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This study investigates the impact, recovery and resilience of COVID-19 on South Africa's Limpopo Province's tourism industry. The study utilises surveys (n = 115) and interviews (n = 50) to examine the impact, recovery, resilience, success and challenges of various tourism-related businesses, including national parks, restaurants, and hotels. Despite minimal government support and significant challenges like erratic utilities, high inflation, and a global economic downturn, the sector showed resilience, with few business failures. While some businesses in the accommodation sector diversified into areas like student accommodation, some survived by cutting the number of staff, tapping into savings, borrowing and adopting various cost containment measures to survive the pandemic. Post the pandemic, the sector faces issues like decreased demand due to technological changes in meetings and conferences and employee mental health concerns. The study underscores the need for strategic management and specific policy interventions to ensure the sector's resilience and survival post-pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The implications of climate change are dire for household food security and poverty reduction in rural northern Ghana, where agriculture is mainly rain-fed. This paper explores how smallholder farmers interface indigenous and scientific practices for crop farming in northern Ghana. This is necessary because much attention of research has mostly focused on how farmers adapt to climate change through indigenous knowledge with little focus on how they interface scientific and indigenous knowledge and practices for crop farming. The study adopted mixed method research approach, drawing on both quantitative and qualitative data. A household survey was conducted with 305 household heads using a questionnaire to generate quantitative data. Qualitative data were also generated through in-depth interviews with 29 participants, 18 focus group discussions and field observations. The results showed that smallholder farmers were interfacing farm topographies and distances for sustainable farming; combining use of indigenous and scientific sources of weather and agricultural information and combining use of indigenous and improved crop varieties to diversify crop cultivation. The paper concludes that there is good interface of indigenous and scientific practices in crop farming in northern Ghana. It advocates for participatory approach to effectively interface indigenous and science-based practices to achieve climate-resilient agriculture and food security in Ghana. The paper contributes to the understanding of interfacing indigenous and scientific practices and the need to strengthen efforts at integrating local modern practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emerging economies of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) have significant influence on the global economic and environmental trajectories. They have carbon intensive economic systems, which contribute significantly to total global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, leading to climate change. However, BRICS have joined the race to net-zero emissions by 2050 in the quest for a climate neutral and sustainable global economy. The journey, however, is not without challenges and opportunities. The proliferation of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) had mixed reactions from scientists regarding its implications on net-zero trajectories. While statistical data show a correlation between COVID-19 and a decrease in total emissions, it is envisaged that COVID-19 compromised the efforts to develop carbon neutral economies. Hence, there is still need for more scientific examination of COVID-19's impact on net-zero ambitions, especially in the emerging economies. This study focuses on India and South Africa's trajectories. Statistical analysis of secondary data from authentic interactive web-based dashboards for COVID-19 data repositories, namely Our World in Data and Climate Action Tracker was performed in conjunction with the document analysis approach following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) methodology. Some of the COVID-19 challenges as indicated by the results of the study include curtailing the technology transfer staircase in the energy sector, retaliatory emissions for recovery and resource diversion. The opportunities presented by COVID-19 in the quest for carbon neutrality include behavioural changes in investment, production and consumption patterns with a focus on low carbon options. Governments and stakeholders need to focus on addressing the barriers whilst riding on the opportunities presented by the pandemic to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cruise ship industry was one of the fastest growing subsectors of the tourism industry before the advent of COVID-19. This paper examines the prospects and recovery of the cruise ship industry from the devastating impacts of COVID-19 on the industry. The study relied mostly on event study and secondary data, including survey data from authoritative sources, data from representative organisations, news reports and academic literature. The results show that the industry exhibited high levels of customer loyalty and resilience to the COVID-19-induced downturn. The industry also adopted additional protocols to improve public health on board and protect the health and safety of customers, crews and visited communities. However, continued travel restrictions at both source and destination markets, as well as the continued resurgence of the virus and related uncertainties, threaten the recovery of the industry. Mandatory vaccination of both crew and passengers needs to be considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The