SEI policy brief: What drives South Africa’s approach to climate diplomacy?

The Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) has published a policy brief by Aaron Atteridge analysing the domestic and international drivers that influence the way South Africa approaches climate change negotiations. It’s entitled “Multiple Identities: Behind South Africa’s Approach to Climate Diplomacy”.
Its key findings are that:

• In international climate negotiations, South Africa is widely seen as playing a “bridge-building” role between industrialised and developing countries. This is driven partly by a desire among the country’s post-apartheid leaders to promote South Africa as a responsible actor, a stable economy and a platform for foreign investment in Africa.

• President Jacob Zuma’s voluntary greenhouse gas emissions reduction pledge at COP15 in Copenhagen was seen domestically as the country “punching above its weight” in its contribution to global mitigation action. This reaction can be understood by