Ecological Justice

The economy of the Southern African region is deeply rooted in an extractive development model. Economic alternatives including those that recognise the limits of growth, are not considered relevant to the region’s context given the high levels of poverty and unemployment. Economic policy is devised in accordance with aggregate economic indicators, which fail to account for environmental degradation, health and livelihood costs, and unpaid care work. Our work promotes the advancement of development paradigms, which recognize the equitable distribution of economic and natural resources while safeguarding and protecting an ecological balance. Crucial to this work is environmental justice, particularly in the struggles of communities affected by mining activities and air pollution. Our work in energy democracy supports research and advocacy in the renewable energy, fossil fuels and nuclear energy space. Through strong partnerships and alliances with civil society actors across the development spectrum, we are able to advance a collective approach to ecological and social justice. A just development paradigm must be realized if people and communities are to envision a society which values ecological justice.

Cutting Corners? The International Best Practice Safety Upgrades not implemented as part of Koeberg's lifetime extension

Over the past decades, significant safety improvements have been made to nuclear plants as lessons from nuclear accidents have been integrated into reactor design. These are so significant that, France now considers older plants - identical to SA's Koeberg - to be unsafe. Consequently, in extending the life of these plants, France is undertaking significant safety improvements. As public hearings into the life extension of Koeberg get underway, we ask: how do France's upgrades compare to those being implemented by Koeberg?

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Resilient agriculture on the African continent: The proof will be in the Soil

Summary

Africa must find pathways to provide a better life for its people, including access to healthy and sustainably produced food. Published before the start of the African Union’s Fertilizer and Soil Health Summit in Nairobi, our policy brief (edited by the Heinrich Böll offices in Abuja, Berlin, Capetown and Nairobi) provides recommendations on fossil fuel-based and ‘green’ fertilizer production and use in Africa.

The Bigger Picture: how the Namibian government envisages the US$190-billion green energy development plan will look in its final form. It will include two new gas-to-power plants at Walvis Bay and Oranjemund, the latter to supply 400MW of electricity to South Africa. Source: Namibia GH2 Strategy, 2nd Revision

Question marks over Namibia’s green hydrogen plans?

Dossier

Namibia is planning a series of million-dollar investments to become a major green hydrogen supplier to Europe and Japan as early as 2028. Both the European Union and the Japanese government have supported the venture, in the hopes of getting new imports to meet their climate change goals. In their new landing page, Oxpeckes brings together a series of articles exploring proposed projects, and what they look like from the ground.

Koeberg Long Term Operation Safety Report

In July 2022, Eskom submitted a Safety Case Report (SCR) on the Koberg Nuclear Power Station to South Africa’s National Nuclear Regulator (NNR), as part of the efforts to extend Koberg’s lifetime. Unfortunately, Eskom refused to make the SCR public, despite its significance to public interest. In January 2023, a heavily redacted version was released to the public, and in June 2023, following court action, the report was released in full. This publication compares the various versions of the SCR with the intention of highlighting what information Eskom sought to conceal.

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A woman holds a Just Transition Now sign at a rally in Minneapolis, Minnesota

There is no lasting transition anywhere, without a just transition everywhere: Reflections on Net Zero Transitions, Green Hydrogen, and Justice

Analysis

As African countries embark on net zero transitions, it is critical that Global North actors align their investments to specific and localised understandings of ‘Just Transitions’

By Lauren Hermanus

Uncertainty on renewable retraining frightens South Africa’s coal communities

Article

An investigation by Oxpeckers and Climate Home found coal-reliant communities in South Africa have scarce details on how funds for reskilling workers from its $8.5 billion deal will be implemented.

By Thabo Molelekwa

Combatting Global Plastic Pollution

Infobrief

A critical look at the entire plastics cycle is also of crucial importance from a feminist perspective, because the plastic problem cannot simply be reduced to consumer use patterns or to harmful microplastics in cosmetic products. On the contrary, every stage of the plastics cycle reflects different gender-specific experiences and exposures.

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Talking about green hydrogen: popular education materials

Increasingly, green hydrogen features prominently in the decarbonisation plans being adopted around the world. Given excellent wind and sun resources, much of it will be produced in global south countries, and exported to global north countries. Countries in the Southern African region are taking notice, and positioning themselves to benefit from these potentially lucrative future markets, by making significant infrastructure investments. But what is green hydrogen? Will investing in it really create jobs and wealth? This booklet presents accessible information regarding the promises, risks and impacts green hydrogen could have for communities in South Africa. It was developed as part of HBF CT’s work to uphold host communities’ right to Free Prior and Informed Consent, and support civil society capacity to engage in hydrogen related policy.

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Lost in Translation: Lessons from the IPCC’s 6th Assessment Report

Analysis

On 20 March, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) will present its Synthesis Report to its 6th Assessment Report. Our briefing highlights essential points of the underlying reports that will be crucial to creating a just and sustainable future in climate change.

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