year 2020 will be synonymous with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) for many global citizens. Millions have died from and tens of millions more have been infected globally by the COVID-19 pandemic. This has led to an urgent search for COVID-19 vaccines and treatments by the scientific and political communities and civil society. Through elements of events study and document and critical discourse analysis, this paper investigates the COVID-19 vaccines' regulatory emergency use authorisation and/or conditional marketing authorisation (regulatory authorisation) regimes and the contestations thereof. The key finding is that there was a regulatory authorisation rush, with at least 62, mostly high-income countries, doing so in 40 days from 2 December 2020–10 January 2021. This has led to one senior USA official describing the United Kingdom pioneer regulatory authorisation of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine as 'too quick'. Regulatory authorisation regimes took place amid severe civil society contestations and appropriate political pressure. The paper recommends that as the COVID-19 vaccines' regulatory authorisation continue in 2021, national vaccines and treatments regulatory bodies must be informed by science, with governments, civil society, politicians and other key stakeholders taking responsibility to educate the masses and continue taking the necessary precautions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 17th Sustainable Development Goal seeks to promote partnerships at various levels. To this end, COVID-19 vaccines development partnerships in the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) are inevitable in facilitating ethical access to affordable and safe vaccines the world over. With South Africa being part of the BRICS, its presence can assist in leveraging the partnership to ensure that COVID-19 vaccines developed by the BRICS are efficiently deployed in Africa. Through the tracking of announcements, documents and critical discourse analysis, and Geographical Information Systems, this paper investigates COVID-19 vaccines development collaboration in the BRICS and its implication for Africa. It emerges that there is an inherent discord in the BRICS, with bilateral arrangements both within and outside the forum being evident. This has resulted in advance breakthrough COVID-19 vaccines from China and Russia not widely tried across the BRICS. The paper notes that these developments weaken the global south and affect its potential to develop COVID 19 vaccines. The work recommends a reconsideration in terms of COVID-19 vaccines development and future proofing of collaboration within the BRICS and finding a way of having South Africa continue to lobby for affordable and accessible vaccines for Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates sources of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Victoria Falls town and the treatment of sustainability issues thereof. Making use of a survey, interviews and field observations for data generation, the results show that Victoria Falls town hosts a wide range of GHG emitting and ecologically sensitive hospitality infrastructure, including hotels and tour operators. The primary sources of GHG emissions come from the hospitality subsector, followed by the use of road transport, which is dominated by old Japanese vehicles. The study recommends a raft of measures to curb carbon emissions, including the use of renewable energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The domestication of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has been progressing in various countries across the world. Five years into the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development that embraces 17 inseparable SDGs, this study documents how South Africa has been domesticating the SDGs. The study uses a mixed-method approach that includes a survey and interviews as well as critical discourse and document analysis. It emerges that South Africa has taken reasonable steps to domesticate and implement the SDGs with the hope of meeting many of the targets in 2030. The study demonstrates that there are SDG-aligned initiatives based on the National Development Plan (NDP) Vision 2030, some of which were in existence prior to the 2030 Agenda. The intersection between the NDP Vision 2030 and the SDGs saw South Africa continuing with many existing initiatives while seeking to enhance alignment of those initiatives with the 2030 Agenda. At the same time, the study also reveals that South Africa has put in place institutional mechanisms to implement the SDGs, although these have taken longer than planned to be finalised. Even now, there remains uncertainty regarding separate funding for the SDGs, as currently funding is provided mainly through the NDP Vision 2030 government programming. This article recommends continued alignment and further domestication of the SDGs, especially at the provincial and local government levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (AfSD) has the vision to leave no one behind, particularly low-income countries. Yet COVID-19 seems to have brought up new rules and approaches. Through document and critical discourse analysis, it emerges that there has been a surge in COVID-19 vaccines and treatments nationalism. Global solidarity is threatened, with the USA, United Kingdom, European Union and Japan having secured 1.3 billion doses of potential vaccines as of August 2020. Vaccines ran out even before their approval with three candidates from Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and AstraZeneca having shown good Phase III results in November 2020. Rich countries have gone years ahead in advance vaccines and treatments purchases. This is a testimony that the 2030 AfSD, especially SDG 3 focusing on health will be difficult to achieve. Low-income countries are left gasping for survival as the COVID-19 pandemic relegates them further into extreme poverty and deeper inequality. The paper recommends the continued mobilisation by the World Health Organisation and other key stakeholders in supporting the GAVI vaccine alliance and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (COVAX) global vaccines initiative that seeks to make two billion vaccine doses available to 92 low and middle-income countries by December 2021. