Developing a vulnerability reference framework for Cape Town International Airport in the context of carbon uncertain futures

Thesis (MDF)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / In recent years there has been a growth in literature from multiple disciplines on the potential
effects of climate change and a corresponding growth in literature on potential mitigation and
adaptation response strategies, including multiple means of shifting to a low-carbon future. Multiple
assessment techniques have been developed to understand the potential vulnerability to, and
impacts of climate change. At the same time, there is a lack of methodology to understand the
potential vulnerability to, and impacts of, responses to climate change on a micro level.
This research report describes the development of a reference framework to be used to monitor
the vulnerability of the Cape Town International Airport to changes in carbon pricing and/or a shift
to a low-carbon future. A theoretical approach was taken, which reviews existing techniques and
proposes an integrated framework approach which was then applied to the case study of Cape
Town International Airport.
Existing literature on what is understood by a low carbon future shows that there is uncertainty
about what mitigation and adaptation approaches will be adopted on various scales, and, similarly,
uncertainty on what this means for a low carbon economy. Existing scenario development,
vulnerability assessment, risk assessment and impact assessment methodologies were then
reviewed, revealing a dearth of integrated approaches and an emphasis on the direct impacts of
climate change, with a lack of attention to the impacts of responses to climate change. Finally, an
overview of what are considered key driving forces in airport feasibility is provided in order to
identify potential areas of vulnerability that require attention in any assessment of an airports’
vulnerability to different futures.
Building on the various methodologies reviewed, and the understanding of key airport drivers, a
reference framework is developed with special focus on the Cape Town International Airport and
its current financial structure and planning framework. The final section of the paper discusses
preliminary findings as illustrative of the approach, concluding that the framework can be applied
via multidisciplinary collaboration, but that further work would be required both internally and
externally in order to better manage uncertainties.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/80778
Date03 1900
CreatorsAllemeier, Jodi
ContributorsVolschenk, Jako, Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. Graduate School of Business.
PublisherStellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Source SetsSouth African National ETD Portal
Languageen_ZA
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeThesis
Formatxii, 96 p. : col. ill.
RightsStellenbosch University

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