Climate Change
Photo by Chris Kirchhoff
Over the past decade, public awareness of climate change and its impacts has grown immensely resulting in more urgent action at the local, national and international levels. The Sustainable Development Programme of the HBS seeks to maintain and increase the current awareness of climate change, and through its international network of offices to provide a platform for African voices to be heard at the international level and conversely to create local awareness of the global discourse on climate change.

Our ultimate aim is to contribute to the development of just and equitable responses to climate change at local, regional and international levels. The climate change component of the programme focuses on: 

  • Mitigation - particularly by promoting renewable energy and energy efficiency as sustainable solutions to climate change; 
  • Adaptation  - by highlighting the expected impacts of climate change in the region e.g. on the water resources of the region; 
  • Finance and technology transfer – by seeking to understand and promote the most suitable finance and technology solutions for the region.


Climate Change
ANALYSIS
Climate Change and Democratisation: A complex relationship
July 29, 2010 - The paper examines whether democracy at the country level and global climate change matter for another. It raises the question of how to support democracy’s advance in the face of multiple challenges that include the adverse effects of global warming and extreme weather events merits much more attention than it has received so far. By Peter Burnell more»
ANALYSIS
Drowning Voices: The Climate Change Discourse in South Africa – May 20, 2010 - Significant attention has been given to improving our understanding of the real and imminent impacts of climate change. It is accepted that rising temperatures, changes in rainfall patterns, extreme weather events, changes in sea levels and changes in biodiversity will have significant consequences on the world economy, rural livelihoods and development in general. Africa in particular will be hardest hit by climate change yet its adaptive capacity remains low. By Masego Madzwamuse more»
ANALYSIS
The next step in the road – an evaluation of the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference – April 15, 2010 - After the bewildering disappointment of the United Nations climate summit held in Copenhagen last December, civil society must set its eyes on the road ahead and ask “where to from here?” as the climate crisis continues apace. Leonie Joubert sat in on a round-table discussion held in Cape Town in the aftermath of the summit. more»
STUDY
Gender and Climate Change in Southern Africa – April 14, 2010 - Although various studies have focused on climate change impacts and adaptation opportunities in Africa, few have focused on the household level and in particular on gender differentiated impacts of climate change. This study, commissioned by Heinrich Böll Stiftung, provides an analysis and summary of the findings of eight case studies carried out in four southern African countries. Furthermore, the study aims to identify various policies, programmes and activities that could address these issues. more»
SEMINAR
Will Copenhagen deliver? Aspirations and Reality – December 2, 2009 - WILL COPENHAGEN DELIVER? – That was the question dominating debate at a recent seminar convened by the Heinrich Böll Stiftung (HBS) in Cape Town. Attended by representatives of local government, business, civil society, academics, researchers, students and the media, the seminar sought to shed light on the prospects of reaching a comprehensive international climate deal when parties meet for the UN Climate Change Conference 2009 in Copenhagen from 7 to 18 December. more»
DOSSIER
On the road to Copenhagen – From 7 to 18 December the UN climate change conference 2009 took place. With this Dossier the Heinrich Böll Foundation aimed to provide accessible analysis from a South African perspective and a wider range of background information on the road to Copenhagen. more»
PUBLICATION
Perspectives #02/2009: On the road to Copenhagen – November 10, 2009 - The United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen between 7 and 18 December will be extremely critical in determining the global actions to curb climate change in the future. This issue of Perspectives covers some of the key issues and implications of the negotiations as they are viewed from (Southern) Africa. more»
REPORT
Training and Strategy Building Workshop for African Negotiators – October 23, 2009 - The Heinrich Boll Stiftung Regional Office for Southern Africa hosted a Training and Strategy Building workshop for negotiators from eastern and southern African in Bangkok, Thailand from 21 – 23 September 2009. This report presents the results of that workshop. more»
PARTNER ACTIVITY
Climate Change Hearings – October 13, 2009 - The Environmental Monitoring Group (EMG) and Oxfam hosted Climate Change Hearings on the 5th and 6th October at the Common Ground Church, Rondebosch, Cape Town. The aim of the Hearings was to suspend the big climate change questions for a while, and take the time out to really listen to the experiences of ordinary people and how vulnerable their lives are to changes in the climate. more»
A Green New Deal in South Africa? Summary of dinner debate discussion hosted by the Heinrich Böll Foundation in Cape Town. – September 7, 2009 - On the occasion of the visit of its Co-President Ralf Fuecks to South Africa, the Heinrich Böll Foundation Southern Africa hosted an informal dinner debate on 05. August 2009 that aimed to explore the possibilities and challenges for establishing a greener economy in South Africa. more»
PUBLICATION
Toward a Transatlantic Green New Deal: Tackling the Climate and Economic Crisis – The grave financial and economic crisis that broke into full view in the fall of 2008 has dominated not only headlines but also government and business deliberations. Bailout efforts and stimulus packages of unprecedented scope have taken center stage, as attempts to stave off the specter of a second Great Depression unfold. In sharp contrast with the laissez-faire attitude of the past three decades, the question now is not whether government can play a useful and central role, but what the specifics of government action should be. more»
Book
"Boiling Point" - the Impact of Climate Change in South Africa – Leonie Joubert, a renowned journalist and photographer, reports on the impact of climate change in South Africa. Her essay is accompanied by striking photographs of  South Africa’s vulnerable landscapes and of the people depending on them for their livelihoods. more»
Appeal
Climate Justice for Africa! – Africa speaks up on Climate Change is an appeal about the threat climate change poses to Africa. Immediate political action is needed. The film Hotspot Africa shows how severe the problems really are. more»
OPPORTUNITIES
  • The Heinrich Böll Stiftung Southern Africa is looking for a Human Rights Programme Manager. The required qualifications, duties and tasks are laid out here.
  • The Heinrich Böll Stiftung Southern Africa is looking for interns for the second half of 2010. The requirements, duties and tasks are laid out here.
  • Apply for the International Short-Term Fellowship Programme 2010 of the Heinrich Böll Foundation. Deadline is the 31 July 2010. For more information click here.
Partners Sustainable Development
Heinrich Böll Foundation in Africa
Heinrich Böll Foundation Headquarters