ResearchSpace :: Browsing by Author "Audouin, Michelle A"

Browsing by Author "Audouin, Michelle A"

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Advancing sustainability science in South Africa
(Acad Science South Africa A S S AF, 2006-09) Burns, MER; Audouin, Michelle A; Weaver, AV
Science has considerable potential to contribute to sustainable development. Much of this potential remains latent, however, due to the divisions that exist within and between the producers of scientific information and the users of this and other sources of knowledge. A response to this situation has seen the emergence of 'sustainability science’, which aims to overcome divisions between knowledge sources of various forms, including the social and natural sciences and alternative epistemologies that warrant acknowledgement. We (the authors) review the key defining characteristics of sustainability science, and describe some examples of science-based South African initiatives, aimed at promoting sustainable development, that incorporate many of these characteristics. We (the authors) suggest that, with some reinforcement of their sustainability science base, these examples provide good templates for broader application. To retain the experience gained through such projects and to build organizational memory, there is a strong case for the establishment of trans disciplinary centres for sustainability science in South Africa.
Advancing sustainable port development in the Western Indian Ocean region
(2024-12) Taljaard, Susan; Weerts, Steven P; Audouin, Michelle A
The Western Indian Ocean (WIO) region is experiencing rapid growth in large-scale developments, including ports. These ports play an important role in the region’s economy, but they are invariably located in coastal areas with rich natural resources that provide other ecosystem-based societal benefits. Progress has been made towards greater port sustainability in the region in recent years, but there is an urgent need to accelerate regional sustainable efforts. In response, the Nairobi Convention Secretariat initiated the development of a ‘Toolkit for Sustainable Port Development’. This was rooted in an Integrated Port Management (IPM) framework comprising four key phases: planning, design, construction, and operations. A systematic and incremental approach is recommended for implementation, first adopting the IPM framework and then applying eco-friendly technologies and practices based on place-based priorities to reduce environmental impacts and unacceptable socio-economic consequences. This will contribute significantly to sustainable port development in the WIO region.
Flood hazards in a changing world: Challenges and opportunities in the Garden Route
(2022-07) Smith-Adao, Lindie B; Blanchard, R; Kotzee, Ilse M; Le Maitre, D; Ntshotsho, Phumza; Audouin, Michelle A; Forsyth, G; Walters, M
In its 2022 Global Risks Report, the World Economic Forum states that environmental concerns dominate the top five long-term risks (in terms of likelihood) with three of them also being among the top five in terms of impact. Biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse, as well as climate action and adaptation failure and extreme weather are highlighted as the top three environmental risks over the next ten years. Anthropogenic environmental disasters, natural disasters and water crises are expected to have significant impacts on economic stability and social cohesion over the next decade (World Economic Forum (WEF), 2022).
Interpreting the green economy: emerging discourses and their considerations for the Global South
(Taylor & Francis, 2014-05) Faccer, K; Nahman, Anton; Audouin, Michelle A
The green economy concept promises to provide a concrete roadmap to the implementation of sustainable development while delivering significant social and economic benefits and reduced environmental risks. However, the concept of a green economy is still being debated and the emerging discourse has yet to be fully interpreted within the industrial, institutional and socio-economic realities of many countries, including particularly those in the global South. This paper traces the origins of the concept, providing the context for its current traction globally, and then introduces three emerging agendas around the green economy: ‘the incrementalist discourse’, ‘the reformist discourse’ and ‘the transformative discourse’. The paper ends with a discussion of the application of key themes within these discourses in the context of southern Africa and considerations as the green economic debate evolves.
An introduction to sustainability science and its links to sustainability assessment
(Edward Elgar, 2015-09) Audouin, Michelle A; Burns, M; Weaver, A; Le Maitre, David C; O'Farrell, Patrick J; du Toit, R; Nel, J
In this chapter the authors explore two elements which arguably underlie all aspects of sustainability science, namely: an emphasis on the relationships between social, ecological and economic aspects in a systemic view of the world (section 14.2); and the adoption of a transdisciplinary approach to conducting research related to social-ecological systems (section 14.3). Links are drawn within the chapter between these elements of sustainability science and their possible application in sustainability assessment.
Land
(Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, 2007-01) Audouin, Michelle A
Unsustainable agricultural practices have had a role to play in the degradation of land on which agriculture depends. South Africa has an international obligation to develop a National Action Programme (NAP), the purpose of which is to identify the factors contributing to desertification and practical measures necessary to combat desertification and mitigate the effect of drought. The priority issues reported on in this chapter are soil and veld degradation, and the loss of land for agricultural use.
The negotiation of knowledge for coastal governance
(2012-09) Celliers, Louis; Scott, D; Taljaard, Susan; Ngcoya, M; Audouin, Michelle A
In May 2011, the CSIR (Natural Resources and the Environment), in partnership with University of KwaZulu-Natal’s (UKZN) School of Development Studies (SDS, now School of Built Environment and Development Studies – SBEDS) submitted a proposal to the Department of Science and Technology (DST) within the context of the Global Change Grand Challenge and the Global Change (GCGC), Society and Sustainability Research Programme (SSRP) Knowledge Challenge D: Innovation for sustainability posing the main research question: How applicable is the ‘knowledge negotiation’ model for producing appropriate knowledge for coastal governance in the context of a neo-liberal, developing society in the process of transformation? The main objective of the research is the development and testing of an innovative and radical model for (scientific) knowledge production at local (or municipal) levels. The project will run over three years and will form the basis for active collaboration between the project team and eThekwini Municipality, the Provincial and National Government.
Pathways for mainstreaming resilience thinking into climate change adaptation and planning in the city of Cape Town
