2 July 2021
Legislation
Directions
Disaster Management Act 57 of 2002 – Directions
- GN 398 in GG 44786 of 30 June 2021 – Measures to prevent and combat the spread of Coronavirus COVID-19 in Home Affairs: Amendment
- GN 393 in GG 44779 of 29 June 2021 – Measures to prevent and combat the spread of Coronavirus COVID-19 in education: Amendments
Notices
Public Finance Management Act 1 of 1999 – Gen Notice 394 in GG 44781 of 30 June 2021 – Statement of national revenue, expenditure and borrowings as at 31 May 2021
Competition Act 89 of 1998 – GN 568 in GG 44780 of 30 June 2021 – Designation of South African Petroleum Industry Association: Extension
Promotion of Access to Information Act – GN 397 in GG 44785 of 30 June 2021 – Exemption of certain private bodies from compiling manual
Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 – Gen Notice 396 in GG 44782 of 30 June 2021 – Information Regulator: Amendment
Animal Diseases Act 85 of 1984 – GN R569 in GG 44783 of 30 June 2021 – Control measures relating to foot and mouth disease in certain areas
World Heritage Convention Act 49 of 1999 – Gen Notice 392 in GG 44777 of 29 June 2021 – Draft amended for nomination of World Heritage Sites in South Africa – for comment
Disaster Management Act 57 of 2002 – GN R564 in GG 44772 of 27 June 2021 – Determination of Alert Level: Coronavirus COVID-19 Alert Level 4 will apply nationally on 28 June 2021
Disaster Management Act 57 of 2002 – GN R565 in GG 44772 of 27 June 2021 – Regulations: Alert level 4 during Coronavirus COVID-19 lockdown: Amendment
Disaster Management Act 57 of 2002 – GN R567 in GG 44778 of 29 June 2021 – Amendment of regulations
Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment – GN 566 in GG 44776 of 28 June 2021 – Draft policy on conservation and ecologically sustainable use of elephant, lion, leopard and rhinoceros – for comment
National Environmental Management Act 107 of 1998 – GN 559 in GG 44761 of 25 June 2021 – Consultation on national guideline for consideration of climate change implications – for comment
Standards Act 8 of 2008 – Gen Notice 286 in GG 44761 of 25 June 2021 – Standards matters: New standard, revision standard and cancelled standard
For comment
- ARP 22000 Ed 1 Food safety management systems – A practical guide. Provides generic guidance to assist all organizations regardless of size and complexity (including small and medium-sized) that recognize the potential benefits of implementing a FSMS in accordance with ISO 22000:2018
- SANS 17000 Ed 2 Conformity assessment – Vocabulary and general principles. Specifies general terms and definitions relating to conformity assessment, including the accreditation of conformity assessment bodies, and to the use of conformity assessment to facilitate trade
- SANS 45003 Ed 1 Occupational health and safety management – Psychological health and safety at work – Guidelines for managing psychosocial risks. Provides guidance with respect to managing psychosocial risk within an occupational health and safety (OH&S) management system based on ISO 45001 Occupational health and safety management systems — Requirements with guidance for use
- SANS 35001 Ed 1 Biorisk management for laboratories for laboratories and other related organizations. Defines a process to identify, assess, control, and monitor the risks associated with hazardous biological materials
- SANS 1515-4-1 Ed 1.1 Gas measuring equipment primarily for use in mines Part 4-1: Battery-operated
- portable, oxygen-deficient/oxygenenriched measuring instruments and warning devices Amended to update the sub-clause on flameproof sensor enclosure, the sub-clause on sensor enclosure marking – flameproof sensor enclosure, the annex on assessment of compliance with this part of SANS 1515, and referenced standards.
New Standard
- SANS 14064-1 Ed 2 Greenhouse gases –Part 1: Specification with guidance at the organization level for quantification and reporting of greenhouse gas emissions and removals. Specifies principles and requirements at the organization level for the quantification and reporting of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and removals
Amended
- SANS 695:2021 Ed 2.1 Plastic carrier bags and flat bags. Consolidated edition incorporating amendment No.1. Amended to update the requirements for carrier bags and flat bags
Provinces
Eastern Cape
Local Government: Municipal Systems Act 32 of 2000 – PN 158 in GG 4584 of 28 June 2021 – Umzimvubu Municipality – By-laws relating to Outdoor Facilities and Municipal Buildings
Northern Cape
Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act 16 of 2013 – PN 66 in PG 2426 of 28 June 2021 – Adoption of the Siyathemba Local Municipality Spatial Development Framework for the Northern Cape Province, 2020
Western Cape
Local Government: Municipal Systems Act.32 of 2000 – PG Extraordinary 8453 of 28 June 2021 – Mossel Bay Municipality – Amendments to the Customer Care, Credit Control, Debt Collection, Indigent and Tampering Policy
Gauteng
Disaster Management Act 57 of 2002 – Gen Notice 718 in PG Extraordinary 210 of 2 July 2021 – Amendment of Directions issued in terms of Regulation 4 (10) of the Regulations made under Section 27 (2) of the Act: Measures to prevent and combat the spread of Covid-19: Sports, Arts and Culture North West
Nature Conservation Ordinance 12 of 1983 – GN 53 in GG 8232 of 28 June 2021 – North West Hunting and Hunting Permit Fee Regulations for identified Non-Exempted Game and Bird Species on Private, State and Community Owned Land in the North West Province in terms of Sections 17 and 102 (1) (i) of the Act
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CASES
National
Public Protector and Others v President of the Republic of South Africa and Others (CCT 62/20) [2021] ZACC 19 (1 July 2021)
“Summary: Executive Members’ Ethics Act 82 of 1998 — direct appeal — Public Protector Act 23 of 1994 — CR17 donations — complaints under the Code — personal benefit”
Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs v De Beer and Another (538/2020) [2021] ZASCA 95 (1 July 2021)
“Summary: Regulations promulgated under s 27(2) of the Disaster Management Act 57 of 2002 – regulations challenged as unconstitutional and irrational – virtual hearing challenged as contrary to open justice – need to plead a constitutional challenge with specificity and clarity – rationality, arbitrariness and equality challenges distinguished – rationality review must be circumscribed – high court order vague and unenforceable –unfounded and scandalous attacks on courts unacceptable.”
Eskom Holdings Soc Limited v Econ Oil & Energy (Pty) Ltd and Others (21/3970) [2021] ZAGPJHC 70 (29 June 2021)
“[1] Econ Oil & Energy (Pty) Ltd (Econ), the first respondent, is firmly of the view that it holds a contract with the applicant, Eskom Holdings SOC Limited (Eskom). The alleged contract is for the supply of fuel oil for a period of five years commencing 1 October 2019. The total value of the contract is approximately R8bn. The contract is supposed to have resulted from a tender issued by Eskom referred to as Bid Corp 4786 (the tender). Eskom maintains that the process adopted in executing the tender by various committees and individuals within Eskom was blemished by numerous irregularities, resulting in an outcome that is unlawful. Following the process, a recommendation was made to its Board of Directors (Board) to award the tender to various parties, Econ being one of them. Only Econ maintains that it has a valid and binding contract with Eskom. It is Eskom’s case that as the process and outcome of the tender is unlawful, the decision of its Board to award the tender to various parties should be reviewed and set aside. It seeks, in addition, a declarator to the effect that no binding contract was ever concluded between itself and Econ. The review and the declarator are the principal issues to be addressed in this matter. There are other issues ancillary to these, but their outcome is contingent on the outcome of the principal issues.”
