Skip to main content

2023 | OriginalPaper | Buchkapitel

5. A Stalling Green Bond Take-Off

Aktivieren Sie unsere intelligente Suche, um passende Fachinhalte oder Patente zu finden.

search-config
loading …

Abstract

Why have green bonds not taken off in South Africa? This chapter elaborates on the findings of my empirical research and touches on different compounding factors that inhibit the uptake of green bonds in the country. I structured the findings into seven complementary pillars: First, the general promises of green bonds are assessed against South Africa’s background as an emerging (green bond) market. Second, green bond success stories are analyzed before the instruments ‘simple’ setup is evaluated. In a next step, controversial bond issuances fanning concerns of greenwashing at the global level will be juxtaposed with ongoing deliberations of a national green finance taxonomy. In a fifth step, I dwell on the peculiarities of the capital markets in South Africa and discuss its bottlenecks. I then revisit the rifts between a green and a just transition and, at last, illustrate new arenas of redistributive struggles de-risked spaces have (unintentionally) created.

Sie haben noch keine Lizenz? Dann Informieren Sie sich jetzt über unsere Produkte:

Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik"

Online-Abonnement

Mit Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik" erhalten Sie Zugriff auf:

  • über 102.000 Bücher
  • über 537 Zeitschriften

aus folgenden Fachgebieten:

  • Automobil + Motoren
  • Bauwesen + Immobilien
  • Business IT + Informatik
  • Elektrotechnik + Elektronik
  • Energie + Nachhaltigkeit
  • Finance + Banking
  • Management + Führung
  • Marketing + Vertrieb
  • Maschinenbau + Werkstoffe
  • Versicherung + Risiko

Jetzt Wissensvorsprung sichern!

Springer Professional "Wirtschaft"

Online-Abonnement

Mit Springer Professional "Wirtschaft" erhalten Sie Zugriff auf:

  • über 67.000 Bücher
  • über 340 Zeitschriften

aus folgenden Fachgebieten:

  • Bauwesen + Immobilien
  • Business IT + Informatik
  • Finance + Banking
  • Management + Führung
  • Marketing + Vertrieb
  • Versicherung + Risiko




Jetzt Wissensvorsprung sichern!

Fußnoten
1
GGKP comprises various South Africa’s Ministry of the Environment, Forestry & Fisheries and development institutions including the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and the German Development Agency (GIZ).
 
3
Both France and the Fiji had issued sovereign green bonds in the meantime (Roumpis, 2018). By comparison and as per the Sustainable Bond Insight report (Environmental Finance, 2021a, p. 3), Germany was the largest sovereign green bond issuer with two issuances for a combined US$13,616 million.
 
4
Which, arguably, is lenient given China’s taxonomy considers clean coal’ investment solutions eligible under their green taxonomy (Ferrando et al., 2022).
 
5
As the Zondo Commission inquiry has affirmed in the meantime, Transnet was deeply embroiled in ‘state capture’, the shorthand for the corrupt practices during the Zuma administration (Cohen & Vollgraaff, 2022).
 
6
The incident refers to Steinhoff, a multinational mattress firm, and its shares crashing after kickbacks, inflated forecasts, and personal enrichment for executives of the firm became public, wiping out more than ZAR200 billion off the JSE. Millions of ordinary South Africans’ pensions were adversely affected (Kew & Vecchiatto, 2021; Rose, 2018).
 
7
This interview was conducted with colleagues during a scoping visit to Johannesburg in February 2018 and is not included in the set of interviewees on pp. 8–9.
 
8
In the fifth bidding round, six of Mainstream’s projects achieved the lowest tariff to date in South Africa at ZAR374.79/MW hour (Burkhardt & Prinsloo, 2022).
 
9
A lobby group comprising the four fossil fuel companies Sasol, Eskom, Exxaro, and Total Energies as well as Anglo American Platinum, the Industrial Development Corporation, the Central Energy Fund and Automotive Business Council Naamsa.
 
