ELA Newsletter 2021-26

16 July 2021

Legislation

Directions

Disaster Management Act 57 of 2002 – Directions

• Gen Notice 422 in GG 44858 of 15 July 2021 – Reopening of schools and measures to address, prevent and combat the spread of COVID-19 in the National Department of Basic Education, and Provincial Departments of Education, and all schools in the Republic of South Africa published in Gen Notice 42 in GG 44154 of 12 February 2021 amended
• GN 619 in GG 44862 of 16 July 2021 – Directions relating to biodiversity auctions amended
• GN R632 in GG 44868 of 16 July 2021 – Directions to address, prevent and combat the spread of COVID-19 in all courts, court houses and justice service points in the Republic of South Africa
• GN 615 in GG 44853 of 15 July 2021 – Small Business Development Directives

Notices

Disaster Management Act 57 of 2002 – GN R611 in GG 44839 of 12 July 2021 – Declaration of a national state of disaster published in GN 313 in GG 43096 of 15 March 2020 extended to 15 August 2021

Disaster Management Act 57 of 2002 – GN R610 in GG 44838 of 11 July 2021, GN R612 in GG 44844 of 14 July 2021 & GN R614 in GG 44850 of 14 July 2021 – Regulations issued in terms of s. 27(2) of the Act published in GN R480 in GG 43258 of 29 April 2020 amended

Commissions Act 8 of 1947 – Proc 31 in GG 44860 of 16 July 2021 – Terms of reference of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into allegations of state capture, corruption and fraud in the Public Sector including Organs of State amended

Petroleum Products Act 120 of 1977 – GN R618 in GG 44861 of 16 July 2021 – Regulations prohibiting the sale and dispensing of petrol and diesel into containers

Occupational Health and Safety Act 85 of 1993 – GN 606 in GG 44822 of 9 July 2021 – Draft Pressure Equipment Regulations – for comment

Superior Courts Act 10 of 2013 – Gen Notice 412 in GG 44822 of 9 July 2021 – Declaration of circuit courts for the Western Cape Division of the High Court of South Africa published with effect from 18 June 2021

Division of Revenue Act 9 of 2021 – GN 607 in GG 44822 of 9 July 2021 – Conditional allocations and explanatory memorandum

Provinces

KwaZulu Natal

National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act 57 of 2003 – PN 71 in PG 2306 of 15 July 2021 – Intention to declare a nature reserve – Kwawula Nature Reserve published – comment

National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act 57 of 2003 – PN 72 in PG 2306 of 15 July 2021 – Declaration of nature reserves: Uvemvane, Thule and Solomon Gijima Dindikazi Nature Reserves

National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act 57 of 2003 – PN 73 in PG 2306 of 15 July 2021 – Intention to declare a nature reserve – Hlomo Hlomo Nature Reserve – for comment

National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act 57 of 2003 – PN 74 in PG 2306 of 15 July 2021 – Declaration of a nature reserve – Strathkop Nature Reserve

National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act 57 of 2003 – PN 75 in PG 2306 of 15 July 2021 – Declaration of a protected environment – Denleigh Protected Environment

National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act 57 of 2003 – PN 78 in PG 2306 of 15 July 2021 – Intention to declare nature reserves: Nagle Dam and Game Reserve Nature Reserves – for comment

National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act 57 of 2003 – PN 79 in PG 2306 of 15 July 2021-Expansion to the Manyoni Private Game Reserve

National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act 57 of 2003 – PN 80 in PG 2306 of 15 July 2021 – Declaration of a protected environment – Southdown Protected Environment

Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act 16 of 2013 – MN 64 in PG 2306 of 15 July 2021 – eThekwini Local Municipality- Spatial Development Framework 2021-2022

Northern Cape

Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act 16 of 2013 – Gen Notice 72 in PG 2429 of 12 July 2021 – Siyathemba Local Municipality – Spatial Development Framework (SDF) 2020

Limpopo

Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 and Local Government: Municipal Systems Act 32 of 2000 – LAN 119 in PG 3182 of 9 July 2021 – Mopani District Municipality – Water Services By-laws, 2019

Local Government: Municipal Systems Act 32 of 2000 – LANs 123, 124, 126-144 & 147 in PG 3182 of 9 July 2021 – Makhado Local Municipality – Electricity By-laws; Refuse removal; By-laws relating to the control of inflammable liquids and substances; Building By-laws; By-laws relating to Hawkers; By-Laws relating to Street Trading; Municipal Pound Regulations