Secretary of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture, Corruption and Fraud in the Public Sector including Organs of State v Zuma and Others (CCT 52/21) [2021] ZACC 18 (29 June 2021)
“Summary: Rule of law — judicial integrity — vindicating the honour of courts | Contempt of court — urgent application — direct access — duty to comply with court orders — first respondent is in contempt of court | Appropriate sanction for crime of civil contempt — punitive sanction — unsuspended committal — punitive costs”
International
Louisiana v. Biden, No. 2:21-cv-00778 (W.D. La. June 15, 2021)
“The federal district court for the Western District of Louisiana issued a nationwide preliminary injunction barring the Biden administration from implementing a “Pause” on new oil and natural gas leases on public lands or in offshore waters. President Biden ordered the pause in Executive Order 14008, “Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad,” to allow completion of a “comprehensive review and reconsideration of Federal oil and gas permitting and leasing practices in light of the Secretary of the Interior’s broad stewardship responsibilities …, including potential climate and other impacts associated with oil and gas activities on public lands or in offshore waters.” Although the states challenging the pause based their request for a preliminary injunction on federal agencies’ violations of the Administrative Procedure Act, the court found as an initial matter that the states had made a showing that President Biden had exceeded his powers when he ordered the “Pause” because the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA) does not grant specific authority for the President to pause offshore oil and gas leases. The court then proceeded to conclude that the states had alleged standing, with allegations of particularized and concrete injuries based on loss of proceeds from new leases, as well as from loss of jobs and economic damages. The court found that those alleged injuries were fairly traceable to the pause and that a favorable ruling would redress the injuries. The court also found that the states could establish standing as a result of “special solicitude.” In addition, the court found that the states’ claims under the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) were within the “zone of interests,” as were their citizen suit claim under OCSLA and their ultra vires claim. The court rejected the government’s contention that the “Pause” and related actions—the cancellation and stoppage of offshore lease sales and the cancellation or postponement of “eligible lands” under the Mineral Leasing Act (MLA)—were not final agency actions reviewable under the APA. The court cited cases finding actions that were not permanent to be final agency actions. In addition, the court rejected the contention that these actions were committed to agency discretion and therefore not reviewable; the court held that the pausing of a lease sale was not within the discretion of agencies under either the OCSLA or the MLA. With respect to the criteria for a preliminary injunction, the court found that the states had a substantial likelihood of success on the merits on proving that the federal agencies implemented the “Pause” as directed by the executive order both to sales under the MLA and the OCSLA. The court concluded that the states had a substantial likelihood of success on the merits of their claims that the federal agencies’ actions were contrary to law (the OCSLA and MLA), that their actions were arbitrary and capricious, that the agencies failed to provide notice and an opportunity to comment, and that they unreasonably withheld or unreasonably delayed action they were required to take. The court also found that the states demonstrated a substantial threat of irreparable injury in the form of “very substantial damages” from lost ground rents and bonuses that would be difficult or impossible to recover due to sovereign immunity. In addition, the court found that equity and the public interest weighed in favor of the plaintiff states. Having found that the factors for a preliminary injunction were satisfied, the court also found that the injunction should be nationwide in scope due to the need for uniformity.” [July 2021 Sabin Center for Climate Change Law Update]
Western Energy Alliance v. Biden, No. 0:21-cv-00013 (D. Wyo. June 16, 2021)
“After the Louisiana federal court issued the nationwide injunction, the federal district court for the District of Wyoming issued a sua sponte order in a separate case challenging the pause on new onshore leasing. The order directed the parties to submit briefs on whether the court should stay proceedings in light of the Louisiana court’s order. The parties all opposed staying the proceedings, though the trade group petitioners said the court could temporarily defer ruling on their motion for a preliminary injunction. On June 30, the Wyoming federal court denied the motions without prejudice, finding that they were ‘materially moot’.” [July 2021 Sabin Center for Climate Change Law Update]
Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment v. U.S. Bureau of Land Management, No. 21-4069 (10th Cir. June 21, 2021)
“The Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals granted the federal government’s unopposed motion for voluntary dismissal of its appeal of a March 2021 District of Utah decision that found that the U.S. Bureau of Land Management failed to take a hard look at the indirect and cumulative impacts of greenhouse gases associated with a coal lease that authorized expansion of a coal mine.” [July 2021 Sabin Center for Climate Change Law Update]
VZW Klimaatzaak v. Kingdom of Belgium & Others (Brussels Court of First Instance)
“Similar to the Urgenda case in the Netherlands, the Klimaatzaak—“climate case”—was brought by an organization of concerned citizens, and 58,000 citizen co-plaintiffs, arguing that Belgian law requires the Belgian government to be more aggressive in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The suit named the Belgian State, the Walloon Region, the Flemish Region, and the Brussels-Capital Region as defendants. Specifically, plaintiffs called for reductions of 40% below 1990 levels by 2020 and 87.5% below 1990 levels by 2050.
On June 17, 2021, the Brussels Court of First Instance held that the Belgium government breached its duty of care by failing to take necessary measures to prevent the harmful effects of climate change, but declined to set specific reduction targets on separation of powers grounds.
The Court found the federal state and the three regions jointly and individually in breach of their duty of care for failing to enact good climate governance. The Court found that despite being aware of the certain risk of dangerous climate change to the country’s population, the authorities failed to take necessary action, meaning that they failed to act with prudence and diligence under Article 1382 of the Civil Code. Further, by failing to take sufficient climate action to protect the life and privacy of the plaintiffs, the defendants were in breach of their obligations under Articles 2 and 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
However, the Court declined to issue an injunction ordering the government to set the specific emission reduction targets requested by the plaintiffs. The Court found that the separation of powers doctrine limited the Court’s ability to set such targets, and doing so would contravene legislative or administrative authority. Neither European nor international law required the specific reduction targets requested by the plaintiffs, and the scientific report that they relied on, while scientifically meritorious, was not legally binding. The specific targets, therefore, were a matter for the legislative and executive bodies to decide.” [July 2021 Sabin Center for Climate Change Law Update]
Ministério Público Federal v. de Rezende (7th Federal Environmental and Agrarian Court of the Judiciary Section of Amazonas)
“A Federal Environmental and Agrarian Court in Brazil issued a preliminary decision on April 16, 2021, granting an injunction against a Brazilian farmer (Dauro Parreiras de Rezende), ordering the removal of a cattle herd from farms that caused deforestation. The case was brought by the Amazon Task Force, established by the federal public prosecutors in 2018 to combat illegal deforestation in Amazonia, through the Ministério Público Federal (MPF), or the federal prosecution office. The MPF brought a tort case against de Rezende for causing the deforestation of 2,488.56 hectares (the equivalent of 4,650 football fields) between 2011 and 2018 in the Amazon, in violation of the right to a healthy environment guaranteed by the Brazilian Constitution. In its preliminary decision, the Court also suspended any paperwork related to the movement of cattle to or from the farms.