10
One academic also pointed out the difficulty to audit job creation, as numbers are just passed along from developer to the Department of Energy (Researcher, pos. 50).
 
11
Although the levels of inequality (Chancel et al., 2022, pp. 217f) would justify more heavy-handed redistribution from top to bottom, i.e. via wealth taxes.
 
Literatur
Zurück zum Zitat Arent, D., Arndt, C., Miller, M., Tarp, F., & Zinaman, O. (2017). The political economy of clean energy transitions (D. Arent, C. Arndt, M. Miller, F. Tarp, & O. Zinaman, Eds.; 1st ed.). Oxford University Press. Arent, D., Arndt, C., Miller, M., Tarp, F., & Zinaman, O. (2017). The political economy of clean energy transitions (D. Arent, C. Arndt, M. Miller, F. Tarp, & O. Zinaman, Eds.; 1st ed.). Oxford University Press.
Zurück zum Zitat Author’s Notes at Green Taxonomy Launch. (2022). Launch of the Green Finance Taxonomy for South Africa, 1–9. via Zoom Author’s Notes at Green Taxonomy Launch. (2022). Launch of the Green Finance Taxonomy for South Africa, 1–9. via Zoom
Zurück zum Zitat Best, J., & Paterson, M. (2010). Cultural political economy (J. Best & M. Paterson, Eds.; 1st ed.). Routledge. Best, J., & Paterson, M. (2010). Cultural political economy (J. Best & M. Paterson, Eds.; 1st ed.). Routledge.
Zurück zum Zitat Bigger, P. (2017). Measurement and the circulation of risk in green bonds. Journal of Environmental Investing, 8(1), 273–287. Bigger, P. (2017). Measurement and the circulation of risk in green bonds. Journal of Environmental Investing, 8(1), 273–287.
Zurück zum Zitat CBI. (2021, August). Green bonds in South Africa: How green bonds can support South Africa’s energy transition. Climate Bonds Initiative. CBI. (2021, August). Green bonds in South Africa: How green bonds can support South Africa’s energy transition. Climate Bonds Initiative.
Zurück zum Zitat ClientEarth & Just Share. (2019). Pension funds and climate risk. ClientEarth & Just Share. (2019). Pension funds and climate risk.
Zurück zum Zitat De Lille, P. (2017, June). City commences investor road show to promote inaugural R1 billion green bond, 1–7. De Lille, P. (2017, June). City commences investor road show to promote inaugural R1 billion green bond, 1–7.
Zurück zum Zitat Elsner, C. (forthcoming). Alleviating or institutionalizing greenwashing: Nuclear energy and the EU taxonomy. Working Paper, currently under review. Elsner, C. (forthcoming). Alleviating or institutionalizing greenwashing: Nuclear energy and the EU taxonomy. Working Paper, currently under review.
Zurück zum Zitat Engelbrecht, F., Adegoke, J., Bopape, M. J., Naidoo, M., Garland, R., Thatcher, M., McGregor, J., Katzfey, J., Werner, M., Ichoku, C., & Gatebe, C. (2015). Projections of rapidly rising surface temperatures over Africa under low mitigation. Environmental Research Letters, 10(8). https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/10/8/085004 Engelbrecht, F., Adegoke, J., Bopape, M. J., Naidoo, M., Garland, R., Thatcher, M., McGregor, J., Katzfey, J., Werner, M., Ichoku, C., & Gatebe, C. (2015). Projections of rapidly rising surface temperatures over Africa under low mitigation. Environmental Research Letters, 10(8). https://​doi.​org/​10.​1088/​1748-9326/​10/​8/​085004
Zurück zum Zitat Environmental Finance. (2021d, February 24). Sustainalytics expects to double size of second-party opinion business in 2021. Environmental Finance. Environmental Finance. (2021d, February 24). Sustainalytics expects to double size of second-party opinion business in 2021. Environmental Finance.
Zurück zum Zitat Environmental Finance Awards Committee. (2021). Submit your nomination! Annual market rankings 2021. Environmental Finance. Email correspondence for subscribers. Environmental Finance Awards Committee. (2021). Submit your nomination! Annual market rankings 2021. Environmental Finance. Email correspondence for subscribers.