(Palgrave Macmillan, 2020-10) Snyman-Van der Walt, Luanita; Schreiner, Gregory O; Laurie, Suriana; Audouin, Michelle A; Lochner, Paul A; Marivate, Vukosi N; Pasquini, L; Davidson, A; Hadingham, T; Cameron, R; Brears, RC
Between 2015 and 2017, the City of Cape Town in the Western Cape Province of South Africa experienced three lower than average rainfall years. A changing climate has altered the rainfall patterns in the Western Cape, shifting most of Cape Town’s winter rainfall south and offshore. In 2017, this resulted in the lowest rainfall on record since 1945. In May 2017, the Western Cape Government declared the Province a disaster area amidst ever stricter water restrictions imposed on Cape Town’s residents, and in early 2018 National Government declared the drought a national disaster. Cape Town authorities have accepted these potentially replicating drought conditions as the “new normal” and resolved that future planning must strengthen the City’s resilience to the shocks and stresses associated with a changing climate. In July 2017 a focused, multistakeholder, multidisciplinary SDG “Lab” was hosted by the South African Council for Scientific and Industrial Research to facilitate the co-generation of new ideas to mainstream resilience into urban climate change adaptation and planning. The Lab resulted in a five pathways to enhance planning toward a climate-resilient Cape Town, which included technical and engineering solutions, environmental management approaches, as well as sustainable development and socio-political strategies.
SEA in Southern Africa
(Earthscan, 2011-01) Audouin, Michelle A; Lochner, Paul A; Tarr, P
On a continent where the livelihoods of the majority of Africans are closely linked to the health of the natural environment, and where poverty and land degradation has increased in recent decades, there is a critical need for sustainable management of the resource base and the ecosystem services that this provides. Most southern African countries already have environmental assessment and management policies and legislation in place and specific provision for strategic environmental assessment (SEA) exists in a number of them. Despite these trends, however, the opportunities that SEA can offer to facilitate sustainable development are not being realized. In this chapter, the authors describe the emergence of SEA in the post-colonial, democratic context of southern Africa, provide an overview of the recent developments and argue that there is considerable scope for SEA to have a greater impact on sustainable development than it does at present. The metaphor used is that current practice of SEA is but ‘the ear of the hippo’ . . .there is huge potential beneath the surface.
Strategic environmental assessment: Integrated environmental management
(Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, 2004) Audouin, Michelle A; Govender, K
This document has been written for a wide audience. Its objective is to serve as an initial reference text. The aim is to provide an introductory information source to government authorities, environmental practitioners, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), industry, project proponents, academics, students and other interested and affected parties (I&APs). This document focuses on concepts, principles and the general characteristics of SEA. In Section 3, the benefits of SEA are presented. Thereafter, certain milestones in the evolution of SEA internationally, and in South Africa, are briefly described. In Section 5, examples of principles and performance criteria for SEA are listed and in Section 6 key characteristics of selected SEA approaches are summarised. Recommendations for best practice are listed in Section 7. This document does not prescribe or recommend specific methods, but rather provides an overview of the nature of SEA.
The sustainable development goals in South Africa: Investigating the need for multi-stakeholder partnerships
(Routledge Journals, Taylor & Francis Ltd, 2018-04) Haywood, Lorren K; Funke, Nicola S; Audouin, Michelle A; Musvoto, Constansia D; Nahman, Anton
Achieving the SDGs depends on partnerships between stakeholders, from government, the private sector, civil society, academic and research intuitions, and international agencies. The UN system provides governance and support from an international perspective; national government creates an enabling and monitoring environment for implemented; civil society creates advocacy and awareness; the academic and research community provides knowledge, technologies and innovation for implementation; and the private sector does much of the implementation towards achieving the SDG targets. These different roles and responsibilities imply that development objectives cannot be achieved in isolation. There is a need for integration and partnerships between the different role-players. While partnerships do already exist, there is a call for interventions to strengthen them. Multi-stakeholder platforms are proposed as a mechanism to support and encourage partnerships and to provide leadership on successful partnerships for achieving the SDGs. Any partnership established needs to be accountable, as well as people-and planet-centred.
Sustainable water for rural security - A transdisciplinary approach [Presentation]
(2012-05) Maherry, A; Genthe, Bettina; Steyn, Maronel; Clarke, S; Beukman, E; Audouin, Michelle A; Van Wyk, I; Wall, K
This abstract presents the work conductive by the CSIR project entitled Sustainable Water for Rural Security with the following aims: to link research disciplines within the CSIR which together can provide an appropriate science base to enable the provision of clean water to rural communities; to bridge the knowing-doing gap by carrying out research on integrated implementation in partnership with communities and implementing Agencies; to ensure the sustained and expanded impact of this action-research through effective transfer of knowledge and technologies; and to identify the critical design criteria that ensure sustainability of rural water supply systems in South Africa.
Towards nature-based resilience in infrastructure development and assessment: An introductory guide
(CSIR and Centre for Complex Systems in Transition (Stellenbosch University), 2020-04) Audouin, Michelle A; Sitas, Nadia
Infrastructure is critical to Africa's development and its ability to address poverty. The development of such infrastructure, however, needs to be undertaken in a way that is adaptable to a world of increasing uncertainty and environmental degradation. The CSIR, as part of the GRAID (Guidance for Resilience in the Anthropocene: Investments for Development) programme, therefore led the drafting of an introductory Guide for integrating the principles of resilience into infrastructure development and assessment. The focus of the Guide is on the energy, transport and water sectors in Sub-Saharan Africa. The target audience are those that support the development of infrastructure in Africa, as well as environmental assessment practitioners.

Browsing by Author "Audouin, Michelle A"

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