The MPF further seeks up to R$ 85.4 million (about USD $17 million) in monetary damages from de Rezende for (i) residual material and intermediate climate damage, i.e., the value of emissions that deforestation has caused; (ii) collective pain and suffering as a violation of human rights (moral damages); (iii) intermediate and residual material environmental damages; and (iv) compensation for illegal profits from deforestation.” [July 2021 Sabin Center for Climate Change Law Update]
Greenpeace Nordic Ass’n v. Ministry of Petroleum and Energy (European Court of Human Rights)
“A coalition of environmental groups sought a declaratory judgment from Norwegian courts that Norway’s Ministry of Petroleum and Energy violated the Norwegian constitution by issuing a block of oil and gas licenses for deep-sea extraction from sites in the Barents Sea. On December 22, 2020, the Supreme Court of Norway upheld the licenses for deep-sea extraction. The Court reasoned that although the Norwegian constitution protects citizens from environmental and climate harms, the future emissions from exported oil are too uncertain to bar the granting of these petroleum exploration licenses.
The plaintiffs appealed to the European Court of Human Rights on June 15, 2021. They argue that the Norwegian government, in issuing the licenses for oil and gas exploration that will lead to emissions in 2035 and beyond, violated plaintiff’s rights under Articles 2 (right to life) and 8 (right to privacy) of the European Convention on Human Rights. In addition, they argue that the Norwegian courts failed to adequately assess their claims and thus failed to provide plaintiffs access to an effective domestic remedy under Article 13.” [July 2021 Sabin Center for Climate Change Law Update]
A Sud et al. v. Italy (Civil Court of Rome)
“On June 5, 2021, environmental justice NGO A Sud and more than 200 plaintiffs filed suit alleging that the Italian government, by failing to take actions necessary to meet Paris Agreement temperature targets, is violating fundamental rights, including the right to a stable and safe climate. The action, part of a campaign called Giudizio Universale (The Last Judgment), seeks a declaration that the government’s inaction is contributing to the climate emergency and a court order to reduce emissions 92% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels. According to an executive summary of the claim released by the plaintiffs, the government’s climate obligations stem from the Paris Agreement, EU regulations, and IPCC reports. The human right to a stable and safe climate is based on guarantees in Article 6 of the Treaty of the European Union (guarantee of fundamental rights), and Articles 2 (right to life) and 8 (right to privacy) of the European Convention on Human Rights, among others. These rights violations give rise to non-contractual liability of the Italian government under Article 2043 of the Italian Civil Code.” [July 2021 Sabin Center for Climate Change Law Update]
Górska et al. v. Poland (Poland District Courts)
“During the week of June 7, 2021, three of five individual suits were filed alleging that the Polish government failed to protect plaintiffs from worsening climate impacts, in violation of Polish personal rights protected by the Polish Civil Code. Together, the five suits represent efforts by parents, ecotourism business owners, farmers, and a youth climate campaigner to sue the government in district court using similar claims and a common remedy. According to a briefing released by ClientEarth, who are supporting the plaintiffs, Poland’s outdated stance on climate change, including producing 70% of its electricity from coal, has contributed to climate-caused droughts, wildfires, flooding, and crop failures. Plaintiffs allege violation of the rights to life, health, and property enshrined in the Polish Civil Code, in addition to the rights to life and private and family life codified in Articles 2 and 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights. They seek a court order requiring the government to reduce national GHG emissions 61% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels, and to reach net zero emissions by 2043.” [July 2021 Sabin Center for Climate Change Law Update]
Penneast Pipeline Co., LLC v. New Jersey Et Al Case No 19–1039 United States Supreme Court of Appeal Decided 29 June 2021
“Congress passed the Natural Gas Act in 1938 to regulate the transportation and sale of natural gas in interstate commerce. To build an interstate pipeline, a natural gas company must obtain from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission a certificate reflecting that such construction “is or will be required by the present or future public convenience and necessity.” As originally enacted, the NGA did not provide a mechanism for certificate holders to secure property rights necessary to build pipelines, often leaving certificate holders with only an illusory right to build. Congress remedied this defect in 1947 by amending the NGA to authorize certificate holders to exercise the federal eminent domain power, thereby ensuring that certificates of public convenience and necessity could be given effect.” The court decided that Penneast may New Jersey property.