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At the epicentre of Industry 4.0 is Information Communication and Technology (ICT) and across the 17 Sustainable Development (SDGs) are indicators focusing on ICT. In addition, SDG 9 focuses on promoting sustainable industrialisation and fostering innovation. This paper samples 212 countries and regions, drawing up a 2015 baseline composite index using three out of six ICT-related SDGs indicators with data. The data come from the World Development Indicators database and the min–max method of computing the composite index was applied. The findings show that the top 10 countries scored between 71.27 and 78.26 points out of the weighted total of 100, while the bottom 10 countries (all African) registered between 0.02 and 5.80 points. As for the regions, the European Union came top at 60.20 points and sub-Saharan Africa was last at 13.04 points. The African country ranked first (Seychelles) scored 43.83 points and ranked 80th overall. Broadly, there is significant work required to prepare all countries for Industry 4.0 through ICT and to work towards attaining ICT-related SDGs targets by 2030. We recommend that right platforms be set up to promote ICT scale-up and lessen the convergence period between frontrunner countries and those lagging behind. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tourist perceptions are critical in shaping tourism development at a destination. Regardless of the centrality and vulnerability of the tourism industry, tourism geographers have been shying away from perception studies, and more so in Africa. Some of the destinations most vulnerable to climate change and related weather activities are water-based natural resorts. Recent droughts have ignited an intense debate that has brought the future viability of tourism in Victoria Falls into question. Using a mixed-method approach, the study sought to document tourist perceptions and attitudes regarding the impact and future of the Victoria Falls World Heritage Site. It emerged that Victoria Falls is categorised as a last-chance tourism destination. Going forward there is need for continuous resort monitoring, tourism product diversification, and transparency and proper communication, particularly during years of extreme droughts, in order to avoid tourism disruption. Climate change action is a must for all tourism stakeholders to save the resort. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change remains one of the biggest challenges facing the world today and is characterised by extreme weather events such as heatwaves, extreme droughts and floods. Regardless of the threat posed by climate change to the tourism business, there are still gaps in tourism business perceptions and knowledge of climate change. This research investigated tourism business operators' perceptions, knowledge and attitude towards climate change at Victoria Falls. In this study that took a multidisciplinary approach, primary data were gathered using an online QuestionPro survey instrument and interviews. The survey was administered door-to-door to the identified 122 potential tourism business operators and other key stakeholders. A sample of 77 completed surveys (a 63% response rate) was realised. The study found that there was a general understanding of the causes and impacts of climate change on the tourism business operators, even though the tourism industry was not taking full responsibility for its role in causing climate change. The respondents also cited challenges and barriers in dealing with climate change, including the lack of knowledge and finance, ignorance and a lack of technical capacity. Climate change was deemed to have caused disruption in tourism activities at Victoria Falls because of reduced water flow levels at the waterfall and the destruction of tourism infrastructure during extreme weather events. The research recommended improvement in climate change knowledge, climate financing and build capacity to help the tourism industry meet both the Sustainable Development Goals and commitments to the Paris Agreement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Water–Sanitation–Hygiene (WASH) remains vital for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, yet many countries have not localised the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 6, which focuses on ensuring the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all. Even in leading African economies such as South Africa, many communities still use the bucket system for sanitation. Using a Composite Index drawn from three indicators whose data were available for 53 of the 54 African countries, it emerged that these states are at various stages of fulfilling the targets set out in SDG 6. The fact that some countries showed declining trends in WASH between 2000 and 2015, is an indication that it will be difficult for Africa to reach the 2030 targets. We recommend that Africa aggressively mobilise resources if it is to attain universal WASH services by 2030, along with other SDG 6-related targets. Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image Highlights • Water and sanitation remain vital for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. • Year 2030 is too close for Africa to achieve SDG 6 targets. • Some countries show declining trends in WASH services between 2000 and 2015. • Africa should aggressively mobilise resources to attain universal WASH services by 2030. