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Coloniality as a Barrier to Climate Action : Hierarchies of Power in a Coal-Based Economy

Islar, Mine LU and Van Ryneveld, Tara LU (2023) In Antipode 55(3). p.958-981
Abstract
South Africa has a coal-based energy system and extractive economy, largely responsible for its high emission levels relative to countries with similar GDP. This extractive, coal-based economy began during British colonisation and today shows few signs of transitioning rapidly to limit climate change. This paper interrogates the role of coloniality in climate delay, given that colonisation is responsible for establishing fossil fuel dependence in South Africa. Combining theory on decolonisation, specifically colonial hierarchies of power, with a critical discourse analysis, this research uses interview and policy data to show how colonial power hierarchies can lead to climate delay in South Africa, through normalising emissions intensive... (More)
South Africa has a coal-based energy system and extractive economy, largely responsible for its high emission levels relative to countries with similar GDP. This extractive, coal-based economy began during British colonisation and today shows few signs of transitioning rapidly to limit climate change. This paper interrogates the role of coloniality in climate delay, given that colonisation is responsible for establishing fossil fuel dependence in South Africa. Combining theory on decolonisation, specifically colonial hierarchies of power, with a critical discourse analysis, this research uses interview and policy data to show how colonial power hierarchies can lead to climate delay in South Africa, through normalising emissions intensive development and silencing alternatives. In doing so, it highlights the need to recognise the colonial foundations of climate change and the potential for a coalition between decolonisation and climate action to motivate for radical change both in South Africa and at a global level. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
climate, coal, energy, south africa
in
Antipode
volume
55
issue
3
pages
958 - 981
publisher
Wiley-Blackwell
external identifiers
  • scopus:85143117085
ISSN
0066-4812
DOI
10.1111/anti.12907
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
5ec56339-3513-4516-943f-6d6dc192d8fc
date added to LUP
2022-12-12 09:52:55
date last changed
2023-10-26 14:55:39
@article{5ec56339-3513-4516-943f-6d6dc192d8fc,
  abstract     = {{South Africa has a coal-based energy system and extractive economy, largely responsible for its high emission levels relative to countries with similar GDP. This extractive, coal-based economy began during British colonisation and today shows few signs of transitioning rapidly to limit climate change. This paper interrogates the role of coloniality in climate delay, given that colonisation is responsible for establishing fossil fuel dependence in South Africa. Combining theory on decolonisation, specifically colonial hierarchies of power, with a critical discourse analysis, this research uses interview and policy data to show how colonial power hierarchies can lead to climate delay in South Africa, through normalising emissions intensive development and silencing alternatives. In doing so, it highlights the need to recognise the colonial foundations of climate change and the potential for a coalition between decolonisation and climate action to motivate for radical change both in South Africa and at a global level.}},
  author       = {{Islar, Mine and Van Ryneveld, Tara}},
  issn         = {{0066-4812}},
  keywords     = {{climate; coal; energy; south africa}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{3}},
  pages        = {{958--981}},
  publisher    = {{Wiley-Blackwell}},
  series       = {{Antipode}},
  title        = {{Coloniality as a Barrier to Climate Action : Hierarchies of Power in a Coal-Based Economy}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/anti.12907}},
  doi          = {{10.1111/anti.12907}},
  volume       = {{55}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}