Western Cape

Local Government: Municipal Systems Act 32 of 2000 – LAN 21442 in PG 8462 of 16 July 2021 – George Local Municipality – Land Use Planning By-law, 2015

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CASES

National

Bertie Van Zyl (Pty) Ltd t/a ZZ2 and Others v Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and Others (549/2020) [2021] ZASCA 101 (14 July 2021)

“Summary: Constitutional challenge to the power of an assignee to determine its fees – s 3(1A)(b)(ii) of the Agricultural Product Standards Act 119 of 1990 – s 25(1) of the Constitution – deprivation of property – rule of law – s 195(1) of the Constitution – judicial review – procedural fairness – rationality review.”

International

Hawai`i Wildlife Fund v County of Maui Case 1:12-cv-00198-SOM-KJM United States District Court of the District Hawaii Decided 15 July 2021

“Anyone who proposed to stand at the shoreline and empty directly into the ocean each day thousands of large drums filled with pollutants would be required to get a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (“NPDES”) permit under the Clean Water Act. The central question in this case is whether the County is violating the Clean Water Act in having failed to obtain an NPDES permit while releasing pollutants, not by pouring them directly into the Pacific Ocean, but instead by introducing the pollutants into injection wells at the Lahaina Wastewater Reclamation Facility (“LWRF”) half a mile from the ocean.”

Publications

National

Madikizela LM, Chimuka L & Ncube S “Metal pollution source apportionment in two important Rivers of Eastern Cape Province, South Africa: a case study of Bizana and Mthatha Rivers” 2021 Environmental Forensics DOI: 10.1080/15275922.2021.1940382

International

Kennedy Amanda, Du Plessis Anél, Fowler Rob, Hamman Evan and Warnock Ceri (eds) Teaching and Learning in Environmental Law: Pedagogy, Methodology and Best Practices  (Edward Elgar August 2021)

Natural Climate Solutions “Natural Climate Solutions for Corporates” (Report July 2021)

Shi-Ling Hsu “Carbon Taxation and Economic Inequality” 2021 15 Harv. L. & Pol’y Rev (forthcoming 2021)

Shi-Ling Hsu “Climate Triage: A Resources Trust to Address Inequality in a Climate-changed World” 2020 50 Envtl. L. 97

Ryan E, Curry HP and Rule H “Environmental Rights for the 21st Century: Comparing the Public Trust Doctrine and the Rights of Nature Movement” 2021 43 Cardozo L. Rev.

Ryan E “A Short History of the Public Trust Doctrine and its Intersection with Private Water Law” 2020 39 Virginia Envtl. L.J. 135

Swan SL “Preempting Plaintiff Cities” 2019 45 Fordham Urb. L. J. 1241

Swan SL “Plaintiff Cities” 2018 71 Vand. L. Rev. 1227

Manoj MC,  Thakur B and Uddandum PJ “Controls on rare earth elements distribution from Kerala coast, Southwest India over the past 2000 years” 2021 Environmental Forensics https://doi.org/10.1080/15275922.2021.1940383

Serkan Kukrer, I. Onur Tunc, Ahmet Evren Erginal, Özender Bay & Şeref Kılıç (2021) Distribution, sources and ecological risk assessment of metals in Kura river sediments along a human disturbance gradient, Environmental Forensics, DOI: 10.1080/15275922.2021.1940378

Khurram Shahzad, Taimoor Hassan Farooq, Buhari Doğan, Li Zhong Hu & Umer Shahzad (2021) Does environmental quality and weather induce COVID-19: Case study of Istanbul, Turkey, Environmental Forensics, DOI: 10.1080/15275922.2021.1940380

Van Houtan KS et al “The geographic disparity of historical greenhouse emissions and projected climate change” 2021 7(29) Science Advances DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abe4342

News, Blogs, Discussions, Websites, Videos, ETC

South Africa

Biodiversity, Protected Areas, Culture

The Conversation: Helm C “Fossil tracks and trunk marks reveal signs of ancient elephants on South Africa’s coast” 15 July 2021

The Conversation: Omotayo AO “South Africa is rich in plants used for skincare: rural women helped us document some” 15 July 2021

