Dimensions of a green economy
A lot has been written lately on the importance of moving towards a green economy, but there has been little empirical research on the nature of the green economy that is actually emerging. This project reflects on the actually existing green economy in the GCR. Through a series of case studies, the current state of the green economy in the GCR will be described, and successes and failures, as well as the possibilities for and limitations on a future green economy, will be analysed.
The project builds on the GCRO’s previous work on this issue over the last few years, including the Developmental Green Economy Strategy for Gauteng (in 2009/10) and the Green Strategic Programme (in 2010/11). While this policy support work gave clear guidance on what could be achieved in building towards a green economy, background research suggested that the green economy as it really exists is at the moment still fragmented and ephemeral. There is a pressing need to concretely investigate the successes and failures of the real green economy in order to inform decision makers on appropriate support measures. Through investigation of real green economy projects, both public and private, this project will identify processes, systems and structures that may be instituted to provide innovative responses to green economy blockages and missed opportunities. Applied by governments in the GCR, such innovations might also assist in addressing current municipal finance weaknesses and service-delivery challenges.
The project will critically review the institutional infrastructure that inhibits or supports green economy transitions; the status of national provincial and local government co-ordination of green economy commitments; decision-making processes affecting green economy projects; and current and evolving green finance arrangements available to support green economy initiatives. This will be achieved through targeted case studies of selected green economy projects at local and provincial government level, as well as green economy enterprises emerging within the private sector.
The work will be concluded in 2013/14, which will also see follow-up work interrogating micro-economic constraints on the green economy in more detail, as well as options for transformation of municipal finance systems that inhibit the transition to the green economy.
Key partners
The project will utilize internal GCRO capacity while partnering with institutions, experts and professionals. Key policy engagements will be held with municipalities and provincial departments who have experimented with green economy projects and planning, as well as key players in the financing and supporting of green economy businesses (including selected banks and development finance institutions such as the IDC).
Outputs in 2012/13
Research on this project will start in 2012/13, but will only be concluded in 2013/14.
