On behalf of a research consortium comprising University College London (UCL), the Centre for Sustainability Transitions at Stellenbosch University, and the Basque Centre for Climate Change (BC3), SAIIA invites you to the launch of a landmark new report.
This study is the first to apply the Environmental Sustainability Gap (ESGAP) framework to South Africa, offering a science-based assessment of the country’s environmental state that moves beyond traditional economic measures. ESGAP is a comprehensive indicator framework that evaluates environmental sustainability through a set of quantifiable metrics, providing policymakers with clear insights into both current performance and progress against critical, science-defined thresholds.
ESGAP introduces two composite indicators: the Strong Environmental Sustainability Index (SESI), which measures how far South Africa is from environmental sustainability; and the Strong Environmental Sustainability Progress Index (SESPI), which tracks whether the country is moving closer to, or further from, achieving strong sustainability targets. Developed over two decades of scientific research and piloted internationally, ESGAP offers an actionable and validated framework to inform national policy and guide targeted interventions.
Programme Director:
- Dr Deon Cloete, South African Institute of International Affairs
Panellists:
- Ms Marie-Hélène Loison, Regional Director for Southern Africa, AFD
- Prof Paul Ekins, Energy and Environment Policy, University College London
- Dr Arkaitz Usubiago-Liano, BC3 Basque Centre for Climate Change
- Dr Mapula Tshangela, Director: Climate Change Mitigation Implementation, DFFE
- Prof Mark Swilling, Distinguished Professor and SARChI Chair for Mainstreaming Gender for Energy Security in Poor Urban Environments, Centre for Sustainability Transitions, Stellenbosch University
- Mr Mahlodi Tau, Chief Director: Biodiversity Information and Policy Advice, SANBI
Moderator:
- Dr Hayley Clements, Senior Researcher, African Wildlife Economy Institute Chair, Centre for Sustainability Transitions, Stellenbosch University
