Official project name: Sharing technology in a low-carbon knowledge economy

Client: South African Institute of International Affairs

Funder: South African Institute of International Affairs

Duration: 2012-2013

Summary

In 2012, TIPS’s Sustainable Growth pillar worked for the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) on a research paper on intellectual property in climate negotiations, including a case study focused on concentrated solar power (CSP).

The paper shows that the technological revolution required by climate action can be achieved by existing technology, but would benefit immensely from continued innovation to lower costs. The sheer scale of investment required necessitates the wholesale participation of the private sector, motivated to innovate by intellectual property rights (IPR). The paper shows that IPR is an essential institutional tool for disseminating technology and that its benefits are greater than its costs – costs which can be further contained through competition policy.

Of the issues that plague developing nations' ability to access technology, absorptive capacity and the ability to demonstrate first-of-its-kind technologies at scale – rather than IPR costs – are prominent and can be addressed through finance solutions, possibly under a global climate regime.

The research, which was presented at an International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) / International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD) side-event at COP17 climate negotiations in Durban, South Africa, contributed to informing the official position of the South African government.

Official project name: Tracking Climate Finance Inflows to South Africa

Client: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)

Funder: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)

Duration: 15 January 2013 - 21 March 2013

Summary

TIPS was commissioned in 2013 by the OECD to carry out a case study focused on the state of the tracking of public and private climate-related inflows to South Africa.

The study investigates South Africa’s strategy on climate finance (tracking). It then describes South Africa’s project-based approach for tracking and explores what data on public (domestic and foreign) and private climate finance inflows are available in South Africa and how information is collected. Finally, the paper highlights the challenges of tracking climate finance in South Africa and formulates recommendations.

The research findings were presented at the OECD/IEA Climate Change Expert Group (CCXG) Global Forum in Paris, France in March 2013. 

Tracking Private Climate Finance – Research Collaborative

The Research Collaborative is an open network, co-ordinated and hosted by the OECD Secretariat, of interested governments, relevant research institutions and international finance institutions.

The goal is to partner and share best available data, expertise and information to advance policy-relevant research in a comprehensive and timely manner. The project is designed to serve as a co-ordinating platform for identifying research priorities and gaps, sharing information, weaving a coherent narrative across what would otherwise be disparate research outputs, as well as communicating results to raise awareness in this area.

TIPS is one of the participating institutions.

The others are: Bloomberg New Energy Finance, Climate Policy Initiative, Gaia, Overseas Development Institute, OECD, United Nations Environment Programme, World Resources Institute and Zambia Institute of Environmental Management.

Project website: www.oecd.org/env/researchcollaborative

A summary leaflet of the programme available here: Tracking Private Climate Finance – Research Collaborative

Official project name: Co-ordination and facilitation of the Economic Regulators Conference

Client: National Energy Regulator of South Africa

Funder: National Energy Regulator of South Africa

Duration: August 2011 - August 2012

Summary

TIPS was appointed in 2011/2012 to facilitate and co-ordinate the organisation of the first South African Economic Regulators Conference (SAERC) which took place on 21-22 August 2012 on behalf of the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA).

In addition to all logistical requirements, TIPS managed the call for papers and was responsible for the selection and quality control of the conference papers. The conference explored the following question: How can South Africa’s economic regulators contribute to cost-effective delivery of essential infrastructure in the face of key financial, social and environmental imperatives?

The conference, which focused on the regulation of economic infrastructure in the context of high administered price inflation, growing private sector participation and increased threat of climate change, was attended by 200 participants from the region over two days with more than 30 research papers being presented.

To access the programme and papers go to www.nersa.org.za/SAERC

Official project name: greenindustries.org.za - An Online Forum for Green Industry Consumers, Suppliers and Policymakers

Client: Department of Environmental Affairs

Funder: British High Commission – Prosperity Fund

Duration: 1/06/2011 – 31/03/2012

Summary

The Sustainable Growth pillar developed a website (http://www.greenindustries.org.za) for the Department of Environmental Affairs to connect green industry actors to each other as well as gathering relevant reference information on the sector.

The website provides a platform for information exchange and debate on green industries in South Africa. The website, which was sponsored by the British High Commission until the end of 2012, also serves as a directory of green projects, and providers of green goods and services in the country.

Official project name: Facilitation of a Sectoral Workshop and Preparation of a Briefing Paper. Rio+20 Project / Research and Technical Cooperation Services Unit for the Trade Development and Cooperation Agreement Facility

Client: WWF and Department of Environmental Affairs

Funder: Trade Development and Cooperation Agreement (European Union)

Duration: 22 March 2012 – 10 April 2012

Summary

In 2012, the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) engaged with civil society stakeholders to inform its response to the Rio+20 Zero Draft Outcome Document, The Future We Want. The DEA supported the organisation of four sectoral workshops with relevant stakeholders from the environmental movement, labour, business and the social sector.

