ARUA CD organised a panel discussion and a side event at the South African Science Forum held in Tshwane, on the 5-8th of December.

The Science Forum serves as an open and inclusive platform to debate the interface of science and society. Over 4000 delegates and numerous exhibitors presented a wide range of innovations in technology and society ranging from titanium 3D printing of drone frames, medical equipment and prostheses to AI in early warning for flooding and climate response.

Focusing on the role of Science and Innovation in Transforming Social Inequalities Through Inclusive Climate Action

The sessions were organised in a collaborative effort between Veronica Mohapeloa, Deputy Director: Overseas Bilateral Cooperation, Department of Science and Technology and the University of Cape Town. Dr Britta Rennkamp, Senior Researcher at the University of Cape Town presented results from research on Transforming Social Inequalities towards Inclusive Climate Action (TSITICA) project funded by the UKRI.

The state of the art in the research on the intersections between inequalities and climate change shows clearly that the climate impacts exacerbate existing inequalities and injustices. Yet, the multi-dimensionality and intersectionality between inequalities and climate governance of vulnerable livelihoods is not fully understood. TSITICA research unpacked the spatial dimensions of vulnerabilities to climate change and poverty. The geographies of climate vulnerabilities and social vulnerabilities overlap in South Africa, Ghana and Kenya.

What do these findings mean for climate governance?

TSITICA research shows that implementation of the Paris Agreement and the formulation of the Nationally Determined Contributions to achieving the global climate goals is very limited in catering for participation from the most vulnerable groups.

Dr Rasigan Maharajh, Chief Director of the Institute for Economic Research on Innovation at Tshwane University of Technology highlighted the contradictions, polycrises, and catastrophes embedded within critical discourses of climate change and drew attention to the consequent inequities and injustices being reproduced in contemporary international climate responses that fail to recognise the system of unequal exchange underpinning capitalism. The increased financialisation of climate-related policies, and the belligerence of the global North against recognising common but differentiated responsibilities, serve to remind us all that systemic change and structural transformation are also necessary for any ‘transition’ to be considered ‘just’.  Advocate Gary Pienaar of the CSIR presented his organisation’s research on political participation and highlighted the importance of feedback loops in the participative research process.

In sum, the presentation of the research on procedural and distributional inequalities of climate policies led to an engaged discussion between the audience, speakers and organisers of the session.


By: Britta Rennkamp