Strategic issues facing the development of clean development mechanism projects in South Africa

• Main Author: Varughese, Arun
• Other Authors: Gstraunthaler, Thomas
• Format: Dissertation
• Language: English
• Published: University of Cape Town 2014
• Subjects: Finance
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/10677

Includes bibliographical references. === The Kyoto Protocol was signed into existence in 1999 in an effort to lower carbon emissions emitted around the globe. Under the protocol, a mechanism called the CDM was created in order to help developing nations, such as South Africa, lower their carbon emissions. This paper looks at the development of the carbon credits market in South Africa which was created by CDM. Since the ratification of the agreement thousands of projects have been registered by emerging countries such as India, China and Brazil, yet South Africa has only seventeen registered projects. As the largest economy in Africa, which accounts for the majority of the continent's emissions, the slow uptake of CDM projects is glaring. This research paper examines the strategic issues facing CDM projects in South Africa. The lack of skills in SA; the effect of Eskom's monopoly; the financing of the projects and the effect of government policies were posed in detail interview questions to key participants in the CDM market.