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The changing climate is expected to affect the demand for and availability of water resources. The African continent is known to be water scarce with highly temporal and spatially variable rainfall. This paper explores climate-induced challenges faced in the water sector and recommends sustainable adaptation options emerging from 21 African countries. This paper combines a literature review and grounded theory approaches with data obtained from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) second and third National Communication reports. Among key adaptation measures that are emerging are sustainable management of water resources, water conservation and putting in place appropriate policies. The study concludes that there should be a shift towards a more balanced and integrated approach on water management through the implementation of adaptation measures. The findings highlight the need for policy approaches that use adaptive management approaches in water resources management including scaling up rainwater harvesting; water efficiency across all sectors of the economy, especially agriculture; desalination and groundwater recharging. Such should be the new approaches for the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Talanoa Dialogue on the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change focuses on taking stock of progress towards the long-term goal of the 2015 Paris Agreement, including refining (intended) nationally determined contributions [(I)NDCs]. The Talanoa Dialogue focuses on three questions, namely: Where are we? Where do we want to go? And, how do we get there? Given the resentment regarding the manner in which some (I)NDCs have been crafted and continued allegations on mitigation bias, this paper audits selected African (I)NDCs to determine the extent to which agriculture and adaptation issues are addressed. It emerged that while some address agriculture and adaptation, others do not. Agriculture and climate adaptation must continue to be placed at the centre of the (I)NDCs. Likewise, if Africa is to fulfil Agenda 2063’s commitment to prioritise climate adaptation, effort must be redoubled to enact a COP26 Decision on Agriculture addressing adaptation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil erosion has become a common feature in certain national parks across the global biomes, and national parks in the Savanna biome of South Africa have not been spared. Given their prominence in hosting large land mammals that contribute significantly to the tourism sector, the vulnerability of the parks to soil erosion merits attention. This study examines soil erosion status in the Savanna biome national parks of South Africa to recommend management practices aligned with the degree of erosion susceptibility. The results show that erosion rates across the national parks range between 0 and 25 t/ha/yr, and only a few have soil loss rates above 25 t/ha/yr. The Kgalagadi National Park has the lowest erosion rates, with a water erosion severity index (ESI) of 0. The Kruger and Mokala National Parks have low erosion rates, with an ESI of 0.017 and 0.01, respectively. The Mapungubwe National Park has moderate rates of soil loss, with an ESI of 0.023, while Marakele has the highest rates of soil erosion, with an ESI of 0.39. Soil erosion by water action is generally a minor environmental threat for the Kgalagadi, Kruger and Mokala National Parks. However, for Mapungubwe, soil erosion has a moderate threat, while in Marakele, it imposes a very high threat level. The different rates of soil erosion are attributed to the heterogeneous biophysical conditions of the Savanna biome, as well as different historical land use patterns across the parks. Climate change could be exacerbating the susceptibility of national parks to soil erosion. Park-specific management strategies that consider historical land use patterns and biophysical conditions within a climate change context are recommended. • Soil erosion in Savanna South African national parks range between 0 and 25 t ha−1 yr−1. • Erosion severity is lowest in Kgalagadi National Park (ESI = 0). • Erosion severity is highest in Marakele National Park (ESI = 0.39). • The Kruger, Mokala and Mapungubwe have low to moderate erosion rates. • The heterogeneous biophysical conditions and historical land use influence erosion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

South Africa is promoting renewable energy such as wind power to address the objectives of both energy security and sustainable development. This paper reviews the nature of policies, institutional set-up and programmes in place to upscale especially onshore wind energy uptake, as reflected in publicly available documents. It shows that South Africa has put in place critical policies, institutions and programmes for wind energy uptake. Among key policy documents and policies are the White Paper on Energy (1998), Renewable Energy White Paper (2003), Energy Act of 2008, and National Climate Change Response White Paper (2011). There is also the Integrated Energy Plan, the Integrated Resource Plan (2010, revised 2013) and Environmental Impact Assessment Guidelines for Renewable Energy Projects of 2015. Key institutions noted include the South African National Energy Development Institute, the South African Renewable Energy Council and the South African Wind Energy Association. The main programme is the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producers Procurement Programme, which resulted in more than 30 installed wind energy projects. Overall, wind energy promises to be among the viable and acceptable technologies in the renewable energy sector in South Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This article presents a pilot and baseline African Green Growth Index (AGGI). The work is premised on the importance of Africa implementing green growth strategies. Baseline indicators allow countries to monitor progress towards green growth transition. The AGGI incorporates 48 indicators applied to 22 countries that had the requisite data. What emerges is that 18 out of the 22 African countries sampled scored 50 percentage points and above. The countries scoring below this threshold were: Egypt, Algeria, Nigeria and South Africa. The top five countries on the AGGI (as ranked from 1−5) were: Namibia, Zambia, Ghana, Tanzania and Togo. The authors recommend that for wider acceptance across the continent, the AGGI should work towards incorporating all 54 nations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study investigated the vulnerability of Swaziland’s sugarcane small scale farmer associations (SSFAs) to climate change through the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework. From a survey of 45 SSFAs, representing +2700 farmers, drought emerged as the most significant stress. Droughts result in failed cane germination, increased pests and increased diseases. Farmers indicated that there had no land title deeds and were concerned about the poor state of infield and feeder roads damaged during heavy rainfall and floods. It emerged that the bulk of the SSFAs irrigate during the day, a scenario that leaves them vulnerable to high temperatures leading to high evapotranspiration. In addition, 97% of the SSFAs sampled did not have drought preparedness plans and likewise, all did not have a flood management plan. About 76% of SSFAs operation costs goes to crop upkeep and harvesting, with labour cost increases attributed to extreme weather events. All sampled SSFAs had no insurance against loss from extreme weather events. Given the foregone, the paper recommends that the government fast tracks the 1999 Draft Land Policy intended to address the issue of title deeds. The paper further suggest that extension officers and farmers be trained to sharpen skills on understanding climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate policy documents are more interesting for what they leave out than what they contain. Using the COP21 negotiating texts, this article analyses the Paris Agreement to determine the good, the bad and the ugly of this ‘landmark’ document regarding loss and damage (L&D), adaptation and finance. The article establishes that among the good is that we have a universal deal in place that speaks to L&D and adaptation. the bad remains that developing and weaker nations are still vulnerable, in negotiations and to climate change. Among the ugly is the emerging unholy alliance between the referees (national governments) and key players (business and industry) that resulted in a quasi-legally binding deal. Furthermore, we continue to have endless financial promises. Since Gleneagles in 2005, when $50 billion in aid was promised by the G8, $100 billion per annum was promised from Copenhagen’s COP15 in 2009, to the scale-up promises of $100 billion annually from 2015 – developing countries are still waiting for these promises to be met. Drawing from Africa’s adaptation funding needs of $15 billion annually, as estimated by the United Nations environment Programme to 2020, and the $50+ billion annually thereafter to 2050, the article concludes that the global adaptation funding gap remains huge. We therefore recommend that domestic mobilisation of financial and other resources remain a viable option. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This study investigates the perceptions of sugarcane farmers on climate change impacts and their potential alternative livelihoods in the Lowveld of Swaziland with the objective of informing research and policy initiatives. The study obtained data mainly from a survey involving supervisor respondents who had 10 years or more practical farming experience in the study area. In addition, historical climate data on rainfall and temperature patterns were generated to triangulate responses on perceptions. Farmer respondents and the historical data confirmed the perceptions on increased drought and flood incidences, severe temperature fluctuations, decreased water availability, increased pests and diseases that have been observed from as far back as 1975. As for alternative livelihoods in the event that sugarcane farming significantly fails, the farmers indicated that they would and were already engaged in diversification systems that include: livestock farming, and growing food and other cash crops. The study concludes that farmers’ perceptions are indeed aligned to emerging global trends on climate change impacts on the agricultural sector in general and the sugarcane industry in particular. Drawing from historical data on rainfall and temperature, we recommend that the government puts in place necessary adaptation measures to minimize foreseeable negative impacts on farmers, especially those engaged in medium- to small-scale operations. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This article analyses the 2015 Paris Agreement of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, with a focus on mitigation. The history of climate negotiations and the mitigation agenda shows the divide between developed and developing countries, with the latter insisting that the former, having caused the problem, need to do more to reduce carbon emissions to address climate change. However, as some emerging economies had continued to emit more carbon, there were calls to treat these as developed countries, requiring increased mitigation measures. The article examines the record of these emerging economies, and establishes that there was some convergence in Paris, a positive element that resulted in a single global climate treaty. However, the Paris negotiations also witnessed contestations, with the final agreement insufficient to keep global warming within advised limits, and in any case only partly legally binding, leaving its implementation success to good will. