Climate change as uneven and combined development: The case of South Africa

In the case of uneven and combined development (UCD), work on Africa and environmental issues, as well as climate change, has been limited. This study aims to fill the gap in the literature by discussing climate change as an outcome of the UCD of a by-product of such capitalist development. This study discusses the extent to which the UCD can provide adequate explanations for climate change. Therefore, the study is an attempt to extend the scope of the theory and discuss how the UCD explain climate change-induced inequalities with the example of South Africa. African countries are more vulnerable and more severely affected by climate change than countries that are more responsible for their emissions. South Africa is an example that stands out from other countries in Africa with its higher emission rates and climate adaptation policies. Indeed, explaining the effects of climate change and the struggle against it in South Africa can be seen as a model for the experiences of other countries in Africa.