- Cape Town, South Africa.
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- International Relations Theory, Global Environmental Governance, Climate Change, Environmental Policy and Governance, International Negotiation, Ecological Justice, and 15 moreEnvironmental Political Theory, International Trade, International Political Economy, Critical Theory, Environmental Law, Frame Analysis, Sustainable Development, Global Social Change, Energy Research, Political Economy, International Studies, Climate change policy, Critical Discourse Analysis, Critical International Relations Theory, and International Environmental Politics and Negotiationsedit
- Researcher in the field of Global Environmental Governance; specifically interested in the overlap between the trade ... moreResearcher in the field of Global Environmental Governance; specifically interested in the overlap between the trade and climate change regimes, low carbon development strategies, and the role of alternative ideational constructs in the governance of climate change.edit
This study focuses on the role of the South African state in environmental governance, with particular reference to transformations in political authority and processes of capital accumulation. Our approach underscores the importance of... more
This study focuses on the role of the South African state in environmental governance, with particular reference to transformations in political authority and processes of capital accumulation. Our approach underscores the importance of analyzing state environmental efforts both empirically and normatively, in order to understand the underlying drivers of state policies that perpetuate or ameliorate environmental degradation. The tension between economic and ecological values lies at the heart of South Africa's approach to mitigation. We evaluate South Africa's performance on climate change mitigation policies and programs and show that while, empirically, South Africa may appear to be a partial or emerging green state, its performance is weak when assessed against normative frameworks.
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In order to provide a framework for the country case studies that follow, this review article outlines how the concept of nationally appropriate mitigation actions (NAMAs) arose in the context of United Nations Framework Convention on... more
In order to provide a framework for the country case studies that follow, this review article outlines how the concept of nationally appropriate mitigation actions (NAMAs) arose in the context of United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) negotiations. The paper outlines how the NAMA concept is being developed internationally in order to juxtapose this with the country level, 'bottom-up' understandings evident in the mitigation action country studies that follow. This article undertakes a review of the UNFCCC Conference of the Parties decisions from Bali in 2007 to Doha in 2012 to trace the historical emergence of NAMAs, before analysing the increasing institutionalization of NAMAs using both primary and secondary sources. The review suggests that the still-nascent nature of NAMAs may provide a vehicle for developing countries to participate in the international mitigation effort – with the technical and financial support of developed countries, subject to the Convention’s principle of common but differentiated responsibilities (CBDR). The fact that there remains some lack of clarity on what constitutes a NAMA may represent an opportunity for developing countries to shape it to their benefit by providing thought-leadership and taking domestic action suitable to their developmental needs.
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This article seeks to begin to understand how mitigation actions (MAs) are approached and conceptualized in Peru by analysing this developing country’s most advanced nationally appropriate mitigation action (NAMA) – the efficient lighting... more
This article seeks to begin to understand how mitigation actions (MAs) are approached and conceptualized in Peru by analysing this developing country’s most advanced nationally appropriate mitigation action (NAMA) – the efficient lighting NAMA – in order to gain insight into how NAMAs are conceptualized as a vehicle for advancing MA in the country. Based on an earlier in-depth research report, this case study finds that the efficient lighting NAMA, despite being the most advanced in Peru, is still in the ‘readiness’ phase and as such more work and support is needed to move this NAMA and others to design and implementation phase. In the discussion, suggestions are made regarding how these implementation barriers might be overcome through increased coordination between key stakeholders in and across sectors, support for innovative approaches to financing and more clarity on monitoring, reporting and verifying issues.
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This article seeks to understand how mitigation actions (MAs) are approached and conceptualised in South Africa, and then to capture the particular sets of issues and characteristics relating to these actions. As such it considers three... more
This article seeks to understand how mitigation actions (MAs) are approached and conceptualised in South Africa, and then to capture the particular sets of issues and characteristics relating to these actions. As such it considers three main areas of enquiry from a bottom-up methodological perspective: first, what is the South African approach to individual MAs, second, what are the barriers and challenges to their implementation, and third, what by way of domestic measures and international support could assist in overcoming these challenges. Four examples of potential South African MAs are described and then analysed: the Bus Rapid Transport in Cape Town, the South African Renewables Initiative, the carbon tax and the National Sustainable Settlements Facility. We find from considering these examples that there are significant challenges to defining an MA. We also find that, generally, South Africa is good at identifying, analysing and designing activities to mitigate emissions, but lacks in effective implementation. Two main areas of implementation risk are suggested, namely, counteracting vested interests and the availability of finance. Suggestions are made regarding how these implementation challenges might be overcome with appropriate support at the domestic and international levels.
