The Youth Environmental Reporters and Advocates Programme mobilized 400 young people (including 307 females) across four provinces, equipping them with skills in investigative journalism, environmental science, advocacy, public speaking, and social media engagement. These trained youth are now leading climate campaigns in their schools and communities. 

Through the Green Rising initiative, children and volunteers are being empowered as environmental champions, driving sustainability and waste management efforts. The initiative has reached 60 schools and seven universities across three provinces, fostering a new generation of eco-conscious leaders.

The UN also produced a pioneering report, “The Just Energy Transition: From the Perspectives of South African Mining Communities”, in partnership with Seriti. Drawing insights from over 10,000 residents in coal-dependent areas, the report highlights community perspectives, concerns, and aspirations regarding the energy transition. It provides actionable recommendations to improve communication and engagement in the Just Energy Transition (JET). 

In advancing gender equity within the renewable energy sector, the UN trained 35 female lecturers and 123 women as solar technicians across seven TVET colleges. Internships for trainees in Limpopo are set to begin, with programme expansion planned for North West, Mpumalanga, and Northern Cape. This initiative, implemented in collaboration with USAID, GIZ, and EWSETA, is building a strong pipeline of skilled women professionals in a traditionally male-dominated field.

The UN’s waste management initiative has made significant progress in promoting sustainable practices and community empowerment. A key milestone was the handover of biodegradation laboratory equipment to the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), strengthening local capacity for research and innovation in waste management. 

In the Eastern Cape, capacity-building workshops provided targeted training on waste management practices and waste picker integration, equipping local stakeholders with tools to support inclusive, sustainable solutions. 

In collaboration with the African Reclaimers Organization, the UN introduced waste pickers to newly developed national waste picker guidelines, fostering formal inclusion into the waste economy. Addition ally, in partnership with PETCO, the UN supported the development of educational materials on PET recycling, focusing on separation, storage, and scaling of recycling efforts to promote sector growth. 

Engagements with OR Tambo District and Nyandeni Local Municipality confirmed strong municipal support for inclusive waste systems. Training workshops on waste characterization and waste picker inclusion further solidified local commitment to sustainable waste management and social integration.

In partnership with the Department of Employment and Labour and SAMSA, the UN supported the development of a digitized Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) aimed at enforcing decent working conditions in South Africa’s fishing industry. This comprehensive SOP clearly defines the roles of government, civil society, and key stakeholders in identifying human rights violations, conducting vessel inspections, and holding perpetrators ac countable for forced labour and other irregular labour practices. 

In support of South Africa’s G20 Presidency, the UN worked closely with the G20 Task Team to facilitate strategic engagements with national agencies and international partners. Contributions also included consolidated inputs to the G20 Energy Transition Working Group issue note, co-led by the Ministry of Electricity and Energy. These coordinated efforts helped align South Africa’s G20 agenda with global priorities, advancing sustainable development, inclusive economic growth, and stronger multilateral cooperation.

The UN played a central role in the regional Just Energy Transition (JET) Dialogue, emphasizing the critical role of minerals in enabling renewable energy technologies and supporting JET in the region. Through this platform, the UN reaffirmed its commitment to collaborate with SADC in developing a Just Energy Transition Framework that advances environmental sustainability and regional development goals. 

Demonstrating its commitment to responsible mining, the UN—together with partners—co-organized and actively participated in the Regional Stakeholders Workshop on the Environmental and Social Aspects of Critical Energy Transition Minerals (CETM) and the African Mining Indaba. These engagements facilitated vital continental dialogue on the environ mental and social impacts of metals and minerals. Technical expertise and capacity development provided by the UN supported the alignment of Africa’s mining strategies with global sustainability objectives and climate commitments.

In partnership with SANParks, the UN launched South Africa’s first biodiversity offset bank, pioneer ing a model that integrates economic development with environmental conservation. The initiative se cured 17,000 hectares for protection and facilitated the sale of biodiversity credits to a private wind energy company, ensuring infrastructure projects contribute directly to ecosystem preservation. With UN technical support, the exchange is expected to generate ZAR 1.2 million for conservation, along with an annual investment of ZAR 100,000 for the next 30 years. 

Under the Be Resilient South Africa project, the UN revolutionized climate resilience by installing advanced monitoring infrastructure: seven climate data gateways, nine weather stations, and eight water sensors to help communities anticipate and respond to floods, fires, and droughts. A cutting-edge Internet of Things system in the Kruger-to-Canyons Biosphere Reserve now delivers real-time environ mental data, strengthening science-based adaptation strategies. 

Beyond technology, over 50 youth were trained in Citizen Science, combining indigenous knowledge with scientific insights to support sustainable water and land management at the community level.