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Biodiesel is produced from a range of feedstock including oil seeds (canola/rape and soya beans), as well as used cooking oil. This is done by converting the oil to methyl esters in a transesterification process that yields glycerine as one of the by-products. Biodiesel production is largely dependent on the policy and the institutional framework put in place by host economies. This paper examines the institutional and regulatory frameworks established in leading biodiesel producing countries and compares them to the situation in South Africa. It also analyses the interactions of biodiesel industry players at government and producer levels to ascertain the degree of economic viability of proposed and current projects against legislation. There are two broad findings that the paper brings to the fore. Firstly, policy regime and regulatory frameworks have been essential ingredients in the promulgation of biodiesel in the energy mix. Biodiesel policies have been driven by market expansion and technological change. Secondly, functional institutions are key enablers in the production and distribution of biodiesel. A key lesson for South Africa is that it has to make a clear choice on which form of renewable energy to use, as uptake of the technology is mainly driven by subsidies and incentives which require huge capital injections. If South Africa embraces the subsidy route it needs to come up with a policy that can survive the post-subsidy era. More importantly, South Africa needs to find a way that will make the costs of biodiesel competitive when compared to fossil fuels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From sustainable development (SD) through green growth to sustainable development plus (SD+)! Does the ‘+’ really matter? This is the question that brings life to this article and the answer is: YES, it does. The ‘+’ makes a huge difference especially for developing countries such as those from Africa that for a long time have not been fully brought on board in shaping global discourses and the preferred future global development agenda. This article argues that the time has come for globally privileged countries of the North to realise that operationalising ‘The Future We Want’ after Rio+20 demands that developing countries be accorded unpolluted space to contribute to providing answers to difficult and elusive questions on the unsustainable ways of the past development paradigms. Among such questions are: When will the issue of resource intensive development and overconsumption be finally answered? Can green growth transition be part of the solution? How will a post 2015 framework best address the needs of developing countries? The conclusion is that SD+ signals a deeper, wider and knowledge-based understanding of global (un) sustainable perspectives that result in global citizens understandingThe Future We Do Not Want. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Readiness! This is a concept interchanged with preparedness and, many assume, adequate knowledge. Simple as it may be, readiness denotes a complex interaction of parameters and conditionalities required for an uptake of a phenomenon – in the context of this article, green economy transition. Following deliberations to and from Rio + 20, there is no doubt the world is set to undertake green economy as a means to attaining sustainable development, poverty eradication, job creation and equity evermore. At the heart of the green economy is the need to address negative impacts associated with one of the key global challenges of our epoch, climate change. The question this article seeks to address is: To what extent is South Africa green economy ready? Focusing on the national sphere of government, the article concludes that this country has moved swiftly in addressing key readiness parameters, including high-level commitment and stakeholder buy-in, enhancing institutional set-up, developing the necessary legislation, establishing funding mechanisms and having programmes running on the ground. However, more work is still needed in areas such as continued domestication of the understanding on green economy, addressing weak individual and institutional capacity, increasing funding, proliferation of policies, matching national to global interests on green economy, and the role of higher (including further) education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prior to developments in Copenhagen in 2009 and Cancun in 2010, global climate policy negotiations seldom culminated in concrete decisions concerning ways in which Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) could be linked to sustainable development and carbon markets in developing countries, such as those in some parts of Africa.That changed with the expansion of the REDD initiative, to REDD+. Key arguments in the discussions have concerned contested methodologies for measuring, reporting and verifying carbon stocks; ensuring adequate technology transfer; and rectifying the shortage of local experts to deal with REDD+. However, there has been no contestation on the fact that REDD+ creates financial value for carbon stored in forests, an aspect that would encourage developing countries to reduce emissions from deforestation and degradation of forested lands and to invest in low-carbon growth paths. This article sheds light on how REDD+ has developed in global climate negotiations and how African governments have and should engage with REDD+. The conclusion is that since the Bali Action Plan of 2007, there has been significant progress in creating enabling global architecture with regard to REDD+, and African governments should now grasp the opportunities offered by REDD+ while advocating for a fair, legally binding and ethical arrangement to engage over the forests which are so key to many of their economies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

