Thesis (M.Dev.) --University of Limpopo, 2006

This is a comprehensive research which examines students’ perception of climate change and their positive actions (i.e., Low-Carbon Behaviors) by comparing students in primary and secondary schools in Hong Kong. The research has employed both quantitative and quantitative approaches to collect data. Quantitative data was collected from 709 student samples from two secondary schools and two primary schools by conventional paper-and-pencil questionnaire surveys that include the measures of (1) environmental attitude; (2) perception of climate change problem; (3) engagement in LCBs; (4) hurdles to the adoption of LCBs; and (5) climate change knowledge. Qualitative data was collected from five school teachers of the participating schools by interviews to gather views on climate change education (CCE) and to explore the constraints of its effective implementation. The research concluded that students held moderate pro-environment attitude. Both primary and secondary students were equally worried about climate change problem and believed that its impacts were severe. Yet, fewer primary students believed the anthropogenic cause of climate change and they also perceived lower severity of climate change impact on local ecological environment. Students held modestly positive hope in mitigating climate change problem. Primary students felt a stronger empowerment to influence others, and were more willing to take action than secondary students. Moreover, students perceived that additional commitment and lack of practicing opportunities were major hurdles of LCBs. They also possessed a fairly low level of climate change knowledge with different misconceptions. In addition, the research has unveiled that lack of funding support and inconsequential administrative procedures from the application of environmental project funds were the foremost obstacles to the implementation of CCE. Most teacher respondents were contented with the curriculum design of climate change problem and inclined to oppose the introduction of formal CCE in Hong Kong. Furthermore, the research has thoroughly reviewed the existing curricula in primary and secondary schools. The existing design of school curriculum on climate change was found to be fragmented and unable to allow students to comprehend the issues thoroughly. Finally, overseas CCE practices, recommendations on improving CCE, and enhancing students’ engagement in LCBs, were discussed. / published_or_final_version / Environmental Management / Master / Master of Science in Environmental Management

Our behaviour is not changing fast enough to stop the environmental damage that is occurring. Many people will not voluntarily change their behaviours if there is no immediate benefit to them - this creates the need for a source of authority to encourage behaviour change. Usually this authority is government in the form of laws, but there are few laws that demand the adoption of pro-environmental behaviours (PEBs) like composting and recycling. An individual’s employer can be a strong authority within an influential milieu. This study focuses on the impact that four environmentally-aware employers in the Victoria technology industry have on their staff, as measured by the type and extent of PEBs practiced by staff at work and at home. Data is obtained through interviews and online surveys. Findings expose the workplace as an important leverage point that government and NGOs can use to encourage rapid social change.

Education for Sustainable Living (ESL) requires a whole-system pedagogical shift that changes the discourse from a positivistic worldview into one founded on ecological principles. The emerging environmental and sociopolitical challenges of the 21st century are complex, and schools present an important platform embracing sustainable changes. This participatory action research surveyed staff attitudes and student values from one Manitoban urban high school, to better understand the school culture of sustainability. In addition, a school wide Equity Conference was profiled for contributions to ESL through student exit slips; and a focus group with teachers where survey data was discussed also became part of the data corpus. The intent of this research was to understand on a deeper level how sustainability projects and initiatives are related to a culture of sustainability school wide. From these findings, recommendations to improve a whole-school approach to sustainability are provided. / February 2016