Publications
National
Field Tracy-Lynn “A Just Energy Transition and Functional Federalism: The Case of South Africa” 2021 10(2) Transnational Environmental Law 237-261 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S2047102520000436
Scholtz W “Ethical and Humane Use” 2021 RECIEL 73
International
Silverman-Roati Korey “U.S. Climate Litigation in the Age of Trump: Full Term” (Report June 2021)
2021 10(2) Transnational Environmental Law on Energy transition
“Circular Cities: A circular water economy for cleaner, greener, healthier, more prosperous cities” (World Economic Forum Briefing Paper in The Imagine If Water Series 2 July 2021) [provided by Anél du Plessis, CLES, NWU]
Ikhwansyah I et al “A study on the transmission of laboratory test as scientific evidence in the judicial process of civil environmental justice cases in Indonesia” 2021 Environmental Forensics DOI: 10.1080/15275922.2021.1913673
Garrett T (ed) The Environment and Climate Change Review Edition 5 (Law Reviews 2021) [provided by Andrew Gilder ClimateLegal]
Education for Sustainable Development Project at UNU-IAS “’Tackling Climate Action at the Local Level: Education for Sustainable Development Projects from the Global RCE Network’” (Policy Brief April 2021)
FAO. 2021. E-learning methodologies and good practices: A guide for designing and delivering e-learning solutions from the FAO elearning Academy, second edition. Rome. https://doi.org/10.4060/i2516e
REN21 “Renewable Global Status Report 2021” (July 2021)
SLOCAt “SLOCAT Transport and Climate Change Global Status Report” 2nd Edition (June 2021)
Kennedy A, Du Plessis A, Fowler R et al (eds) Teaching and Learning in Environmental Law: Pedagogy, Methodology and Best Practice (Edward Elgar 2021)
World Economic Forum “Powering Sustainable Aviation Through Consumer Demand: The Clean Skies for Tomorrow Sustainable Aviation Fuel Certificate (SAFc) Framework” (Report June 2021)
News, Blogs, Discussions, Websites, Videos, ETC
South Africa
Biodiversity, Protected Areas, Culture
Shangoni: “Consultation on the Draft Amended Format and Procedure for Nomination of World Heritage Sites in the Republic of South Africa” 1 July 2021
Shangoni: “Comments invited on the draft policy position on the conservation and ecologically sustainable use of elephant, lion, leopard and rhinoceros” 1 July 2021
Mail & Guardian: Bega S “Rhino owners damn Creecy report” 27 June 2021
Climate Change and Energy
Business Day: Winning A “Eskom seeks R140bn for shift” 1 July 2021
SA Government: “President Cyril Ramaphosa receives recommendations from the Presidential Climate Commission” 2 July 2021 [provided by Anél du Plessis, CLES, NWU] The Commission’s report is available here
Fin24: Cronje J “Econ Oil wants to appeal High Court ruling that scrapped R8bn Eskom fuel oil tender” 30 June 2021
Fin24: Cronje J “Eskom ‘vindicated’ after winning legal bid to scrap have R8 billion Econ Oil deal” 29 June 2021
Daily Maverick: Carnie T “Old King Coal not such a merry old soul after Eskom confirms major decarbonisation plan” 1 July 2021
TimesLive: “SA, Mozambique state energy firms to increase shareholding in gas pipeline” 27 June 2021
Biznews: Vecchiatto P and Burkhardt P “Eskom debt reduced to less than R400bn” 2 July 2021
Biznews: Sguazzin A “$10bn needed by Eskom to repurpose coal plants by 2050” 1 July 2021
Mining Weekly: Creamer T “KfW issues RFI for €200m South African green-hydrogen programme” 2 July 2021
Environmental Enforcement
Lexology ENS: Adonisi-Kgame N and Sitefane M “Are you a prescribed officer? Know your ESG risks and exposure to environmental liability” 29 June 2021
Local Government
EWN: Ngatane N “Pay Back the Money: SALGA to Consultants who failed to do Work at Municipalities” 1 July 2021 [Legalbrief 1 July 2021
Fin24: Cronje J “’Indicators of a collapse’ – 7 shocking findings in bleak AG report on SA’s municipalities” 30 June 2021
TimesLive: Sonjika N “Millions lost as 15 municipalities irregularly invested in VBS: public protector” 30 June 2021
ICLEI Africa: “A new dawn for South Africa’s energy sector: Empowering municipalities to finance embedded generation projects with ICLEI Africa’s UK PACT South Africa project”
GroundUp: Kretzmann S “Elections 2021: Witzenberg a ‘model municipality’ tarnished by poor waste management and unemployment” 30 June 2021
amaBhungane: Tshwane T “VBS: indictment details ‘gratifications’ driving municipal investments in doomed bank” 2 July 2021
Mail & Guardian: Gilili C “Using ‘rubbish’ instead of stone makes concrete greener” 2 July 2021
Daily Maverick: Kruger P “Alberts Farm highlights the complexity of homelessness and conservation” 2 July 2021
Mining
Lexology Herbert Smith Freehills LLP: Leyden P and Leon P “In brief: mining rights and title in South Africa” 27 May 2021
Mining: Rio Tinto declares force majeure at Richards Bay
“Rio Tinto declared force majeure at its Richards Bay Minerals (RBM) operation in SA, after the murder of a senior manager and ongoing violence in surrounding communities disrupt business. Australia’s Rio said the decision was prompted by violent disruptions that were endangering lives at the mineral sands operation that generates titanium, notes a Business Day report. ‘Following the tragic death of our colleague, Nico Swart, RBM has faced serious challenges in recent weeks, with business disruptions orchestrated by criminals, which have put its people at risk and resulted in the costly destruction and theft of property,’ Rio said in a statement. Swart was shot dead on his way to work in May, with media reporting more than 20 high-calibre bullets fired into the car of the GM of operational services. ‘As a result of the recent deterioration in the security situation, Rio Tinto has taken the decision to declare force majeure at RBM,’ it said. The Minerals Council SA, whose members account for 90% of the country’s annual mineral production, has warned that community violence, protests and a lack of effective policing of these disruptions around mines were increasingly becoming a major threat to investments. The violence at RBM has not abated since Swart was killed, with videos doing the rounds of a burning fleet of earth-moving equipment at one of the pits at the mine.” Full Business Day report (subscription needed) [Legalbrief 1 July 2021]
Water, Waste, Oceans and Chemicals
Daily Dispatch: Nini A “Sisulu serves Zitumane” 2 July 2021 [Legalbrief 2 July 2021]
DFFE: “Final amendments to the National Estuarine Management Protocol published for implementation” 22 June 2021 [Legalbrief Environmental 29 June 2021]
TimesLive: Sukraj S “Modernising SA’s crumbling water supply networks will stave off crisis” 27 June 2021
allAfrica: Carnie T “South Africa: ‘Wonder Herbicide’ Glyphosate Can Damage Wild Plants for Years – With a Feared Knock-On Effect On Insects” 30 June 2021
