ABSTRACT
Globally, the concept of a green economy is relatively young in public policy research. There are several, often competing, concepts such as green growth, circular economy, low carbon development and recently sustainable economies, which have been put forward as alternative development paradigms amid growing discontent with the failures of existing economic systems to respond to social and environmental challenges. Rooted in the multiple global crises – climate change and the social and environmental challenges of rising unemployment and resource scarcity, these alternative development paradigms seek, in essence, to mainstream environmental sustainability in economic policies. They commit, to varying degrees, to social justice and inclusivity. This is evident in the vision espoused by the South African Government, which has committed itself towards a just transition to a resource-efficient, climate-resilient and pro-employment development path. Pro-poor and socially inclusive policies, which respond to the developmental challenges of poverty, inequality and unemployment, are central in crafting an inclusive green economy transition in South Africa. This introductory chapter will provide an overview of South Africa’s sustainability transition and illustrate how this pathway has to be inextricably tied to socio-economic redress.
