Search Climate Insights Directory

The OvaHerero people of Namibia and Angola developed a Biocultural Community Protocol (BCP) between 2022 and 2024 to protect their traditional knowledge and land rights from threats like climate change and modernisation. Supported by Natural Justice and International Rivers, the process involved a six-phase approach including community buy-in, capacity building, research across 34 villages and museums, and multiple validation rounds. The final BCP, launched in June 2024 and translated into OtjiHerero, serves as a tool for internal governance and a requirement for external parties to ensure free, prior, and informed consent.

This briefing by Zero Carbon Analytics argues that transitioning to zero-carbon electricity grids powered by wind and solar is technically and economically feasible. It debunks common myths regarding the need for fossil fuel backups and grid overloading, highlighting that stability can be achieved through flexibility solutions, digitalisation, and cross-border interconnectors. The document provides real-world examples from countries like Denmark, Portugal, and Namibia, while noting that insufficient investment in grid infrastructure remains a primary obstacle to a faster global rollout.

A reflective statement by Ruth Butterfield, Director of SEI Oxford, marking the 20th anniversary of the Stockholm Environment Institute's outpost in Oxford. The document outlines the center's evolution from a small team focused on rural vulnerability to a global actor in climate change adaptation, mitigation, and policy bridging.

This case study examines the efforts of the University of Namibia (UNAM) and the Desert Research Foundation of Namibia (DRFN) from 2014 to 2021 to mainstream climate change into national and sub-national policy. It focuses on the role of 'knowledge brokering'—acting as a link between knowledge producers and users—to facilitate evidence-based decision-making and climate adaptation.

The report 'The Road to Sustainable Transport' examines the environmental and social impacts of global transportation, the evolution of international policy from the 1972 Stockholm Conference to the Sustainable Development Goals, and case studies of sustainable urban mobility. It highlights the role of public transit, non-motorized transport, and electrification in reducing carbon emissions and improving public health, while noting the potential for post-COVID-19 recovery packages to accelerate these transitions.

This policy brief by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) examines the process of engaging Namibian civil society organisations (CSOs) in the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM). It details how the APRM Sensitisation Project in Namibia (ASPIN), supported by SAIIA and the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR), enabled CSOs to develop an evidence-based submission on 13 critical governance issues to influence the country's self-assessment process.

This report assesses Namibia's readiness to implement the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development (IGF) Mining Policy Framework (MPF). It evaluates the country's mining laws and policies across six thematic areas: Legal and Policy Environment, Financial Benefit Optimization, Socioeconomic Benefit Optimization, Environmental Management, Post-Mining Transition, and Artisanal and Small-scale Mining (ASM). The assessment identifies strengths in geological data and revenue generation, but highlights critical gaps in mine closure legislation, occupational health and safety, and the formalization of the ASM sector.

A keynote statement delivered by Hon. Christine //Hoebes on behalf of the Deputy Prime Minister of Namibia during a civil society training workshop on April 17, 2018. The speech outlines Namibia's accession to the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), the required national institutional frameworks for its implementation, and the broader challenges and goals of the APRM across the African continent.

This policy brief by the Institute for Security Studies examines the African Union's (AU) efforts to engage youth in democratic governance. It argues that while normative frameworks like the African Youth Charter and the African Governance Architecture–Youth Engagement Strategy (AGA–YES) exist, there is a significant gap between these theoretical rights and the practical reality for young Africans, who often face unemployment and political marginalisation.

This research paper by the Institute for Security Studies critiques the 2012 SADC Ordinary Summit in Maputo, arguing that the organization is increasingly neglecting security and political governance in favor of economic integration. The author contends that this separation ignores the necessary links between political stability and economic development, leaving critical governance crises and security frameworks unaddressed in the summit's agenda.

This case study examines the operational challenges faced by Namibia Dairies (ND), a dairy processor part of the Ohlthaver & List (O&L) Group. The document details significant barriers to growth, including trade disputes over milk dumping from South Africa, regulatory hurdles in Angola and Botswana, and domestic issues regarding VAT claims, finance, and a shortage of skilled engineers.

A case study on DB Schenker, a German logistics multinational, focusing on its expansion into Namibia via the acquisition of Desert Logistics in April 2012 and the operational challenges it faces in the SADC region.

This case study examines the operational challenges faced by Wesbank Transport, a Namibian logistics market leader, in conducting cross-border transport within the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the Southern African Customs Union (SACU). The company reports that regulatory inconsistencies, insurance gaps, and border inefficiencies force it to avoid lucrative markets and focus only on predictable routes.

This fact sheet, produced by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network, outlines the projected impacts of a 1.5°C global temperature increase on Namibia and provides recommendations for climate adaptation and resilience.

This fact sheet describes the projected impacts of a 1.5°C global temperature increase on Namibia, noting that local temperatures are expected to rise more rapidly than the global average. It outlines risks to agriculture, health, and biodiversity, while providing adaptation strategies for farmers and citizens and listing national policy responses.

The City of Cape Town is implementing the Faure New Water Scheme (NWS), a large-scale water reuse project designed to produce drinking-quality water from treated wastewater. As part of a broader New Water Programme aiming to add 300 million litres of water per day by 2030, the Faure NWS will utilize a multi-barrier advanced purification process to enhance the city's water resilience and reduce the risk of severe water restrictions.

This report provides a detailed development forecast for Namibia up to 2043, utilizing the International Futures (IFs) forecasting platform. It outlines a 'Current Path' based on existing policies and evaluates several sectoral scenarios—including stability, health, agriculture, and education—to determine their potential impact on GDP per capita and extreme poverty. The report concludes with a 'Combined Agenda 2063' scenario, which aggregates these interventions to project a significantly higher economic trajectory and a substantial reduction in poverty.

This research paper argues that while Namibia has a history of free and fair elections and general public support for democracy, it has not yet achieved full democratic consolidation. The author highlights concerns regarding political violence, restrictions on freedom of expression, and the monopolization of democratic space and resources by the ruling party, SWAPO.

This research paper uses the International Futures (IFs) forecasting system to evaluate Namibia's progress toward the goals of Vision 2030 and the Fourth National Development Plan (NDP4). The author analyzes population trends and economic drivers, identifying physical capital—specifically basic infrastructure—as the primary constraint on long-term growth. The paper presents three scenarios (Current Path, Infrastructure Access, and Leave No Namibian Out) to illustrate the trade-offs between investing in physical infrastructure and human capital.

This document is the preface and introduction to Volume I of the Towards Collaborative Peace (TCP) project series, published by the Institute for Security Studies. It examines the proliferation of small arms and light weapons (SALW) in Southern Africa and their role in fostering a 'culture of violence' that undermines democracy, security, and socio-economic development. The project employs a south-south comparative approach, contrasting Southern African trends with those in the southern part of South America to propose regional and local mechanisms for weapons control.