Miscellaneous
Bizcommunity: Van der Pol L et al “To make agriculture more climate-friendly, carbon farming needs clear rules” 2 July 2021
allAfrica: Ngcuka O “South Africa: Indigenous Crops – Local Is Not Only Lekker, It’s Also a Weapon in the Climate Crisis Battle” 1 July 2021
allAfrica: “Africa: Panel Discussion On the Human Rights of Older Persons in the Context of Climate Change Human Rights Council 47th Session” 30 June 2021
The Conversation: Bonadia E and Contardi M “Rooibos tea: EU protection is good news for South African agriculture” 28 June 2021
Africa
Biodiversity, Soil, Protected Areas and Culture
allAfrica: Van Gogh V “Gambia: Let’s Protect Our Fisheries Resources, Coastlines!” 1 July 2021
allAfrica: Ndunda J “Kenya: Hunter Freed on Sh100,000 Bond After Denying Possession of Dikdik Carcass” 1 July 2021
allAfrica: Odunga M “Tanzania Commits to Conserve Environment” 1 July 2021
allAfrica: Ogunje V “Nigeria: Ekiti Distributes 70,000 Tree Seedlings to Residents to Stop Desertification” 1 July 2021
The Guardian: Muiruri P “Wildebeest, bustards and bongos: Kenya begins first national census of wildlife” 29 June 2021
Climate Change and Energy
Mail & Guardian: Bega S “Give Africa clean energy funds – IEA” 27 June 2021
Engineering News: “Opinion: The new 100 MW threshold – the best megawatt remains the megawatt not used” 2 July 2021
Engineering News: Bulbulia T “Climate change makes early flood warning more vital, says SRK” 2 July 2021
Engineering News: Burger S “Climate finance to low-, middle-income countries reached $38bn in 2020” 1 July 2021
BBC: “Helping Uganda’s fight against climate change using ancient farming techniques” 2 July 2021
Environmental enforcement
Lexology: “In review: environmental protection regulations in Kenya” 4 March 2021
The Conversation: Nyumba T “Kenya’s huge railway project is causing environmental damage. Here’s how” 28 June 2021
Local government
allAfrica: Ntali E “Zimbabwe: ZCTU Castigates Demolition of ‘Illegal’ Structures” 29 June 2021
Thomas Reuters Foundation: Iruoma K “Mass demolitions, evictions as Nigeria continues housing push” 24 June 2021
Mining
Extractives Baraza: Oketch ML “Uganda: Companies Urged to Seek Partnerships in Oil Sector” 29 June 2021
Extractives Baraza: “Nigeria: Country Accidentally Discovers More Gas, Aims to Boost Consumption” 29 June 2021
Extractives Baraza: “Zimbabwe: Government to Allow Miners to Export Portion of Their Gold” 29 June 2021
Extractives Baraza: “DRC: Government Seizes Gold Worth $1.9 Million in Okapi Wildlife Reserve” 29 June 2021
allAfrica: Muponde R “Zimbabwe: Outrage Over Chinese Mining Project in Resort” 27 June 2021
Bizcommunity: George L & Eboh C “Nigerian lawmakers pass historic oil overhaul bill” 2 July 2021
allAfrica: Menges W and Hartmann A “Namibia: Legal Setback for Seabed Mining Plan” 1 July 2021
Mining Weekly: Arnoldi M “Another Kavango project shows drilling potential” 2 July 2021
Water, Oceans, Waste and Chemicals
Thomas Reuters Foundation: Kirui D “Dry spell leaves Kenyan islanders thirsty for clean water” 28 June 2021
Bizcommunity: “Inga 3 hydropower would cost South Africans billions” 30 June 2021
Bizcommunity: Mistral C “7 reasons why rural sanitation, wastewater management is vital for SA” 30 June 2021
Bizcommunity: Nichols M “UN Security Council likely to meet next week on Ethiopia dam” 2 July 2021
allAfrica: Mzungu W “Malawi: Lcc Develops First Ever Waste Management Plan” 2 July 2021
Miscellaneous
Lexology ENS: Becker C “Africa tax in brief” 28 June 2021
Thomas Reuters Foundation: Langat W “Kenyan farmers tap apps to ride out COVID-19 and climate storm” 30 June 2021
Lexology: “The Past, Present and Potential Future of ESG Investments in Africa” 24 June 2021
allAfrica: Ibrahim M and Robinson M “Africa: Clean Cooking – Lifting the Lid on Dirty Cooking Fuels” 1 July 2021
The Guardian: “Over 400,000 people in Ethiopia’s Tigray now in famine, UN warns” 3 July 2021
International
Biodiversity, Protected Areas, and Culture
IISD SDG Knowledge Hub: “IPBES to Prepare Long-Awaited Assessments to Protect Biodiversity” 30 June 2021
Lexology: “Can a forest interfere with sale of a residential unit?” [Poland] 17 June 2021
Science: Kean S “Museums are in a race against time to keep plastic art from falling apart” 2 July 2021
CNBC: Palmer A “Amazon’s carbon emissions rose 19% in 2020 even as Covid-19 pushed global levels down” 30 June 2021
Nature: Dance A “Beyond coronavirus: the virus discoveries transforming biology” 30 June 2021
Thomas Reuters Foundation: Zuker S “Brazilian fishing communities fight to stay in protected forest” 23 June 2021
Thomas Reuters Foundation: Teixerira F “Climate change threatens age-old indigenous food systems, says UN” 25 June 2021
Climate Home News: “Norway pays Gabon $17m for forest protection despite deforestation spike” 28 June 2021
Bizcommunity: Taylor M “Fund nature protection now or face huge losses, says World Bank” 2 July 2021
BBC: “Sri Lanka: Hundreds of sea animals washed ashore after ship disaster” 2 July 2021
BBC: Nemitz E “The tree cutting emissions from Brazilian beef” 30 June 2021
Reuters: “Brazil’s Bolsonaro obstructs environmental fines key to protecting Amazon” 2 July 2021
Cost of development – “A new World Bank report estimates that the collapse of select ecosystem services provided by nature – such as wild pollination, provision of food from marine fisheries, and timber from native forests – could result in a decline in global GDP of $2.7 trillion annually by 2030. The Economic Case for Nature underscores the strong reliance of economies on nature, particularly in low-income countries. The report highlights that Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia would suffer the most relative contraction of real GDP due to a collapse of ecosystem services by 2030: 9.7% annually and 6.5%, respectively. This is due to a reliance on pollinated crops and, in the case of Sub-Saharan Africa on forest products, as well as a limited ability to switch to other production and consumption options that would be less affected.” [CP Daily 1 July 2021]
Climate Change and Energy
Lexology: “Supreme Court Restores EPA’s Extension of Certain Renewable Fuel Program Exemptions” [USA] 29 June 2021
IISD SDG Knowledge Hub: “Ministerial Forums Discuss Path to Achieve Energy Transition” 30 June 2021
Sabin Center for Climate Change Law: “New Group Calls on SEC to Strengthen Climate Protections for U.S. Financial System” 14 June 2021
Sabin Center for Climate Change Law: View videos and presentations from the June 23-24 conference on Key Environmental Issues in US EPA Region 2
Sabin Center for Climate Change Law: Listen to the Defending the Planet podcast series. The introductory episode and episodes 1-5 are available.