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The MAPS programme, which seeks to deepen mitigation ambition in developing countries, is engaged in exploring the concepts of Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMAs) and Low Carbon Development Strategies (LCDS) from a... more
The MAPS programme, which seeks to deepen mitigation ambition in developing countries, is engaged in exploring the concepts of Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMAs) and Low Carbon Development Strategies (LCDS) from a developing country perspective. Here, climate mitigation practitioners in six developing countries were surveyed for their understanding of these concepts (anonymous, personal communications with climate mitigation practitioners in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, India, and South Africa). It is found that there is much scope for clarity and conceptual elaboration in this policy space. NAMAs are largely interpreted as mitigation activities packaged for submission to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) registry, but are not held to constitute the full set of mitigation activity in a developing country. New terminology may be needed to describe this broader set. A tighter interpretation of LCDS to distinguish between a strategic or coordinating policy action may be useful. Other themes arising include the way ‘national appropriateness’ is reflected in the concepts, and the role of international policy in deepening mitigation action in developing countries.
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"Internationally South Africa is regarded as a leader in Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Action (NAMA) development, but is this actually the case? In common with other countries, South Africa has yet to formally submit a NAMA to the... more
"Internationally South Africa is regarded as a leader in Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Action (NAMA) development, but is this actually the case? In common with other countries, South Africa
has yet to formally submit a NAMA to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change registry, nor have mitigation actions been articulated as NAMAs at a domestic policy
level. This is not to say, however, that mitigation activities are not happening – in the areas of energy efficiency and renewable energy significant progress has been made in South Africa. Yet
these cannot be attributed to the NAMA concept per se. Rather, the drivers relate to energy policy and – very broadly speaking – national climate change objectives as outlined in the current National Climate Change Response Strategy. This paper reviews how South African NAMAs are presented in international literature and how this compares to mitigation actions and national policy development and implementation. It finds that there is disjuncture between what is reflected in the literature and what is observable in South Africa."
has yet to formally submit a NAMA to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change registry, nor have mitigation actions been articulated as NAMAs at a domestic policy
level. This is not to say, however, that mitigation activities are not happening – in the areas of energy efficiency and renewable energy significant progress has been made in South Africa. Yet
these cannot be attributed to the NAMA concept per se. Rather, the drivers relate to energy policy and – very broadly speaking – national climate change objectives as outlined in the current National Climate Change Response Strategy. This paper reviews how South African NAMAs are presented in international literature and how this compares to mitigation actions and national policy development and implementation. It finds that there is disjuncture between what is reflected in the literature and what is observable in South Africa."
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One key focus of current climate discourse is the need to raise the level of ambition of collective emission reductions in order to protect the climate (UNEP, 2012). Any emission reductions outlined, however, remain hollow gestures unless... more
One key focus of current climate discourse is the need to raise the level of ambition of collective emission reductions in order to protect the climate (UNEP, 2012). Any emission reductions outlined, however, remain hollow gestures unless translated into actions implemented on the ground. The implementation of mitigation actions (MAs) thus requires public policy interventions at domestic level. Due to the emerging nature of MAs there is at time of writing (July 2013) no standardised approach to the implementation of mitigation policy in developing countries. This paper considers whether the implementation of MA policy in developing countries would be subject to similar impediments as other (non-mitigation related) public policy interventions. It focuses on case studies drawn from the Mitigation Action Plans and Scenarios Programme (MAPS) projects in Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Peru. Based on previous desktop studies and interviews with MAPS researchers, several variables have been identified as having the potential to pose risks to the implementation of MAs. These include finance, technical capacity, vested interests, and social acceptance of the policies. This analysis proposes that MAs might more likely to be implemented if a range of possible impediments or risks to implementation are considered earlier in the planning and selection stages. In order to test this approach rigorously, more policies explicitly aimed at implementing MAs are needed, and more attempts at implementing MAs need to be made. This working paper forms a basis for further research that considers policy and implementation.
