Swilling, Josephine Musango & Jeremy Wakeford
Year: 2015
Document type: Faculty Research & Publications
To cite this article: Mark Swilling, Josephine Musango & Jeremy Wakeford (2015): Developmental States and Sustainability Transitions: Prospects of a Just Transition in South Africa, Journal of Environmental Policy & Planning
Since the onset of the global economic crisis in 2007/2008 two key trends have made it necessary to reconceptualize the relationship between development and sustainability: the rapid rise of the so-called ‘BRICS’ and the emergence of the green economy discourse and now since 2015 the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals. To address this challenge with respect to developing economies in the global South, this paper endeavours to fuse the core conceptual concerns of the developmental state and sustainability transition literatures. It is argued that a just transition would consist of a dual commitment to human well-being (with respect to income, education and health) and sustainability (with respect to decarbonization, resource efficiency and ecosystem restoration).