The Hill: Santiago R and Gerrard MB “Renewables Are Key to a Just Energy Future for Puerto Rico” 26 June 2021
Lexology: “An International Overview of Existing Climate-Related Insurance Initiatives: Finding the Right Path for Canada” 30 June 2021
Lexology: “Oregon legislation mandates 100% clean electricity by 2040 with a focus on environmental justice” 29 June 2021
Lexology: “In brief: GHG emission regulation and allowances in Netherlands” 20 September 2020
Lexology: “Industry input requested for Australia’s Hydrogen Guarantee of Origin and Certification Scheme” 1 July 2021
Carbon Pulse: “Euro Markets: EUAs hit new all-time high above €58 with ‘gas in charge’” 2 July 2021
Carbon Pulse: “France must put forward new climate measures within nine months, says court” 1 July 2021
Clean Energy Wire: Wehrman B “German government seeks consensus on climate-friendly farming akin to coal phase-out deal” 1 July 2021
Renew Economy: Mazengarb M “Australia ranked dead last in world for climate action in latest UN Report” 1 July 2021
ABC News: Loftus T “Federal Government to loan Olive Downs coal mine project near Moranbah $175m” 1 July 2021
NZ Herald: Rutherford H “Climate Change Commission, and minister, sued by lawyers over climate report” 1 July 2021
Reuters: “Italy covers shrinking glacier to save it from summer heat” 1 July 2021
Reuters: Kelly S and Renshaw J “U.S. lawmakers introduce bill to restrict biofuel waivers for refine” 2 July 2021
Reuters: Abnett K and Jessop S “Impact of nuclear energy needs more study before getting green label, EU told” 2 July 2021
Reuters: Twidale S “World must remove 1 bln tonnes CO2 by 2025 to meet climate goal – report” 30 June 2021
Reuters: “Russia’s Putin signs law to curb greenhouse gas emissions” 2 July 2021
Science: Hogan C “Underwater robot may unearth climate mysteries” 2 July 2021
Carbon Brief: Swalec C “Guest post: These 553 steel plants are responsible for 9% of global CO2 emissions” 29 June 2021
Clean Energy Wire: Meza E “Germany’s CO₂ emissions slightly rising again after pandemic-induced slump” 30 June 2021
Lexology: “Oregon legislation mandates 100% clean electricity by 2040 with a focus on environmental justice” [USA] 29 June 2021
Lexology: “Congress Cancels Trump-era Methane Rule Amendments, Restoring Prior Standards” [USA] 1 July 2021
The Jurist: Williams K “Congress votes to nullify Trump-era methane gas emissions standards” 29 June 2021
The Jurist: Gillett MT “US Supreme Court rules in favor of small oil refiners in fuel exemption case” 26 June 2021
Lexology: “Energy Transition Handbook 2021” 28 June 2021
Lexology: “Climate Change Committee Progress Report – gaps in policy and ambition are putting the UK off-track to meet targets” 28 June 2021
Lexology: “Climate action and regulation: What does the Climate Change Commission’s advice signal for boards?” [New Zealand] 29 June 2021
Reuters: Abnett K “EU countries approve landmark climate change law” 28 June 2021
Extractives Baraza: “Infrared Images Show Under-Regulated ‘Methane Crisis’ Across Europe” 29 June 2021
Carbon Pulse: “Preview: Upcoming EU presidency holder Slovenia braces for climate ‘legislative tsunami’” 29 June 2021
Politico: Aarup SA and Moens B “Australia attacks EU carbon border levy plans” 29 June 2021
UNFCCC: “COP26 Registration Opens to Facilitate Participant Vaccination” 29 June 2021
Lexology: “Environmental laws and regulations affecting US offshore wind” 25 June 2021
Lexology: “Upstream Greenhouse Gases – In or Out of Environmental Impact Assessment?” [Ireland] 22 June 2021
IISD ENB: UN General Assembly High-level Dialogue on Energy Ministerial Thematic Forums (HLDE 2021) | 21–25 June 2021 | Online
European Commission: “The EU and Morocco form a Green Partnership on energy, climate and the environment ahead of COP 26” 28 June 2021
Carbon Pulse: “Colombia’s carbon tax scheme undermined by questionable REDD credits, probe finds” 2 July 2021
Politico: Mathiesen K et al “How climate change will widen Europe’s divides” 2 July 2021
The Jurist: Johnson H “US Supreme Court rules Natural Gas Act can authorize pipeline companies to take State property” 30 June 2021
The Jurist: Geris E “European Union Council approves greenhouse emissions law” 29 June 2021
The Jurist: Williams K “EU Parliament officially endorses European Green Deal” 26 June 2021
The Guardian: Pattee E “The scientists hired by big oil who predicted the climate crisis long ago” 2 July 2021
The Independent: Tidman Z “Arctic Circle land temperature reaches 48C during ‘persistent heatwave’ in Siberia” b1 July 2021
BBC: “Then and now: Arctic sea-ice feeling the heat” 3 July 2021
BBC: “Wokingham farmer forced to make way for solar farm” 2 July 2021
Euractiv: Simon F “Germany leads call to keep nuclear out of EU green finance taxonomy” 2 July 2021
Environmental Enforcement
Lexology: “Environmental crime risk indicators” [United Arab Emirate] 1 July 2021
Lexology: “New German Law Aims to Strengthen Global Human and Environmental Rights” 29 June 2021
Lexology: “Victoria’s new environmental protection reforms and the national state of play: part three” 28 June 2021
Lexology: “Victoria’s new environmental protection reforms and the national state of play: part four” [Australia] 30 June 2021
Lexology: “New Victorian environment protection regime commences today – here’s what you need to know” [Australia] 1 July 2021
Lexology: “Massachusetts Exxon Climate Change Lawsuit Continues” [USA] 30 June 2021
Lexology: “Nieuwe wet- en regelgeving bestuursrecht en omgevingsrecht per 1 juli 2021” [Netherlands] [New law and regulations administrative law and environmental law per 1 July 2021]
Lexology: “Q&A: environmental regulation in Netherlands” 24 September 2020
Lexology: “Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Small Refinery Exemption” 28 June 2021
Lexology: “Dieselgate – back to haunt the manufacturers” [EU] 16 June 2021
Lexology: “Greener Litigation in England and Wales” 28 June 2021
Lexology: “’Reasonable and practicable measures’: What is needed to satisfy the general environmental defence?” [Australia] 29 June 2021
Lexology: “Applications to modify a development consent in New South Wales cannot be amended prior to determination” [Australia] 28 June 2021
Lexology: “Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania Holds that Natural Gas Act Does Not Divest the Environmental Hearing Board of Jurisdiction Over Appeals of Agency Actions” 25 June 2021
Euractiv: “EU negotiators still far apart on environmental justice rights” 28 June 2021
The Jurist: Williams K “Brazil Supreme Court revokes passport of ex-Environmental Minister amid illegal timber sale investigations” 29 June 2021
The Independent: Cockburn H “Post-Brexit environmental watchdog must ‘have teeth’ and be independent from government, Lords warn” 30 June 2021
ABC News: “Two SA wind farms fined more than $1 million for their role in 2016 statewide blackout” [Australia] 2 July 2021
Local government
IISD SDG Knowledge Hub: “SAICM Report Urges More Circularity for Building and Construction Materials” 30 June 2021
Polity: “Circular Water Cities: A circular water economy for cleaner, greener, healthier, more prosperous cities” 2 July 2021 [provided by Anél du Plessis, CLES, NWU]
Nature: Hill AC “COVID’s lesson for climate research: go local” 29 June 2021
