Applying the safe and just operating space (SJOS) framework to sustainable development in Zimbabwe

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dc.contributor.advisorSelomane, Odirilween_ZA
dc.contributor.advisorSitas, Nadiaen_ZA
dc.contributor.advisorHamann, Maikeen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorNgadze, Fionaen_ZA
dc.contributor.otherStellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. Centre for Sustainability Transition.en_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2023-03-06T11:07:29Z
dc.date.accessioned2023-05-18T07:15:52Z
dc.date.available2023-03-06T11:07:29Z
dc.date.available2023-05-18T07:15:52Z
dc.date.issued2023-03
dc.descriptionThesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2023.en_ZA
dc.description.abstractENGLISH SUMMARY: Global population growth coupled with technological advancements and unsustainable consumption patterns have increased environmental degradation. People and the environment are interconnected, influencing each other in both positive and negative ways. As people rely on the environment for numerous dimensions of wellbeing, it is important to track both social and environmental changes to ensure that human interactions with the environment are sustainable. Previous indicators and frameworks to measure sustainable development such as the planetary boundaries framework, the ecological footprint, the gross domestic product, and the human development index have treated the environment as separate from people. Approaches like the Safe and Just Operating Space (SJOS) advance on these frameworks by incorporating human wellbeing needs with environmental conservation. The SJOS framework is being increasingly used around the world to address conflicts between socio-economic demands and environmental sustainability. Zimbabwe, like many other countries in the global South, faces interconnected environmental challenges and social deprivation issues, which require a holistic approach to address. Therefore, this study adopted a social-ecological systems approach, applying the SJOS framework to better comprehend ways of achieving balance between human well-being needs, economic development, and environmental conservation. The objectives of this study were: (1) to understand the different research contexts applying the SJOS framework; (2) to identify key environmental and social dimensions relevant to sustainability in Zimbabwe; and (3) to understand the provincial spatial variability in social dimension trends. The study uses a mixed-methods approach, combining a systematic mapping literature review and thematic analysis with a desktop empirical study (focusing on social and environmental dimensions available for Zimbabwe). The literature review uncovered that aerosol loading, land-use change, and biodiversity loss were the most studied environmental dimensions, while employment, social equity, gender equality and health were the most studied social dimensions. These insights informed the empirical component of this study. The methods involved collecting data for the environmental and social dimensions, at national and provincial scales, from international research databases and Zimbabwe government reports, to explore the country’s status within the SJOS framework. The indicator for each dimension was compared against a pre-determined threshold and this provided the results on the underperforming social dimensions and transgressed environmental dimensions. The provincial analysis reflected the patterns of social inequality across the provinces of Zimbabwe. The results of the national level analysis revealed that Zimbabwe’s transgressed environmental dimensions are freshwater use, aerosol loading and biogeochemical flows. Whereas the deprived social dimensions are access to energy, health, and education. From the sub-national analysis, Matabeleland North was the most socially deprived province while, Harare and Bulawayo were the best performing provinces. This study recommends that Zimbabwe decision-makers should review their policy frameworks to target the transgressed environmental dimensions as they are currently being neglected. The adoption of measures such as energy source alternatives to reduce the burning of fossil fuels which are contributing to rapid deforestation and increased aerosol loading in the country, are also recommended. This study shows that environmental conservation and sustainable development targets remain a dream, as long as social foundations are not fully addressed.en_ZA