South Africa surprised many when it pledged to reduce emissions by 34 per cent in 2020 and 42 per cent in 2025 a day before the Copenhagen Climate Summit of December 2009 (COP15). The position taken by South Africa was in conflict with that of the Africa Group. South Africa was also involved in crafting the Copenhagen Accord, a political agreement concluded outside the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to address the interests of a few countries, including Brazil, China, India and the USA. Leading to COP16 in Cancún 2010, South Africa forged a tripartite alliance with Denmark and Mexico in order to push for a solid foundation for COP17, that took place in Durban in 2011. To tease out the thinking with regard to expectations for COP17, South Africa called for a wish list from negotiating parties that were meeting in Bonn in June 2011. The views that emerged from the Bonn meeting show that South Africa has a big challenge in bridging the gap between the developed and developing countries. This article analyses South Africa's role in climate negotiations with a view to presenting the challenges – from Copenhagen 2009, via Cancún 2010, to Durban 2011. The work also argues that being the host of COP17 implies that South Africa's role in climate negotiations was more focused on facilitation. The world expected a breakthrough in Durban, especially regarding the second Kyoto Protocol commitment period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The date, 18 December 2009, left the world perturbed, as global leaders failed to reach consensus on a legally binding climate deal in Copenhagen. Since Bali 2007, much work had been done on preparing for a fair, ambitious and legally binding climate deal. Accordingly, the non-binding Copenhagen (political) Accord was concluded paving the way for further talks in Mexico in 2010. However, the African continent maintained that it had received a raw deal. This paper presents the African Group's climate position and analyses the implications of the Copenhagen Accord for the continent. The paper also presents a way forward for Mexico and beyond. The conclusion urges African governments to hold onto the gains of Copenhagen 2009 and to continue pushing for a fair, ambitious and legally binding climate deal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new climate order was confirmed at the end of the Copenhagen Climate Summit in December 2009. The new climate order ushered in collaborative frameworks among the USA and the BASIC Group made up of Brazil, South Africa, India and China. Collaboration among the identified countries resulted in three sets of partnerships, namely: the USA-India-China (UIC Group); the BASIC Group; and IBSA (India-Brazil-South Africa Dialogue Forum). The UIC partnership presents a triangle bringing together top global greenhouse gas (GHG) emitters committing to address climate change. As of 2007, the UIC Group accounted for about 47% of total global GHG emissions. The USA + BASIC Group crafted the Copenhagen Accord architecture. Although not binding, the Copenhagen Accord was the major outcome from COP15. The IBSA collaboration brings further insights to the new climate order as it draws India into the centre of proceedings from the three sets of collaborative frameworks under deliberation. This paper focuses on what this new climate order means for climate leadership in general and the climate negotiation road leading to Mexico in December 2010. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The climate change (CC) discourse has moved from the dominance of science into other contesting spaces that include politics, economics, religion, social justice and the business arena. Two questions are addressed in this paper: (1) which actors (human), actants (non-human) and networks have been and are shaping the CC narrative? (2) Who could be the appropriate leaders and leadership models to address the challenges associated with CC in our times? Powerful scientific, political and economic groupings spearheading the CC agenda have emerged. To this end, co-leadership might be an appropriate model for addressing CC in this century. A co-leadership model recognizes the existence and interface of leaders and co-leaders. In CC co-leadership places this narrative at the centre, driving various kinds of leaders and co-leaders as well as leadership and co-leadership tied to numerous CC leadership zones. Among some of the leadership zones are mitigation, adaptation, financing, technology, social dynamics, and policy framework. The entire work is informed by an analytical framework that permits documentation, understanding and tracing of actors, actants and networks, thus, the Actor/Actant Network Theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

