Browsing by Author "Boyd, Anya"

Now showing 1 - 9 of 9
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    Energy, water and climate change in Southern Africa: what are the issues that need further investment and research?
    (Energy Research Centre, University of Cape Town., 2012) Prasad, Gisela; Boulle, Michael; Boyd, Anya; Rahlao, Sebataolo; Wlokas, Holle; Yaholnitsky, Ivan
    Regional climate change projections in Southern Africa, based on GCMs comparing 2080-2099 to 1980-1999, indicate that global warming will most likely lead to greater than the global annual mean temperatures for all seasons, 3.1°C for summer warming and 3.4°C for winter warming (Christensen et al, 2007). Warming in Southern Africa will lead to increasing rainfall intensities, decreasing frequencies of low intensity (soft soaking) rainfall and longer dry period between rainfall events. This will result in more severe draughts, floods and heatwaves, which will lead to greater food insecurity. In historic times, draughts and floods had already major impacts on Southern African populations. Around 1200 to 1500, droughts led people to abandon settlements in the Kalahari Desert. The Lifaqane wars, starting in about 1815, were characterized by a 25-year period of famine and violent conflict between peoples in Southern Africa. During the 1991-1992 draught, 20 million people in the region (15% of SADC population) needed food relief (Dejene et al 2011). Many parts of Southern Africa face two critical resource constraints on development, namely energy and water. Energy and water are closely linked at different levels and scales. Water drives the turbines of hydroelectric power plants. Processing of coal and cooling in thermal and nuclear power plants requires water and energy is required to lift, treat and distribute water. Even at the household level, we observe water-energy linkages. When using water-saving showerheads, for example, we not only save water, but also electricity for heating the water. This complex interconnection is called the water-energy nexus. At the same time, coal-based power plants emit large amounts of greenhouse gases (GHGs) into the atmosphere, contributing to climate change and climate variability which then leads to floods and droughts. In times of drought little water flows into hydroelectric dams, affecting electricity generation. For rural communities the greater frequencies and severity of droughts and floods caused by climate change leads not only to crop failure and subsequent hunger but also interferes with water supply technologies when, for example, the water levels in boreholes rise or fall beyond the specification of the pump. Thus climate change critically impacts the water-energy nexus. The International Development Research Centre (IDRC) in Canada commissioned the Energy Research Centre (ERC) at the University of Cape Town to assess the water-energy nexus in the context of climate change. ‘The goal of the exploratory project is to analyse the way energy and water services can be combined and improved to enhance resilience and adaptive capacity of communities to climate variability and change’. After an introduction to the water-energy nexus in Southern Africa (Chapter 1) and a brief review of the four countries studied as well as climate change scenarios for the Southern African region (Chapter 2), the study reports on the following four major research topics identified by the Southern African team: 1. The state of integrated planning of water and energy resources in the context of climate change (Chapter 3). 2. Opportunities and barriers for renewable energy technologies for rural water services in Namibia, Botswana and Mozambique (Chapters 4 and 5). 3. The water-energy nexus in policies of South Africa (Chapter 6). 4. An investigation of water supply adaptation technologies and strategies in a case study from Lesotho (Chapter 7). The assessment is based on secondary data through a cross-disciplinary desktop study, discussions with experts and two workshops. The countries covered in this report are Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, and South Africa.
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    Informing international UNFCCC technology mechanisms from the ground up: Using biogas technology in South Africa as a case study to evaluate the usefulness of potential elements of an international technology agreement in the UNFCCC negotiations process
    (2010) Boyd, Anya; Marquard, Andrew
    Transfer of low carbon technologies to developing countries is one approach for tackling rising global emissions. An international technology transfer mechanism has been proposed under the UNFCCC; however, it remains unclear how this international mechanism would translate into local level technology implementation. This study uses biogas technology in South Africa to obtain empirical data inductively related to technology transfer. Observations and activities specific to the biogas sector in South Africa are put forward based on site visits and stakeholder discussions in South Africa, the UK, Germany and Sweden. This paper presents empirical findings on technology transfer in the biogas sector in South Africa and analyses the role of an international technology mechanism in supporting the uptake of biogas. Many of the barriers to biogas technology in South Africa are national level constraints such as lack of supportive policy environment, financial incentives and information sharing. This case study supports the argument that it will be unrealistic for international technology mechanisms to capture the necessary specificities of individual technologies at a country level. Therefore, as demonstrated through the example of biogas technology in South Africa, there is a need for both effective national and international engagement to support technology implementation.
