The research journey reflected in my doctoral thesis emerged from eighteen years of practice of (predominantly South African) climate mitigation policy from 2001 – 2016; from dissatisfaction with the pace and depth of progress, and a realisation that the South African climate mitigation policy community of practice approaches what we do in a particular way. Guided by a complex transdisciplinary methodology, I explore this realm of ‘approach’, asking whether it is consequential for the decarbonisation policy agenda in South Africa, and considering complexity thinking as an alternative.
Through the thesis, I argue that the policy approach is indeed a relevant site for climate mitigation policymakers to consider for making progress on our policy issue. I also find that complexity and complex systems thinking offers an alternative approach with implications for both how and what we do across multiple dimensions.
Click here to download an article from the thesis published in Climate Policy, 2020
Emily Tyler 