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This policy brief argues that South Africa's 2025 G20 presidency provides a strategic opportunity to integrate subnational governments into the global climate and environmental agenda. It highlights the role of municipalities as frontline implementers of climate adaptation, mitigation, and biodiversity goals, while identifying systemic financial and capacity barriers that hinder their effectiveness in Africa and the Global South.

This case study examines a community-led buyback centre in the Vrygrond informal settlement of Cape Town, detailing its role in diverting waste from landfills and providing essential income to local waste reclaimers.

This industry brief by GreenCape examines the financial and technical feasibility of installing solar photovoltaic (PV) systems on packhouses in the Western Cape, South Africa. It highlights that the primary value of these systems is the replacement of expensive grid electricity with self-generated power during peak daytime cooling and energy-intensive operations, potentially reducing electricity costs by 15%.

This industry brief by GreenCape examines the financial viability of using battery energy storage systems (BESS) for tariff arbitrage in the Western Cape, South Africa. It focuses on leveraging time-of-use (TOU) tariffs to reduce energy costs by charging batteries during off-peak periods and discharging during peak periods, particularly as the decline in loadshedding has left many existing BESS installations underutilised.

This industry brief by GreenCape reviews water and sanitation by-laws across municipalities in the Western Cape, South Africa. It evaluates the completeness and clarity of these local regulations against a 2005 model by-law, highlighting the implications for businesses—particularly water-intensive industries—regarding fees, audits, industrial effluent, and alternative water sources.