Leadership strategies employed in the public sector for promoting urban climate transition: the case of Cape Town, South Africa

Hess, Gonzalo

Leadership strategies employed in the public sector for promoting urban climate transition: the case of Cape Town, South Africa

Thesis / Dissertation

2025

Publisher

Universiy of Cape Town

Department

Department of Environmental and Geographical Science

Faculty

Faculty of Science

Abstract

Despite the success of the Paris Agreement on achieving a global compact between nations to act on climate change, cities have emerged as interesting locations for studying climate leadership due to the failure at the national scale to translate adequate climate actions to meet the goals set. Cities have served as important agents in governance interventions, experiments, and networks, leading the way in resilient, low-carbon, and sustainable urban development, and driving innovative climate governance that spurs climate action. Understanding how to effectively lead the urban climate transition poses a significant challenge due to the involvement of diverse public and private actors who need to engage in collaborative climate action. Additionally, there is a lack of practical knowledge regarding how city actors implement climate leadership, highlighting a research gap in this area. This study examines the leadership strategies and mechanisms present in Cape Town, a city in South Africa with a strong track-record in climate action planning, focusing on co-creational leadership. It contributes to knowledge of urban public leadership by analysing the strategies employed by governing actors to facilitate the transition toward climate-resilient and low-carbon development in Cape Town, South Africa. This qualitative study employed an abductive logic and a single case study approach focused on the City of Cape Town. Semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders were used to explore their challenges, dilemmas, and coping strategies in promoting the urban climate transition. Thematic analysis using NVivo software was employed for data analysis to identify co-creational leadership strategies through iterative coding. Findings indicate that actors involved in pursuing Cape Town's climate goals, whether working in local government entities, private businesses, or international networks, must address specific challenges related to political will, legislation, budgeting, and communication matters to effectively implement the climate action plan and facilitate a successful transition. The dissertation concludes that Cape Town's urban climate transition context reveals collaborative leadership strategies, diverse actor involvement, and institutional constraints. Context-specific leadership and adaptability are pivotal for sustainable urban development. Cape Town's experiences offer crucial lessons for global cities facing climate challenges, emphasizing the significance of tailored approaches. These insights serve as a guide for cities worldwide in driving transformative change towards sustainability within their unique contexts