This dissertation originated from a concern regarding healthy and sustainable living, with the focus on aspects of well-being, eating and nutrition. It has not been seen or explicitly explored as a problem to address within the discipline of interior design. It is of the opinion that the environments in which we live can directly influence the way we live. Green (Inside)? is a project proposal which addresses both a normative stance towards interior design and a recognized gap in the social sphere. A scarceness of experiential design in interior environments is examined. This stance is contextualized as a response against the status quo of the restaurant industry towards sustainable living. Restaurants, specifically fast-food outlets or caf?'s, tend to promote unhealthy lifestyles and lack to provide an experience beyond the food itself. The theoretical approaches of sustainable development, human centred design and experiential design, informed the design discourse. The character of the design is guided by the found theories of a process oriented view, the farm-to-table concept, urban farming and principles of the changing kitchen. The programme is placed within the Maboneng precinct in Johannesburg CBD. It establishes a new urban food identity and brand, furthermore connected with its creative and industrial identity. The conceptual restaurant, the Inside, proposes an eating experience, using the eating process as medium of communication to address various topics of ecological and lifestyle sustainability. It will intentionally expose users to participate and interact within the spaces, its processes and a specific sensory-story. The design interventions will aim to encourage and educate users towards sustainability. / n Kommer oor gesonde en volhoubare lewensstyle, spesifiek gerig op welsyn en eetgewoontes, was die vertrekpunt vir die verhandeling. Hierdie kwessie is nog nie heeltemal verken as 'n probleem wat aangespreek kan word in die dissipline van binne-ontwerp nie. Dit is egter van mening dat die ruimtes waarin ons leef en beweeg ons manier van lewe be?nvloed. "Green (Inside)?" is 'n projek wat gebaseer is op twee aspekte: Die eerste handeling is 'n normatiewe standpunt vir binne-ontwerp, waar 'n skaarste in die ervarings van binneruimtes erken is; die tweede aspek het 'n tekortkoming in die sosiale mark ge?dentifiseer. Die probleem is geplaas in die konteks van die restaurant bedryf, rakende volhoubare lewenswyses. Restaurante, spesifiek kitskoswinkels en kafee's, is geneig om ongesonde lewensstyle aan te moedig. Daar is ook 'n gebrek aan ruimtelike ervarings, buiten die ervaring wat die kos self bied. Verskeie teoretiese benaderings het die argument versterk, onder andere die kwessie van volhoubare ontwikkeling, 'n her-definie?ring van kos en die eet proses, verbruiker fokus in ontwerp en laastens ervaringsleer ontwerp. Die karakter van die ontwerp was be?nvloed deur die proses-geori?nteerde uitkyk teorie, die plaas-tot-tafel konsep, stedelike landbou asook nuwe beginsels van hoe 'n kombuis verander. Die projek is geplaas in die Maboneng gebiedct, Johannesburg. Verder was 'n nuwe stedelike kulin?re verbruiker voorgestel, gebaseer op die kreatiewe en industri?le identiteit van die ligging. Die konseptuele restaurant, "the Inside", is a voorstelling van 'n eet-ervaring. Die eetproses word gebruik as kommunikasiemiddel waarmee ekologiese en volhoubaarheids kwessies aangespreek word. Verskeie prossesse van die ruimtes sal doelbewus blootgestel word, van waar di? interaksies sal beoog om 'n sensoriese storie vir die verbruiker te skets. Die ontwerp sal beoog om mense te onderig en aan te moedig om aspekte van volhoubaarheid te beoefen. / Mini Dissertation (MInt (Prof))--University of Pretoria, 2017. / Architecture / MInt (Prof) / Unrestricted

Tribal (rural) communities possess assets/resources that can be utilised in improving the quality of life of their residents. The processes involved in the usage of these assets toward community-led development can determine the success or failure of the development efforts by the community. The research conducted was aimed at investigating the processes involved in utilising these assets, with reference being placed on two community-led development approaches namely Asset Based Community Development and Sustainable Livelihood Framework. The research will examine the processes that the Royal Bafokeng Nation has used in the successful development of its community. A comparison of the community-led development processes will be compared to the Integrated Sustainable Development Strategy formulated by the South African government to develop rural communities. The results indicate that development is not just about asset identification, it‟s more complex than that. If development was just about resource identification then a lot of tribal communities would be developed. Development is about the interactions between leaders, community and external sources and in the case of RBN, administration as well. It is about interaction between leaders and community in the form of participation in development efforts; interaction between leaders (and administration) with external sources such as municipalities to enhance development; and interaction between community and external sources through social capital. The results also indicate that whilst it is the duty of government to provide basic services, communities can partake in other development initiatives. That development in it‟s entirely should not be left to government if communities have the means of initiating development. That government has to improve certain aspects in their development strategies, but that it has made strides in formulating strategies to develop rural communities. The challenges for government come in the implementation of these strategies. That partnership between community and government can lead to better and sustainable development initiatives.

