ELA Newsletter 2021-16

7 May 2021

Policy

Department of Mineral Resources and Energy – Gen Notice 258 in GG 44538 of 5 May 2021 – Draft Artisanal and Small Scale Mining Policy 2021

Bills

Draft Criminal Procedure Amendment Bill, 2021 – Gen Notice 235 in GG 44505 of 30 April 2021 – for comment and explanatory summary

Legislation

Notices

National Water Act 36 of 1998 – GN 406 in GG 44545 of 7 May 2021 – Draft Regulations for the Use of Water for Exploration and Production of Onshore Naturally Occurring Hydrocarbons that Require Stimulation Including Hydraulic Fracturing and Underground Coal Gasification to Extract and any Activity Incidental Thereto that may Impact Detrimentally on the Water Resource, 2021 – for comment

National Environmental Management Act 107 of 1998 – Gen Notice 240 in GG 44507 of 30 April 2021 – Intention to appoint of a panel of experts to lead a review of the Scientific Basis for the Breach the Mouth of Lake St Lucia Estuary – for comment

National Environmental Management Act 107 of 1998 – GN 411 in GG 44551 of 7 May 2021 – Procedures to be followed when applying for or deciding on an environmental authorisation for the development or expansion of gas transmission pipeline infrastructure when occurring in strategic gas pipeline corridors 

Nuclear Energy Act 46 of 1999 – GN R407 in GG 44546 of 7 May 2021 – Draft Physical Protective Measures for Nuclear Material Regulations – for comment

Promotion of Access to Information Act 2 of 2000 – Gen Notice 234 in GG 44505 of 30 April 2021 – Description submitted in terms of s. 15 (1): uMhlathuze Municipality

National Environmental Management: Waste Act 59 of 2008 – GN 400 in GG 44539 of 5 May 2021 – Amendments to the Extended Producer Responsibility Regulations, 2020 and notices regarding extended producer responsibility 

Plant Breeders’ Rights Act 15 of 1976 – GN 403 in GG 44545 of 7 May 2021 – Receipt of applications for plant breeders’ rights 

Public Audit Act 25 of 2004 – GN 394 in GG 44526 of 4 May 2021 – Directive published for financial periods beginning on or after 1 April 2020 and GN 540 in GG 43326 of 15 May 2020 withdrawn

Petroleum Products Act 120 of 1977 – GN R395 in GG 44528 of 4 May 2021 – Regulations in respect of petroleum products published and GN R315 in GG 44418 of 6 April 2021 substituted with effect from 5 May 2021

Petroleum Products Act 120 of 1977 – GN R396 in GG 44528 of 4 May 2021 – Regulations in respect of the maximum retail price of Liquefied Petroleum Gas supplied to residential customers published with effect from 5 May 2021

Petroleum Products Act 120 of 1977 – GN R397 in GG 44528 of 4 May 2021 – Regulations in respect of the single maximum national retail price for illuminating paraffin published with effect from 5 May 2021

Taxation Laws Amendment Act 17 of 2009 – GN 399 in GG 44537 of 5 May 2021 – Allocations to Metropolitan Municipalities of General Fuel Levy Revenue

Superior Courts Act 10 of 2013 – Gen Notice 236 in GG 44505 of 30 April 2021 – Establishment of Circuit Court District for Western Cape Division of the High Court of South Africa with effect from 18 January 2021

Legal Practice Act 28 of 2014 – Gen Notice 260 in GG 44545 of 7 May 2021 – South African Legal Practice Council: Proposed amendment to Rules of the Council – for comment

Standards Act 8 of 2008 – Gen Notice 261 in GG 44545 of 7 May 2021

• Drafts for comment – SANS 15237 Ed 2 Solid mineral fuels – Determination of total mercury content of coal. Specifies a procedure for the determination of the total mercury content of coal.
• Amended standards – SANS 695 Ed 2.1 Plastic carrier bags and flat bags Amended to update the requirements for carrier bags and flat bags.
• Withdrawal – SANS 61851-22:2014 Ed 1 Electric vehicle conductive charging system – Part 22: AC electric vehicle charging station The standard has been withdrawn by IEC without replacement.

Provinces

Eastern Cape

Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act 16 of 2013 – LAN 82 in PG 4553 of 30 April 2021 – Kouga Local Municipality – Draft Jeffreys Bay Central Business District (CBD) Local Spatial Development Framework (LSDF) – for comment

Draft Eastern Cape Repeal of Agricultural Laws, 2020 – GN 402 in GG 44545 of 7 May 2021 – explanatory memorandum – for comment

Gauteng

Local Government: Municipal Finance Management Act 56 of 2003 – PN 316 in PG 133 of 30 April 2021 – Gauteng Provincial Treasury – Consolidated statement on the state of municipal budgets for the quarter ending 31 March 2021

North West

Bophuthatswana Nature Conservation Act 3 of 1973; Cape Nature and Environmental Conservation Ordinance 19 of 1974; and Nature Conservation Ordinance 12 of 1983 – PN 51 in PG 8211 of 4 May 2021 – North West Hunting Regulations, 2021

Western Cape

National Environmental Management Act 107 of 1998 – PN 41 in PG 8422 of 4 May 2021 – Environmental Management Framework Regulations, 2010: Notice of adoption of the Greater Saldanha Area Environmental Management Framework

Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 and Local Government: Municipal Systems Act 32 of 2002 – LAN 21239 in PG 8425 of 7 May 2021 – Drakenstein Local Municipality – Air Quality Management By-law, 2021

Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 and Local Government: Municipal Systems Act 32 of 2002 – LAN 21240 in PG 8426 of 7 May 2021 – Hessequa Local Municipality: By-law Relating to the Keeping and Treatment of Dogs and Cats

Local Government: Municipal Systems Act 32 of 2000; Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act 16 of 2013 and Western Cape Land Use Planning Act 13 of 2014 – LAN 21242 in PG 8427 of 7 May 2021 – Mossel Bay Local Municipality – Intention to compile the Municipal Spatial Development Framework (MSDF) 2022

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Cases

International

West Virginia v. EPA, No. 20-1530 (U.S. Apr. 29, 2021); North American Coal Corp. v. EPA, No. 20-1531 (U.S. Apr. 30, 2021).
“Two petitions for writ of certiorari were filed in the U.S. Supreme Court seeking review of the D.C. Circuit’s January opinion vacating EPA’s repeal and replacement of the Obama administration’s Clean Power Plan regulations for controlling carbon emissions from existing power plants. The first petition was filed by West Virginia and 18 other states that had intervened to defend the repeal and replacement rule, known as the Affordable Clean Energy rule. The states’ petition presented the question of whether Section 111(d) of the Clean Air Act constitutionally authorizes EPA “to issue significant rules—including those capable of reshaping the nation’s electricity grids and unilaterally decarbonizing virtually any sector of the economy—without any limits on what the agency can require so long as it considers cost, nonair impacts, and energy requirements.” They argued that Congress had not clearly authorized EPA to exercise such “expansive” powers and that the D.C. Circuit majority opinion’s interpretation was foreclosed by the statute and violated separation of powers. The states argued that the Supreme Court’s stay of the Clean Power Plan while it was under review by the D.C. Circuit in 2016 signaled that the legal framework for the Clean Power Plan “hinges on important issues of federal that EPA then—and the court below now—got so wrong this Court was likely to grant review.” The states contended that further delay in the Court’s resolution of these “weighty issues” would have “serious and far-reaching costs.” The second petition was filed by a coal mining company. The coal company’s petition presented the question of whether Section 111(d) “grants the EPA authority not only to impose standards based on technology and methods that can be applied at and achieved by that existing source, but also allows the agency to develop industry-wide systems like cap-and-trade regimes.” The company argued that the D.C. Circuit erred by “untethering” Section 111(d) standards from the existing source being regulated. Like the states, the company contended that Supreme Court had already recognized the critical importance of this question when it stayed the Clean Power Plan. The company argued that debates regarding climate change and policies to address climate change “will not be resolved anytime soon” but that “what must be resolved as soon as possible is who has the authority to decide those issues on an industry-wide scale—Congress or the EPA.” EPA’s response to the petitions is due June 3, 2021.” [May 2021 Sabin Center for Climate Change Law Update]