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    Low carbon development and poverty: exploring poverty alleviating mitigation action in developing countries
    (University of Cape Town, 2012) Wlokas, Holle; Rennkamp, Britta; Torres, Marta; Winkler, Harald; Boyd, Anya; Tyler, Emily; Fedorsky, Catherine
    Climate change and poverty mostly fall into the adaptation category in the current research literature and relevant policy-making. The strong connection between poverty and adaptation rests on the assumption that poor countries produce only low carbon emissions. They will also be most affected by the impacts of climate change. Therefore, efforts on poverty and climate change concentrate mostly on adapting to the consequences of climate change. If we acknowledge current findings of poverty research, we find that this separation between mitigation and adaptation does not hold anymore. Recent research suggests that poverty demographics have changed between 1990 and 2010. The majority of the poor nowadays live in middle-income countries, and not only in low-income countries. Emissions in middle-income countries increase, while their governments try to reduce emissions in the long term without jeopardising socio-economic development. Climate change presents a threefold policy challenge for middle-­income countries. They need to: i) design mitigation actions in such a way that they contribute to alleviate poverty; ii) reduce emissions, helping to slow global warming in a way that does not compromise the competitiveness of their economies, because without collective action by all, the costs of inaction affect mostly the poor; and iii) prepare to adapt to the unavoidable consequences of climate change. The paper unpacks the linkages between low-­carbon development, mitigation and poverty in middle-­income countries (where the majority of the poor live). Most middle-­income countries pursue carbon-­intensive development paths and will need to mitigate emissions towards low-­carbon development paths. How can mitigation actions contribute to poverty alleviation? An explorative analysis of mitigation actions in five middle-­income countries shows that mitigation has moved on the political agendas over the past five years. Yet, these efforts are not necessarily linked with poverty alleviation instruments. Most mitigation action can have positive and negative poverty effects. Their impacts depend on an adequate pro-­poor policy mix.
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    MRV across multi-level governance: national, provincial and municipal institutions in South Africa
    (University of Cape Town, 2012) Boyd, Anya
    Local, provincial and national government all play an important role in the delivery of climate projects. Therefore they will also be critical in implementing the M&E framework as set out in the Climate Change White Paper (DEA, 2011) The White Paper requires the release of the draft Monitoring & Evaluation system by October 2013 (Letete, 2012). A nationally coordinated M&E system will require integration of data from a variety of public and private sector institutions. This case study focuses on drilling down into how sub-national level government in South Africa are engaging with monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) of climate projects. Interviews and stakeholder consultations have provided insight into some of the existing reporting practises and highlighted some of the learnings and experiences from local and provincial government. This study suggests that there are already many MRV-related activities underway that can inform the national process and also demonstrated that there is a willingness of sub-national institutions to engage with the development of the national M&E system. However the practicality of this depends on a few key issues. With 9 provinces, 8 metros, 44 districts and 278 local governments (DEA, 2012) , it is inevitable that the capacity to undertake MRV of climate projects varies significantly from larger metropolitan municipalities to smaller municipalities. The system must build on existing reporting structures and not introduce onerous requirements – rather use simple reporting principles with clear guidelines. Identifying the essential elements that require reporting rather than immediately aiming for the highest accuracy and quality of data is suggested. For example, one local workshop participant noted: “it does not have to be perfect from the word go but must be good enough- avoiding a situation where we have to invest in a polished system before it is useful. The system should be iterative.” Essentially any national MRV system has to take cognisance of these issues whilst also remembering that for local government in South Africa, priorities lie with providing basic service delivery.
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    The potential carbon dioxide emissions reduction when energy service interventions are applied to the current subsidised housing demand
    (2016) Krog, Petrus Jacobus; Trollip, Hilton; Boyd, Anya; Moolach, Mascha
    This dissertation examines the role of subsidised housing in reducing carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions in South Africa. Climate change is an occurring event and is largely caused by human activities, such as the production of energy from fossil fuels (NRC, 2010). Buildings are seen as one of the highest consuming sectors of energy and therefore present many potential climate change mitigation opportunities. The South African subsidised housing sector is expanding significantly and estimations made in the current study show that 2.8 million subsidised housing units can potentially reduce up to 3% of the total current CO₂ emissions from the residential sector. This demand for subsidised housing units can also potentially reduce up to 0.06% of South Africa's total annual CO₂ emissions.