TIPS facilitated the business cluster workshop in Johannesburg, South Africa in April 2012 aimed at informing relevant stakeholders and capturing sectoral views relating to Rio+20. TIPS’s Sustainable Growth pillar developed a briefing paper, titled “How Can a Green Economy Transition Make Doing Business in South Africa Easier and More Competitive?” to inform and guide the DEA and other business stakeholders on issues related to Rio+20, including recommendations to be included in the DEA submission to Cabinet. TIPS was also responsible for rapporteuring and synthesising the outcome of the consultation, which constituted the input of business in the process.

Official project name: Beyond GDP

Client: British High Commission and South African government (Department of Environmental Affairs, National Planning Commission, Department of Performance Monitoring and Evaluation, Economic Development Department)

Funder: British High Comission – Prosperity Fund

Duration: 1 February 2012 – 31 March 2012

Summary

In 2012, TIPS initiated research on Beyond GDP indicators of sustainability in South Africa with the financial support of the British High Commission. The project analysed whether gross domestic product (GDP) or alternative measures of welfare, specifically Real Wealth or Adjusted Net Savings (ANS), provide a better indicator of sustainable development, by evaluating the correlation of these measures with indicators representative of the South African government’s 12 Outcomes approach to performance management. The project provided a first-ever objective measure of government’s delivery on sustainable development, as well as providing a means for evidence-based policymaking towards a long-term sustainable economy, society and environment.

A Policy Brief was published in February 2012 to make the policy case for a tailor-made indicator of sustainable development for South Africa. A closed session of relevant governmental departments (such as the Department of Environmental Affairs, the National Planning Commission, the Department of Performance, Monitoring and Evaluation and the National Treasury) was organised at TIPS to present and disseminate the findings of the research.

Official project name: Alternative Energy Generation for South Africa

Client: Employment Promotion Programme Phase Two (EPP P2), Development Policy Research Unit (DPRU) at the University of Cape Town 

Funder: Employment Promotion Programme Phase Two (EPP P2), Development Policy Research Unit (DPRU) at the University of Cape Town 

Duration: 26.04.2010 - 26.07.2010

Summary

TIPS, in collaboration with PDG Consulting, carried out a research project in 2010 on alternative energy generation for the Development Policy Research Unit (DPRU) at the University of Cape Town. The project, which formed part of the Employment Promotion Programme Phase Two (EPP P2), included three components.

First, TIPS and PDG produced three input reports covering the following topics: alternative energy sources for South Africa and action plans to address barriers to implementation; alternative electricity generation strategies in developing countries; and policy for alternative energy generation in South Africa.

Second, a workshop aimed at assessing low-carbon electricity generation options for South Africa was hosted in June 2010 to discuss the research findings with relevant government, business and civil society stakeholders.

Third, a research and capacity building agenda for alternative energy generation in South Africa was developed based on the input papers and workshop discussions.

Photo: CommunityLED

Abstract: 

The International Energy Agency stated in its World Energy Outlook 2012 that global conventional crude oil production peaked in 2008. Total world oil exports have been stagnant since 2005 as oil exporting countries consume more of their own output and some battle against depletion. Unconventional oil production is growing, but the economic and environmental costs are large and the net energy return is very low. The Middle East North Africa region, home to the largest share of remaining oil reserves, is in political turmoil, threatening disruptions to oil supplies.  

Within this context, oil importing countries such as South Africa need to prepare for oil price and supply shocks. This Development Dialogue will interrogate research being undertaken for the UK Department for International Development on "oil shock mitigation strategies for developing countries", with SA as a case study. The focus includes preparations for both short-term oil shocks (precipitated for example by geopolitical or extreme weather events) and long- term strategies to ensure energy and specifically liquid fuel supply security in a context of global oil depletion, declining world oil exports, falling energy return on investment, and increasing oil price volatility. This Dialogue is of relevance to not only to the energy sector, but also to transport, macro-economics, trade and industry, and agriculture.

About the speakers

Jeremy Wakeford: Dr Jeremy Wakeford is an economist specialising in energy and sustainability. He is a Senior Lecturer Extra- Ordinary in the School of Public Leadership at Stellenbosch University and consults to government departments, private sector clients and NGOs. He is currently leading a research project developing 'oil shock mitigation strategies for developing countries', commissioned by the UK's Department for International Development. 

Bongani Motsa: Mr Bongani Motsa is a macro-economist specialist at the Department of Energy. He is part of the team that is developing the Integrated Energy Plan (IEP) for South Africa. Prior to joining the Department, he worked on African economic integration for Trade and Industrial Policy Strategies (TIPS). He holds a Master's degree in economics (majoring in econometrics) from the University of Pretoria.