WildEarth Guardians v. Haaland, Nos. 21-5006, 21-5020, 21-5021, 21-5023, 21-5024 (D.C. Cir. Apr. 28, 2021)
“On April 15, 2021, federal defendants, defendant-intervenors, and environmental groups filed a stipulation for dismissal of appeals of a district court’s November 2020 decision finding that the U.S. Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM’s) supplemental environmental assessment (EA) for oil and gas leases in Wyoming did not comply with the National Environmental Policy Act because it failed to adequately consider climate change impacts. BLM prepared the supplemental EA in response to the court’s decision in March 2019 that identified shortcomings in BLM’s original climate change analysis for the leases. The federal defendants, the States of Wyoming and Utah, and several trade groups appealed the district court’s November 2020 decision.” [May 2021 Sabin Center for Climate Change Law Update]

Ksanka Kupaqa Xaʾⱡȼin v. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, No. 9:19-cv-00020 (D. Mont. Apr. 14, 2021).
“The federal district court for the District of Montana held that it was arbitrary and capricious for federal agencies not to consider the environmental effects of Phase II of a mine project in northwest Montana in connection with the approval of Phase I of the project, or to adequately explain why they could omit the effects of Phase II. The plaintiffs asserted Endangered Species Act claims, focusing on the federal agencies’ consideration of impacts on grizzly bears and bull trout; the plaintiffs alleged that bull trout are “particularly vulnerable” to climate change because they require cold water to spawn and rear. The court vacated and remanded the approvals for the project.” [May 2021 Sabin Center for Climate Change Law Update]

Morena United v. City of San Diego, No. 37-2019-00053964-CU-TT-CTL (Cal. Super. Ct. Apr. 9, 2021); Friends of Rose Creek v. City of San Diego, No. 37-2019-00053679-CU-TT-CTL (Cal. Super. Ct. Apr. 9, 2021).
“A California Superior Court dismissed two lawsuits challenging the City of San Diego’s approvals of two land use plans—the Morena Corridor Specific Plan, which addressed approximately 280 acres and was intended to create a “pedestrian-oriented village” and increase housing near transportation facilities, and the Balboa Avenue Station Area Specific Plan, which affects approximately 210 acres and also was intended to provide a framework for transit-oriented development. The court rejected neighborhood groups’ claims that the City failed to comply with the California Environmental Quality Act and that the plans violated the City’s General Plan and Climate Action Plan as well as community plans.” [May 2021 Sabin Center for Climate Change Law Update]

G. Khan Cement Company v. Government of Punjab (Supreme Court of Pakistan)
“On April 15, 2021, the Supreme Court of Pakistan upheld a Notification by the Provincial government of Punjab barring the construction of new cement plants or the expansion of existing cement plants in environmentally fragile zones called “Negative Areas.” A cement company owner challenged the Notification on the grounds that it violated their constitutional right to freedom of trade, business, and profession under Article 18 of the Constitution, and that the government acted in undue haste by issuing the regulation without full consideration of scientific impacts. The Supreme Court rejected the challenges and upheld as proper the government’s consideration, based on a consultant report, that new or expanded cement plants could cause further depletion of groundwater and other harmful environmental impacts. As part of its consideration, the Court emphasized the need for consideration of climate change in government decisions and the impact of climate change on water resources. The Court wrote, “[o]nly by devising and implementing appropriate adaptation measures will it be possible to ensure water, food and energy security for the country …. The Notification, in the current facts of the case, is a climate resilient measure and in step with the National Climate Change Policy and the Constitution. Further, the Court emphasized the need to consider intergenerational justice in climate cases like this one: “This Court and the Courts around the globe have a role to play in reducing the effects of climate change for our generation and for the generations to come. Through our pen and jurisprudential fiat, we need to decolonize our future generations from the wrath of climate change, by upholding climate justice at all times.” [May 2021 Sabin Center for Climate Change Law Update]

Friends of the Earth et al. v. Prefect of Bouches-du-Rhône and Total (Administrative Court of Marseille).
“The Administrative Court of Marseille partially invalidated Total’s permit to operate a biorefinery in France and directed the company to study the climate impacts of imported palm oil in a decision on April 1, 2021. NGO plaintiffs alleged that the Prefect of Bouches-du-Rhône, in authorizing the continued operation of the refinery, failed to take into account the climate and other environmental impacts of palm oil production and use. The Court agreed that the decision authorizing the operation of the plant relied on insufficient information on climate impacts, and ordered a new study on the cumulative direct and indirect climate effects of the biorefinery project.” [May 2021 Sabin Center for Climate Change Law Update]

Six Youths v. Minister of Environment and Others (14th Federal Civil Court of Sao Paulo).
“On April 13, 2021, six young climate activists filed suit alleging that the government of Brazil, by using a carbon trick maneuver in its updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) to the Paris Agreement, violated obligations under the Paris Agreement and Brazilian law. Brazil submitted an updated NDC in 2020 that maintains a 43% emissions cut by 2030 goal, but raises Brazil’s estimated baseline emissions from 2005. In effect, plaintiffs allege, this would allow Brazil to emit 400 million more tonnes by 2030. Plaintiffs allege that this accounting maneuver violates the Paris Agreement obligation to increase ambition in updated NDCs, violates Brazil’s obligation to safeguard the right to an ecologically balanced environment under Article 225 of the constitution, and violates Brazil’s National Policy on Climate Change.” [May 2021 Sabin Center for Climate Change Law Update]

ClientEarth v. Belgian National Bank (Brussels Court of First Instance).
“ClientEarth filed suit against the Belgian National Bank on April 13, 2021 for failing to meet environmental, climate, and human rights requirements when purchasing bonds from fossil fuel and other greenhouse-gas intensive companies. The Belgian National Bank has participated in the European Central Bank’s Corporate Sector Purchase Program (CSPP), in which six national central banks purchase bonds from eligible companies to improve financing conditions by lowering debt costs. ClientEarth alleges that over half of bonds purchased under the CSPP were issued by greenhouse-gas intensive sectors, and that the program therefore exacerbates the climate crisis. ClientEarth alleges that the Belgian National Bank’s participation in the CSPP, by not taking into account climate, environment, and human rights impacts, violated Article 11 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU and Article 37 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights (both of which concern the obligation to integrate environmental protection into EU policies). As part of its case, ClientEarth seeks a preliminary reference to the European Court of Justice to determine whether the decision to establish the CSPP was lawful.” [May 2021 Sabin Center for Climate Change Law Update]