Climate change is progressing and society must act now to crea- te a future worth living in. This means changing the structure and behaviour of society. We will have to live together with nature again. The rebuilding of society to create this change creates new values and new ways of living in the future. Nature is changing because of our society‘s im- pact, so society must change to have less impact. The inspiration came from current trends that are happening. Groups like Greenpeace and Ex- tinction Rebellion are actively fighting for positive change to create a desirable future. On the other hand, people are changing more quietly by mo- ving to Eco Villages. It‘s a principle of living toge- ther in a community where minimising the impact on the environment is a top priority. But it also has other benefits, such as feeling more connec- ted to people and also feeling needed in life by doing a job for the community. By interviewing the eco-village Schloss Tempelhof in Germany, Igot a great overview of their living structure and their daily habits and needs. The biggest benefit for the people living in this community is that it creates a more meaningful life for them, which has a positive effect on everyone‘s happiness. To- day, more than 10,000 people live in Eco Villages.The process began by combing the research on current trends with past trends. In the past, punks in England challenged the mainstream and the sta- tus quo to make a positive impact on the world. They used fashion to stand out and shock. It hel- ped them to make a statement and it created a sense of obligation to dress like them to be part of that group. This was combined with an urgent need to be and live sustainably in the future. This com- bination created the persona of the Eco-Warrior. They fight to minimise human impact on the en- vironment and to achieve this they live together in ecovillages around the world. They have their local energy supply from wind, water and solar systems. They also grow their own seasonal food locally to maintain the food supply for the community. Furt- hermore, their fashion is used to show their belon- ging to a group and their beliefs. By creating a sub- culture and trend, more people could be attracted and feel the desire to join and be part of the change.Through the interview with Schloss Tempelhof, the vehicle requirements were identified and transla- ted into the future. Firstly, a vehicle must have a low impact on the environment. It has to be chan- geable by renewable and local energies, so being electric is advantageous for a small impact. Se- condly, it belongs to everyone in the community. The vehicle is parked at the community house to be available to everyone. The vehicle is used toge- ther and alone. So there is a relationship between comfort and footprint. If you are travelling alone, you do not want to feel guilty about driving a car that is too big, but if you are travelling together, you need a certain footprint. When driving alone, the driver sits comfortably in the back. When driving together, more people can sit on the front bench at an angle of 90 degrees to the direction of travel.Comfort is not a priority here, so more people sit closer together to keep the footprint small. The final need is to transport the fruit and vegetables pro- duced in the village to the neighbouring ecovillage.During the design process, several proposals were tried out in order to learn what worked and what did not. By creating different variations when imple- menting the identified needs and testing different sizes and proportions, the right proportion could be identified. By having serval design languages, the one that represented the Eco Warrior could also be found and developed further in the final proposal.The final proposal is a maximally reduced ve- hicle. Its open structure reduces the amount of materials used. The vehicle belongs to everyo- ne in the community, which is also represented by the open design. Through its multiple uses, a vehicle can be used as much as possible during its lifetime. In addition, the provocative aest- hetics bring together the pragmatic, utilitarian side with the rebellious side of the eco-warrior.