Daily Maverick: Shapiro TT “This weekend we’re watching: a documentary about whales and the pursuit of scientific truth” 16 July 2021

Bizcommunity: “Black Mambas inspire communities armed with their EcoTraining course in hand” 14 July 2021

allAfrica: Carnie T “South Africa: Age of Anarchy Aftermath – Fish and Marine Creatures in Mass Die-Off After Arson Attacks On KZN Chemical Plants” 15 July 2021

Climate Change and Energy

Lexology CMS: Majola B and Noeth G “More than a flick of a switch, but soon sa will be charging ahead” 13 July 2021

Webber Wentzel: Novotny P-A and Molefi L “New draft guideline for climate change impact assessments to be undertaken when pursuing environmental consent applications” 14 July 2021

amaBhungane: “Green Scorpions close in as Karpowership tries to save R225-billion deal” 16 July 2021

amaBhungane: “Powerships: Inside the Karadeniz money-spinning global empire” 12 July 2021

amaBhungane: Van Rensburg D “Karpowership SA: How much again?” 12 July 2021

amaBhungane: “Special project: Tenders and powerships – all amaB’s stories on the RM14P emergency power bidding process, Karpowership SA and more” 14 July 2021

Business Day: “Shell SA backs Karpowership, criticises slow pace of procurement” 13 July 2021

Bizcommunity: “Country’s largest refinery declares force majeure amid KZN unrest” 14 July 2021

Bizcommunity: Hidge KS “A thirst for transformation and sustainability within the energy sector” 12 July 2021

Business Day: Seccombe A “Questions raised about hydrogen use in green transport solutions” 14 July 2021

Business Day: “Watch: Is green hydrogen the future for SA?” 16 July 2021

TimesLive: Nombembe P “Rules banning fuel in containers to be amended after complaints” 17 July 2021

Mining Weekly: Slater D “South Africa poised to become a global player in the green hydrogen space – DTIC” 16 July 2021

Mining Weekly: Creamer M “Hydrogen economy, ICMM report, unlisted mining companies make headlines” 16 July 2021

Engineering News: Bulbulia T “World Bank to support SANEDI in driving energy efficiency in South Africa” 16 July 2021

Environmental enforcement

CER: “CER launches new online portal for reporting of violations to authorities” 12 July 2021

Local Government

ICLEI Africa: “Cities and towns struggle to finance climate action, but better climate and energy data can help” July 2021

GroundUp: Lali V “Khayelitsha’s toilets choked with filth despite mayor’s promise to clean up” 16 July 2021

IOL: Githahu M “City of Cape Town seeks financial partners to help in diversifying energy mix” 16 July 2021

TimesLive: Sguazzin A “Durban becomes first city in SA to seek private power deal” 11 July 2021

Mining

Lexology Herbert Smith Freehills LLP: Leon P et al “Clearing the Waters: The Upstream Petroleum Resources Development Bill, 2021” 12 July 2021

TimesLive: Barron C “State must subdue ‘mining mafia’, says RBM’s Werner Duvenhage” 11 July 2021

Water, Waste, Oceans and Chemicals

Daily Maverick: Sgqolana T “Toxic times: Smouldering, chaotic landfill site a serious health hazard, say Eastern Cape’s Komani residents” 6 July 2021 [Legalbrief Environmental 13 July 2021]

IOL: Ntseku M “Zeekoevlei now becomes third vlei to close due to sewage spills” 8 July 2021

IOL: “Warning: Beaches north of Durban are closed due to chemical spillage” 17 July 2021

Reuters: Sishi S and Ward R “South African authorities probe coastal chemical spill in Durban” 17 July 2021

IOL: Maqhina M “Environment minister asked to evaluate impact of hazardous waste released into rivers during KZN violence” 17 July 2021

Bizcommunity: “Local study finds ships a major source of litter on SA beaches” 14 July 2021

Bizcommunity: Fitzmaurice G, Bowley A and Holloway P “New draft Maritime Occupational Health and Safety Amendment Regulations” 12 July 2021

allAfrica: “South Africa: KZN Communities Urged to Report Water Infrastructure Damage” 15 July 2021

allAfrica: Ondiegi G “Kenya: Hope in Drought-Ravaged Samburu as Officials Restore Borehole” 15 July 2021

Miscellaneous

The Conversation: Lamb G “Why have South Africans been on a looting rampage? Research offers insights” 15 July 2021