Publications

International

Aidun H, Li J and Pereira A “The Climate Leadership snd Community Protection Act’s Environmental Justice Promise” (Sabine Centre for Climate Change Law Report April 2021)

Blogs, Discussions, Websites, Videos, ETC

South Africa

Biodiversity, protected areas, culture

Mail & Guardian: Bega S “SA one of 48 countries implicated in illegal trade of hippo ivory” 4 May 2021

allAfrica: Borchert P “South Africa: Conservation’s Mariana Trench – Report On Wildlife Trade a Seminal Moment in South Africa’s History” 6 May 2021

Climate change and energy

Natural Justice: “Ground-breaking litigation sees organisations challenge new power plant in Richards Bay” 6 May 2021

News24: Masondo S, Karrim A and Cowan K “The Eskom Files | Welcome to Babinatlou, the slush fund for greedy Eskom execs” 4 May 2021 [subscription needed]

Mail & Guardian: Bega A “‘Who will feed my children if these powerships chase the fish away?’” 6 May 2021

The Conversation: Simpson NP “Climate change risk is complex: here is a way to assess it” 5 May 2021

Local government

amaBhungane: Reddy M and Brϋmmer S “Millions out, Billions in part I: Majola’s investment in ANC and EFF kept everyone sweet” 3 May 2021

amaBhungane: Reddy M and Brϋmmer S “Millions out, billions in part II: Company that paid millions to the ANC and Malema scored big in Ekurhuleni” 4 May 2021

Mining

Lexology Herbert Smith Freehills LLP: Leon P, Hattingh A and Müller E “A mining make-over in progress?” 3 May 2021

Lexology Fasken: Malesa G and Morolong M “Key takeaways from a panel discussion with the Honourable Gwede Mantashe, Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, Republic of South Africa” 30 April 2021 – see also Politcsweb

Lexology ENS: Christie L and Anstie D “Public invited to comment on amendments to Financial Provisioning Regulations” 4 May 2021

Water, waste, oceans and chemicals

Webber Wentzel: Rapson G, Novotny P-A and Mayet A “Brand owners, manufactures, importers, retailers BEWARE!” 6 May 2021

Mail & Guardian: Bega S and Zali M “Sewage poisons the Vaal River” 2 May 2021

allAfrica: “South Africa: Water and Sanitation On Constitutional Court Decision On Kingsley Seale’s Case” 7 May 2021

allAfrica: Nkurunziza M “Rwanda: Govt Steps Up Battle On Single-Use Plastics” 6 May 2021

Africa

Biodiversity

Defenceweb: Graham J “Protecting nature can lower risk of armed conflict, says conservation body” 29 April 2021

allAfrica: “Ethiopia’s Communal Forests Good Governance Experiences” 7 May 2021

allAfrica: “Egypt: Environment Minister – We Seek to Maintain Natural Resources” 6 May 2021

allAfrica: Wairumu W “Kenya: Isiolo Conservancy Ropes in Locals in Bid to Save Beisa Oryx” 6 May 2021

allAfrica: Harman A “Namibia: Study Discovers Four Giraffe Species” 6 May 2021

allAfrica: Tokpah WN “Liberia: Citizens of Tongay, Normon in Gbarpolu and Nyorwein and Jo River in Rivercess Sign Community Forest Management MOU” 6 May 2021

Reuters: “Study finds around 15% of Ivory Coast’s cocoa farms are in protected forest” 7 May 2021

Climate Change and Energy

allAfrica: Takambou MM “Africa’s Drought Crisis – Zimbabwe Seeks Solutions, Madagascar Edges Toward Famine” 7 May 2021

allAfrica: Maslin M “Africa: Climate Change – How Bad Could the Future Be If We Do Nothing?” 7 May 2021

Environmental enforcement

263Chat: Mutongwiza L “’Flawed Environmental Laws a Danger to Future Generations’” [Zimbabwe] 27 April 2021 [Legalbrief Environmental 5 May 2021]

Daily Mirror: “Govt launches online portal to monitor destruction of environment” [Uganda] 28 April 2021 [Legalbrief Environmental 5 May 2021]

Local government

ICLEI: “Reimagining mobility in African cities – AfricanMobilityMonth 2020 campaign digest” download the publication

Mining

Extractives Baraza: Reed E “DX Launches Morocco Drilling Plan” 4 May 2021

Extractives Baraza: Barigaba J “Eacop’s Financing Blues as Lenders Desert $3.5b Project” 4 May 2021

Mail & Guardian: Waruru M “Farmers, civil rights groups oppose Uganda’s oil project” 1 May 2021

Grist: “A Big Oil project in Africa threatens fragile Okavango region” 8 May 2021

Water, waste, chemicals and oceans

allAfrica: “Namibia: The Development of Marine Pollution Responsibilities” 7 May 2021

allAfrica: Donkor J “Ghana: Centre for Purchase of E-Waste Established At Agbogbloshie” 7 May 2021

allAfrica: “Ethiopia: Lake Tana Biosphere Potential” 7 May 2021

Miscellaneous

The Conversation: Okafor-Yarwood I and Van den Berg Bhagwandas S “Women are a mainstay of fishing in West Africa. But they get a raw deal” 3 May 2021

International

Biodiversity, protected areas, and culture

IISD SDG Knowledge Hub: “UN Holds First Review of 2030 Global Forest Goals” 5 May 2021

IISD ENB: 73rd Meeting of the CITES Standing Committee | Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora – CITES | 5–7 May 2021 | Online

Climate Law Blog: Challe T “The Rights pf Nature — Can an Ecosystem Bear Legal Rights?” 22 April 2021

Nature: Waltz W “First genetically modified mosquitoes released in the United States” 3 May 2021

New Scientist: Sawal I “Arabian cult may have built 1000 monuments older than Stonehenge” 30 April 2021

Science: Enserink M “Does ocean acidification alter fish behavior? Fraud allegations create a sea of doubt” 6 May 2021

Science: Pennisi E “Tiny songbirds cross deserts and seas by soaring three times higher than usual” 6 May 2021

Nature Podcast: Thompson B “Oldest African burial site uncovers Stone Age relationship with death” 5 May 2021

Lexology “Finding the Common Ground for Forests” [USA] 4 May 2021

IISD ENB: 24th Meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA-24) | Convention on Biological Diversity – CBD | 3 May – 9 June 2021 | Online

The Guardian: Gomez A “Life on the rocks in Brazil’s campo rupestre” 8 May 2021

Climate change and energy

Science: Stone R “‘It’s like the embers in a barbecue pit.’ Nuclear reactions are smoldering again at Chernobyl” 5 May 2021

IISD SDG Knowledge Hub: “P4G Summit to Chart Path to Green Recovery, Carbon Neutrality by 2050” 5 May 2021

CPR Podcasts: “Season 5, Episode 2: Capturing the Enemy” 5 May 2021

Sabin Centre for Climate Change Law: Impacts of Renewable Energy Facilities – new database – also read Blog

Climate Law Blog: Burger M “The Second Circuit Takes on the Clean Air Act’s International Air Pollution Provision and Climate Change” 23 April 2021

