https://ir.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/30869 2026-08-24T00:43:55Z https://ir.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/32404 Fostering global citizenship through climate change education: an evaluation of the Grade R South African curriculum in KwaZulu-Natal Ndlovu, Nonkanyiso Sinethemba Precious This study addresses the critical gap in climate change education within South African early childhood curricula. Amid escalating environmental threats such as the 2022 KwaZulu-Natal floods. Guided by an integrated conceptual framework combining Climate Change Education, Global Citizenship Education and Early Childhood Education and theoretically grounded in Behaviourism and Ecological Systems, the study adopts a qualitative design using document analysis of the Grade R CAPS documents and semi-structured interviews with Grade R practicing teachers. Data were analysed using a thematic analysis approach. Findings indicate that climate change is not explicitly represented in the CAPS curriculum but is implicitly embedded across subjects; teachers rely on experiential and play-based strategies and implementation is constrained by limited teacher training, resources and curriculum guidance. Despite these constraints, young children demonstrate strong curiosity and the capacity to engage with sustainability concepts through experiential and play-based learning. These findings underscore the importance of early intervention and the need for stronger curriculum integration, teacher preparation and policy support. 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z https://ir.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/32184 Assessing consumer attitudes and behaviour towards green products in Namibia Mudimba, Douglas The global emphasis on sustainability and environmental responsibility is increasing, leading to a growing shift in consumer trends towards sustainable consumption and eco-conscious lifestyles. This study aimed to provide a more comprehensive understanding of consumers' intentions and behaviours regarding purchasing green products in Namibian retail supermarkets. It sought to assess consumer attitudes and behaviours towards green products in retail supermarkets in Windhoek, Namibia, specifically utilising the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) and the Norm Activation Model (NAM) as integrated theoretical frameworks. Adopting a positivist research philosophy and a deductive approach, the study employed a quantitative research design using a survey strategy. Data were collected from a sample of 385 consumers aged 18 - 65 years in Windhoek, Namibia, using a convenience sampling technique via face-to-face mall-intercept structured questionnaires. Data were analysed using Structural Equation Modelling with SmartPLS 4, assessing measurement model reliability and validity. The findings indicate generally acceptable reliability and validity of the measurement model, although potential discriminant validity issues were observed between specific construct pairs, notably Personal Norms and Subjective Norms. The structural model analysis revealed that all hypothesised direct relationships were statistically significant. Awareness of Consequences positively influenced Attitude. Ascription of Responsibility positively influenced Personal Norms. Attitude positively influenced both Behavioural Intention and Purchase Behaviour. Behavioural Intention positively influenced Purchase Behaviour. Perceived Behavioural Control positively influenced both Behavioural Intention and Purchase Behaviour. Personal Norms positively influenced Behavioural Intention. Subjective Norms positively influenced Attitude, Behavioural Intention, and Purchase Behaviour. Significant mediating effects were also identified: Attitude mediated the relationship between Awareness of Consequences and Behavioural Intention, and between Awareness of Consequences and Purchase Behaviour. Personal Norms mediated the relationship between Ascription of Responsibility and Behavioural Intention. Attitude mediated the relationship between Subjective Norms and Behavioural Intention. Behavioural Intention mediated the relationships between Attitude and Purchase Behaviour, Perceived Behavioural Control and Purchase Behaviour, Personal Norms and Purchase Behaviour, and Subjective Norms and Purchase Behaviour. The model explained moderate variance in Behavioural Intention (42.8%) and Attitude (31.2%), and weaker but acceptable variance in Purchase Behaviour (26.7%) and Personal Norms (22.5%). Model fit indicators demonstrated a good fit between the integrated TPB-NAM model and the empirical data. This study contributes to the existing body of knowledge by providing valuable insights into green consumption in the under-researched Namibian context. The findings support the theoretical value of integrating TPB and NAM for understanding sustainable consumer behaviour, highlighting the interplay of cognitive, moral, and social factors. The significant influence of both normative and cognitive factors on purchase intentions and behaviour was demonstrated. The moderate R² for purchase behaviour also points to the widely acknowledged intention-behaviour gap in sustainable consumption and suggests the influence of unmeasured contextual factors. The study provides valuable insights for supermarkets on how to better understand and influence consumer behaviour towards green products, aligning with Namibia's sustainable development agenda. 2025-12-01T00:00:00Z https://ir.