Browsing by Author "Winkler, H"

Now showing 1 - 7 of 7
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    Climate change mitigation: A training manual
    (University of Cape Town, 2005) Nkomo, J C; Winkler, H; Mwakasonda, S; Mukheibir, P; Sparks, D
    The Energy Research Centre (ERC) has developed a training manual on climate change mitigation courses. The manual covers the following modules: Greenhouse gas inventories (GHGI), Mitigation (MIT), and the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). These modules have been developed in response to the need for capacity building initiatives that are country driven and regionally focused, address specific needs and conditions of the country, and involve stakeholders. In doing so, the overall aim is to assist non-Annex 1 countries to participate effectively in the UNFCCC and its Kyoto Protocol, and to ensure the sustainability of these programmes. There are two important points to note. Firstly, the training manual is tailored to the specific needs and contexts of those being targeted, but with sufficient flexibility to avoid a ‘one-size-fitsall’ training programme. Secondly, although the manual is prepared in South Africa, it is designed in a flexible form and can be modified by using case studies and exercises relevant to the country teams with diverse backgrounds.
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    Economic impacts of climate change in South Africa: A preliminary assessment of unmitigated damage costs
    (2002-02) Turpie, J; Winkler, H; Spalding-Fecher, R; Midgley, G
    This study aimed to provide a preliminary desktop estimate of the economic impacts of climate change in South Africa, based on the findings of the Vulnerability and Adaptation Study for the South African Country Study on Climate Change (1999). Damages are those predicted for 2050 and are valued in year 2000 rands, unless otherwise stated. Predicted impacts from this study include changes in terrestrial and marine ecosystems which will have profound impacts on agriculture, forestry, rangelands and fisheries, as well as on biodiversity. In addition, changes n hydrology may have immense consequences in terms of human health by increasing suitable habitat for waterborne diseases, as well as affecting water supply and the maintenance of ecosystem functioning. Prediction of the economic impacts of climate change is particularly difficult because of the global scale of the impacts and the long time horizon involved. Such studies have mostly been carried out in developed countries, and often only concentrate on market impacts such as agriculture. Impacts are typically divided into market and non-market impacts, with ecosystem and health damages relegated to the latter category, but this study recognises that all impacts have their basis in changes to natural systems, and that all types of impacts have both market and non-market components.
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    National policies and the CDM: Avoiding perverse incentives
    (Energy Research Centre, 2004) Winkler, H
    The CDM is a project-based mechanism to promote flexibility in mitigation climate change, by promoting investment in mitigation projects in developing countries. There has been concern about potential perverse incentives for developing countries like South Africa not to adopt progressive national policies, fearing that CDM projects implementing such policy would no longer be additional. The CDM rules on additionality require that emissions are reduced ‘below those that would have occurred in the absence of the registered CDM project activity’. The paper shows that recent decisions by the CDM Executive Board make it clear that such perverse incentives will not be created. The paper suggests concrete interpretations of this guidance for two possible project types. Projects implementing national policies that promote zero- or low-carbon emission technologies (e.g. South Africa’s renewable energy target) can still go through the CDM process. Where there are local regulations, as for landfill gas, projects would not be ruled out entirely, but would receive credit for the difference between actual methane capture and that needed to meet local safety, health and environmental standards. The author concludes that projects implementing progressive energy policies are still eligible for CDM investment.
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    Non-energy Emissions - Industrial Processes: An input into the Long Term Mitigation Scenarios process, LTMS Input Report 3
    (2007) Kornelius, G; Marquard, A; Winkler, H
    As part of the Long Term Management Scenarios exercise carried out by the Energy Research Centre at the University of Cape Town for the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, options for the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions from the non-energy sector are to be investigated. This report lists such options prioritised according to the contribution of each source to the national inventory.
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    Policies and scenarios for Cape Town's energy future: options for sustainable city energy development
    (University of Cape Town, 2006) Winkler, H; Borchers, M; Hughes, A; Visagie, E; Heinrich, G
    This study examines a set of energy policy interventions, which can make a major contribution to sustainable development for the City of Cape Town – economically, environmentally and socially. Major energy savings can be made from modal shifts in the transport sector, and with efficient lighting. The savings make a contribution to economic development, by freeing up resources. The savings from energy efficiency also have important social benefits in energy savings, reducing energy bills for poor households. From an environmental point of view, implementing the city’s renewable energy target will have significant costs, but these can be partly off-set by selling carbon credits through the Clean Development Mechanism, and will result in indirect health benefits. Targeted interventions can reduce local air pollution, and help Cape Town become a leader in addressing greenhouse gas emissions. Apart from examining the social, economic and environmental dimensions of each policy, this paper compares policies to one another. Of particular interest for sustainable energy development are those policies which are viable in terms of costs, social benefits and the environment. Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs) in residential, commercial and government sectors and heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) in commerce and government sectors stand out as policies that have benefits from every angle. The paper builds on previous work done on the ‘state of energy’ for Cape Town and develops a tool that can paint a picture of what might happen to energy in the future. Using the Long-Range Energy Alternatives Planning (LEAP) modelling tool, a set of energy policies have been simulated.
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    South-North dialogue on equity in the greenhouse. A proposal for an adequate and equitable global climate agreement
    (Deutsche Gesellschaft für, 2004) Brouns, B; Kartha, S; Mace, M; Huq, S; Kameyama, Y; Sari, A P, Pan, J; Sokona, Y; La Rovere, E L; Rahman, A; Winkler, H; Ott, H E; Bhandari, P M; Kassenberg, A
    International climate policy is at a crossroads. On the one hand negotiations have reached a deadlock in the past two years as all countries wait for Russia to ratify the Kyoto Protocol. On the other hand there is a lively debate beyond official negotiations on options for the mid- and long-term development of the climate regime, and a growing recognition that such a development is of utmost importance. In the near future, progressive forces in the climate arena should strongly focus on bringing the Kyoto Protocol into force; in the years to come, the crucial issue will be how to design the climate regime so that it effectively combats further climate change without jeopardizing the basic development needs of developing countries. Regardless of when or whether the Kyoto Protocol enters into force, the challenge of future climate negotiations will be to embed the next steps in a long-term framework that aims at an adequate and equitable global climate agreement that takes into account the right to sustainable development of all countries.
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    Sustainable development policies and measures: Institutional issues and electrical efficiency in South Africa Climate Policy
    (Taylor & Francis, 2007) Winkler, H; Howells, M; Baumert, K
    An innovative approach is introduced for helping developing countries to make their development more sustainable, and also to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions as a co-benefit. Such an approach is proposed as part of the multilateral framework on climate change. The concept of sustainable development policies and measures (SD-PAMs) is outlined, making clear that it is distinct from many other approaches in starting from development rather than explicit climate targets. The potential of SD-PAMs is illustrated with a case-study of energy efficiency in South Africa, drawing on energy modelling for the use of electricity in industry. The results show multiple benefits both for local sustainable development and for mitigating global climate change. The benefits of industrial energy efficiency in South Africa include significant reductions in local air pollutants; improved environmental health; creation of additional jobs; reduced electricity demand; and delays in new investments in electricity generation. The co-benefit of reducing GHG emissions could result in a reduction of as much as 5% of SA’s total projected energy CO2 emissions by 2020. Institutional support and policy guidance is needed at both the international and national level to realize the potential of SD-PAMs. This analysis demonstrates that if countries begin to act early to move towards greater sustainability, they will also start to bend the curve of their emissions path.