The Conversation: Ndletyana M “Unrest is being used to subvert South Africa’s democracy: giving in is not an option” 14 July 2021

The Conversation: Sihlobo W “South African riots and food security: why there’s an urgent need to restore stability” 14 July 2021

The Conversation: Maserumule MH “Chaos in South Africa points to failures in the project to build a democracy” 14 July 2021

eCNA: “Violence in SA | New rules gazetted for unrest cases” 17 July 2021

TimesLive: “Retired magistrates and prosecutors roped in to expedite unrest cases” 17 July 2021

Mail & Guardian: Philips T “South Africa improves on Covid-19 green stimulus index, but still falls short” 16 July 2021

Africa

Biodiversity, Soil, Protected Areas and Culture

The Conversation: Carodenuto S “Pourquoi l’industrie du cacao pourrait mettre fin à la déforestation en Afrique de l’Ouest” [Why the cocoa industry could end deforestation in West Africa] 6 July 2021

The Conversation: Reinwald M and Mortimer B “Rumble in the jungle: an ear to the ground can tell us how elephants are faring in the wild” 14 July 2021

allAfrica: “Ethiopia: Oromia Plants 2.2 Billion Seedlings” 16 July 2021

allAfrica: “Mozambique: Over 825,000 Seedlings Planted to Restore Native and Exotic Species” 16 July 2021

allAfrica: Njuguna S “Kenya: Alarm as Herders Invade Ranches, Kill Animals, Threaten to Burn Lodges” 16 July 2021

Polity: “Prospects for developing green aquaculture in Africa” 16 July 2021

Climate Change and Energy

amaBhungane: “Green Scorpions close in as Karpowership fights to rescue R225bn deal” 15 July 2021

The Conversation: Ayokunle S “Banning fossil fuels in sub-Saharan Africa could slow the transition to renewable energy” 14 July 2021

ICLEI: “New climate change act set to accelerate local climate finance in Nakuru County, Kenya”

allAfrica: “Africa Day At HLPF – Post-Covid-19 Green Recovery Needs Clean Energy, Nature-Based Solutions and Digitalization” 16 July 2021

allAfrica: “Southern Africa: New Climate Change Project for Southern Africa” 15 July 2021

Engineering News: “New initiative launched to raise awareness on key role of power grids in Africa” 15 July 2021

Environmental enforcement

allAfrica: Kiplagat S “Kenya: Court Orders Nms, Nema to Close Dandora Dumpsite” [Kenya] 16 July 2021

Local government

allAfrica: Ogundipe S “Africa: Young People in Nigeria, Ghana Rally to End Open Defecation in West, Central Africa” 16 July 2021

Mining

The Conversation: Brady J and Marks N “Third-largest diamond found in June, then a bigger one days later. What’s behind the monster gem boom?” 9 July 2021

Bizcommunity: “Factbox: Nigeria’s oil overhaul faces last battles over fuel, northern drilling” 15 July 2021

Bizcommunity: “Botswana begins first iron ore mining project” 14 July 2021

Bizcommunity: “Report: Mining industry’s push for technology” 12 July 2021

Mining Weekly: Creamer M “Clean, green copper to be produced at Kamoa’s hydropowered DRC operation” 16 July 2021

Mining Weekly: “Congo’s cobalt monopoly to set price floor for artisanal miners” 15 July 2021

Water, Oceans, Waste and Chemicals

The Citizen: “150 Algeria bathers sick after sea polluted – report” 6 July 2021 [Legalbrief 13 July 2021]

allAfrica: Anami L “Court Strikes Out Suit Against Uganda for Lake Victoria Flooding” 15 July 2021

allAfrica: “Ethiopia: Nation Conducting Groundwater Resource Study” 15 July 2021

allAfrica: “Egypt: Sisi Reassures Egyptians On Water Amid Ethiopian Dam Dispute” 16 July 2021

Miscellaneous

The Conversation: Cheeseman N and Sishuwa S “Africans want consensual democracy – why is that reality so hard to accept?” 11 July 2021

Lexology: “The EU’s IP action plan: lessons for Africa?” 5 July 2021

The Conversation: Eise J “World hunger surged in 2020, with 1 in 10 people on Earth undernourished” 14 July 2021

The Conversation: Reinsberg B and Stubbs T “Lots of IMF programmes are never completed – because they’re unworkable” 12 July 2021