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Understanding the Interface Between LCDS, NAMAs, and Mitigation ActionsNAMAs, mitigation action and LCDS are terms which populate the mitigation literature. On interrogation, it would appear that these terms are very closely associated... more
Understanding the Interface Between LCDS, NAMAs, and Mitigation ActionsNAMAs, mitigation action and LCDS are terms which populate the mitigation literature. On interrogation, it would appear that these terms are very closely associated with the UNFCCC international policy process, with close to no consideration of their usage from a domestic developing country perspective. This is important, however, in order to understand the role these concepts play in deepening mitigation activity in developing countries. This brief serves to provide a better understanding of the interface between the concepts Low Carbon Development Strategies, NAMAs and Mitigation Actions through the review of existing literature and expert perspectives.
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This South African case study on mitigation actions forms one of a series of five case studies undertaken as part of the MAPS programme - the four other case studies are being undertaken in Peru, Chile, Brazil and Colombia. These five... more
This South African case study on mitigation actions forms one of a series of five case studies undertaken as part of the MAPS programme - the four other case studies are being undertaken in Peru, Chile, Brazil and Colombia. These five case studies will be used to prepare a comparative paper examining the different approaches towards identifying and implementing mitigation actions at a national level in these countries. The case studies are being prepared to for discussion at a MAPS workshop in order to further develop the understanding of how mitigation actions might best be implemented in the context of development.
The (peer-reviewed) Journal Article based on this work can be found here: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/17565529.2013.768175
The (peer-reviewed) Journal Article based on this work can be found here: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/17565529.2013.768175
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This paper will provide a brief analytical overview of the current political-economy of South Africa. It begins with an “In Brief” section: a snapshot of political institutions and social and economic indicators before addressing... more
This paper will provide a brief analytical overview of the current political-economy of South Africa. It begins with an “In Brief” section: a snapshot of political institutions and social and economic indicators before addressing macro-economic elements, socio-historical elements, and information for conducting day-to-day business in more depth. It concludes by addressing three overarching issues: South Africa’s response to Climate Change, the HIV/AIDS pandemic, and South Africa’s relations with China.
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Briefing paper on border carbon adjustments written for Harald Winkler at the Energy Research Centre, University of Cape Town.
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Report for International Atomic Energy Agency. From I.A.5 of the final report: "IAEA energy indicators were considered rather general in terms of technology resolution, [thus] it was decided to develop compatible “integrated indicators... more
Report for International Atomic Energy Agency.
From I.A.5 of the final report: "IAEA energy indicators were considered rather general in terms of technology resolution, [thus] it was decided to develop compatible “integrated indicators for nuclear power development” that describe “a country's conditions/readiness to adopt, restart or expand nuclear power programmes.“ (Activity 1.3.2.2/4 of IAEA’s P&B 2008-9). These indicators would support the energy planning process. The indicators might be qualitative or quantitative, primarily drawn from existing statistical data sets, and capture wider considerations and conditions that may or may not lead to a need/demand for nuclear energy, including: environmental issues, energy, finance and market regulation issues, technical, social, political and institutional nuclear power issues.
From I.A.5 of the final report: "IAEA energy indicators were considered rather general in terms of technology resolution, [thus] it was decided to develop compatible “integrated indicators for nuclear power development” that describe “a country's conditions/readiness to adopt, restart or expand nuclear power programmes.“ (Activity 1.3.2.2/4 of IAEA’s P&B 2008-9). These indicators would support the energy planning process. The indicators might be qualitative or quantitative, primarily drawn from existing statistical data sets, and capture wider considerations and conditions that may or may not lead to a need/demand for nuclear energy, including: environmental issues, energy, finance and market regulation issues, technical, social, political and institutional nuclear power issues.
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This is an intro presentation for people who work in the Development Aid field.
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Presentation focusing on emerging research on Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMAs) with specific reference to the proposed National Sustainable Settlements Facility (NSSF) in South Africa.
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A series of lectures on Global Environmental Governance as part of 2nd year undergraduate International Organisations course (POL2014) in Political Science department at University of Cape Town
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The climate change negotiations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change have been ongoing since the first conference of the parties in 1995. Twenty years on there has been little progress reducing greenhouse gas... more
The climate change negotiations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change have been ongoing since the first conference of the parties in 1995. Twenty years on there has been little progress reducing greenhouse gas emissions, the climate regime is in a state of flux and the role of developing countries therein is changing. During this period the majority of the work on climate change from within the International Relations discipline has been framed in a neoliberal institutionalist or neorealist frame. Studies in the climate policy canon have been predominantly similarly located, albeit implicitly. In its focus on India this dissertation provides a bridge between the climate policy literature and the theoretically framed climate change policy studies in the International Relations literature.