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/32017 Assessment of the impact of renewable energy supply, carbon dioxide emissions, trade, and economic growth nexus on maize production from 1979-2021 Nevhutalu, Vhugala Charity The economy most susceptible to climate change is the agriculture sector. Agricultural production is negatively affected by weather patterns and temperature which ultimately impacts the sector’s economy. Food insecurity and a disturbance in the food supply chain are the aftereffects of climate change. A study by Wu et al. (2021). It is foretold that renewable energy utilization will reduce emissions responsible for climate change. The United Nations (UN) has also laid out a global mandate of “a clean and inexpensive energy for all” as part of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This study specifically focuses on SDG 7 (affordable clean energy) and 13 (climate change). Many industrialized and emerging nations use maize as an energy crop; South Africa has rarely made use of this potential owing to valid food security concerns. Maize production trends in this study showed growth throughout the years despite a few declines which were mostly as a result of climate change. Trade trends also pointed out that there is minimal maize regional trade between South Africa and the rest of the African countries. At the aggregate level, maize production for human, and animal consumption and for biofuel feedstock depends on several macroeconomic factors, some of which were explored in this study. This study was backed by several macroeconomic theories namely: the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC), the Mercantilist Theory of Trade, the Export-Led Growth Theory, and the Endogenous Growth Theory. The main objective of this study was to assess the impact of Carbon Dioxide Emissions (CO2), Renewable Energy Supply, Trade, and Economic Growth on maize production in South Africa from 1979 to 2021. The nexus offered vital insights on initiatives that could be prioritised to advance renewable energy in the South African agriculture industry. An Auto Regressive-Distributed Lag (ARDL) model using Bounds test econometric approach was employed to estimate the short and long-run nexus between renewable energy supply, carbon dioxide emissions, trade, economic growth, and the production of maize. The existence of unit root in the time-series data was examined using the Augment Dickey-Fuller and Phillips-Perron tests; the robustness of the long-run estimate was assessed using the Fully Modified Least Squares (FMOLS) and Canonical Cointegration Regression (CCR) models. The Pair-wise Granger Causality test was used to test for causality between carbon dioxide emissions, renewable energy supply, trade, economic growth, and maize production. The short-run results indicated that Carbon Dioxide Emissions reduce maize production and renewable energy supply increases maize production both in the short-run and long-run. Granger causality results indicated a unidirectional causality between carbon dioxide emissions, economic growth, and maize production. A bidirectional causality was observed between renewable energy supply and maize production. This study contributes to economic policy regarding the energy-climate nexus in South Africa's agricultural industry. The agricultural industry is not only an energy consumer but also has the potential to contribute to renewable energy, specifically bioenergy through the supply of biomass. Considering that maize is a major global energy crop, its demand globally trickles down to maize-producing countries, and this has implications for supply and demand locally and globally. The study’s emerging insights may be used to guide the use of renewable energy biomass supply and the impact of climate change on the agricultural economy (maize production). Text in English 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z https://ir.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/32016 Assessment of the effects of climate change, renewable energy consumption, economic and population growth on sugarcane productivity in South Africa from 1972-2021 Ndaba, Nonkululeko Sugarcane production in South Africa is influenced by several factors, including environmental dynamics (climate change, carbon dioxide emissions), consumption of renewable energy, population expansion, and economic growth. Understanding the intricate interdependencies between these variables is essential for sustainable agricultural planning. Using the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) method, this study examines the effects of climate change, renewable energy consumption, carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, population growth, and economic growth on sugarcane production in South Africa. The study utilizes time-series data collected annually from various institutions between 1972 and 2021. This methodology facilitates a comprehensive assessment of both short- and long-term dynamics and their interactions by considering the variables of interest in this study. In the long run, temperature and carbon dioxide levels have a statistically significant negative impact on sugarcane yield, with significance levels at 10% and 1%, respectively. Conversely, rainfall, renewable energy consumption, and gross domestic product exhibit a statistically significant positive relationship with sugarcane yield. In the short run, the analysis showed that rainfall has a statistically significant negative effect on sugarcane yield at the 1% significance level. However, renewable energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions have statistically significant positive effects on sugarcane yield, both at the 10% significance level. The causality results indicated insufficient evidence to establish a causal relationship between sugarcane yield and temperature, renewable energy consumption, GDP, carbon dioxide emissions, and population growth. Nevertheless, a uni-directional causal relationship was identified from rainfall to sugarcane yield, indicating that changes in rainfall patterns may lead to changes in sugarcane yield. The study recommends focusing on growing the renewable energy sector by allocating resources to agriculture for bioenergy production. Text in English 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z