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Trade and Industry

Tuesday, 01 November 2022

A South African perspective on climate change: From a just energy transition to climate resilient development

  • Year: 2022
  • Organisation: TIPS
  • Author(s): Faizel Ismail (Professor and Director of the Nelson Mandela School of Public Governance, University of Cape Town and a TIPS Research Fellow)
  • Countries and Regions: South Africa

This paper argues that South Africa needs to mainstream climate change into its National Development Plan (and Sustainable Development Goals), by advancing i) climate resilient development  through several pathways, including; ii) South Africa’s Nationally Determined Contribution commitment to a low-carbon economy; iii) renewable energy and transition to a low-carbon economy; iv) climate change adaptation and resilience; and v) financing a  just transition to renewable energy. The paper also discusses the impact of the European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism on South Africa’s competitiveness and climate resilient developmet and looks at the impact of climate change in Africa. It concludes with some policy recommendations on what can South Africa, BRICS and other developing countries can do to support their strategies towards climate resilient development in a way that is socially just and fair.