TIPS in partnership with the South African Research Chair in Industrial Development, based at the University of Johannesburg, and in association with the Green Economy Coalition (GEC), hosting the 2017 Annual Forum from 13 to14 June, 2017. Supported by the European Union and the Department of Trade and Industry.
The theme of the Forum was Industrialisation and Sustainable Growth.
Download a copy of the summary report of the Forum: TIPS Forum 2017 Industrialisation and Sustainable Growth - Summary Report.
Call for papers
Those wishing to contribute papers are invited to submit their title and abstracts of up to 500 words to Baba-Tamana Gqubule at TIPS via email to: dialogue@tips.org.za.
To be considered, abstracts should be submitted by 3 February 2017.
For more information on how make a submission and information about the focus of the topics read TIPS Annual Forum 2017 Call For Papers.
Aim of conference
The conference aims to deepen the understanding of the opportunities and challenges of moving to a sustainable, notably low-carbon, industrial development path.
Context for conference
In South Africa, the need to respond to sustainability challenges and seek opportunities in the transition to sustainable economic development can be traced back to the 1996 Constitution and the 1998 National Environmental Management Act (NEMA). Sustainability issues, primarily climate change, have since been progressively integrated into policy. The 2011 National Strategy for Sustainable Development (NSSD), the 2011 National Climate Change Response White Paper, Chapter 5 within the National Development Plan (NDP) and the Industrial Policy Action Plan (IPAP) outline the need to restructure the economy to promote industrialisation and move towards a low-carbon and pro-employment development path.
Developing strategic and coherent sustainable growth strategies that consider the linkages between sustainability, notably climate change, and industrialisation requires significant further research and analysis. Moving towards a sustainable economy requires reflecting on the country’s path dependency in terms of economic structure and energy mix, and the existence of high-carbon emitting and energy-intensive industry.
Tackling sustainability challenges in South Africa requires, among other things, increased use of alternative energy sources, improved resource efficiencies, new technologies to reduce carbon emissions and environmental damage, and new socio-economic thinking. A sustainable future depends on financing these measures (including incentives), procurement procedures, localising technologies, and carbon offset processes. Taxes and penalties imposed on industry and users are also crucial considerations.
Understanding the challenges, trade-offs and pathways associated with implementing industrial policies aligned to sustainable development goals is needed. Furthermore, sustainability policies need to consider their interaction with socio-economic challenges to ensure that the impact of climate change and other environmental issues does not perpetuate and exacerbate inequitable outcomes. Furthermore, local industries, primarily the agriculture sector and the associated agro-processing industry, stand to be severely affected by climate change, with ripple effects on food security, jobs and industrial capacity.
The 2017 Forum will also explore reconciling environmental and socio-economic imperatives within the Southern African context.