Zurück zum Zitat EU China Working Group. (2021). International platform on sustainable finance common ground taxonomy-climate change mitigation instruction report IPSF Taxonomy Working Group Co-chaired by the EU and China. EU China Working Group. (2021). International platform on sustainable finance common ground taxonomy-climate change mitigation instruction report IPSF Taxonomy Working Group Co-chaired by the EU and China.
Zurück zum Zitat Ferguson, J. (1994). The anti-politics machine. Development, depoliticization, and bureaucratic power in Lesotho. University of Minnesota Press. Ferguson, J. (1994). The anti-politics machine. Development, depoliticization, and bureaucratic power in Lesotho. University of Minnesota Press.
Zurück zum Zitat Ferrando, T., Junqueira, G. D. O., Prol, F. M., & Coutinho, D. R. (2022). Debating development: Indebting the green transition: critical notes on green bonds in the South. EADI Blog. Ferrando, T., Junqueira, G. D. O., Prol, F. M., & Coutinho, D. R. (2022). Debating development: Indebting the green transition: critical notes on green bonds in the South. EADI Blog.
Zurück zum Zitat Haag, S., & Müller, F. (2019). Finanzplatz Afrika. Grüne Finanzflüsse und afrikanische Energietransitionen [Financial Centre Africa. Green financial flows and african energy transitions]. In Deutschland und Afrika – Anatomie eines komplexen Verhältnisses [Germany and Africa—Anatomy of a complex relationship]. Brandes und Apsel. Haag, S., & Müller, F. (2019). Finanzplatz Afrika. Grüne Finanzflüsse und afrikanische Energietransitionen [Financial Centre Africa. Green financial flows and african energy transitions]. In Deutschland und Afrika – Anatomie eines komplexen Verhältnisses [Germany and Africa—Anatomy of a complex relationship]. Brandes und Apsel.
Zurück zum Zitat Hajer, M. (1995). The politics of environmental discourse. Oxford University Press. Hajer, M. (1995). The politics of environmental discourse. Oxford University Press.
Zurück zum Zitat Hartley, R. (2017). Ramaphosa—The man who would be king. Jonathan Ball Publishers. Hartley, R. (2017). Ramaphosa—The man who would be king. Jonathan Ball Publishers.
Zurück zum Zitat IASS/IET/CSIR. (2022). From coal to renewables in Mpumalanga: Employment effects, opportunities for local value creation, skills requirements, and gender- inclusiveness. Assessing the co- benefits of decarbonising South Africa’s power sector (Issue January). IASS/IET/CSIR. (2022). From coal to renewables in Mpumalanga: Employment effects, opportunities for local value creation, skills requirements, and gender- inclusiveness. Assessing the co- benefits of decarbonising South Africa’s power sector (Issue January).
Zurück zum Zitat Kern, F., & Markard, J. (2016). Analysing energy transitions: Combining insights from transition studies and international political economy. In T. Van de Graaf, B. K. Sovacool, A. Ghosh, F. Kern, & M. T. Klare (Eds.), The Palgrave handbook of the international political economy of energy (1st ed., pp. 291–318). Palgrave Macmillan. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-55631-8 Kern, F., & Markard, J. (2016). Analysing energy transitions: Combining insights from transition studies and international political economy. In T. Van de Graaf, B. K. Sovacool, A. Ghosh, F. Kern, & M. T. Klare (Eds.), The Palgrave handbook of the international political economy of energy (1st ed., pp. 291–318). Palgrave Macmillan. https://​doi.​org/​10.​1057/​978-1-137-55631-8
Zurück zum Zitat Kew, J., & Wessels, V. (2019). South Africa’s Public Investment Corporation scandal risks the country’s future, 1–12. Kew, J., & Wessels, V. (2019). South Africa’s Public Investment Corporation scandal risks the country’s future, 1–12.