African governments face increasing pressure from major export destinations, primarily former colonial and slave-owning countries, to be climate change compliant. This will certainly be on display at the upcoming December 2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, which will seek to strengthen climate change rules agreed on in Kyoto, Japan, in 1997, and adopt new protocols on global climate change regulation. Climate change is a double-edged sword: on one side it is hitting Africa's agricultural sector with increased droughts, floods, extreme frost and wildfires; and on the other, African governments are being forced to respond to stringent regulatory regimes imposed by international export destinations. Currently, the per capita greenhouse gas emissions from the highly industrialised nations - the North - is estimated to be four times that of Africa and the rest of the developing world. Twin research questions were investigated in this article: (1) to what extent does climate change impact on African trade and development, and (2) how can African governments stay on a path of sustained trade and development in this era of climate change? The article argues that Africa's survival in these times of climate change compliance rests on a shift to greater intra-African trade, as individual nations move towards cleaner and more organic technologies to become full-fledged partners in the international climate change regulatory regime. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In May 2003, the South African government enacted regulations banning the production of thin-film plastic shopping bags. The government advocated that such thin-film plastic shopping bags were indiscriminately discarded because they had no economic and recycling value. However, in as much as the regulations led to significant reductions in plastic shopping bags in the environment, the law resulted in severe unintended negative consequences, as jobs were lost with some businesses in the plastic shopping bag manufacturing sector closing down. The paper also reveals that key stakeholders, such as industry, business and labour, lobbied against the introduction of the regulations but without success. On average, business went down by about 83% with a conservative 25% reduction in employment. Drawing insights from the Irish and Australian experiences, this paper critically reviews sustainability debates and responses surrounding environmental regulation and business, with a special focus on the Plastic Bag Regulations in South Africa. Lessons learnt are presented with the intention to provide insights for future waste product or other environmental regulation initiatives in South Africa and elsewhere in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Millennium Summit held in New York in September 2000 outlined the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The first of these involves the eradication of extreme poverty and hunger, setting two targets: halving by 2015 the percentage of the world’s populace in 1990 with income less than US-$1 a day (i.e., cutting this percentage from 27.9 to 14%); and halving the share of people who suffer from hunger. As for education, the MDGs seek to ensure that all children can complete primary schooling by 2015. Drawing on examples from selected southern African countries, the present study examines the need to strengthen economic support for (adult) education as an instrument of poverty eradication. It argues that human capital is one of the fundamental determinants of economic growth, and that this economic resource is essentially determined in both qualitative and quantitative regards by education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Paris Agreementʼs nationally determined contributions (NDCs) provide an excellent point of entry to simultaneously address climate change and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This study sets out to explore the connections between climate action plans (NDCs) and each of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In this study, we used four levels of visibility, that is, present, generic, implied and absent to provide a broad perspective of the extent to which South Africaʼs NDC is aligned with the targets of the SDGs. Our results revealed that South Africaʼs NDC has 12% present level of visibility to the SDG targets, with SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy and SDG 13 Climate Action showing the highest representation of present level of visibility. By contrast, the absent level of visibility NDC showed 53% in the SDG targets, with SDG 5 Gender Equity, SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions and SDG 3 Good Health and Well‐Being, showing the highest representation of absent level of visibility. These results indicate that there is scope to improve the alignment of South Africaʼs NDCs with the SDG targets. To this end, we have identified areas that may benefit with further elaboration in the countryʼs second NDC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding local community perceptions on impacts, causes, and responses to climate change is vital for promotion of community resilience towards climate change. This study explored local ecological knowledge (LEK) held by local communities on climate change trends and impacts in the Middle Zambezi Biosphere Reserve (MZBR), Zimbabwe. The objectives of the study were to (i) investigate local community perceptions on trends and causes of climate change, (ii) identify biophysical impacts of climate change at the local level, and (iii) explore the ecosystem-based adaptation strategies towards climate change. The study used a mixed methods approach where a household questionnaire survey (n=320), key informant interviews (n=12), and focus group discussions (n=8) were used to collect data between April 2015 and October 2016. Results from the study show that local communities have observed decreasing rainfall and increasing temperatures as key indicators of climate change. Local communities observed water scarcity, changes in vegetation phenology, livestock and wildlife mortalities, and food shortages due to drought as the major impacts on their livelihoods. LEK can contribute to adaptive management strategies that enhance resilience of socioecological systems (SES) in the face of climate change by providing information on the status and use of biophysical components of the environment and by highlighting potential local adaptation strategies that can sustain key livelihood practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]