Climate Law Blog: Burger M “Climate Rules Built to Last” 22 April 2021

Climate Law Blog: Aidun H “Climate Reregulation: Three Months in” 20 April 2021

Science: Voosen P “NASA’s new fleet of satellites will offer insights into the wild cards of climate change” 5 May 2021

Eurostat: “CO₂ emissions from energy use clearly decreased in the EU in 2020” 7 May 2021

Lexology: “Beyond the Climate Law, look out for the “Fit for 55 Package” – From macro legislation to sectoral rules” [EU] 4 May 2021

ICIS: Rothenberg F “European chemicals industry faces €1.5bn carbon bill” 6 May 2021

Lexology: “A Detailed Analysis of the SCC Decision Confirming the Constitutionality of the Federal Carbon Pricing Regime” 4 May 2021

Lexology: “Energy in Transition: Renewable Natural Gas has a Role to Play” [Canada] 3 May 2021

Lexology: “Tyres too are called upon to contribute to environmental efficiency” [EU] 4 May 2021

Lexology: “Dismissal of New York City’s Climate Change Suit Affirmed by Second Circuit On Preemption Grounds” 3 May 2021

Environmental enforcement

Lexology: “WHEJAC Progresses on Environmental Justice Recommendations” [USA] 5 May 2021

Lexology: “The meaning of “environmental information” under the AIE Regulations” [EU/Ireland] 5 May 2021

Lexology: “Utility companies and the Environmental Information Regulations” [EU] 30 April 2021

Lexology: “Groot nieuws: toegang tot bestuursrechter bij omgevingsbesluiten opnieuw bekeken” [Great news: Revisit of access to the administrative judge with regard to environmental decisions] 5 May 2021

Lexology: “New Jersey’s Environmental Justice Bill and its effect on Title V facilities” 29 April 2021

Lexology: “Dancing along the Edge: Balancing the Responsibility to Protect vs. Respect Human Rights in Challenging Environments” 26 March 2021

Lexology: “Countdown to Victoria’s new era in environmental law: Are you ready?” 3 May 2021

Local government

Thomas Reuters Foundation: Lavietes M “Analysis – Nevada rethinks ‘innovation zones’ plan to let tech firms run cities” 28 April 2021

ICLEI: “Creating sustainable cities through low-carbon freight” 4 March 2021

ICLEI: “KMTA Sets up Committee to Streamline Urban Freight Movement in Kochi” March 2021

ICLEI: “Rethinking public transportation for women’s safety and security” 8 March 2021

ICLEI City Talk Blog: “The Metropolitan Area of the Aburrá Valley conducts study on freight transport” 4 May 2021

ICLEI: Zhen S “Free public transportation: Why we need it, and examples from Korean and EU cities” 30 April 2021

Accelerate: aims to strengthen sustainable consumption and production of energy use in Pasig City and Paranaque City by enhancing the implementation of the Philippine Green Building Code and Energy Efficiency and Conservation Law across the board by inspiring action from the private sector and local communities.

Mining

Extractives Baraza: “Newfoundland and Labrador’s Noia Discourages Abandoning Offshore Terra Nova Project” 4 May 2021

Extractives Baraza: Wienberg C “Pandora, World’s No. 1 Jewellery Maker to Drop Mined Diamonds” 4 May 2021

Extractives Baraza: Jamasmie C “World’s Top Miner Warns against Chile’s Mining Tax” 4 May 2021

Lexology: “Offshore decommissioning: Zeroing in on trends and challenges” [UK] 30 April 2021

Water, oceans, waste and chemicals

Marine Heatwaves: Marine Heatwave Tracker

IISD SDG Knowledge Hub: “The Climate Solution Must Include Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene” 5 May 2021

Nature: Nogrady B “Scientists OK plan to release one million tonnes of waste water from Fukushima” 7 May 2021

Nature: Lim X “Microplastics are everywhere — but are they harmful?” 4 May 2021

Lexology: “New regulations and requirements for private drinking water sources – Water Services Bill 2020” [New Zealand] 21 April 2021

Lexology: “Oregon Adopts a Significantly Modified (and Legally Vulnerable) Industrial Stormwater General Permit” [USA] 4 May 2021

Lexology: “Groundhog Day — More Supreme Court Clean Water Act Decisions?” 4 May 2021

Thomas Reuters Foundation:  Chandran R “Rare win for Nepal indigenous groups as EIB admits ‘gaps’ in hydropower project” 30 April 2021

IISD SDG Knowledge Hub: “Brief Notes Lessons Learned from Regional Governance of Seas” 3 May 2021

IISD SDG Knowledge Hub: “Webinar Underscores Illegal Trade of Chemicals and Waste Remains a Serious Problem” 3 May 2021

IISD SDG Knowledge Hub: “Green Chemistry Critical for Beyond 2020 Process and Achieving SDGs, Experts Say” 3 May 2021

Lexology: “Water, Water Everywhere: Infrastructure Push Includes Significant Investment for Water Systems” [USA] 30 April 2021

Miscellaneous

Nature: Maxmen A “In shock move, US backs waiving patents on COVID vaccines” 6 May 2021

Nature: Padma TV “Indian government should heed its scientists on COVID” 30 April 2021

Nature: “India, Brazil and the human cost of sidelining science” 4 May 2021

The Hill: Kurtz L and “Biden’s first 100 days: Where he stands on science” 29 April 2021

Lexology: “Green arbitrations: reducing the environmental impact of arbitral proceedings” [UK] 4 May 2021

Lexology: “Providing Clarity for Green Financing” 4 May 2021

Lexology: “Israel Securities Authority Recommendations on Corporate Responsibility and ESG Risks” 4 May 2021

Lexology: “Ending Environmental Injustice with Infrastructure Investment” [USA] 3 May 2021

IISD SDG Knowledge Hub: Choi A and Fusé V “Moving Forward to Clean, Safe, Healthy and Inclusive Mobility in the Pan-European Region” 3 May 2021

Conferences, Workshops, Study Opportunities

National

NWU CLES: 1st Annual Prestige Lecture: Kobie Brand (ICLEI) “The role of research, teaching and learning in tertiary institutions for improved local governance in South Africa”
Date: 21 May 2021 at 14:00
Venue: Online event – register here

ELA Screening Club Event: The Adonisi judgment and issues of spatial apartheid surrounding the judgment
Date: 25 May 2021
More information 

CBSS Training Courses in Water Governance scheduled for 2021

• 17 – 19 August 2021, in Pretoria
  • Refresher (for those who attended previous courses): 19 August 2021
  • Early Bird discount applicable until 6 July 2021
  • Registration closes 20 July 2021
  • Only TWO (2) seats still available
• 7 – 9 September 2021, near Stellenbosch
  • Refresher (for those who attended previous courses): 9 September 2021
  • Early bird payment before 20 July 2021
  • Registration closes 3 August 2021
  • Nine (9) seats still available
• Mpumalanga, KZN and Eastern Cape: date and venue to be confirmed, depending on interest

You can register here

NWU: Unit for Continuing Education Short Courses

• CEM-02.1.1 Environmental law: 24 – 28 May 2021
• CEM-05.3.1 Environmental Risk Assessment: 7 – 11 June 2021
• CEM-03.1.1 Environmental Management Systems: 5 – 9 July 2021

Contact Rosy Moloto: 018 299 2725 / Nonzuzu Seleka: 018 299 1470 for more information