Makanday: “A Hard Look at Zambia’s Economy: Diagnosing the origins of current economic crisis” 15 July 2021

Platform for Investigative Journalism: Mpaka C “Malawi’s Economic Backbone in State of Chaos” 15 July 2021

allAfrica: “Africa: Seychelles, Other African Islands Support AU’s New Green Recovery Plan” 16 July 2021

allAfrica: Mupesa C “Zimbabwe: Veld Fire Destroys 120 Tonnes of Maize” 15 July 2021

The Conversation: Agyabeng AN “Are new centres of power a good idea? People in Ghana’s Oti region are divided on the issue” 14 July 2021

International

Biodiversity, Protected Areas, and Culture

IISD ENB: 2021 High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF 2021) | Forests, Trees and Poverty Alleviation in Africa: An Expanded Policy Brief

Nature: Denning S “Southeast Amazonia is no longer a carbon sink” 14 July 2021

Lexology: “Service Proposes Critical Habitat Designation for Pearl Darter” 15 July 2021

IISD SDG Knowledge Hub: “First Draft of Global Biodiversity Framework Identifies Four Goals for 2050” 15 July 2021

Carbon Pulse: “Draft UN biodiversity text targets massive carbon cuts from natural ecosystems” 13 July 2021

Science: Wadman M “Chinchilla dealer to appear in court for alleged animal welfare violations” 16 July 2021

Mail & Guardian: Philips T “New decade, new empty promises for nature” 15 July 2021

The Guardian: Mistlin A “UK government seeks to extend protection of ivory-bearing animals” 17 July 2021

The Guardian: Kaminski I “Laws of nature: could UK rivers be given the same rights as people?” 17 July 2021

Reuters: “EU eyes new targets to protect forests” 16 July 2021

Euractiv: “Europe fiddles while forests burn” 16 July 2021

Climate Change and Energy

Lexology: “In brief: GHG emission regulation and allowances in Netherlands” 24 September 2020

Brookings Blog How We Rise: Tanana H an Bowman W “Energizing Navajo Nation: How electrification can secure a sustainable future for Indian Country” 14 July 2021

Lexology: “Latest EU Efforts on Climate Change Demonstrate Broader Risks to Business” [USA] 14 July 2021

The Jurist: Geris E “EU announces comprehensive climate change plan” 15 July 2021

Lexology: “DOE Preparing Manufactured Housing Energy Conservation Standards” 14 July 2021

Reuters: “Electricity demand rebound will require more fossil fuel generation –IEA” 15 July 2021

Lexology: “Beyond the headlines: Recent trends in global climate change litigation” [UK} 13 July 2021

Carbon Pulse: “EU to force importers to pay for emissions from 2026 amid UN warning” 14 July 2021

The Guardian: Ambrose J “Rising oil price may speed shift to electric vehicles, says energy watchdog” 13 July 2021

Euractiv: Taylor K “EU throws open courtroom doors for new wave of citizen climate litigations” 15 July 2021

BBC: “EU unveils sweeping climate change plan” 14 July 2021

Lexology: “Emission cleaning for diesel passenger cars. The Commission fines three manufacturers” [EU] 12 July 2021

Lexology: “The UK’s new Subsidy Control Bill and its additional energy and environment principles” 8 July 2021

Lexology: “Second Climate Change Bill for Northern Ireland” 7 July 2021

Carbon Brief: “Guest post: Mapping ‘blue-carbon wealth’ around the world” 12 July 2021

BBC: “Teesside chosen for UK’s first net zero emissions power plant” 13 July 2021

Politico: Posaner J “Volkswagen ‘pissing off’ fellow carmakers in auto lobby scrap” 14 July 2021

Yahoo!News: “France wins hard-fought agreement on flagship climate bill” 13 July 2021

Lexology: “Federal government launches first call for proposals under the Clean Fuels Fund” [Canada] 9 July 2021

White House: Fact Sheet: U.S.-Germany Climate and Energy Partnership 15 July 2021

Euractiv: Bauer-Babef C “France sceptical about extending carbon pricing to buildings, transport” 16 July 2021

EE News: Hiar C and Sobczyk N “Dems plan to question Exxon lobbyist about carbon tax video” 16 July 2021

Science: Stone R “Iran’s plans for research reactor fuel imperil revival of nuclear deal” 15 July 2021

