Search Climate Insights Directory
252 results
KM_C654e-20190503162642
This document is a formal submission from Sappi Southern Africa Limited to the South African Department of Environmental Affairs, dated 15 December 2017. It provides Pollution Prevention Plans regarding greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in accordance with the National Pollution Prevention Plans Regulations (General Notice No. 712). The report details the production processes of five specific facilities and reports Scope 1 emissions, noting that while absolute emissions may increase due to production upgrades, emissions per ton of product are decreasing.
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Document type: Report
scanned-from-a-xerox-multifunction-printer-fb59ddc2afd5d3f1.pdf
A court order from the Constitutional Court of South Africa dated 6 November 2019, dismissing an application for leave to appeal filed by Atha-Africa Ventures (Pty) Limited.
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Document type: Statement
STOP TREADING WATER: WHAT CIVIL SOCIETY CAN DO TO GET WATER GOVERNANCE IN SOUTH AFRICA BACK ON TRACK
This report by the Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) identifies systemic failures in South Africa's water governance and provides a strategic framework for civil society to intervene. It highlights critical gaps in the implementation of the National Water Act (NWA), the failure to roll out catchment management institutions, and severe capacity constraints within the Department of Water Affairs (DWA). The document recommends a combination of legal advocacy, institutional reform, and the introduction of administrative penalties to improve compliance and ensure the progressive realisation of constitutional rights to water.
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Document type: Report
KM_C554e-20160308100741
The Minister of Environmental Affairs of South Africa dismissed an appeal by Earthlife Africa Johannesburg (represented by the Centre for Environmental Rights) against the Environmental Authorisation (EA) granted to Newshelf 1282 (Pty) Ltd for the Thabametsi Power Station. While the Minister upheld the project's approval, the decision included specific amendments to the EA's conditions regarding runoff water and surface water monitoring.
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Document type: Statement
thabametsi-nersa-objections-27-c562776ef1b90122.pdf
This document is a supplementary affidavit submitted by Earthlife Africa NPC to the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA). It presents formal objections to the license application of Thabametsi Power Company (Pty) Limited for a proposed 1200MW coal-fired power plant in Lephalale, Limpopo. Earthlife argues that the project is unnecessary, financially inefficient, and poses severe risks to water security, air quality, and climate goals.
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Document type: Statement
the-voice-reply-to-cer-26.6.2018-8a1988e188664b87.pdf
A letter from Thabiso Nene, Chairperson of The Voice Community Representative Council, to the Centre for Environmental Rights confirming the organization's role in inviting a public debate regarding a proposed coal mining project near Wakkerstroom.
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Document type: Statement
TWELFTH RESPONDENTS’ PRACTICE NOTE
This practice note, submitted by the Voice Community Representative Council (the Twelfth Respondent) in a High Court case in South Africa, requests that the court consider the economic impact on the local community when deciding on an urgent interim interdict to prevent a mine from opening.
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Document type: Briefing
UMCEBO - KLIPPAN
This case study examines the regulatory and legal challenges surrounding the Klippan Colliery, operated by Umcebo Mining (Pty) Ltd. Despite an initial victory for civil society when the Minister of Mineral Resources upheld an appeal against the mining right in 2008, the document details ongoing concerns regarding unauthorized mining operations, failures in environmental impact assessments, and the lack of necessary water use licenses.
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Document type: Case study
Summary of estimated annual externality costs relating to water resources for Kusile Externalities in coal mining and coal-power generation
This fact sheet by the Centre for Environmental Rights details the estimated annual water-related externality costs for the Kusile coal-fired power station and argues that the Draft Integrated Resource Plan for Electricity (2016) misrepresents the total costs of coal by failing to account for these externalities.
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Document type: Fact sheet
water-tribunal-decision-in-vuna-2010-eadbe60e14bf3de5.pdf
The Water Tribunal issued a ruling on 20 August 2010 regarding an appeal by Gideon Anderson (T/A Zonnelbloem Boedery) against a water use licence granted to Vuna Enterprises (Pty) Ltd. The Tribunal determined that the appellant lacked the legal standing (locus standi) to lodge the appeal because he had not submitted a formal written objection within a prescribed time period as required by the National Water Act (NWA).
