Alternative sources of finance for sustainable development in South Africa with specific reference to carbon trading

Date
2011-03
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The world has been engaged in a global ‘development project’ since the late 1940s. This process gained new momentum with the end of colonialism and the emergence of newly independent countries, all of them plagued with high levels of poverty. Traditional models of economic growth based on industrialization and import-substitution did not deliver the expected results to reduce poverty, especially in Africa. New ways of engaging with development emerged; in particular the basic needs approach in the 1970s and later the human development approach. Independently a new environmental movement surfaced in the 1960s, responding to the rallying call of global environmental destruction as a result of economic activities. For the first time a global language on the limitations nature presents to development emerged. The ‘movement’ received particular traction with the emergence of global climate disruption as the single largest global environmental issue. ‘Human needs’, represented by the anthropocentrists, and ‘environmental limitations’, represented by environmentalists were merged in an uncomfortable union to give birth to the notion of sustainable development. Yet, as a result of a large variety of perspectives, no agreement has been reached on what sustainable development means or should achieve. There is agreement though that developmental needs and environmental challenges are both urgent. An important unanswered question is how the world will pay for sustainable development interventions. Some interesting ideas on alternative sources of development finance has been around for a while, yet has not found practical application. Carbon finance, an innovative new source of funding, is an exception. This exploratory research was conducted by reviewing existing relevant literature using the inductive logic technique. It was initiated as a result of specific experiences leading the researcher to some general ‘truths’. The findings revealed that carbon markets, which are primarily focussed on reducing carbon emissions and which in itself makes a positive contribution to sustainability, has over the last few years successfully leveraged billions of dollars for investment in sustainable development projects globally. Some of these have the added advantage of co-benefits for the poor. Its role is set to expand as a source of development finance. South Africa has the potential to earn large amounts from carbon trading, assisting the country to move to a more sustainable development trajectory. The findings concluded that realising this potential will require a more focussed approach, especially from the South African Government.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die wêreld is sedert die 1940s besig met ‘n grootskaalse ‘ontwikkelingsprojek’. Die proses het nuwe momentum gekry teen die einde van die koloniale tydperk. Die nuut onafhanklike state het almal gebuk gegaan onder hoë vlakke van armoede. Tradisionele modelle van ekonomiese groei gebasseer op industrialisasie en invoer vervanging, het nie die verwagte resultate in terme van armoede verligting - veral in Afrika - gehad nie. Nuwe benaderings tot ontwikkeling - spesifiek die ‘basiese behoeftesbenadering’ in die 1970s en later die menslike ontwikkelingsbenadering – is ontwikkel met die hoop dat dit beter resultate sal lewer om armoede hok te slaan. Terselfdertyd het ‘n nuwe omgewingsbeweging in die 1960s ontstaan, in reaksie op die vernietig van die natuur deur die mens se ekonomiese aktiwiteite. Die gevolg was dat daar ‘n internasionale taal onstaan het wat die beperkinge wat die natuur op ontwikkeling plaas kon verwoord. Dit het veral momentum gekry met die bewuswording dat aardverwarming die wêreld se grootste omgewingsuitdaging bied. Mense se behoeftes soos verwoord deur antroposentriste, en omgewingsbeperkings soos verwoord deur omgewingskundiges, het bymekaargekom om die nuwe konsep van volhoubare ontwikkeling te vorm. As gevolg van ‘n groot verskeidenheid van interpretasies is daar geen ooreenstemming oor wat volhoubare ontwikkeling beteken of behoort te bereik nie. Waaroor daar wel ooreenstemming is, is die feit dat die wêreld se behoefte aan ontwikkeling sowel as die omgewingsuitdagings beide dringend is. ‘n Belangrike vraag wat niemand nog kon beantwoord nie, is hoe die wêreld gaan betaal vir volhoubare ontwikkelingsprojekte. Alhoewel daar ‘n paar kreatiewe idees vir alternatiewe bronne van ontwikkelingsfinansiering die rondte doen, het nog nie een daarvan praktiese beslag gekry nie. Die enigste vindingryke nuwe bron van ontwikkelingsfinansiering wat wel geïmplimenteer is, is koolstof finansiering. Dié ondersoekende navorsing is gedoen deur middel van ‘n literatuur studie van bestaande relevante materiaal, deur gebruik te maak van die induktiewe logika tegniek. Die studie is geïnisieer as gevolg van spesifieke ondervindings wat die navorser gelei het na algemene ‘waarhede’. Bevindinge uit die studie het aangedui dat koolstof markte, wat primêr ten doel het om die vrystel van aardverwarmingsgasse te beperk en dus opsigself ‘n positiewe bydrae tot volhoubaarheid lewer, oor die laaste paar jaar daarin geslaag het om miljarde dollars beskikbaar te maak vir volhoubare ontwikkelingsprojekte wêreldwyd. Sommige hiervan het die voordeel dat dit arm gemeenskappe bevoordeel. Die rol van die koolstofmarkte gaan in die toekoms toeneem. Suid Afrika het die potensiaal om groot bedrae te verdien uit koolstof finansiering, wat die land behoort te help om op ‘n meer volhoubare ontwikkelingspad voort te gaan. Die bevindinge sluit af deur aan te dui dat die realisering van dié potensiaal ‘n baie meer gefokusde benadering deur veral die Suid Afrikaanse Regering gaan vereis.
Description
Thesis (MPhil)--University of Stellenbosch, 2011.
Keywords
Carbon trading, Development finance, Sustainable development, Dissertations -- Public management and planning, Theses -- Public management and planning
Citation