Thesis (MPhil)--University of Stellenbosch, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The world has been engaged in a global ‘development project’ since the late 1940s. This process
gained new momentum with the end of colonialism and the emergence of newly independent
countries, all of them plagued with high levels of poverty. Traditional models of economic growth
based on industrialization and import-substitution did not deliver the expected results to reduce
poverty, especially in Africa. New ways of engaging with development emerged; in particular the
basic needs approach in the 1970s and later the human development approach.
Independently a new environmental movement surfaced in the 1960s, responding to the rallying call
of global environmental destruction as a result of economic activities. For the first time a global
language on the limitations nature presents to development emerged. The ‘movement’ received
particular traction with the emergence of global climate disruption as the single largest global
environmental issue. ‘Human needs’, represented by the anthropocentrists, and ‘environmental
limitations’, represented by environmentalists were merged in an uncomfortable union to give birth to
the notion of sustainable development. Yet, as a result of a large variety of perspectives, no
agreement has been reached on what sustainable development means or should achieve.
There is agreement though that developmental needs and environmental challenges are both urgent.
An important unanswered question is how the world will pay for sustainable development
interventions. Some interesting ideas on alternative sources of development finance has been
around for a while, yet has not found practical application. Carbon finance, an innovative new source
of funding, is an exception.
This exploratory research was conducted by reviewing existing relevant literature using the inductive
logic technique. It was initiated as a result of specific experiences leading the researcher to some
general ‘truths’.
The findings revealed that carbon markets, which are primarily focussed on reducing carbon
emissions and which in itself makes a positive contribution to sustainability, has over the last few
years successfully leveraged billions of dollars for investment in sustainable development projects
globally. Some of these have the added advantage of co-benefits for the poor. Its role is set to expand as a source of development finance. South Africa has the potential to earn large amounts
from carbon trading, assisting the country to move to a more sustainable development trajectory. The
findings concluded that realising this potential will require a more focussed approach, especially from
the South African Government. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die wêreld is sedert die 1940s besig met ‘n grootskaalse ‘ontwikkelingsprojek’. Die proses het nuwe
momentum gekry teen die einde van die koloniale tydperk. Die nuut onafhanklike state het almal
gebuk gegaan onder hoë vlakke van armoede. Tradisionele modelle van ekonomiese groei
gebasseer op industrialisasie en invoer vervanging, het nie die verwagte resultate in terme van
armoede verligting - veral in Afrika - gehad nie. Nuwe benaderings tot ontwikkeling - spesifiek die
‘basiese behoeftesbenadering’ in die 1970s en later die menslike ontwikkelingsbenadering – is
ontwikkel met die hoop dat dit beter resultate sal lewer om armoede hok te slaan.
Terselfdertyd het ‘n nuwe omgewingsbeweging in die 1960s ontstaan, in reaksie op die vernietig van
die natuur deur die mens se ekonomiese aktiwiteite. Die gevolg was dat daar ‘n internasionale taal
onstaan het wat die beperkinge wat die natuur op ontwikkeling plaas kon verwoord. Dit het veral
momentum gekry met die bewuswording dat aardverwarming die wêreld se grootste
omgewingsuitdaging bied. Mense se behoeftes soos verwoord deur antroposentriste, en
omgewingsbeperkings soos verwoord deur omgewingskundiges, het bymekaargekom om die nuwe
konsep van volhoubare ontwikkeling te vorm. As gevolg van ‘n groot verskeidenheid van
interpretasies is daar geen ooreenstemming oor wat volhoubare ontwikkeling beteken of behoort te
bereik nie.
Waaroor daar wel ooreenstemming is, is die feit dat die wêreld se behoefte aan ontwikkeling sowel as
die omgewingsuitdagings beide dringend is. ‘n Belangrike vraag wat niemand nog kon beantwoord
nie, is hoe die wêreld gaan betaal vir volhoubare ontwikkelingsprojekte. Alhoewel daar ‘n paar
kreatiewe idees vir alternatiewe bronne van ontwikkelingsfinansiering die rondte doen, het nog nie
een daarvan praktiese beslag gekry nie. Die enigste vindingryke nuwe bron van
ontwikkelingsfinansiering wat wel geïmplimenteer is, is koolstof finansiering.
Dié ondersoekende navorsing is gedoen deur middel van ‘n literatuur studie van bestaande relevante
materiaal, deur gebruik te maak van die induktiewe logika tegniek. Die studie is geïnisieer as gevolg
van spesifieke ondervindings wat die navorser gelei het na algemene ‘waarhede’. Bevindinge uit die studie het aangedui dat koolstof markte, wat primêr ten doel het om die vrystel van
aardverwarmingsgasse te beperk en dus opsigself ‘n positiewe bydrae tot volhoubaarheid lewer, oor
die laaste paar jaar daarin geslaag het om miljarde dollars beskikbaar te maak vir volhoubare
ontwikkelingsprojekte wêreldwyd. Sommige hiervan het die voordeel dat dit arm gemeenskappe
bevoordeel. Die rol van die koolstofmarkte gaan in die toekoms toeneem. Suid Afrika het die
potensiaal om groot bedrae te verdien uit koolstof finansiering, wat die land behoort te help om op ‘n
meer volhoubare ontwikkelingspad voort te gaan. Die bevindinge sluit af deur aan te dui dat die
realisering van dié potensiaal ‘n baie meer gefokusde benadering deur veral die Suid Afrikaanse
Regering gaan vereis.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/6557 |
| Date | 03 1900 |
| Creators | Du Preez, David H. |
| Contributors | Brent, Alan, Fakier, Saliem, University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. School of Public Leadership. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | Unknown |
| Type | Thesis |
| Rights | University of Stellenbosch |
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