Year: 2013
Type: dissertation
Abstract: Rapid, human-forced climate change as a result of greenhouse gases is threatening the fabric of \nhuman civilisation itself. It is clear that we need to alter our development and poorer countries \nwill need to develop while limiting their emissions, but it is not clear what sustainable \ndevelopment would entail. Climate change policy solutions have pivoted on carbon trading, \nunder the auspices of the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), but this too has failed to limit \ngrowth in carbon emissions. This report looks at the operations of the CDM in South Africa as a \nsource of climate finance meant to facilitate sustainable development. Though South Africa has \nemphasised its commitment towards a low-carbon transition, in practice its national planners \nseek to preserve energy-intensive mineral and industrial sectors. This research draws on both \nprimary and secondary documents as well as interviews with carbon professionals to conclude \nthat CDM projects have played a limited role in South Africa, but has tended to reproduce the \nexisting minerals and energy complex within the country.
Author: Jocelyn Newmarch
Language: English
Subfield: Economics and Econometrics
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2255105588