South African Institute for Advanced Constitutional, Public, Human Rights and International Law (SAIFAC):  10-part series on Climate Change Leadership: Bringing Science, People and Policy Together

• 27 May 2021: Topic 3: How do people and societies respond (or not) to climate change? Navigating the complexities of human behaviour.
• 17 June 2021: Topic 4: Looking back, looking forward – can law change the climate change trajectory?
• 29 July 2021: Topic 5: Who produces CO₂ and why? What are the options and technologies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions?
• 19 August 2021: Topic 6: Increasing pressure, increasing implications for businesses?
• 2 September 2021: Topic 8: Jobs or the environment? How can climate change responses address the interests of labour?
• 30 September 2021: Topic 9: Preparing for COP 26 – What does South Africa want from the COP negotiations?
• 14 October 2021: Topic 10: Where to from here? The role of the next generation and their views on a safe and human world for all

More information available on the SAIFAC Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/SAIFAConline

Enterprises @ University of Pretoria Online Short Course in Environmental Law
Date: 21 June to 2 July 2021 led by Dr Melanie Murcott
More information

IAIAsa National Conference: Re-thinking IEM in pursuit of the sustainable development goals:  1^st call for presentations
Date: 17-19 August 2021
Call for abstracts here – Abstract deadline: 4 June 2021

The Academy of Science in South Africa (ASSAf) in partnership with the Studies in Poverty and Inequality Institute (SPII), cordially invite you to the webinar What to do to reduce poverty and inequality?
Looking at the evidence of the impact of social cash transfers from NIDS-CRAM data as well as the potential impact of Expanded Public Works Programme as a key driver of poverty eradication.
Date: 10 May 2021
Time: 2:00pm 4:00pm
Venue: Zoom (link to be provided upon registration)
RSVP: Click here to register

South African Research Chair in Cities, Law, and Environmental Sustainability (CLES) Colloquium:  Nexus between local government autonomy in law and practice and efficient public service provisioning and good governance of urban municipalities with perspectives from South Africa and Zimbabwe
The Colloquium offers an ideal opportunity to engage with renowned experts and critical thinkers on a topic that bears great relevance to local democracy and sustainability.
Date: 11 May 2021
Time: 10:00-14:00
More information contact Dr. Gift Mwonzora (Organiser) or Ms. Bernalee Anthony (Administrative Support)
You can register here

2021 SAEEC Finance Webinar: De-mystifying and unlocking finance solutions to create a sustainable tomorrow
Date : 20 May 2021
Time: 10:00-12:00
Venue : Virtual Platform – registration

2021 SAEEC Conference: Call for Papers
Date: 03-05 November 2021
1. Strategies for environmental change
Government activities, all about carbon, funding, grants, incentives, policies, Strategies to beat the blackout, Tools for compliance in 2021
2. Energy nexus links
Energy, water efficiency, strategies to manage scares resource, transport, food,
3. Sustainable generation and distribution
Renewables, alternative generation, smart grids, storage, Waste to energy, Synergy between wellness and energy efficiency
4. Fourth industrial revolution and energy
Internet of Things, technologies, industrial energy management
5. The business of energy businesses
Energy services, project management, business case for energy, marketing, PR, writing skills, business finance, understanding the different financial options and how to get them.
Abstract submission 30 June 2021

• Strategies for environmental change – Government activities, all about carbon, funding, grants, incentives, policies, Strategies to beat the blackout, Tools for compliance in 2021
• Energy nexus links – Energy, water efficiency, strategies to manage scares resource, transport, food,
• Sustainable generation and distribution – Renewables, alternative generation, smart grids, storage, Waste to energy, Synergy between wellness and energy efficiency
• Fourth industrial revolution and energy – Internet of Things, technologies, industrial energy management
• The business of energy businesses – Energy services, project management, business case for energy, marketing, PR, writing skills, business finance, understanding the different financial options and how to get them.
  Deadline for submission : 30 June 2021 : 16:00 – Submit your abstract by following this link and complete the application.

International

The Road to COP 26/CMA 3 Preparatory Lecture Series:
Date: 28 May 2021, (EST) / 10:00 (London) / 18:00 (SGT): The Paris Agreement Rule Book: Adding a Glasgow Chapter to the Katowice Package by Petra Minnerop, Associate Professor of International Law, Durham University, Durham Law School
Date: 18 June 2021, 10:00 (London) / 18:00 (Beijing): Advancing Technology Development and Transfer under the Paris Agreement by Stephen Minas, Associate Professor, Peking University School of Transnational Law and Vice-Chair of the UNFCCC Technology Executive Committee
Date: 2 July 2021, 12:00 (London) / 17:00 (Dhaka): The perspective of the Least Developed Countries on Loss and Damage from climate change by Dr Saleemul Huq, Director of the International Centre for Climate Change and Development (ICCCAD) and Professor at the Independent University Bangladesh (IUB)
Date: 30 July 2021 10:00 (London) / 18:00 (SGT) Global Goal for Adaptation for Raising Ambition under the Paris Agreement by Selam Kidane Abebe, Legal Advisor for the African Group of Negotiators under the UNFCCC
Date: 26 August 2021, 10:00 (London) / 18:00 (SGT) Streamlining the Ocean into COP 26 and beyond by Nilufer Oral, Director, CIL-NUS and Member of the International Law Commission
Date: 24 September 2021, 10:00 (London) / 18:00 (SGT) Equity and Fairness in International Climate Change Law by Lavanya Rajamani, Professor of International Environmental Law, Faculty of Law, University of Oxford
Date: 8 October 2021, 10:00 (London) / 18:00 (SGT) The Compensation Question: Loss and Damages by Linda Siegele, Legal Advisor to AOSIS Member States
More information

Join us (virtually!) for IAIA21 – Registration closes 11 May 2021
Date: 18-21 May 2021
Registration

IUCN AEL 2021 Groningen Colloquium Registration
Date: 28 June 2021 – 2 July 2021
Register here

GWC Webinar Series: The Climate Justice Lens is Here to Stay Session Three: Land, Water, & People – The Natural Resource Priorities of the Biden Administration
Date: 13 May 2021
Time: 5:00-6:15 p.m. (Mountain Time)
Zoom Webinar
Land, Water, and People Registration

Environment, Energy and Natural Resources (EENR) Center at the University of Houston Law Center virtual lecture series on Energy Transition and Climate Governance: Professor Rebecca Bratspies, City University of New York (CUNY) School of Law “Renewable Rikers: Making a Just Energy Transition That Builds Restorative Environmental Justice.”
Date: Wednesday, May 19, 2021 at 10:00am (Central Time)
Registration

UK’s National Standards Body Webinar:  BS 99001 Quality Management Systems – Specific requirements for the built environment sector
Date: 26 May 2021
Time: 12:00 – 13:00 UK time
Registration

GNHRE is hosting a virtual book launch of Sumudu Atapattu, Carmen Gonzalez and Sara L. Seck’s new edited volume, The Cambridge Handbook of Environmental Justice and Sustainable Development
Date: 18 May 2021 at 9am PDT/12noon EDT/5pm BST/6pm CAT &CEST.
You can read more about the book and find registration details here.