Small-scale timber farming provides alternative income for growers selling to forestry, procurement companies and timber suppliers or agents. The research used focus groups and structured questionnaires in the Sokhulu area to determine the contribution of small-scale timber farming to enhance sustainable livelihood. The Sustainable Livelihood Framework measured livelihood levels of different grower types in terms of access to natural, human, financial, social and physical assets. Findings show that timber suppliers had a higher asset composition, than growers selling to companies or growers selling to timber suppliers. Households lacking access to forestry resources sold timber to agents and households wanting to avoid harvesting and transport risks sold timber to suppliers. Timber farming contributes income, employment and business opportunities towards alleviating poverty rather than providing a complete solution. Tree harvesting support households during financial hardship and reduce vulnerability through diversified livelihood strategies. Disadvantages include: trees taking time to mature while immediate income is required, trees exposed to natural hazards, cheating by local harvesting and transport contractors and timber plot sales sometimes do not receive the agreed price. Despite disadvantages, timber farming provide economic benefits and further studies are needed to determine income level on mature trees, by-product sales and whether higher prices for more tonnage will sustain households that wait for tree maturity, thereby determining optimal break-even point for rural timber farmers. / Environmental Sciences / M.A. (Human Ecolgy)

Thesis (MPhil)--University of Stellenbosch, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study investigated the possibilities of early childhood development (ECD) as pathway to sustainable community development by means of a literature survey and practical research. The main objectives were to determine the usefulness of integrated, ecological ECD as entry point to sustainable community development, to determine how this might be achieved and to reflect on the benefits and limitations of sustainable community development through ECD. A review of the literature emphasized the importance of ECD, as early childhood is foundational for the establishment of lifelong skills, knowledge, values and attitudes. The need to enhance capabilities for sustainable development from a young age is becoming increasingly urgent as the world braces itself for a future likely to be characterised by a ‘global polycrisis’ which includes climate change, resource depletion, poverty and food security. Integrated, ecological ECD exposes children to a worldview that acknowledges complexity and interdependence. This contributes to their ability to be agents of change that imagine and create alternative futures on community, national and global levels. Conceptualising ECD spaces as integrated ecological ‘hubs’ for sustainable community development is a way of enhancing community capabilities for sustainable development by facilitating synergies between various projects, promoting intergenerational learning and ensuring that children are central to all community development initiatives. The practical research focused on the Lynedoch Crèche as a working example of an integrated, ecological ECD ‘hub’ for sustainable community development. The purpose of this case study was to contribute to the attainment of the research objectives by balancing theory with the intricacies of praxis. The main findings of the case study pertain to the need to inform ECD by a deeply ecological and integrated worldview that places children at the centre of sustainable community development. The importance of deriving context-specific methodologies and solutions that stem from an intricate knowledge of the socio-ecological environment was emphasized. The research indicated that the core challenges to this approach relate to capacity, leadership, financial viability and institutional arrangements. The conclusions drawn from the literature survey and the practical research suggest a useful role for ECD as entry point for sustainable community development. I further conclude that there is no single conception of what an integrated, ecological hub for sustainable development might entail. Rather, these ‘hubs’ must be born from worldviews rooted in complexity and interdependence and an ecological educational paradigm that is inspired and informed by the local socio-ecological environment. The principle benefit to this approach relates to the fact that community capabilities for children-centred sustainable development are enhanced in concurrence with the high quality ecological education of its children. The greatest limitation of this approach is that its success hinges upon the capacity of teachers to fulfil multiple roles and provide leadership in largely unchartered territory. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie het die moontlikheid ondersoek dat vroeë kinder ontwikkeling (VKO) as ingangspunt vir volhoubare gemeenskapsontwikkeling gebruik kan word. ‘n Literatuur-studie oor die onderwerp en praktiese navorsing by die Lynedoch kleuterskool is die kern van die studie. Die hoofdoel was om te bepaal of geïntegreerde en ekologies-georienteerde kleuterskoolonderrig sinvol kan bydra tot volhoubare gemeenskapsontwikkeling, om te bepaal hoe dit bereik kan word, en wat die voordele en nadele van so ‘n benadering is. Die literatuurstudie het die belangrikheid van VKO as die fondament vir die vaslê van lewenslange vaardighede, kennis, waardes en houdings bevestig. Dit word al hoe dringender om kinders van ‘n vroeë ouderdom af vir volhoubare ontwikkeling toe te rus sodat hulle leiding kan neem in ‘n toekoms wat waarskynlik gekenmerk gaan word deur meervuldige krisisse soos klimaatsverandering, oorbevolking, uitputting van natuurlike hulpbronne, armoede en voedselskaarste. ‘n Geïntegreerde en ekologiese benadering tot VKO stel kinders bloot aan ‘n wêreldsiening wat kompleksiteit en interafhanklikheid beklemtoon. Hierdie bewustheid help kinders om kreatief alternatiewe toekomsmoontlikhede raak te sien en te verwesenlik, tot voordeel van hul gemeenskap, land en wêreld. Kleuterskole kan geposisioneer word as een van die geïntegreerde spilpunte waarom gemeenskapsontwikkeling draai. Vaardighede vir volhoubare ontwikkeling word sodoende bevorder in beide kinders en gemeenskappe. Samewerking tussen verskeie projekte word aangemoedig, oud en jonk leer saam en kinders word ‘n sentrale fokus van alle gemeenskapsontwikkelingsinisiatiewe. Die praktiese navorsing is ‘n gevallestudie van die Lynedoch Kleuterskool. Hierdie kleuterskool is gekies as ‘n voorbeeld VKO wat poog om ‘n geïntegreerde, ekologiese benadering te volg en om ‘n rol te speel in volhoubare gemeenskapsontwikkeling. Die gevallestudie het die literatuurstudie aangevul deur moontlikhede en tekortkominge van ‘n praktiese toegepassing te demonstreer. Die bevindings bevestig die belangrikheid van ‘n ekologiese- en geïntegreerde benadering tot VKO, en hoe noodsaaklik dit is om te verseker dat kinders as die sleutel tot gemeenskapsontwikkelingsinisiatiewe gesien word. Kennis van die unieke sosio-ekologiese konteks behoort te lei tot die ontwerp van geskikte onderrig metodes. Die gevallestudie dui daarop dat ‘n tekort aan kapasiteit, onvoldoende leierskap, finansiële onselfstandigheid en swak organisasie dikwels van die grootste uitdagings is wat sukses belemmer. Die gevolgtrekkings van beide die literatuurstudie en navorsing is dat geïntegreerde en ekologiese VKO wel ‘n nuttige invalshoek kan wees vir volhoubare gemeenskapsontwikkeling. Dit blyk verder dat daar geen enkele universele model van geïntegreerde en ekologiese VKO is nie, en dat elke projek se leerinhoud en metodologie volgens eiesoortige konteks bepaal word. Wat wel belangrik is, is dat dié projekte gebou word op ekologiese wereldsieninge wat kompleksiteit en interafhanklikheid benadruk. Die hoof voordeel van hierdie benadering is dat gemeenskapskapasiteit vir volhoubare gemeenskapsontwikkeling bevorder word terwyl kinders hoë kwaliteit ekologiese opvoeding ontvang. Die belangrikste beperking hierin is dat sukses grootliks afhanklik is van goed toegeruste onderwysers wat verskeie rolle tegelyktydig kan vertolk, wat leierskap kan neem en wat alternatiewe maniere van doen kan demonstreer.

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study is based on the personal four-year journey of the researcher in an attempt to develop an off-grid, sustainable self-sufficient livelihood and habitation on a 1 000-square metre piece of rural land in the heritage mission village of Suurbraak, Western Cape, South Africa. This single case study attempts to embody a comprehensive antithesis to the current rural settlement approach implemented in South Africa. The approach is philosophical, applying Hegel’s “determinate negation” conception of reality, as dialectic between a conception of “thesis” as global, scientific and regulated resulting in large-scale agriculture, poisoning of nature and inappropriate low-cost housing and its “antithesis” as grounded, philosophical, healthy subsistence habitation on the actual land. This study, shaped by a literature review, proposes a concept coined ‘niche settlement’, comprising four focus areas as regards sustainable self-sufficiency: an owner-built dwelling from local materials, farm produce for consumption and self-medication, rain and energy harvesting, and taking responsibility for waste. In order to validate the case study contextually, an action research methodological approach was adopted. This began with a field study to interview marginal small-scale farmers, enriched by a land-use survey in the Suurbraak