Climate change learning in an electricity utility: distribution division case study, Eskom, South Africa.
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Date
2018
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Abstract
One of the most significant ways in which humans have damaged the environment is the
contribution to rapid global warming which causes major changes to the climate on earth,
resulting in many negative impacts to humans and the environment. While the world mostly
agrees that something needs to be done about climate change, there have been numerous
stumbling blocks and setbacks in decisive actions on climate change. Businesses are realising
that pro-climate change actions could lead to economic, environmental and health benefits,
while also improving the sustainability of the organisation. In order to address climate
change, major shifts in public policy and individual behaviour regarding energy,
transportation and consumption will have to be made. Improving basic education, climate
literacy and public understanding of the local dimensions of climate change are vital for
public engagement and support for climate action.
This research explored climate change learning in an electricity utility, using the Eskom’s
Distribution Division in South Africa. The four objectives of this study included a critical
review and assessment of the level of the Distribution Division’s climate change programme
and environmental practices, an examination of staff perceptions and attitudes towards
climate change and the Distribution Division’s environmental strategies, an examination of
the challenges and opportunities presented by the environmental and climate change crisis for
business in South Africa and in particular for electricity utilities in Africa, the development of
a set of indicators to inform a framework for internal climate change capacity building
programmes for electricity utility companies and the formulation of a policy and programme
recommendations.
Existing literature was reviewed, an online survey was conducted with employees, interviews
were held with the key informants and focus group discussions were hosted. The research
considered the demographic profile of respondents, attitudes to life and environmental issues,
options for managing climate change, who respondents considered responsible for climate
change action, who could be trusted to take climate change action and the Distribution
Division’s climate change programme and environmental strategies. The findings of this
study indicate that the Distribution Division employees considered career, job or employment
and education as a higher priority for society. Water pollution was the most important
environmental issue that employees experienced or impacted on their lives at present and this
issue was also considered the most important issue globally. Furthermore, employees’ selfrated
knowledge of climate change was above average and the majority expressed grave
concern about climate change. Employees were also of the view that emissions from business
or factories were the main cause of climate change. Employees also experienced hotter
summers and water shortages which indicated to them that climate change is taking place
presently and affects South Africa. The main options for actions that employees put forward
were recycling waste and planting of trees. Furthermore, employees trusted themselves the
most to take action on climate change and the main choice of format for climate change
information that was preferred by employees was talks by experts, using graphs of future
trends and pictures of what an area could look like in the future. This research supports the
findings of other scholars who indicate that climate change learning and response is generally
poor amongst most people, including workers, and that there are some specific interventions
that are required to enhance climate change learning in the work environment. A range of
options must be considered with the involvement of relevant stakeholders to find practical
and meaningful options for climate change learning and response. Hence recommendations
were made in this study to address the level of the Distribution Division’s climate change
programme and environmental practices, staff perceptions and attitudes towards climate
change and the Distribution Division’s environmental strategies, the challenges and
opportunities presented by the environmental and climate change crisis for business in South
Africa and for electricity utilities in Africa. A set of indicators (Table 6.1) to build the climate
change capacity of employees and to minimise business and individual Greenhouse Gas
(GHG) emissions was also developed within the framework for internal climate change
capacity building programmes for electricity utilities. The policy and programme
recommendations of this study included the prioritising of climate change learning in
business with the necessary resources and leadership requirements, as well as a proposal to
rebrand climate change to a more impactful, appropriate, relevant and meaningful term linked
to human survival.
Description
Doctor of Philosophy in Environmental Science. University of KwaZulu-Natal. Durban 2018.
Keywords
Theses -- Environmental science.