SOCIAL
CLIMATE-SMART ENTREPRENEURSHIP REAPING THE POTENTIAL OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP FOR A CLIMATESMART INCLUSIVE GREEN ECONOMY IN SOUTH AFRICA
By Rest Kanju and Christine Meyer Take a moment for a thought experiment.
Droughts exacerbate electricity
Imagine South Africa in summer 2030.
shortages, disproportionately affecting
Climate change is an increasing reality.
the rural and urban poor (or other
Extreme heat is challenging South Africa’s
vulnerable population?) and widening
population; imagine the thermometer
inequalities.
hardly falls below 35°C. It is hot and dusty. Severe thunderstorms hit the country every
This scenario demonstrates that solutions
now and then; floods cause soil runoffs
to mitigate and adapt to the impacts of
and degradation. Both water quality and
climate change are desperately needed.
availability is a challenge for communities, agriculture, the tourism and manufacturing
The good news is that South
sectors, and many more. This results
Africa’s entrepreneurs have
in crop losses, water restrictions, and
already developed solutions
threatens food security and human health.
for climate change
The impacts of climate change on food
mitigation and
production, agricultural and subsistence
adaptation at the
livelihoods will be of high concern.
grassroots level.