Call for Proposals: Administrative Law Roundtable – Submit by July 2
Yale Law School is pleased to host the sixth annual Administrative Law New Scholarship Roundtable on September 17-18, 2021. We plan to hold this event in person on the Yale campus, assuming that public health conditions allow Yale to begin permitting visitors to campus, which we are optimistic they will.
The Roundtable is an opportunity for approximately twelve authors to workshop their papers in a series of individual sessions, one for each paper, over the course of a day and a half. Each paper will be introduced by a senior scholar who will comment on the work and then facilitate discussion of it with all participants. This year’s senior commenters are listed at the end of this message.
Scholars wishing to present a paper and participate in the Roundtable should submit a one-to-two-page abstract by Friday, July 2, 2021. To be eligible, scholars must have less than ten years of tenure-tracking teaching; scholars holding fellowships, visiting assistant professorships, or similar positions are eligible and welcome to submit. Abstracts should be emailed to Nicholas Parrillo at . You may also contact him with any questions about the event. Applicants should include their title, institutional affiliation, and number of years teaching in the academy. Applicants will be notified by mid-July whether they have been selected or not.
Before August, we expect to know Yale’s policy on permitting visitors to campus in the fall and will notify participants as soon as possible. Assuming the event is in person, participants will need to cover their own travel and lodging costs; Yale will have reserved a block of reasonably priced hotel rooms. Yale will provide meals to the extent its public health policy allows. If a scholar whose paper is accepted is prevented from attending the in-person event by a public health policy of Yale or their home institution, the scholar will be invited to participate remotely. In the contingency that Yale does not allow visitors to campus in the fall, the Roundtable will go forward on a remote basis, either as a single event or series of smaller workshops.
The Conference webpage is here.

Sabin Centre for Climate Change Law Webinar: Getting the Gas Sector’s Energy Transition Underway
Date: 27 May 2021
Time: 12:00 PM – 1:15 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
More information

North American Environment, Energy, & Natural Resources Conference (Special Webinar Edition) Environmental Social Governance (ESG): Major Moves Towards A Sustainable Energy Future
Date: 11 May 2021  | 8:30 AM – 12:45 PM(CDT)
Registration

European Law Institute (the other ELI) European approach to access to justice in environmental matters
Friday 14 May 2021, 5:00 – 6:00 pm (CET)
The event will be held as a video conference via Google Meet. Please register with

57th ISOCARP World Planning Congress: Planning Unlocked: Call for Abstracts
Place: Doha
Date: 8-11 November 2021 – abstract submission by 16 May 2021
More information

How to engage the public around climate change for policy makers and public servants
ONLINE WORKSHOP | 19 May, 16:00 UTC+2
More information

RISE Africa 2021 Action Festival Virtual Event
Dates: 24-28 May
More information

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News

National

Biodiversity

Ash P “Minister draws a lion in the sand: captive breeding in SA is set to end” Sunday Times 2 May 2021

Bega S “South Africa passes ‘grim milestone’ after extreme heat kills off birds, bats” Mail & Guardian 23 April 2021

Swemmer S “Live animal export is a violation of animal welfare and human rights and could lead to our next pandemic” Daily Maverick 29 April 2021 [Legalbrief Environmental 5 May 2021]

Steyn D “Robben Island Museum is ailing and yet R102 million of its infrastructure grant went unspent” GroundUp 7 May 2021

Matshoba A and Tassiem S “Rhino poachers are back after South Africa eases lockdown restrictions” Bizcommunity 4 May 2021

Climate change and energy

“SA’s revised climate plans are not ambitious enough” CER 4 May 2021

Liedtke S “Ramaphosa emphasises need for action to address climate change challenges” Engineering News 26 April 2021

Cronje J “Govt now has eight weeks to decide on powership project after it clears environmental hurdle” fin24 29 April 2021 [Legalbrief Environmental 4 May 2021]

Harper P “New consortium scores big in South Africa’s floating power station deal” Mail & Guardian 7 May 2021

“Powering the economy through alternative energy” Bizcommunity 5 May 2021

“Watch: How SA miners are dealing with energy challenges” BusinessLive 6 May 2021

“Reforms needed to unlock private energy capacity” Engineering News 7 May 2021

Creamer T “Long delay in dividend flows to renewables-linked community trusts impeding effectiveness” Engineering News 7 May 2021

Energy: Eskom said to be wary of ‘power ships’ deal
“Eskom is reportedly not interested in buying emergency power from Turkish company Karpowerships due to concerns about the costs and length of the contract. Die Burger reports that Eskom has not publicly commented on the controversy which is already subject to litigation, but two people familiar with the proposed project said Eskom does not want to clinch a 20-year deal worth R218bn. The tender is subject to the necessary environmental approvals and a purchase deal with Eskom. A spokesperson for Eskom said the utility is considering its options, including demanding that the additional costs incurred for Karpowerships must first be included in higher electricity tariffs for consumers before entering the deal. However, this would need approval from Nersa. The Department of Energy said appointment letters have been issued, but any formal agreements will only be entered into after the suspensive conditions are met.” Full report in Die Burger (subscription needed) Legalbrief 7 May 2021

Local government

Sidimba L “Last chance for municipalities to claim VBS millions” IOL 8 May 2021

Ellis E “Eastern Cape crisis: Only 1.5% usable water left in Nelson Mandela Bay’s biggest dam” Daily Maverick 28 April 2021

Mafata M “Waste pickers’ livelihoods at risk in Johannesburg” GroundUp 7 May 2021

Washinyira T “Fix sewage problem before adding more houses say Philippi residents – City blames misuse of the system for the frequent blockage” GroundUp 6 May 2021

Mbovane T “Protesters set fire to electricity poles in Kariega” GroundUp 5 May 2021

Chirume J “Urban livestock farmers desperate for grazing land” GroundUp 4 May 2021

Makana bosses off the hook over landfill site failings
“Makana Mayor Mzukisi Mpahlwa and the municipal manager, Moppo Mene, have been let off the hook on a contempt of court charge when the Makana Unity League (MUL) withdrew its Eastern Cape High Court (Makhanda) application to have them jailed. After six long years, the MUL said the municipality had finally met the terms of a 2015 High Court order to bring the stinking, burning, unsightly Makana municipal landfill site into line with requirements of the Constitution, environmental legislation and the conditions of the permit in terms of which the municipality runs the site. A Daily Dispatch report says Mpahlwa and Mene were found last year to have wilfully ignored the 2015 High Court order to improve the catastrophic management of the municipal landfill site. In a scathing judgment, Acting Judge Miki Mfenyana last year sentenced Mene and Mpahlwa to six months’ imprisonment for contempt of court. She said this would be suspended provided that within 30 working days they met each and every requirement imposed on them by the 2015 judgment to improve the landfill site. If they failed to do so they would have to personally come to court to explain why they should not go directly to jail. Mene and Mpahlwa failed in a subsequent bid to petition the SCA for leave to appeal. Makana municipality has in the meantime appointed a private company, Mphele Engineers, to manage the landfill site. As a result, MUL duly withdrew its application and the matter was settled. In terms of a brief agreement which was made an order of court by consent, it was stated that MUL recognised that Mene and Mpahlwa had purged their contempt. The municipality agreed to pay all the legal costs of all the litigation to date on a punitive scale.” Full Daily Dispatch report (subscription needed) Legalbrief 7 May 2021