Business Insider: Ho KK “Energy consumption is a constant concern in crypto mining, but more sustainable practices are emerging” 15 July 2021

The Guardian: Harvey F “Regulate business to tackle climate crisis, urges Mark Carney” 17 July 2021

The Guardian: Ambrose J “Green transport can only succeed with a greener grid” 17 July 2021

Lexology: Ambrose J “Shell and Scottish Power submit plans for floating offshore windfarms” 16 July 2021

The Independent: Graziosi G “Satellite photos shows shocking impact of climate crisis in western US” 16 July 2021

Mining Weekly: “IEA report points to growth in global electricity demand this year” 15 July 2021

BBC: McGrath M “Climate change: ‘No more excuses’ at COP26 climate summit – poor nations” 15 July 2021

BBC: “Southampton Airport: Runway legal review request submitted” 15 July 2021

Reuters: “Electricity demand rebound will require more fossil fuel generation –IEA” 15 July 2021

Euractiv: Simon F “EU energy tax plan seeks to end ‘hidden advantage’ for fossil fuels” 16 July 2021

Nature: Tellefson J “Influential US climate report moves ahead — under new leadership” 16 July 2021

Polity: “Guidelines for a Sustainable Aviation Fuel Blending Mandate in Europe” 16 July 2021

Environmental Enforcement

Lexology: “How emerging US environmental trends and initiatives may impact Australian law and policy” 13 July 2021

Lexology: “The Benefits of Environmental Compliance Audits” [USA] 8 July 2021

Lexology: “Approval of Law 7/2021, of 20 May, on Climate Change and Energy Transition” 22 June 2021

IISD SDG Knowledge Hub: “Lessons from 25 Years of Connecting Expertise for Environmental Governance” 15 July 2021

Lexology: “Ninth Circuit Holds Sovereign Immunity Protects Tribe From Suit Under The Clean Water Act” 12 July 2021

Lexology: “The New corporate Due Diligence Act: Potential liability under Civil law and Administrative law” [Germany] 8 July 2021

Lexology: “Dirty money can be green: linking environmental crime and money laundering” [UK] 9 July 2021

Lexology: “Federal Court’s final orders in children’s novel climate change case clarify duty of care, but impact still to play out” [Australia] 9 July 2021

Renew Economy: Mazengarb M “Taylor dismisses ‘duty of care’ ruling, says coal mine decisions ‘about balance’” 16 July 2021 – read also The Jurist

Lexology: “Modifications Applications made to Court can be amended, Preston CJ in Dartbrook distinguished” 9 July 2021

Reuters: Kelly S “U.S. appeals court rules in favor of environmental groups in biofuel case” 16 July 2021

The Jurist: Gupta S “The Proposed Definition of “Ecocide”: An Attempt to Constitute Fifth International Crime?” 15 July 2021

The Guardian: Ambrose J “New Zealand farmers stage huge protest over environmental rules” 16 July 2021

The Independent: “Pesticide caused children’s brain damage, California lawsuits say” 14 July 2021

BBC: McAllister A “Hindu campaigners in push to encourage eco-careers” 17 July 2021

The Jurist: Li Wang E “Addressing the Climate Crisis Through Procedural Environmental Rights in the Age of Information” [EU] 17 July 2021

Local government

Lexology: “Significant Changes to local infrastructure contributions proposed” [Australia] 9 July 2021

Lexology: “Highlights from the proposed Natural and Built Environments Act” [New Zealand] 9 July 2021

Nature: Witze A “Racism is magnifying the deadly impact of rising city heat” 14 July 2021

Lexology: “New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Issues Regulations Implementing the Food Donation and Food Scraps Recycling Law — Impacting a Broad Range of Businesses” [USA] 14 July 2021

Lexology: “Sustainable living – making UK homes net zero by 2025” 7 July 2021

Lexology: “Future Cities – The Podcast Series” 14 July 2021

IISD SDG Knowledge Hub: “Local SDG Action, Reporting Get Higher Profile at HLPF” 15 July 2021

Lexology: “New Massachusetts Brownfields Tax Credits Regulations Just Released” 12 July 2021

The Guardian: Watts J “UK public should get ‘people’s dividend’ in drive to hit green targets” 14 July 2021

ICLEI City Talk: Bizzotto M “Cities Race to Resilience: A global campaign to catalyze resilient action” 13 July 2021

