bond policy developments in 2017 and projections for 2018. It highlights the rise of sovereign green bonds, the establishment of regional and national guidelines in Asia and Africa, the growth of the green sukuk market in Malaysia, and various financial incentives provided by governments to lower issuance costs and accelerate the transition to low-carbon infrastructure.

The South Africa Green Economy Barometer 2018 evaluates the country's transition toward a fair, green economy, awarding it a score of 5 out of 10. While South Africa possesses strong policy foundations, such as the National Development Plan and the 2011 Green Economy Accord, the report finds that the economy remains locked into carbon-intensive 'brown' systems, particularly in energy and mining, and fails to adequately include marginalized populations and the informal sector in its transition.