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Minutes from the Green Economy Coalition (GEC) Steering Group meeting on October 20, 2021, detailing the planning of the 2021 Global Meeting, the departure of Director of Engagement Emily Benson, and a status update on five strategic priorities for 2021.

This report summarizes the outcomes of the Green Economy Coalition (GEC) Global Meeting held from November 29 to December 3, 2021. The event brought together 359 participants from over 45 countries to discuss strategies for a green and fair COVID-19 recovery, focusing on nature, inequality, and the energy transition. The meeting culminated in a 'Declaration on a green COVID-19 recovery' calling for structural economic transformation to achieve nature-positive and net-zero economies.

The COP26 Resilience Hub Synthesis Report outlines the outcomes of the Resilience Hub, which served as the home for the UNFCCC’s Race to Resilience during COP26. The report identifies five core messages for advancing global climate adaptation and resilience, emphasizing the need for locally led action, diversified finance, knowledge brokering, nature-based solutions, and the inclusion of marginalized groups in decision-making.

The COP26 Resilience Hub Synthesis Report outlines key messages and future directions for climate adaptation and resilience, emphasizing the need for locally led action, diversified finance, and the integration of nature-based solutions. It synthesizes findings from the Resilience Hub's activities at COP26, focusing on three pillars (urban, coastal, and rural) and ten thematic areas to guide action toward COP27.

This case study describes the implementation of a decentralized, off-grid wastewater treatment system at the Cango Caves near Oudtshoorn to replace an inefficient reed bed system and reduce municipal water demand.

This case study by GreenCape examines The Clothing Bank, a non-profit intermediary in South Africa that diverts excess retail clothing from landfills to create entrepreneurial opportunities for unemployed single mothers, demonstrating a circular economy model that addresses both waste and poverty.

This case study by GreenCape examines resilience-led economic interventions implemented in 2020 to support the green business community in Cape Town and the broader South African economy during the COVID-19 pandemic. The strategy follows a 'survive, adapt and thrive' framework, focusing on supporting small, medium and micro-sized enterprises (SMMEs) through international collaborations, innovative funding, and policy alignment to ensure a green recovery.

This case study examines the implementation of a Cooling as a Service (CaaS) model at a Pick ‘n’ Pay supermarket in Ceres, Western Cape Province. By replacing an inefficient, end-of-life simplex refrigeration system with a high-efficiency multiplex rack configuration provided by Energy Partners Refrigeration (EPR) via a shared savings model, the store reduced average refrigeration energy consumption by 35% and overall cost per refrigeration-hour by 30%.

This 2021 GreenCape briefing details the financing landscape for rooftop solar PV in South Africa's commercial and industrial sectors. Driven by rising Eskom tariffs and load shedding, the market has seen significant growth, supported by traditional bank loans, innovative models like PPAs and crowdfunding, and tax incentives such as accelerated depreciation.

This case study details how Excellent Meat, a wholesale meat supply and packaging company, reduced its water consumption by 30% between 2017 and 2020 through the implementation of smart water flow meters, a monitoring system, and internal awareness campaigns.

This case study by GreenCape examines the Century City Urban Square (CCUS), a mixed-use development by Rabie Property Group in Cape Town. The project demonstrates how the integration of treated effluent (TE) for non-potable uses—such as irrigation, cooling towers, and toilet flushing—reduces potable water demand, lowers operating costs, and increases resilience against climate-related shocks like droughts.

This 2021 industry brief by GreenCape examines the regulatory requirements for Small Scale Embedded Generation (SSEG) in South Africa, specifically the distinction between registration with the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) and applications for connection with electricity distributors.

This 2021 industry brief by GreenCape outlines the market opportunity for circular economy solutions to manage wastewater sludge in the City of Cape Town (CCT). Driven by national and provincial landfill bans on liquid and organic wastes, the CCT is transitioning toward anaerobic digestion via Biosolids Beneficiation Facilities (BBFs) to produce treated digestate cake and recover energy and nutrients.

This 2021 industry brief by GreenCape provides a guide for businesses and water users in South Africa on the sustainable use and management of groundwater. It outlines the legal framework under the National Water Act, the risks associated with unmonitored abstraction, and technical recommendations for borehole monitoring to ensure long-term water security.

This 2021 GreenCape industry brief outlines waste-to-energy (WtE) options for businesses in South Africa, focusing on anaerobic digestion, thermal processes, and biofuels. It highlights the potential for reduced waste costs and improved energy security while detailing the complex legislative framework (including NEM:WA and NERSA) and the necessary project development stages from scoping to execution. The document emphasizes that while WtE can be expensive in isolation, it becomes viable when integrated as a collective solution for waste and energy management.

This fact sheet, published by the Institute for Economic Justice, SECTION27, and the Center for Economic and Social Rights, examines South Africa's social protection systems during the COVID-19 pandemic. It evaluates the government's response against the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), highlighting failures in providing an adequate standard of living, food security, and housing, while detailing recommendations from the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

This briefing by the International Institute for Sustainable Development explores the intersection of circular economy solutions and international trade policies to support global decarbonization. It argues that transitioning from primary to secondary materials and extending product lifespans are essential for meeting Paris Agreement goals, as resource extraction and processing account for half of global greenhouse gas emissions. The authors advocate for the removal of trade barriers to circular goods and services and the use of bilateral and regional trade agreements to establish standards for low-carbon circularity.

This statement, published by the International Institute for Sustainable Development in 2021, calls for an immediate end to international public finance for fossil fuels to align with the 1.5°C warming limit of the Paris Agreement. It urges governments and public finance institutions to shift funding toward clean energy and a just transition, particularly for low-income countries in the Global South, ahead of COP 26.

This case study examines mine closure policies in South America, focusing on the transition from relying on international best practices to establishing national legislation. It details the frameworks of Chile and Peru, highlighting the critical role of financial assurance in preventing the state from inheriting liabilities for abandoned mines.

This case study by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines mine closure policies in South America, with a detailed focus on the legislative frameworks of Chile and Peru. It outlines international best practices for mine closure, emphasizing the critical role of financial guarantees to prevent abandoned sites and protect the public interest. The document compares the national approaches of Chile and Peru, highlighting their use of mandatory financial assurances and periodic plan updates, while noting a general lack of emphasis on social transition and post-closure land use in both jurisdictions.