dc.description.abstractAFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die wereldbevolkingsgroei, tesame met tegnologiese vooruitgang en onvolhoubare verbruikspatrone, het omgewingsagteruitgang aangehelp. Mense en die omgewing is onderling verbind en beinvloed mekaar op positiewe en negatiewe maniere. Aangesien mense op die omgewing staatmaak vir verskeie aspekte van hul welstand, is dit belangrik om te verseker dat menslike wisselwerking met die omgewing volhoubaar is en dat enige veranderinge gemonitor kan word. Vorige maatstawwe en raamwerke om volhoubare ontwikkeling te meet – byvoorbeeld die raamwerk vir planetere grense, die ekologiese voetspoor, die bruto binnelandse produk en die menslike ontwikkelingsindeks – het die omgewing apart van mense hanteer. Benaderings soos die Veilige en Billike Bedryfsruimte (Safe and Just Operating Space – SJOS) bou hierdie raamwerke uit deur menslike welstandsbehoeftes by omgewingsgesprekke in te sluit. Die SJOS-raamwerk word toenemend wereldwyd gebruik om botsings tussen sosio-ekonomiese vereistes en omgewingsvolhoubaarheid aan te spreek. Zimbabwe, soos so baie ander lande in die Globale Suide, staar onderling verbonde omgewingsuitdagings en maatskaplike verlies in die gesig wat holisties benader moet word. Hierdie studie volg derhalwe ’n maatskaplik-ekologiese stelselbenadering wat die SJOS-raamwerk toepas om dieper insig te kry in maniere om ewewig tussen menslike welstandbehoeftes, ekonomiese ontwikkeling en omgewingsbewaring te bereik. Die oogmerke van hierdie studie was: om die onderskeie navorsingskontekste wat die SJOS-raamwerk toepas te begryp; om omgewings- en maatskaplike sleuteldimensies wat op volhoubaarheid in Zimbabwe betrekking het te identifiseer, en om die veranderlike neigings in provinsiale ruimtelike maatskaplike aspekte te verstaan. Die studie span gemengde metodes in en kombineer ’n sistematies gekarteerde literatuurstudie-oorsig en tematiese ontleding met ’n empiriese lessenaarstudie (wat op beskikbare maatskaplike en omgewingsaspekte oor Zimbabwe fokus). Die literatuuroorsig onthul dat die aerosollading, veranderings in grondbenutting, en verlies aan biodiversiteit die mees bestudeerde omgewingsaspekte was, terwyl indiensneming, maatskaplike gelykheid, geslagsgelykheid en gesondheid die mees bestudeerde maatskaplike aspekte was. Hierdie insigte het die empiriese komponent van hierdie studie gerig. Die metodes het data uit internasionale navorsingsdatabasisse en verslae deur die Zimbabwiese regering ingesamel vir die omgewings- en maatskaplike aspekte op nasionale en provinsiale vlak om die land se status binne die SJOS-raamwerk vas te stel. Die data vir elke aspek is met ’n voorafbepaalde drempel vergelyk, wat die resultate oor onderpresterende maatskaplike aspekte en oorskryde omgewingsdimensies verskaf het. Die provinsiale ontleding het die patrone van maatskaplike ongelykheid tussen die provinsies van Zimbabwe weerspieel. Die resultate het onthul dat Zimbabwe se oorskryde omgewingsaspekte varswaterbenutting, aerosollading en biogeochemiese strome is. Die afgeskeepte maatskaplike aspekte is toegang tot energie, gesondheid en onderwys. Uit die subnasionale ontleding blyk Matabeleland-Noord die mees maatskaplik agtergeblewe provinsie te wees, terwyl Harare en Bulawayo die bes presterende provinsies was. Hierdie studie beveel aan dat Zimbabwiese besluitnemers hul beleidsraamwerke moet hersien met die oog op die omgewingsaspekte wat oorskry word, aangesien dit tans verwaarloos word. Die aanvaarding van maatreels soos alternatiewe energiebronne om die verbranding van fossielbrandstowwe, wat verder tot vinnige ontbossing en ’n verhoogde aerosollading bydra, te verminder word ook aanbeveel. Hierdie studie wys dat omgewingsgesprekke en volhoubare ontwikkelingsdoelwitte ’n hersenskim sal bly indien maatskaplike grondbeginsels nie ten volle aangespreek word nie.af_ZA
dc.description.versionMasters
dc.format.extentxi, 91 pages : illustrations (some color), includes annexures
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/127319
dc.language.isoen_ZAen_ZA
dc.publisherStellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
dc.rights.holderStellenbosch University
dc.subject.lcshSustainable development -- Social aspects -- Zimbabween_ZA
dc.subject.lcshZimbabwe -- Environmental conditionsen_ZA
dc.subject.lcshSocial justice -- Zimbabween_ZA
dc.subject.lcshZimbabwe -- Social conditionsen_ZA
dc.subject.nameUCTD
dc.titleApplying the safe and just operating space (SJOS) framework to sustainable development in Zimbabween_ZA
dc.typeThesisen_ZA
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