Senior decision makers’ perspectives on South Africa’s climate change response strategy
Date
2021
Authors
Taylor, Andrew
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Abstract
This research seeks to analyse the perspectives of senior decision makers of South Africa’s climate change response strategy, using Q Methodology as the principal research methodology. The research reveals 4 statistically significant perspectives and seeks to distil traits which exemplify these perspectives. These perspectives have been located within the current international commitments and domestic climate change response strategy of the Republic of South Africa. This research argues that the interdependence of the actors who are responsible for driving the climate change response strategy require a coordinated and structured approach to achieve meaningful change. This approach must be based on multi-sectoral cooperation, led by a nationally coordinated drive to implement decarbonisation strategies compatible with the undertakings made in terms of the Paris Climate Agreement. These strategies must be underpinned by a coherent response which sufficiently balances the trade-offs implicit in balancing a complex system such as climate change, more specifically, when set against the unique background of South Africa’s demographics, structural and economic inequality and natural environment
Description
A research report submitted to the Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, University of the Witwatersrand, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Management (in Energy Leadership), 2021
Keywords
Carbon Tax Act, Climate Change, Climate Change Bill, National Climate Change Response White Paper, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change