Browsing by Author "Blignaut, James"

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    An econometric analysis of the wildlife market in South Africa
    (2003) Anderson, Hilary Jane; Turpie, Jane; De Wet, Theunis; Fatti, Paul; Blignaut, James
    Since there has been no comprehensive nationwide economic study on the expanding wildlife market in South Africa, the present study ventures into a relatively unexplored economic terrain in the hope that more studies will be stimulated in that direction. The study focuses, firstly, on presenting an economic overview of the current trends within the wildlife market of South Africa, attempting inter alia to demonstrate how the sustainable utilisation of wildlife can contribute to both conservation and the economy. Secondly, it is endeavoured to describe the demand for wildlife species at game auctions across South Africa, using a range of econometric modelling techniques.
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    Technical Analysis to Support the Adaptation Component of South Africa’s Second Nationally Determined Contribution
    (University of Cape Town, 2025) Taylor, Anna; Simpson, Nicholas; Sibanda, Darlington; Bhanye, Johannes; Trisos, Christopher; Moyo, Vuyisile; Matiza, Collins; Ouweneel, Birgitt; Cartwright, Anton; Blignaut, James
    Research teams in the African Climate and Development Initiative (ACDI) and the Energy Systems Research Group (ESRG) at the University of Cape Town carried out analyses pertaining to climate change adaptation and mitigation as technical support to government in developing South Africa’s second Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC2) under the Paris Agreement. This technical report presents the adaptation component of the work, reviewing key climate change risks and adaptation efforts to date, proposing seven priority adaptation goals, and estimating the costs and benefits of 36 identified adaptation options that, if implemented well, would make a significant contribution to realising the goals. The seven proposed adaptation goals are: (1) Adapt South Africa’s water and sanitation systems to drying conditions and drought and flood intensification, as water underpins human, plant and animal health and all economic and livelihood activities; (2) Enhance disaster risk management, healthcare and sanitation provision, especially in informal settlements, to reduce impacts of flooding and heat stress on most vulnerable households; (3) Upgrade critical transport infrastructure (roads, rail, ports) to maintain functioning under increased rainfall intensity, heat stress, wind speeds and storm surges; (4) Enhance nutritious food access and affffordability through support to agricultural and fifisheries producers and distributors in adapting to warmer and windier conditions and changes in rainfall; (5) Enhance climate services, with early warning and impact information made accessible to a wide range of users, tailored to different operational, language, gender, age and disability needs; (6) Enhance ecosystem-based adaptation to heat and water stress, protecting South Africa’s natural heritage, biodiversity and improving ecosystem functioning that underpins our cultural identity, food systems, human wellbeing and tourism economy; and (7) Capacitate all spheres of government to implement adaptation through enacting and enforcing all provisions of the Climate Change Act. There is a companion technical report presenting the mitigation component of the work.
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    The economic and environmental effects of a carbon tax in South Africa: A dynamic CGE modelling approach
    (2016) Van Heerden, Jan; Blignaut, James; Bohlmann, Heinrich; Cartwright, Anton; Diederichs, Nicci; Mander, Myles
    The economic and environmental effects of a carbon tax in South Africa: A dynamic cge modelling approachSouth Africa’s National Treasury released its Carbon Tax Policy Paper in May 2013. The paper proposed a R120/tCO2-equiv. levy on coal, gas and petroleum fuels. Here, we model the possible impacts of such a tax on the South African economy using the computable general equilibrium (CGE) 53-sector model of the University of Pretoria’s Department of Economics. The model shows that the carbon tax has the capacity to decrease South Africa’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by between 1 900MtCO2-equiv. and 2 300MtCO2-equiv. between 2016 and 2035. The extent of emissions reductions is most sensitive to the rate at which tax exemptions are removed. Recycling of carbon tax revenue reduces the extent of emissions reductions due to the fact that economic growth is supported. The manner in which carbon tax revenue is recycled back into the economy is therefore important in terms of the extent of emissions reductions achieved, but not as significant as the influence of different exemption schedules. The model shows the carbon tax to have a net negative impact on South Africa’s gross domestic product (GDP) relative to the baseline under all exemption regimes and all revenue recycling options assessed. The negative impact of the carbon tax on GDP is, however, greatly reduced by the manner in which the tax revenue is recycled. Recycling in the form of a production subsidy for all industries results in the lowest negative impact on GDP.