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Potential Models for Future Higher Education Cooperation between South Africa and Norway Environment and climate University of the Western Cape, 27 November 2009. Poul Wisborg, Department of International Environment and Development Studies (Noragric). www.umb.no. Mother Earth Crying, Svalbard.

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  1. Potential Models for Future Higher Education Cooperation between South Africa and NorwayEnvironment and climateUniversity of the Western Cape, 27 November 2009 Poul Wisborg, Department of International Environment and Development Studies (Noragric) www.umb.no

  2. Mother Earth Crying, Svalbard Educational cooperation: environment and climate ’Climate change’ – material change and search for meaning. Michael S. Nolan, Bulls Press

  3. Norway in the Nordic region Educational cooperation: environment and climate Source: Wikipedia, entry: Nordic Council

  4. Key points • Global climate change is real – but the discourse needs critical attention • Norway and South Africa: high emissions, resistance to change • Are there prospects for solidarity and cooperation among South African and Norwegian peoples? • How may cooperation in higher education contribute? • UMB examples • Approach • Thematic focus • Modes of cooperation • Conclusion Educational cooperation: environment and climate

  5. Climate change is real - but discourse needs critical attention • Human induced global climate change well supported by evidence • Need for critical eyes: • Discourse versus policy versus practice • Weather, cycles and trends may be natural • Regional and local impact often uncertain • Exacerbates environment and development problems: land, energy, transport, poverty, inequality, health – but does not replace them • Avoid ”climate change monster discourse” that swallows other ethical concerns Educational cooperation: environment and climate

  6. Vegetable farm on the Limpopo River • Family-owned, close to 500 workers • Owner: Farming in SA is “high risk” … • “In what way?”: • Diseases • Climate change • Irrigation water • Frost • Drought/heat • Energy • Markets • Politics Educational cooperation: environment and climate Google Earth, 10 April 2008

  7. Livestock herding, Pella, Namaqualand Educational collaboration: environment and climate

  8. Norway and South Africa: high emissions, resistance to change Norway South Africa Coal main source of energy, base of major industries About 440 million tons CO2 per year (total) (of which 220 million by ESKOM), about 9 tons per capita ”Excuses”: Development, ’poor country’, African averages, other struggles, such as democracy, inequality and HIV/AIDS Educational collaboration: environment and climate • Oil and gas as main base of economy • Decades of increase in CO2emissions against public commitments • About 54 million tons CO2per year (total), about 12 tons per capita (excluding shipping and air transport) • ”Excuse”: ??? Grønås, Sigbjørn: 'Norway's double standards', Aftenposten 14 July 2008, p. 6-7 Groenewald, Yolandi: SA on low-carbon diet, Mail & Guardian 6-12 November 2009, p 41

  9. CO2 emissions – a similar challenge (?) Educational collaboration: environment and climate CO2 emission – tons per capita per year *) International Panel on Climate Change estimated level in 2050 to ensure temperature increase below 2.0 degrees C by 2100 Grønås, Sigbjørn: 'Norway's double standards', Aftenposten 14 July 2008, p. 6-7 Groenewald, Yolandi: SA on low-carbon diet, Mail & Guardian 6-12 November 2009, p 41

  10. “Norway’s double standards” “..Norway’s policy is not consistent with the goal of only two degrees increase (by 2100). Our emissions are several times higher than what the world can sustain to reach this goal. We are even claiming a right to continue doing the same in future. The media give the impression that we are champions in climate reductions. The double standards have never been more manifest”. - Professor Sigbjørn Grønås, University of Bergen 'Norway's double standards', Aftenposten 14 July 2008, p. 6-7 Educational collaboration: environment and climate

  11. Newspaper headline:“One plant = the whole of Norway” DETTE ER TITTELEN PÅ PRESENTASJONEN • Secunda coal based plant owned by SASOL • CO2 emissions 57 million tons (Norway 2006: 54 million tons) • Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg visit April 2008 • Current collaboration Mathismoen, Ole: ‘One plant = the whole of Norway’, Aftenposten, 18 April 2008, p. 6

  12. Prospects for solidarity and cooperation among South African and Norwegian peoples? Educational cooperation: environment and climate

  13. How may cooperation in higher education contribute? • UMB involvement • Approach • Thematic focus • Modes of operation Educational collaboration: environment and climate

  14. 1. UMB involvement: examples Ten years of collaboration with PLAAS, UWC: land, agriculture, natural resources, poverty (2000-2009) Conservation farming in Zambia Involved in Agricultural Research and Development (ARDEP), Malawi Climate and forest cooperation with Sokoine University of Agriculture, Tanzania Thor Heyerdahl professorship in Climate and Development Cooperation and proposals on water management with IWMI, South Africa BA, MA (2) and PhD programmes in International Environment and Development Studies Educational cooperation: environment and climate

  15. 2. Approach • Critical and independent • Politics of knowledge – political ecology • Interdisciplinary • Comparative, sensitive to context • Collaborative • Participatory Educational cooperation: environment and climate PLAAS researchers visit to Norwegian rural areas (2000)

  16. 3. Thematic focus (selected issues) • Environmental justice* • Land/resource tenure and displacement** • Renewable energy • Food production and food security • Settlement and transport • Climate modelling Educational cooperation: environment and climate Examples: *) Cooperation between Univ. of Bergen, UCT and ACCESS (Africa Centre for Climate and Earth System Science) **) PLAAS, UWC and Noragric

  17. 4. Modes of cooperation (some points) • A new, well-resourced multilateral research programme –Nordic and southern African dimension • Joint degree programmes • Master and PhD scholarships and funds for joint (south-north) field research • Collaboration with civil society, business and governments • Reduce ecological foot print of universities: waste, energy,work transport, e-learning, travel – educating citizens of a fragile world Educational cooperation: environment and climate

  18. Conclusion: Cooperation in higher education, Environment and climate While many collaborative efforts exist ... ... strategic planning by universities and fresh public resources are needed to make them .. ... more creative (awareness, knowledge and innovation) and more effective steps towards environmental responsibility. A useful first step could be a collaborative, strategic planning session in the first half of 2010. Educational cooperation: environment and climate

  19. Landscapes - constraints and opportunities Educational cooperation: environment and climate Farmland, Eastern Cape

  20. Carrying together? Educational cooperation: environment and climate From the Gustav Vigeland statue park, Oslo

  21. Adapting to new circumstances? Educational cooperation: environment and climate Lions playing in the snow: Kristiansand Zoo, Norway, 2009 (Aftenposten

  22. UMB Campus, 2009 Educational cooperation: environment and climate Thank you ....

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