This dissertation employs the Critical International Relations theoretical framework of Robert Cox. His theory outlines a ‘framework for action’ that enables and constrains how states act, and how they conceive of their agency. This framework, or historical structure, is created by a particular configuration of the forces exerted by ideas, institutions, and material capabilities, which when aligned, create a hegemonic historical structure. In the climate negotiations, India has been a vocal proponent of the ideas of equity and common but differentiated responsibilities from the earliest days of the Convention. India’s changing material circumstances and geo-political status in the past decade raised the question of its role in the regime in relation to its long-supported ideas.
This is a qualitative case study using documentary evidence triangulated with interview data from a range of key Indian stakeholders. I found that in the transition from abstract principle to operational precept the intersubjective idea of addressing climate change did not transmute into an intersubjectively shared idea of differentiation. Furthermore, once the idea of differentiation was to be operationalised in the negotiations, its primacy, indeed its very “intersubjectiveness”, was contested by the idea of symmetry of obligations and responsibility. The ongoing regime flux is the outcome of this contestation between ideas held collectively by groups, as no stabilising hegemonic historical structure has been created. India’s emergence has been insufficient to reinstate differentiation as an intersubjectively held idea and it is thus unable to secure a hegemonic historical structure in favour of differentiation.
This dissertation employs the Critical International Relations theoretical framework of Robert Cox. His theory outlines a ‘framework for action’ that enables and constrains how states act, and how they conceive of their agency. This framework, or historical structure, is created by a particular configuration of the forces exerted by ideas, institutions, and material capabilities, which when aligned, create a hegemonic historical structure. In the climate negotiations, India has been a vocal proponent of the ideas of equity and common but differentiated responsibilities from the earliest days of the Convention. India’s changing material circumstances and geo-political status in the past decade raised the question of its role in the regime in relation to its long-supported ideas.
This is a qualitative case study using documentary evidence triangulated with interview data from a range of key Indian stakeholders. I found that in the transition from abstract principle to operational precept the intersubjective idea of addressing climate change did not transmute into an intersubjectively shared idea of differentiation. Furthermore, once the idea of differentiation was to be operationalised in the negotiations, its primacy, indeed its very “intersubjectiveness”, was contested by the idea of symmetry of obligations and responsibility. The ongoing regime flux is the outcome of this contestation between ideas held collectively by groups, as no stabilising hegemonic historical structure has been created. India’s emergence has been insufficient to reinstate differentiation as an intersubjectively held idea and it is thus unable to secure a hegemonic historical structure in favour of differentiation.
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This paper uses a comparative case-study methodology to analyse two marine-based, Article XX exceptions cases: one each brought before the dispute resolution mechanisms of the GATT and WTO respectively. This research is driven by a desire... more
This paper uses a comparative case-study methodology to analyse two marine-based, Article XX exceptions cases: one each brought before the dispute resolution mechanisms of the GATT and WTO respectively. This research is driven by a desire to gain some insight into what happens when the imperatives of liberalised trade confront the interests of environmental protection, and also, to examine the similarities and differences between GATT and the WTO in confronting these. Trade-restrictive measures (embargoes) imposed on a trading partner in the name of environmental protection – measures claiming the protection offered under the Article XX(b) and (g) exceptions of the GATT – form the essence of each dispute; but it is the purpose of the paper to ascertain whether the mechanism under which the dispute is heard (either GATT 1947 or WTO/GATT1994) had an impact on the eventual outcome.
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One key focus of current climate change mitigation discourse is the need to raise the level of ambition of collective emission reductions in order to protect the climate (UNEP, 2012). Any emission reductions outlined, however, remain... more
One key focus of current climate change mitigation
discourse is the need to raise the level of ambition of
collective emission reductions in order to protect the
climate (UNEP, 2012). Any emission reductions
outlined, however, remain hollow gestures unless
translated into actions implemented on the ground.
discourse is the need to raise the level of ambition of
collective emission reductions in order to protect the
climate (UNEP, 2012). Any emission reductions
outlined, however, remain hollow gestures unless
translated into actions implemented on the ground.