the bergrivier climate knowledge network kirsty nortje african climate and development initiative,...
TRANSCRIPT
The Bergrivier Climate Knowledge Network
Kirsty Nortje
African Climate and Development Initiative, University of Cape Town.
WRC Dialogue13 November 2015
“ The ACDI is a university-wide initiative at the University of Cape Town that supports collaborative research and training in climate change and development”
The “Project”
• Practical objectivesBuild a inter/transdisciplinary (ID/TD) knowledge
network Bring diverse “academics” and “practitioners”
together to help advance understanding of climate & development issues in Bergrivier municipal area
Develop projects that enhance appropriate climate change responses and resilience in the Bergrivier municipal area
The Project
• “Academic” objectives– Enhance interdisciplinary collaboration across UCT– Explore the advantages, disadvantages of an
interdisciplinary approach to CC– Support UCT “research-into-practice” agenda– Develop interesting, problem-oriented research
projects– Cutting-edge publications
The Project GroupHolle – Renewable
Energy, UCTJen – Cape Nature
Lesley – Anthropology, UCT
Timm – Ecologist, UCT
Sherwin – Engineer, PPC Ralph – Business
Sustainability, UCT GSB
Penny – Climate CC Support Programme,
WCG
Tracey – Strategic Manager, BR Municipality
Tania – Planner, UCTJulien – Farmer,
HopetownJan – Environmental
Lawyer, UCT
Hilary – Community Worker, Autrora Hedley – Literary
Scholar, UCT
Learning Journeys
Who, What, How?
Walking in Each Others Shoes
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Climate Development“Is climate change really a priority here? It’s like putting a plaster on someone who needs a wheelchair!”
“What good is the wheelchair if the wheel will come off – that’s what climate change might do!”
Local / Practice Global / Theory“This theory is all well and good, but what are the impacts for people on the ground?”
“What about this work can we publish, and where?”
Outcomes• An ID/TD Collective- a knowledge and personal
network• Evidence and learning about ID/TD • MSc & PhD Projects in an ID/TD holding space
– A study of an integrated management initiative to improve the Berg River, Western Cape, South Africa
– Using complex system thinking for managing natural resources in the Groot Winterhoek Strategic Water Source Area in South Africa
– The application of the Nexus framework in the Bergrivier Municipality: a potential tool for the enabling coordination at the local municipal scale
– Mapping the governance landscape related to ecosystem-based adaptation in the Bergrivier Municipality.
Outcomes• An ID/TD Collective- A knowledge and personal
network• Evidence and learning about ID/TD • MSc & PhD Projects in an ID/TD holding space• Funded research projects– Climate change risk assessment & adaptation strategy– FEWBL Nexus at catchment scale– Complementary Currency to foster local resilience
and wellbeing
Emerging Lessons
• Trans-disciplinary processes are likely to benefit from:– A clear convening “problem”– Careful facilitation – Surfacing and making creative use of thematic /
epistemological tensions– Investment in supporting the process
Challenges
• Uncomfortable space• Difference between inter/transdisciplinarity
and collaboration• Prioritisation• Practicalities • Funding
Thank you!