Thomas Reuters Foundation: Goering L and Lieberman Z “Canada heatwave: How could cities adapt to rising temperatures?” 30 June 2021
Thomas Reuters Foundation: Teixerira F “Argentinian city wins global prize for urban farming project” 29 June 2021
ICLEI City Talk: Lazaroff T “Playing green: Co-creating accessible, eco-friendly spaces for Hanoi’s children” 29 June 2021
ICLEI City Talk: Lazaroff T “Becoming a model climate action city: The journey of Pasig, Philippines” 28 June 2021
ICLEI City Talk: Vigran D “What does citizen-based climate action look like? Ask Jakarta’s religious leaders” 30 June 2021
ICLEI: “New project plans to boost funding for Local Climate Action in the Amazon” 24 June 2021
New Cities: 2021 Wellbeing Cities
Lexology: “Social Housing and the Green Agenda – a perfect match for Scottish social housing providers” 25 June 2021
Lexology: “First exposure draft of the Natural and Built Environments Bill released” [New Zealand] 29 June 2021
Lexology: “Environmental Limits and Positive Outcomes: a first look at the details of the new resource management system” [New Zealand] 29 June 2021
Lexology: “Delivering consistency in household and business recycling” 25 June 2021
The Guardian: Cecco L “‘Lytton is gone’: wildfire tears through village after record-breaking heat” 1 July 2021
Mining
Thomas Reuters Foundation: “EBRD stops investing in upstream oil and gas to align with Paris goals” 1 July 2021
PPCA: “Spain heads list of new Powering Past Coal Alliance members” 30 June 2021
Unearthed: Carter L “Inside Exxon’s playbook: How America’s biggest oil company continues to oppose action on climate change” 30 June 2021
Extractives Baraza: “Nonconforming Diamond Producers Will Be Left Behind, Warns WDC” 29 June 2021
Extractives Baraza: “Scientists Develop Environmentally Friendly Method for Recovering REE from Coal Fly Ash” 29 June 2021
Nature: Silver A “Deadly Myanmar mine disaster caused by poor planning, say data sleuths” 29 June 2021
Lexology: “Gold-Mining Companies Fail to Persuade Court that Washington Attorney General’s Clean Water Act Jurisdiction Is Limited” [USA] 24 June 2021
Lexology: “A thumbnail guide to oil exploration and production in United Arab Emirates” 29 May 2021
Lexology: “Queensland Planning and Environment Court dismisses an appeal against the refusal of a development application to re-start a hard rock and sandstone quarry on the Sunshine Coast” 23 June 2021
The Guardian: “‘Eye of fire’: Gas leak sparks huge blaze on ocean surface off Mexico” 3 July 2021
Mining Weekly: “Unrelenting coal demand posts challenge to world’s climate goals” 2 July 2021
BBC: Morelle R “Climate change: Will UK mining drive a green revolution?” 2 July 2021
Water, Oceans, Waste and Chemicals
Lexology: “Federal Court of Australia finds that the water trigger under the EPBC Act applies to the North Galilee Water Scheme Infrastructure Project” 24 June 2021
BBC: “Deep sea mining may be step closer to reality” 1 July 2021
Nature: Hino M and Nance E “Five ways to ensure flood-risk research helps the most vulnerable – Studies are skewed towards resilient places and people: improve data, metrics, inclusion and more” 29 June 2021
Lexology: “EPA Seeks Comment on Clean Water Act Section 401 Certification Rule” [USA] 29 June 2021
IISD SDG Knowledge Hub: “WTO Informal Dialogue Calls for Ministerial Declaration on Plastics” 30 June 2021
IISD SDG Knowledge Hub: “UNGA Dialogue Highlights Land Restoration as Urgent Requirement for Sustainable Development” 30 June 2021
Science: Cornwall W “Could plastic-eating microbes take a bite out of the recycling problem?” 1 July 2021
Science: Stokstad E “The Colorado River is shrinking. Hard choices lie ahead, this scientist warns” 1 July 2021
IEA: “Hydropower has a crucial role in accelerating clean energy transitions to achieve countries’ climate ambitions securely” 30 June 2021
Lexology: “EPA Proposes Collecting Data from PFAS Manufacturers” 28 June 2021
Lexology: “EPA proposes new rule to require reporting under TSCA for PFAS manufactured or imported in the US” 22 June 2021
UNESCO: “UNESCO celebrated Recycling Week in Bañados del Este Biosphere Reserve” June 2021
UNESCO: Ideas for our planet: young people #TrashHack their schools, homes and communities with UNESCO
UNESCO: The climate in our hands – Ocean and Cryosphere – Assistance to teachers
Lexology: “Shipping and the Environment” [USA] 28 June 2021
Lexology: “Wisconsin NRB green-lights additional rulemaking to establish PFAS groundwater and drinking water standards” [USA] 23 June 2021
The Guardian: McClury T “New Zealand to ban most single-use plastics by 2025” 28 June 2021
Reuters: “Balkan green activists join forces in fight to save rivers” 3 July 2021
Reuters: Garrison C “Mexico water supply buckles on worsening drought, putting crops at risk” 2 July 2021
Miscellaneous
IISD SDG Knowledge Hub: “HLPF 2021 Prepares to Focus on Resilience, Recovery, Hope” 28 June 2021
IISD SDG Knowledge Hub: “Governments Adopt HLPF Review Agreement” 28 June 2021
IISD SDG Knowledge Hub: “Experts Discuss Greening Aid for Trade to Reach Sustainable Development” 28 June 2021
IISD SDG Knowledge Hub: “With Political Will, Mega-Conferences Can Drive Change: Stockholm+50 Brief” 30 June 2021
IISD SDG Knowledge Hub: “Civil Society Consultations Yield Three Proposals on UN75 Commitments” 28 June 2021
CNN: Young J “China declared officially malaria-free by WHO” 1 July 2021
The Law Gazette: “’Net zero’ network to support in-house lawyers tackle climate change” 28 June 2021 [Legalbrief 28 June 2021]
Lexology: “Corporate Governance and Sustainability – Trends and developments” [Belgium] 25 June 2021
Lexology: “Supply Chain Due Diligence for Human Rights and Environmental Harm: Germany and UK compared” 28 June 2021
Lexology: “ESG Investing in Latin America: The Story So Far” 24 June 2021
Lexology: “Federal government opens new agricultural clean technology program to applicants” [Canada] 24 June 2021
Bizcommunity: “Emira Property Fund raises R805m sustainability-linked debt financing” 2 July 2021
UNESCO: Watch back: Sessions from the UNESCO World Conference on Education for Sustainable Development are now online
From 17 to 19 May 2021, UNESCO held the World Conference on Education for Sustainable Development in Berlin, an opportunity for global discussion and promotion of the transformation of education so we can all #LearnForOurPlanet, which concluded in the 2,800 participants adopting the Berlin Declaration on Education for Sustainable Development. We are pleased to announce that you can now watch all closed Sessions from this important Conference on UNESCO’s YouTube in English, via a dedicated playlist as well as the Opening, Plenary and Closing sessions in French and Spanish.
Conferences, Workshops, Study Opportunities
National
ELA Annual and Student Virtual Conferences: Save the Date
Date: 15-16 September 2021
More information will follow
CLES 2nd Annual National Postgraduate Student Conference on Local Government & Urban Governance
Law and Governance in a Pandemic: Towards Safe, Inclusive, Resilient and Sustainable Cities and Towns”
30 November – 2 December 2021
Call for Abstracts
CLES Critical Conversation: Social security law as an adaptation measure to climate change in South African cities: what can be done?