Mining

Venter Z “Legal bid to review Mining Charter” IOL 6 May 2021

“Govt just published new draft rules on fracking with 5km exclusion zones for springs and towns” Business Insider 7 May 2021

“Wind and solar power need to be adopted more quickly to avoid fossil gas traps” Bizcommunity 5 May 2021

Koppeschaar R “Climate change and the mining sector financial sustainability: Risks, responsibilities, and opportunities” Bizcommunity 6 May 2021

Espen J “Compliance requirements for mining becoming more important as Covid-19 continues to shake up industry” Bizcommunity 5 May 2021

Liedtke S “Protest action across South Africa damaging country’s prospects for further investment, exploration” Mining Weekly 7 May 2021

Arnoldi M “Gold miners reflect on the changing investment landscape for mining” Mining Weekly 7 May 2021

Burger S “New Memsa CEO to focus on advocacy, partnerships to grow local mining equipment manufacturing” Mining Weekly 7 May 2021

Arnoldi M “DFFE invites comment on extension of mining rights financial provisioning” Mining Weekly 7 May 2021

Water, waste, oceans and chemicals

Hans B “KZN govt on collision course with national govt over plans to move Transet offices from Durban Port to Eastern Cape” IOL 5 May 2021

“Ingula Nature Reserve declared wetland of international importance” Bizcommunity 5 May 2021

WESSA wrote open letter to the Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation
Wessa wrote an open letter to Minister Lindiwe Sisulu entitled “Rivers of Sewage”. The letter was shared on the ELA Facebook page

Broughton T “Education department back in court over pit latrines” GroundUp 4 May 2021

Burger S “Local e-waste skills NGO joins global recycling initiative” Engineering News 7 May 2021

“Hazardous chemical agents: new regulations gazetted” Polity 6 May 2021

Litigation: Union threatens action over Cuban water engineers
“Solidarity has started legal action against SA Water & Sanitation Minister Lindiwe Sisulu over her decision to ‘import’ Cuban engineers to tackle water infrastructure projects. According to a Beeld report, lawyers for the trade union have demanded the suspension of what Solidarity terms a ‘foolish, immoral and unlawful’ project that reportedly costs R65m while local engineers were not considered. If Sisulu does not meet the union’s demands, the union says it will approach the courts. City Press reported at the weekend that the engineers do not meet the registration requirements of the Engineering Council of SA and will therefore not be able to practise locally. Departmental spokesperson Sputnik Ratau could not clarify whether the Cuban engineers may legally practise in SA, but said the issue was receiving attention. Solidarity has given Sisulu a list of 132 willing and qualified local engineers who are prepared to perform work for her department. Ratau said the list reached the Minister too late as the Cuban engineers had by that time been appointed in terms of a bilateral agreement which has already been signed.” Full Beeld report (subscription needed) IBA Legalbrief 3 May 2021

Pollution: Waste transfer station filthy, despite court order
“Residents of Beacon Bay in East London say they are outraged by Buffalo City Metro’s (BCM) blatant disregard for a High Court order to fix the chaotic, stinking Beacon Bay waste transfer station. According to a Daily Dispatch report, a month ago, the Eastern Cape High Court (East London) gave BCM 30 days to clear and rehabilitate the Beacon Bay transfer station and to put up signs stating the site was closed. Non-profit organisation Centre for Local Community Rights chair Christo Theart said: ‘We have given our attorney instructions to proceed with a contempt of court application.’ When the Dispatch visited the site last week, it found the gate was unlocked and there was no fencing attached to the gate, making the dump easily accessible. A look inside the site showed some areas had been cleared but a large section still needs clearing and rehabilitation. BCM spokesperson Samkelo Ngwenya said last week: ‘We are not contesting the judgment, but we will be filing papers to respectfully highlight elements that we deem impractical. There is mutual agreement on areas that we are capable of meeting deadlines on like cleaning and clearing, which we are implementing, but there are areas that need other external stakeholders and have timelines that can take up to years to complete, like closure or rehabilitation of a site.’ Beacon Bay North ward councillor Marion Mackley said: ‘The response from officials is that the city is in the process of applying for a revision of the court order on the basis of the default in its judgment; meaning that BCM is not prepared to listen to or hear what the residents are saying.’” Full Daily Dispatch report (subscription needed) Legalbrief Environmental 4 May 2021

Waste: NGO flags another Milnerton lagoon sewage spill
“Public pressure group ReThinkTheStink says the Milnerton Lagoon is turning toxic after yet another sewage spill last week. A Cape Argus report notes that the group said a sewage smell started coming towards the lagoon’s mouth and the water began to turn a milky white-grey colour, with the odour growing more pungent. ReThinkTheStink member Caroline Marx said given the City’s current directive issued for polluting the Diep River, another major pollution incident was disappointing and upsetting. The province’s Environmental Affairs & Development Planning Department issued the City with an official directive in terms of Section 28(4) of the National Environmental Management Act (Nema) this year over pollution of the Diep River and the Milnerton Lagoon system. ‘There were major spills in Joe Slovo and Woodbridge Island on 25 and 26 April, then on 26 April a complaint was made about the stench of sewage generally in the Milnerton area. Monday revealed what looked like raw sewage flowing in to the lagoon, and it was escalated to local councillors. No communication has been received to date,’ Marx said. She said these major spills were regular, sometimes weekly, occurrences in places, adding that the ecology of the lagoon could not withstand the repeated major sewage spills. City Councillor Xanthea Limberg said a task team had located the pollution source from the Joe Slovo/Phoenix area and immediate mitigation and containment measures to address the sewage spill and its impact had been actioned.” Full Cape Argus report (subscription needed) Legalbrief Environmental 4 May 2021

Miscellaneous

Hlatswayo V “Paralyzing effect of cattle rustling” Inhlase 3 May 2021

International

Biodiversity

Ndlovu R “Zimbabwe considers mass elephant killing, first time since 1988” fin24 6 May 2021

Marshall C “UK supermarkets warn Brazil over Amazon land bill” BBC 5 May 2021

Stanley A “Polar Bear-Grizzly Hybrids, Aka Pizzly Bears, May Be Growing More Common Due to Climate Crisis” Gizmodo 1 May 2021

Morse D “Researchers demystify the secrets of ancient Aboriginal migration across Australia” ABC News 30 April 2021

McClure T “Killing machines: humble British hedgehog causes havoc in New Zealand” The Guardian 7 May 2021

Lebedev E “Hope that one of world’s most endangered species lives on in South Sudan’s vast wilderness” The Independent 7 May 2021

“Brazil’s Amazon: Deforestation rises ahead of dry season” BBC 7 May 2021

“Kenya launching first national wildlife census” Reuters 7 May 2021

Fortuna G “Trawler wars: Europe’s fights over fish” Euractiv 7 May 2021

Climate change and energy

Wald ER “Biden’s Paris Agreement commitment will be tough on Americans — and ineffective” The Hill 7 May 2021

“Exclusive: Swedish miner sues Brussels over carbon allocation benchmarks” Carbon Pulse 7 May 2021

“Brussels should be “very careful not to intervene” in EU carbon market, says Commission’s climate chief” Carbon Pulse 7 May 2021

O’Malley N “Australia pressured to step up climate action during G7 talks” Sydney Morning Herald 7 May 2021

Abnett K “U.N. methane report ups pressure on EU to tackle the planet-warming gas” Reuters 7 May 2021

