Green and just transitions
The global shift towards sustainability has largely focused on balancing economic growth with environmental preservation. The concept of a “Just Transition” has emerged to emphasize the importance of social justice in achieving sustainable development. Considering the transition to a greener world from an innovation perspective requires a discussion of inequity, exclusion, historical injustices, and structural inequalities. In so doing the Chair’s work considers a range of areas including how African countries can build stronger local innovation capabilities for the green transition and how innovation policy can be utilised to reduces carbon emissions while also addressing inequalities.
Current Projects
Past Projects
Sector Development Plan for The Micro-digester Industry in South Africa
Description:
The South African National Energy Development Institute (SANEDI) commissioned a study to review the state of the micro-digester industry in South Africa and the impact of projects they have implemented during the last five years as part of its Working for Energy Programme. SANEDI’s Working Energy Programme aims “to provide sustainable clean energy solutions to rural and low-income urban communities with special emphasis on job creation, skills development, and community enterprise development. The Programme targets the youth, women, and people with disabilities in rural areas and low-income urban communities.” UJ- TRCTI collaborated with UJ Process Energy and Environmental Technology Station (UJ-PEETS) to provide a series of inputs to assist them in conducting the feasibility report and the development of the sector development plan for these micro-digesters. The Trilateral Chair has coordinated a series of online discussions in October and November in the form of action dialogues, engaging government, academia, SMMEs, industry partners, and community stakeholders to provide input and channel the next steps for the sector.
Project Information:
Duration: 2022-2023
Funder: The South African Energy Development Institute (SANEDI)
Research Team:
Principal Investigators: Prof. Rebecca Hanlin and Prof. Erika Kraemer-Mbula
Researchers:
Prof. David Walwyn
Dr. Sibusiso Manzini
PhD students: Amanda-Leigh O’Connell, Liesel Kassier, Wondia Mireille Yeo
Collaborators: UJ Process, Energy & Environmental Technology Station (UJ-PEETS)
Research Outputs:
Research report: Hanlin et al. (2021)…
Sector Development Plan: SANEDI, UJ-TRCTI…
Transforming Climate Innovation Ecosystems through Inclusive Transdisciplinarity (TransCIIT)
Description:
I 2022, partners from the Trilateral Chair, Kenya Climate Innovation Center (KCIC), and Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (JOOUST) collaborated on the “Transforming Climate Innovation Ecosystems through Inclusive Transdisciplinarity (TransCIIT)” project, funded by the British Council. The project created an online portal to match the needs of young and female climate entrepreneurs with the skills of postgraduate students. The successful matchmaking service, already impacting participants, highlights a need for similar efforts in other sectors. 2023, the project will expand to include more Kenyan entrepreneurs and students, with plans for further development in Africa.
Project Information:
Duration: 2022-2023
Funder: British Council
Status: Completed
Research Team:
Principal Investigator: Prof. Rob Byrne
Researchers:
Collaborators: African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS), Kenya Climate Innovation Center (KCIC), Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (JOOUST)
Research Output:
Research report: TransCIIT Research Report