ICLEI: CitiesWithNature: Featured tools and resources

Cities Climate Finance Leadership Alliance: “New study calls for urgent increase in funding for climate action in cities” 30 June 2021

IISD ENB: HLPF 2021 Local and Regional Governments’ Day and Forum | 9–13 July 2021 | Online

IOL: “Electric toilets may be breeding ground for multi drug-resistant bacteria, study finds” 13 July 2021

Sydney Morning Herald: O’Malley N and Perkins M “Why a killer US heatwave points to a stifling future for our cities” 17 July 2021

Engineering News: Liedtke S “EU carbon adjustment mechanism may do little to mitigate climate change, Unctad warns” 15 July 2021

Carbon Brief: Gabbatiss J “In-depth Q&A: What is the UK’s ‘net-zero’ plan for transport?” 15 July 2021

Mining

IISD ENB: HLPF 2021 Local and Regional Governments’ Day and Forum | 9–13 July 2021 | Online

Lexology: “Federal Government issues Position Statement on New and Expansion Thermal Coal Projects in Canada” 14 July 2021

IISD SDG Knowledge Hub: “To Reach SDG 8: Decent Work, We Must Embrace Artisanal Miners” 13 July 2021

Extractives Baraza: Barigada J “Lobby Protests West’s Stance on African Oil Projects Threatens Boycott” 14 July 2021

Extractives Baraza: “Oil Company Confirms Spill at Facility in South Nigeria” 14 July 2021

Extractives Baraza: “MC Mining Suspends Operations As South Africa Burns” 14 July 2021

Extractives Baraza: Kaur D “The Great Mining Migration Is Happening in China. Here’s What We Know So Far” 14 July 2021

Extractives Baraza: “Contract Coal Miners Face Longer Hours, Higher Risk Than Full-time Peers” 14 July 2021

AP News: “Greenland suspends oil exploration because of climate change” 16 July 2021

The Independent: Snaith C “‘Completely indefensible’: Anger as green groups urge government to reject plans for huge new oil field”

Water, Oceans, Waste and Chemicals

The Conversation: Ruf C “The ocean is full of tiny plastic particles – we found a way to track them with satellites” 9 July 2021

Lexology: “Hazardous and Special Products are Next in Line in Ontario’s Transition to a Producer Responsibility Model for Consumer Products” [Canada] 14 July 2021

Lexology: “EPA Announces Plans to Strengthen Environmental Justice Efforts Regarding Waste and Superfund” 13 July 2021

Lexology: “Impacts in the retail and luxury industry of the future ban on the destruction of unsold goods” 1 June 2021

IISD SDG Knowledge Hub: “Study Examines Prospects for Collaboration among Biodiversity, Chemicals and Waste Conventions” 13 July 2021

IISD ENB: Vienna Convention and Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer | 2nd Part of the 43rd Meeting of the Open-ended Working Group of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol (OEWG 43) | 14–17 July 2021 | Online

The Straits Times: “Australia to take ambassadors snorkelling to save Great Barrier Reef status” 14 July 2021

Lexology: “Waste not, want not! The UK Government “zeroes” in on plastic waste in Food & Drink” 13 July 2021

Lexology: “Solar panel waste: where are we heading?” [Australia] 8 July 2021

IISD ENB: Island Responses to COVID-19 – In the Context of Climate Resilience and Sustainable Development through the Local2030 Islands Network | 12 July 2021 | Online

Lexology: “Further step towards safeguarding marine environment: oil pollution preparedness, response and co-operation” [Malta] 7 July 2021 [Legalbrief Environmental 13 July 2021]

The Independent: Boyle L “Residents of hurricane-ravaged Barbuda hopeful as UN body signals ‘deep concern’ over resort for uber-rich” 17 July 2021

Miscellaneous

Lexology: “ESG: Balancing Competing Interests – The Court’s Intervention” [Guernsey] 9 July 2021

Lexology: “Pressure mounts on the UK to introduce corporate accountability laws” 5 July 2021

IISD ENB: 2021 High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF 2021) | Satoyama Initiative: Healthy Planet, Healthy People

IAIA21: Some of the PowerPoints are available – see also Papers

IISD SDG Knowledge Hub: “HLPF Reviews Progress Towards Nine SDGs” 15 July 2021

IISD SDG Knowledge Hub: “UNDP Report Identifies COVID Responses to Reverse Poverty, Inequality” 13 July 2021