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    South African approaches to measuring, reporting and verifying: a scoping report
    (University of Cape Town. Energy Research Centre, 2012) Boyd, Anya; Rennkamp, Britta; Winkler, Harald; Larmour, Richard; Letete, Thapelo; Rahlao, Sebataolo; Trikam, Ajay
    The South African government announced its intention to make emissions data reporting mandatory for emitters of more than a 0.1Mt of greenhouse gases per year in the 2011 National Climate Change Response White Paper. The government intends to establish a ‘climate change response monitoring and evaluation system’, that ‘evolves with international measuring, reporting and verification (MRV) requirements.’ MRV is one of the key topics in the international climate negotiations to create trust and legitimacy. This report presents a mapping exercise of South African approaches to MRV. Research shows that a lot of databases and collections exist already, particularly in the emissions intensive energy sector. However, there is no coherent overall approach to the management of these data. Coordination is necessary for a comprehensive system. Government needs to lead this process ensuring the participation of all departments. It will be necessary to build on the existing structures and capacities to achieve the commitments in the White Paper. Three case studies present existing approaches to GHG reporting, besides the overall scoping. This scoping report is the result from the first phase of the Measurement and Performance Tracking Project that the World Resource Institute conducts in cooperation with the German Ministry for Environment and the Energy Research Centre.
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    Stakeholder collaboration and learning during the concept design phase of an urban biogas project
    (Energy Research Centre, University of Cape Town., 2010) Melamu, Rethabile; Boyd, Anya; Wlokas, Holle L; Roden, Brett C; Austin, Greg; von Blottnitz, Harro
    Anaerobic digestion (AD) of organic matter to produce biogas is a waste management option for waste streams high in organic matter which are unsuitable for thermal treatment. In Africa, the implementation of this technology is slow compared to developed countries, more so in the urban areas in contrast with rural areas. An understanding of factors behind the low rate of implementation of this technology is needed. As a response to this challenge a research group at the University of Cape Town (UCT) set-up a multi-disciplinary team to implement a biogas digester on the UCT campus as a demonstration project. This paper aims at documenting notes on stakeholder collaboration and learning during the concept design phase to implement an urban biogas project. One of the findings of the project thus far is that a significant proportion of time needs to be dedicated to establishing key stakeholders and decision makers. Education, training and good relationship with stakeholders and the technology provider were also found to the important in the concept design of the project.
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    Technological capability and transfer for achieving South Africa's development goals
    (Taylor and Francis, 2013) Rennkamp, Britta; Boyd, Anya
    Technological capability and technology transfer both play important roles in achieving low-carbon development targets and the concepts of both have appeared in national development and climate policy debates. Yet, they differ. Improving capabilities and transfer mechanisms are two differing approaches to technological development. Technology transfer is associated with a key political dynamic within international climate policy, in that developing countries request support from industrialised countries. Whereas technological capability focuses on building internal capabilities and is often framed in the context of national industrial policy plans rather than relying on external support.We argue that technology development, a combination of these approaches, can contribute to South Africa’s low-carbon development through innovation and technology-based mitigation actions that increase domestic technological capabilities. Technological capability needs to become a determinant of mitigation action to effectively contribute to achieving South Africa’s low-carbon development goals. International technology transfer and cooperation should contribute to boosting domestic capabilities to advance technological development. Technology transfer based on pure sales will not contribute to achieving long-term low-carbon development goals. Policy relevance: The case of South Africa offers useful insights for policy makers in developing countries, as it is a country at the crossroads of future energy paths. It is important to engage in technology-based mitigation actions to ensure that technology transfer contributes to a country’s low-carbon development goals. Ensuring that technology transfer contributes to development through job creation and local production is a matter of political choice. Renewable energy technologies can contribute to reducing emissions, no matter where they are from and are built.
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    What does the current NAMA-space in South Africa look like? A TERI-NFA NAMA Country Report on South Africa
    (2014) Boyd, Anya; Coetzee, Kim; Boulle, Michael
    Internationally South Africa is regarded as a leader in Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Action (NAMA) development, but is this actually the case? Similarly to other countries, South Africa has yet to formally submit a NAMA to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change registry, nor have mitigation actions been articulated as NAMAs at a domestic policy level. This is not to say, however, that mitigation activities are not happening – in the areas of energy efficiency and renewable energy significant progress has been made in South Africa. Yet these cannot be attributed to the NAMA concept per se. Rather, the drivers relate to energy policy and – very broadly speaking – national climate change objectives as outlined in the current National Climate Change Response Strategy. This paper reviews how South African NAMAs are presented in international literature and how this compares to mitigation actions and national policy development and implementation. It finds that there is disjuncture between what is reflected in the literature and what is observable in South Africa.