South Africa - Making the right energy choices The SDGs in the context of South Africa's exclusive economy Published: May 2017 The South African government has unreservedly endorsed the SDGs, noting that the triple challenge of poverty, unemployment and inequality that they address is also the primary focus of the country. This e-paper will show how the SDGs are conceptually aligned to the South Africa’s National Development Plan.
Atlas Ocean Atlas: Understanding the threats to our marine ecosystems Published: May 2017 Without the ocean there would be no life on our planet. But the future of this unique ecosystem faces a grave threat today. The Ocean Atlas 2017 delivers with its 18 contributions and 50 graphics the relevant facts and figures about the ocean.
India - National Policies and Global Commitments Renewable Energy, Equitable Growth, and Gender Equality Published: April 2017 The alignment of G20 policies with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) is high on the Indian agenda. This paper examines the three areas energy and climate policy; sustainable and inclusive economic growth; and gender equality.
Stopping Global Plastic Pollution The Case for an International Convention Published: March 2017 The massive use of plastics has created an enormous global problem with environmental, economic, social, and health repercussions. The only viable solution to the problem would therefore be to stop plastic waste from entering the oceans in the first place. The authors of this paper propose to launch negotiations on a plastics convention and begin to end this irresponsible disaster.
Corporate Influence on the G20 The case of the B20 and transnational business networks Published: March 2017 For transnational corporations and their national and international associations and lobby groups, the G20 process provides important opportunities to engage with the world’s most powerful governments on a regular basis, shape their discourse, and influence their decisions. Read more about the influence of the Business20 (B20) in the following study.
Perspectives 1/2017: South Africa - Emerging Power or Fading Star? Published: January 2017 Informed by the discussions at an international conference jointly organised by the German Development Institute, the Heinrich Böll Foundation and Stanford University on “Emerging Power or Fading Star? South Africa’s Role on the Continent and Beyond”, held 12–14 July 2016 in Cape Town, the articles gathered in this edition of Perspectives shed light on some of the nuances and challenges that define South Africa’s place in the world today.
Disputed Nature - Biodiversity and its Convention Published: November 2016 Species are vanishing at such high speed that researchers are talking in terms of a sixth major mass extinction happening within human history. This introductory publication clarifies the vital development-policy significance of the discussion over biodiversity.
Synthetic Biology and the UN Convention on Biological Diversity Five key decisions for COP 13 & COP-MOP 8 Published: November 2016 The UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) will hold its 13th Conference of the Parties (COP) in Mexico in December 2016. This briefing explains why synthetic biology is threatening all objectives of the CBD unless the parties act on five key issues.
A change of course - How to build a fair future in a 1.5° world Published: October 2016 In Paris in 2015 governments agreed to keep global warming to well below 2 degrees. The mainstream pathways pin theirhopes to risky and costly technologies. In this joint publication, together with Friends of the Earth Germany (BUND) and Misereor, we present alternatives that are possible and necessary for a change of course.
Perspectives #03/2016: Under Pressure: Shrinking Space for Civil Society in Africa Published: October 2016 Across the world, activists, social movements and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are facing verbal hostility from politicians, new laws and regulations that curtail their ability to operate, and outright violence. Africa is no exception.