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Document type: Report
WHEN MINES BREAK ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS: HOW TO USE CRIMINAL PROSECUTION TO ENFORCE ENVIRONMENTAL RIGHTS
This guide, published by the Centre for Environmental Rights, provides instructions for individuals and communities in South Africa on how to identify environmental crimes committed by mining companies and the process for reporting these offences to the South African Police Service (SAPS) for criminal prosecution.
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Document type: Guide
zo-41-9f1d004e7669e639.pdf
This guide outlines the criteria and risk assessments for mining activities within high-importance biodiversity priority areas. It establishes a rigorous set of filters and a risk-averse approach to determine if mining is an optimal land use compared to the preservation of critical ecosystems and water resources.
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Document type: Guide
The new social contract
This briefing by the Green Economy Coalition argues that the existing social contract is broken due to rising inequality and distrust in institutions. It proposes the creation of a new, intersectional social contract that integrates human wellbeing with planetary health to ensure a just transition to a green economy.
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Document type: Briefing
Reimagining service delivery: Innovative approaches for sustainable impact in low-income communities
This industry brief by GreenCape examines the service delivery crisis in South Africa's low-income communities and proposes Alternative Service Delivery (ASD) as a sustainable, community-led paradigm shift to bridge gaps in water, sanitation, energy, and waste management.
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Document type: Briefing
asdu_impact-case-study_nomzamo-agricultural-village-9c2b4f08fc283a8f.pdf
This case study describes a community-led sustainable development initiative in Nomzamo Agricultural Village, Mpumalanga, South Africa. Led by residents and supported by GreenCape's Alternative Service Delivery Unit (ASDU) and various international partners, the project implemented decentralized energy, sanitation, and agricultural solutions to drive economic growth and social well-being in an area adjacent to an abandoned coal mine.
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Document type: Case study
Energy needs assessment for farmers – Situational Guideline
The 'Energy needs assessment for farmers – Situational Guideline' by GreenCape provides a structured framework for South African agricultural producers to transition toward energy resilience. It outlines a three-step process: conducting energy audits to identify efficiencies, evaluating alternative energy technologies based on specific farm needs, and navigating the financial and quality assurance requirements for implementation.
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Document type: Guide
large-scale-renewable-energy-2025-8715449853a43df4.pdf
This 2025 Market Intelligence Report by GreenCape analyzes investment opportunities in South Africa's large-scale renewable energy sector, focusing on private off-taker development and local component manufacturing. It details the shift from public procurement to private power purchase agreements (PPAs), the impact of electricity market liberalisation, and the systemic barriers posed by grid capacity constraints and policy uncertainty.
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Document type: Report
IMPAKTE VAN KLIMAATSVERANDERING OP SUID-AFRIKAANSE LANDBOU EN OP DIE VOEDSELSTELSEL
This fact sheet from the Institute for Economic Justice outlines the vulnerabilities of South African agriculture to climate change, predicting significant temperature increases, water scarcity, and socio-economic disruptions. It emphasizes that small-scale farmers and marginalized groups are most at risk and advocates for a just transition toward agro-ecological practices and resource redistribution.
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Document type: Fact sheet
IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON SOUTH AFRICAN AGRICULTURE AND THE FOOD SYSTEM
This fact sheet from the Institute for Economic Justice outlines the projected impacts of climate change on South African agriculture and the food system, highlighting increased temperature rises, water scarcity, and the disproportionate vulnerability of smallholder farmers and marginalized groups. It advocates for a 'just transition' based on agroecological practices and resource redistribution to mitigate inequality and food insecurity.
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Document type: Fact sheet
Microsoft Word - CESR-S27-IEJ submission FINAL.docx
This joint submission by the Center for Economic and Social Rights, the Institute for Economic Justice, and SECTION27 argues that South Africa is implementing retrogressive austerity measures that threaten economic, social, and cultural rights. The authors contend that the government's focus on debt reduction is based on exaggerated concerns and that resources could be maximized through progressive tax reform and the eradication of corruption and 'state capture'. The document details how budget cuts and inefficient resourcing are severely undermining the public health and basic education systems, leading to critical staff shortages, infrastructure backlogs, and poor learner outcomes.
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Document type: Report