Zurück zum Zitat Kidney, S. (2021). U.S. green bond review: In run-up to COP, green bonds in high gear. Email communication. Kidney, S. (2021). U.S. green bond review: In run-up to COP, green bonds in high gear. Email communication.
Zurück zum Zitat Köhler, J., Geels, F. W., Kern, F., Markard, J., Onsongo, E., Wieczorek, A., Alkemade, F., Avelino, F., Bergek, A., Boons, F., Fünfschilling, L., Hess, D., Holtz, G., Hyysalo, S., Jenkins, K., Kivimaa, P., Martiskainen, M., McMeekin, A., Mühlemeier, M. S., … Wells, P. (2019). An agenda for sustainability transitions research: State of the art and future directions. Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions, 31, 1–32. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eist.2019.01.004CrossRef Köhler, J., Geels, F. W., Kern, F., Markard, J., Onsongo, E., Wieczorek, A., Alkemade, F., Avelino, F., Bergek, A., Boons, F., Fünfschilling, L., Hess, D., Holtz, G., Hyysalo, S., Jenkins, K., Kivimaa, P., Martiskainen, M., McMeekin, A., Mühlemeier, M. S., … Wells, P. (2019). An agenda for sustainability transitions research: State of the art and future directions. Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions, 31, 1–32. https://​doi.​org/​10.​1016/​j.​eist.​2019.​01.​004CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Mihàlovits, Z., & Tapaszti, A. (2018). A new financial tool for renewable energy investments: Green bonds. Public Finance Quarterly, 63(3), 303–318. Mihàlovits, Z., & Tapaszti, A. (2018). A new financial tool for renewable energy investments: Green bonds. Public Finance Quarterly, 63(3), 303–318.
Zurück zum Zitat National Planning Commission. (2019). Social partner dialogue for a just transition 2050 vision and pathways for a just transition to a low carbon, climate resilient economy and society (Issue May). National Planning Commission. (2019). Social partner dialogue for a just transition 2050 vision and pathways for a just transition to a low carbon, climate resilient economy and society (Issue May).
Zurück zum Zitat NERSA. (2020). Monitoring renewable energy performance of power plants (Vol. 2020, Issue 16). NERSA. (2020). Monitoring renewable energy performance of power plants (Vol. 2020, Issue 16).
Zurück zum Zitat Neumann, M., & Elsner, C. (forthcoming). Caught between path-dependence and green opportunities – Assessing the impetus for green banking in South Africa. Working Paper, currently under review. Neumann, M., & Elsner, C. (forthcoming). Caught between path-dependence and green opportunities – Assessing the impetus for green banking in South Africa. Working Paper, currently under review.
Zurück zum Zitat Sum, N.-L., & Jessop, B. (2013). Towards a cultural political economy—Putting culture in its place in political economy (N.-L. Sum & B. Jessop, Eds.; 1st ed.). Edward Elgar. Sum, N.-L., & Jessop, B. (2013). Towards a cultural political economy—Putting culture in its place in political economy (N.-L. Sum & B. Jessop, Eds.; 1st ed.). Edward Elgar.
Zurück zum Zitat Terazono, E. (2020). Grieg Seafood takes aim at Cargill through $ 105 million green bond receive free green bonds updates, 10–12. Terazono, E. (2020). Grieg Seafood takes aim at Cargill through $ 105 million green bond receive free green bonds updates, 10–12.
Zurück zum Zitat Wang, E. K. (2018). Financing green: Reforming green bond regulation in the United States. Brooklyn Journal of Corporate, Financial & Commercial Law, 12(2), 9. Wang, E. K. (2018). Financing green: Reforming green bond regulation in the United States. Brooklyn Journal of Corporate, Financial & Commercial Law, 12(2), 9.
Metadaten
Titel
A Stalling Green Bond Take-Off
verfasst von
Manuel Neumann
Copyright-Jahr
2023
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-30502-3_5

Premium Partner