“Stakeholder conference on the review of the rules on fluorinated greenhouse gases” [EU] EC 6 May 2021

Taylor K “Eleven EU countries call to ban fossil fuels from trans-European energy infrastructure” Euractiv 6 May 2021

“Malaysia’s Maybank to stop financing new coal activities” Reuters 6 May 2021

“EU underlines support for green steel in new industrial roadmap” Carbon Pulse 5 May 2021

Gardner T and Renshaw J “U.S. eyes nuclear reactor tax credit to meet climate goals –sources” Reuters 5 May 2021

“Five Swedish reactors risk closure by 2028 due to tardy nuclear waste decision” Reuters 5 May 2021

“State aid: Commission approves €400 million Danish aid scheme to support production of electricity from renewable energy sources’ EC 4 May 2021

Duran P “World’s biggest coal port loan price linked to social, emissions goals” [Australia] Reuters 4 May 2021

“New Paris climate pledges to help cut projected warming to 2.4C –scientists” Carbon Pulse 4 May 2021

Greenfield P “Carbon offsets used by major airlines based on flawed system, warn experts’ The Guardian 4 May 2021

Simon F “Leak: EU’s draft renewables law confirms 38-40% target for 2030” Euractiv 4 May 2021

“Colombian carbon tax reform package halted amid protests” Carbon Pulse 3 May 2021

Lampropoulos P “France National Assembly approves bill to cut greenhouse gas emissions” GroundUp 7 May 2021

Carrington D “Using hydrogen fuel risks locking in reliance on fossil fuels, researchers warn” The Guardian 6 May 2021

Boyle L “China’s greenhouse gas emissions exceed total of US and developed countries, report finds” The Independent 7 May 2021

Tandon A “Limiting warming to 1.5C would ‘halve’ land-ice contribution to sea level rise by 2100” Carbon Brief 5 May 2021

Appunn K “Germany takes lead with 2045 net zero target but disappoints on climate finance” CleanEnergyWire 7 May 2021

Amelang S “Clean batteries key hurdle in carmakers’ race to go green” CleanEnergyWire 7 May 2021

Environmental enforcement

“Taiwan’s indigenous groups lose court fight for hunting rights” BBC 7 May 2021

Abnett K “EU top court upholds ban on Bayer pesticides linked to harming bees” Reuters 6 May 2021

Local government

“Train in vain: New documents reveal how misguided Gov. Cuomo’s LaGuardia AirTrain is” Daily News 12 April 2021

Du S “Minneapolis explores carbon credits to help reforest the city” Star Tribune 6 May 2021

Jordan M “‘It’s like a place of healing’: the growth of America’s food forests” The Guardian 8 May 2021

Mining

“Asian Development Bank to end coal, oil and gas financing -draft statement” Thomas Reuters Foundation News 7 May 2021

Milman O “Wyoming stands up for coal with threat to sue states that refuse to buy it” The Guardian 7 May 2021

“Chinese mining company accused of drilling in burial ground in Zimbabwe” News24 27 April 2021

Gillett MT “Civil society groups file complaint against Total CEO” The Jurist 2 May 2021

Sier J “High mineral prices could slow down transition to clean energy, IEA warns” The Guardian 7 May 2021

Murphy K “Energy Australia confirms new gas plant in Illawarra after Morrison government threatened to intervene” The Guardian 4 May 2021

Arnoldi M “Implementation of new tailings standard seen as key to avoiding future disasters” Mining Weekly 7 May 2021

Slater D “Artisanal and small-scale mining workforce has tripled from 2001” Mining Weekly 7 May 2021

“Can Canada’s oil-rich Alberta capture a low-carbon future?” Mining Weekly 7 May 2021

“UK court to reconsider £5bn Brazil dam lawsuit against BHP” Mining Weekly 7 May 2021

“Minnesota to cancel leases for Mesabi Metallics’ mine near Nashwauk” Mining Weekly 7 May 2021

Iannucci E “Rio extends another apology to Traditional Owners” Mining Weekly 7 May 2021

Slater D “ICMM launches protocols, guide to improve tailings management, safety” Mining Weekly 7 May 2021

Water, waste, oceans and chemicals

Gupta K and Shekhar R “Fukushima Radioactive Water Discharge Case: A Vehement Violation of International Laws?” The Jurist 4 May 2021

Miscellaneous

Rodriques B “’Green’ investments to create up to 30 million jobs in Southeast Asia by 2030: ADB” ABN/CBN News 4 May 2021

Lampert N “Colorado’s ‘rebel’ farmers – ‘I’d like to see industrial farming go extinct’” The Guardian 8 May 2021

Vacancies, Bursaries, Funding, Opportunities, etc.

National

ELA Student essay competition
Closing date: 31 May 2021
More information

University of the Free State: Intern Faculty of Law
Closing date: 18 May 2021
More information

University of Stellenbosch Faculty of Law: Post-doctoral fellowship: 1 June 2021 – 31 May 2022The Faculty of Law has a post-doctoral fellowship available. These fellowships are awarded for a year. The fellowship may resort under any department within the Faculty of Law, but preference will be given to a fellowship in the broad discipline of Private Law.
The primary responsibility of the successful applicant will be to participate in the research programme, publish in accredited academic journals and attend academic conferences. The fellow will not be expected to undertake any teaching responsibilities in the Law Faculty but may be required to undertake limited postgraduate supervision and research administration tasks.
Requirements:

• A doctoral degree (LLD), which had to be obtained not prior to 1 June 2016.
• The successful candidate may not hold another full-time or part-time job at the same time and may not undertake any other work for remuneration. (Limited accommodation is available with regards to part-time external work.)
• Good computer skills (MSWord, Internet research skills).
• Fluent (reading, writing and speaking) English; second and third languages are an advantage.
• The successful candidate must be able to work full-time in Stellenbosch for the duration of the fellowship. However, due to COVID-19 restrictions the Faculty is currently still operating in a hybrid format.
• Persons from under-represented groups (race, gender, culture or otherwise) are particularly encouraged to apply.
• The applicant must submit a research plan, which clearly indicates the focus of research as well as planned outputs.

The post-doctoral fellowship package includes:

• A fellowship of R200 000 for a year
• A working space and laptop computer

Please note that postdoctoral fellows are not appointed as employees and are thus not eligible for employee benefits. Postdoctoral fellowships are also awarded tax free. Send an application letter and supporting materials (including a proposed research plan) to Ms Yolandi Filander, Faculty of Law, Stellenbosch University, at by 28 May 2021. Applicants may be expected to attend an interview (in person, by telephone or Teams).

University of KwaZulu-Natal: College of Law and Management: Post Doctoral Research Scholarships: 2021 (10x)
Closing date: 28 May 2021
More information

Eastern Personnel Consultants EE Junior Labour Attorney
More information

Foreign & Commonwealth Office: Sector Specialist: Infrastructure – Department for International Trade (14/21 JHB)
Closing date: 24 May 2021
More information

International

Director, Division of Ecological and Earth Sciences
UNESCO | France
More information

Manager, Natural Climate Solutions, Land Life Company – Amsterdam/Remote

Policy Lead, Climate Policy Radar – London

Portfolio Manager, Climate Change Fund, NSW Dept of Planning, Industry, and Environment – Sydney

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