Date: 8 July 2021
Please register for this event by 6 July 2021 here
More information – contact Nicolene Steyn
The Unfinished Business of Liberation Webinar Series: Climate Justice in Present-Day South Africa
Date: 6 July 2021
Time: 14:00
Registration
IAIAsa SANBI Project
Date: 12 Jul 2021 at 2 PM – 4:30 PM (GMT+2)
More informationIMBEWU’s Environmental Law Update Workshop
Online course: To book, email or call us on 011 214 0660
For more information about the course consult the website.
Sustainable Built Environment conference 2022 (SBE 2022) and STADIO School of Architecture and Spatial Design (SOAASD): Free Webinar Series of perspectives on the Past, Present and Future of Sustainable Built Environments
These webinars are a pre-cursor to SBE 2022, which will be held at the Houwhoek Hotel in March 2022. The SBE conferences have a long history, starting in 1998 – more on the history can be found on the conference website.
You can earn 0.6 CAT 1 CPD credits by attending all three perspectives and opting to receive further information about SBE 2022 and the SOAASD. You must register for each webinar independently. Registration links will be sent out approximately three weeks prior to each webinar. Please click on the image above to register for the first perspective.
- 28 July 2021: Reflecting on sustainable built environments: Registration
- 29 September 2021 Practising for sustainable built environments
- 24 November 2021 Conceptualising future sustainable built environments
More information
IAIAsa National Conference: Re-thinking IEM in pursuit of the sustainable development goals: 1st call for presentations
Date: 17-19 August 2021
Call for abstracts here – Abstract deadline: 4 June 2021
Early bird registration closes 12 July 2021
Conservation Symposium: Exploring the Science, Practice and Value of Nature Conservation
Dates: 1-5 November 2021
Proposals for sessions: 15 July 2021
Closing date for abstracts: 5 August 2021
More information
AEE Training
Southern African Energy Efficiency Confederation (SAEEC) is the training administration service provider for local courses, including the international certification programmes for the Association of Energy Engineers (AEE) in South Africa.
- Certified Carbon Reduction Manager (CRM®): 13 – 14 August 2021
- Certified Water Efficiency Professional (CWEP®): 14 – 16 August 2021
- Certified Business Energy Professional (CBEP®): 6 – 10 September 2021
- Certified Energy Auditors (CEA®): 5 – 8 October 2021
- Certified Renewable Energy Professional (REP®): 12 – 14 October 2021
- Certified Measurement and Verification Professional (CMVP®): 9 – 11 November 2021
- Certified Energy Manager (CEM®): 15 – 20 November 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
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
- 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
International
The Road to COP 26/CMA 3 Preparatory Lecture Series:
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
IAIA22: Confidence in Impact Assessment: Policies, partnerships and public involvement
Dates: 4-7 May 2022
Place: Vancouver Convention Center East, Vancouver, Canada
More information
Institute for Carbon Removal Law and Policy: Public perceptions around carbon dioxide removal
Date: 12 July 2021
Time: 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM SAST
More information and registration
Eco Italie: Material Landscapes and Environmental Imaginaries
April 28–30, 2022
Full details here
Southampton Law School: Conversations about Global Environmental Law in the Anthropocene: The Influence of Climate Litigation on the Allocation of Responsibility for Managing Climate Change: The Pioneering Work of The Dutch Courts by Professor Otto Spijkers
Date: 5 July 2021 | 11.00 – 12.00 GMT
Registration
Vacancies, Bursaries, Funding, Opportunities, etc.
National
Ground Truth: Vacancies Exist for: Senior Ecologist, Wetland Ecologist and Graduate Trainee EcologistGroundTruth have vacancies for three professional individuals meeting the criteria below:
- Proven experience in the relevant fields;
- Minimum of a BSc Honours degree;
- At least 2 years’ work experience;
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills;
- Project management and data analysis skills would be advantageous; and
- Impeccable work ethic.
If you would like a chance to join our dynamic team, please visit the vacancies page on our website for a detailed list of requirements for each position, and follow the instructions to submit your CV.
Teach Me 2: University Tutor Polokwane, Limpopo / remote
More information
Internal Compliance Officer Groups R Us (PTY) Ltd
Closing date: 9 July 2021
More information
University of the Witwatersrand: Attorney – Right2Protest Project (R2P)
Closing date: 16 July 2021
More information
University of the Witwatersrand: Attorney – Business & Human Rights Programme
Closing date: 9 July 2021
More information
University of the Free State: Attorney: Community Action and Research
Closing date: 10 July 2021
More information
University of Pretoria: Lecturer/Senior Lecturer/Associate Professor in Private law (One Post)
Closing date: 2 August 2021
More information
University of Pretoria: Lecturer in Private Law
Closing date: 2 August 2021
More information
University of Venda: Part-time Lecturer
Closing date: 16 July 2021
More information
Pinsent Masons: Junior Projects Lawyer– Johannesburg
More information
DFFE: Deputy Director-General: Biodiversity and Conservation – (BC04/2021)
Closing date:19 July 2021
More information
International
Cyprus: University Scholarship Programme – also in Law
More information
Italy: Italian Government Grants for Foreign Citizens and Italian Citizens Living Abroad
Closing date: 15 July 2021
More information
United States: Non Degree Programme: Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Programme
Closing date: 15 July 2021
More information
Study with Australia online (also free courses)
More information
African Union: Master’s and PhD: Pan African University Scholarships Programme
Closing date: 30 July 2021
More information
Mellon/SAR Academic Freedom Workshop & Fellowships
Closing date: 15 August 2021
More information
United Kingdom: Master’s and PhD: The Rhodes Scholarships for Southern Africa 2022
Closing date: 15 August 2021
More information
France: Master’s and PhD: France – South Africa Scholarships Programme
Closing date: 21 September 2021
More information
Germany: Non Degree Programme: German Chancellor Fellowship Programme
Closing date: 15 October 2021
More information
Canada Masters and PhDs: University of Alberta Graduate Study Opportunities
More information
Northwestern Pritzker School of Law Climate and Energy Fellow
To work at on a variety of climate change and energy projects. The fellowship is ideal for someone planning on entering legal academia as it will provide opportunities for publishing and for mentoring on the academic market. It also would be good preparation for work in climate change or energy law and policy. I’d be grateful if you would share the opportunity with your networks. Full position description and link to apply here.
Manager, Climate Change, CommBank – Sydney
Communications Director, ICROA – Flexible Location
Cornell’s new two-year Fellowship in One Health Governance, focused on upstream pandemic prevention
Closing date: 15 July 2021
All details and the application portal are available here.
University of Hong Kong Centre for Civil Society and Governance: Postdoctoral Fellow in Civil Society and Governance
University of New South Wales Faculty of Law and Justice: Lecturer/Senior Lecturer in Indigenous Legal Education
Singapore Management University: Assistant Professor of Law
University of Nottingham Department of Law: Assistant/Associate Professor in Law
University of Florida Levin College of Law: Postdoctoral Associate in Law
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