IISD SDG Knowledge Hub: “Governments Lack Consensus on HLPF Outcome Document” 13 July 2021

Lexology: “Environmental Justice Now an Important Aspect of Your Disclosures and Social Aspect of ESG” [USA] 12 July 2021

7th Frontiers virtual Colloquium held February 2021 – summary can be found here

Science: Raghavan A “Surprise undersea volcano could offer unique window into Earth’s interior” 15 July 2021

The Jurist: Lampropoulos P “EU approves infrastructure strategy to rival China ‘Belt and Road’ plan” 13 July 2021

The Guardian: “Climate scientists shocked by scale of floods in Germany” 16 July 2021

The Independent: Merrick R “Brexit: UK’s trade deals risk rendering efforts to protect environment and animal welfare ‘pointless,’ food tsar warns” 15 July 2021

The Independent: Boyle L “‘We’ve never seen anything like this’: Crews fight raging Bootleg Fire in Oregon as 70 blazes erupt in US” 15 July 2021

BBC: Harrabin R “Climate change: Science failed to predict flood and heat intensity” 16 July 2021

BBC: Wischgoll P and Sahl PD “Death toll in rises to 170 in Germany and Belgium floods” 17 July 2021

Reuters: Rosen Y “Scientists stunned by rare Arctic lightning storms north of Alaska” 17 July 2021

Conferences, Workshops, Study Opportunities

National

• 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
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IAIA22: Confidence in Impact Assessment: Policies, partnerships and public involvement
Dates: 4-7 May 2022
Place: Vancouver Convention Center East, Vancouver, Canada
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ACCESS Conversations on Climate Change

Panel 1: What exactly is UNFCCC, IPCC, NDCs, & COP; how does it all work & how does it affect us ? With Xolisa Ngwadla and Debra Roberts, moderated by Guy Midgley (27th July @16h00).

• Panel 2: What is this COP all about, what outcomes are sought? What are the big and important geopolitical forces and concerns? How important are activists and lobbyists? August. Details to follow. •IPCC Assessment Report 6 launch events – To be announced (This will most likely be a separate set if events which will we will inform you about).
• Panel 3: What is SA position going into the event – What is SA’s contribution and role? October. Details to follow.
• Panel 4: Live from COP – what’s happening and what can we anticipate? November. Details to follow.
• Panel 5: COP retrospective: what was achieved and what does it mean for us here? December. Details to follow.

To register please follow this link.

BSI: Food chain sustainability – innovation and the circular economy
Date: 27 July 2021
Time: 10:00-12:00 UK Time
Please click here to view the agenda
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Vacancies, Bursaries, Funding, Opportunities, etc.

National

University of the Free State: Lecturer / Researcher Academic Literacy
Date: 1 August 2021
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Conveyancing Attorney and PRO Cape Town
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Legal Advisor Midrand
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Corporate Law Company Secretary
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Education Rights Attorney
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Centre for Environmental Rights Candidate Attorneys 2022
Closing date: 15 August 2021
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International

Research Assistant in Civil Society and Governance University of Hong Kong Centre for Civil Society and Governance

PhD Fellowship in Citizens Participation in Resource Governance and Sustainable Transition Norwegian University of Science and Technology Department of Geography

PhD Position in Household Trade-Offs Between Emissions and Activities that Emit GHG Emissions Norwegian University of Science and Technology Research Centre on Zero Emission Neighbourhoods in Smart Cities

Senior Lecturer in Sociology of Law Lund University

Lecturer/Senior Lecturer in Private Law University of New South Wales School of Private and Commercial Law

Doctoral Scholarship in Human Rights Law University of Antwerp Faculty of Law

PhD Scholarship in International Law and Military Operations University of Copenhagen Faculty of Law

Assistant Professor of Law Singapore Management University Yong Pung How School of Law

Lecturer/Senior Lecturer in Financial Law University of Surrey School of Law (International Environmental Law)

Visiting Assistant Professor in Law University of Illinois Urbana Champaign College of Law

Faculty Position in Law University of Illinois Urbana Champaign College of Law

Lawyering Program Director Cornell Law School

Postdoctoral Position in History of Africa University of Basel Department of History

Dean of Law Auckland University of Technology

PhD Position in Green Participation Catholic University of Leuven Department of Architecture

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