agri-village, in order to clarify the determinants for successful subsistence. These were land availability, proximity of land to homestead, appropriate scale, access to water, enabling legislation, and access to inputs and labour. The critical nature of these determinants is then shown as regards the niche settlement case study. The interplay of Swellendam Municipality regulations reveals contradictions that entail that the above determinants are not facilitated. This threatens a vulnerable two-century old agrarian heritage. The ensuing dialectic between the researcher and municipal officials who - when confronted by the contradictions - undertook to revise certain zoning decisions that threatened the viability of niche settlement approaches. The determinants may prove fertile ground for further research as criteria to shape rural settlement policy with respect to land use, particularly given the need to factor in the looming global recession, the food crisis and peak oil. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie is op die vier jaar lange persoonlike reis van die navorser self baseer. Dit behels 'n poging om 'n kwart akker stuk grond in die landelike erfenis sending-dorp van Suurbraak, in die Wes-Kaap Provinsie in Suid-Afrika te bewoon en daarop ‘n off-grid, volhoubare en selfversorgende bestaan te ontwikkel. Hierdie enkele gevallestudie poog om 'n omvattende antitese te beliggaam tot die benadering tot landelike nedersetting soos tans in Suid-Afrika geïmplementeer. Die benadering is filosofies, en pas toe Hegel se "beslissende weiering" konsepsie van die werklikheid, as dialektiek tussen 'n opvatting van die "tesis" as: globaal, wetenskaplik en gereguleerd wat grootskaalse landbou, die vergiftiging van die natuur en lae-koste behuising tot gevolg het en sy "antitese": gegrond, filosofies en gesonde bestaansboerdery op die grond. Die dialektiek kontrasteer die tesis op 'n makro-en kollektiewe vlak en die antitese op 'n mikro-en persoonlike vlak, wat aanleiding gee tot 'n "sintese", waaruit nuwe antwoorde ontstaan in die beslissende ingebed, eerder as in algemene teoretiese abstraksies. Kritiese oplossings lê vlak versteek in die mikrokosmos detail of in die konteks. Dit wil sê, is gedetermineerd vermom en vereis 'n metodiese en gefundeerde benadering wat nóg weke nóg maande, maar jare eerder van geduldige navorsing verg om te bemag. Die Hegeliaanse metode soos gebruik beklemtoon dat dit onwaarskynlik is dat "begrippe" met hul kontekstuele "standaard begrippe" sal ooreenstem, maar in die proses van aanpassing word eindelose antwoorde uit die fynere detail van bepaalbare werklikheid opgetel. Hierdie antwoorde, wanner van toepassing, het die potensiaal om antitetiese manifestasies van die werklikheid in werklikheid te verifieer; die mikro is in staat om die makro te verklaar deur middel van 'n proses van die verwesenlikte waarheid. Hierdie studie, deur 'n literatuuroorsig toegelig, stel 'n konsep geskep as "nis nedersetting” voor. Dit bestaan uit vier fokusareas wat betref volhoubare self-genoegsaamheid: 'n eienaargeboude woning van plaaslike materiale, eie plaasprodukte vir verbruik en selfmedikasie, die oes van reën en energie, en die neem van verantwoordelikheid vir afval. Ten einde die gevallestudie kontekstueel te waarmerk, is 'n aksie-navorsing metodologiese benadering ingeneem. Dit het begin met 'n gedokumenteerde veldstudie waarin onderhoude met marginale kleinskaal boere gevoer is en is verryk deur 'n grondgebruik-opname in die Suurbraak agri-dorp, ten einde die determinante vir 'n suksesvolle bestaansboerdery uit te lig. Dit het gelei tot 'n dieper begrip van wat die sukses van soortgelyke nis projekte bepaal: die beskikbaarheid van ’n (grond-)perseel, bewerkbare grond naby die woning geleë, toepaslike skaal, toegang tot water, bemagtigende wetgewing en toegang tot insette en arbeid. Die kritiese aard van hierdie determinante word met betrekking tot die gevallestudie getoon. Die wisselwerking van die Munisipaliteit Swellendam se regulasies openbaar teenstrydighede wat behels dat die bogenoemde determinante nie gefasiliteer is nie). Dit is teleurstellend deurdat dit 'n kwesbare twee-eeue oue agrariese erfenis bedreig. Die daaropvolgende dialektiek tussen die navorser en munisipale amptenare wat - gekonfronteer met die teenstrydighede geopenbaar in wetgewing en regulasies met betrekking tot die erfenis, grondgebruik en sonering - onderneem het om sekere besluite wat die lewensvatbaarheid van die nis nedersetting benaderings bedreig het om te keer, manifesteer sodoende as 'n sintese. 'n Verdere voorbeeld van sintese is die voorstel dat die belangrikste determinante effektief toegepas kan word as kriteria om vorm te gee aan die landelike nedersettingsbeleid met betrekking tot grondgebruik, veral gegewe die behoefte om die dreigende wêreldwye resessie, die voedsel-krisis en piek olie saam daarby onder sig te neem.