More
    Home Blog

    Why the tropical majority is key to creating effective ocean solutions at COP28, and beyond

    By
    Charles Telfair Centre
    -
    0

     

    Josheena Naggea, Hoffmann Fellow, Innovation for Small-Scale Fisheries and Aquaculture, World Economic Forum

    Alfredo Giron, Head of Ocean, World Economic Forum Geneva

    Ana Spalding, Director of the Adrienne Arsht Community-Based Resilience Solutions Initiative & Staff Scientist Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Nippon Foundation Ocean Nexus Principal Investigator, EarthLab, University of Washington

    • Ocean solutions will be among the subjects of discussion at COP28, but those most affected by climate change are often underrepresented during these conversations.
    • The ‘tropical majority’ must be adequately represented to help ensure that more adapted solutions are coming ‘from the tropics for the tropics’.
    • By recognizing the expertise of Indigenous people and local communities, we can shift the global conversation from tropical crises to tropical opportunities.

    Leaders from across the world will convene to discuss ocean and climate solutions at the United Nations’ climate conference, COP28. However, all too often, the voices of those most affected by climate change are underrepresented.

    People in the tropics, or the ‘tropical majority’, encompass billions of voices living in the most biodiverse regions of the world, who often have intricate connections to the ocean, as well as geographic extent and deep knowledge of ocean ecosystems.

    Indeed, what we may typically refer to as small island developing states are, in fact, large ocean states. Mauritius, for instance, has an ocean area 1,000 times its landmass and is also a biodiversity hotspot where marine species face extinction risks.

    However, like many other island states, Mauritius also faces climate impacts – from rising sea levels to an increasing frequency of disasters.

    Talk must shift from tropical crises to tropical opportunities

    With global climate discussions set to be held during COP28 in the United Arab Emirates, we must push the conversation from tropical crises to tropical opportunities.

    Large ocean states often make multiple efforts to develop their ocean economies sustainably and equitably, and leaders, experts, knowledge-holders, and communities from the tropics possess a unique understanding of the ocean’s intricacies.

    Better inclusion of the tropical majority would, therefore, ensure that more adapted solutions are coming ‘from the tropics for the tropics’ for greater resilience in the face of climate change.

    Here are four actions that can help bring a tropical majority lens to achieving tangible ocean sustainability solutions.

    1. Centring equity in ocean science and governance

    Ocean science and governance have long been dominated by institutions and researchers from developed nations. To achieve ocean sustainability, we must redress power asymmetries and take intentional steps toward equity, ensuring that researchers, experts and decision-makers from tropical regions are actively involved in shaping ocean policies and governance initiatives.

    This can be achieved through international collaborations, joint research programmes and funding opportunities that prioritize the inclusion and support leadership of tropical researchers across temporal and geographical scales and sectors.

    Governance approaches must also ensure accountability for historical impacts on tropical coastal states and, through programmes such as the climate loss and damage funds, make sure that future funding and benefits are equitably distributed.

    There is also a need to formalize existing and potential hybrid systems of governance – for instance, beach management units help co-manage fisheries resources in coastal areas in East Africa.

    By acknowledging, empowering and supporting the unique expertise and experiences of the tropical majority, especially Indigenous peoples and local communities, we can foster a more comprehensive understanding of ocean dynamics, vulnerabilities and solutions.

    2. Reconnecting people and the ocean

    For many communities in tropical regions, the ocean is an integral part of their cultural identity and livelihoods.

    Reconnecting people with the ocean requires ensuring access to ocean resources and coastal areas through reversing privatization and degradation and stopping top-down, exclusionary “fortress conservation”.

    By integrating traditional ecological knowledge into scientific research and management strategies, we can enhance our understanding of marine environments and identify sustainable practices that have been successfully employed by local communities for generations.

    This mutual exchange of knowledge also strengthens community resilience, fosters stronger local stewardship of coastal and marine areas, and supports livelihoods highly dependent on the ocean like small-scale fisheries and coastal tourism.

    3. Redefining ocean literacy

    Ocean literacy should not be limited to scientific jargon accessible only to experts. It must be redefined to encompass a broader audience, including local and Indigenous knowledge and practical ocean wisdom.

    In tropical regions, where communities often live near the ocean, enhancing ocean literacy can inspire ocean stewardship. Educational programmes can communicate ocean science in a culturally relevant, safe, and accessible manner and help more tropical residents discover the beauty and importance of coastal and marine ecosystems and resources.

    Engaging storytelling, art and traditional knowledge can be powerful tools to inspire the next generation of ocean stewards and encourage broader public support for sustainable ocean policies.

    4. Decolonizing ocean science

    Historically, the study of ocean science has been influenced by colonial perspectives that disregarded the wisdom and practices of Indigenous and local communities.

    Decolonizing ocean science involves recognizing and rectifying these historical injustices, building equitable partnerships with Indigenous and local communities, respecting their rights and knowledge, and ensuring that research conducted and data collected from tropical regions includes and benefits these communities directly.

    This requires concerted efforts to build capacity for all relevant parties to understand and interact with data and the knowledge generated from it.

    Building better solutions for global ocean challenges

    By centring equity in ocean governance, reconnecting people and the ocean, redefining ocean literacy, and expanding ocean science to encompass all knowledge systems and approaches, we can better build solutions to pressing ocean challenges.

    We must decolonize science while broadening the scope of who leads, who participates, and who benefits. Being aware of power dynamics at play at multiple scales can help ensure we are not drowning out the tropical majority in discussions pertaining to solutions in the ocean-climate nexus.

    Incorporating tropical perspectives in ocean science and governance is not solely a moral and ethical imperative; it is also a pragmatic approach to achieving sustainable and tangible solutions for ocean sustainability.

    It is high time to recognize the invaluable contributions and expertise of the tropical majority, understand why their voice matters in ocean sustainability, and work together towards a shared goal for a healthier, more resilient, and sustainable ocean for all.

    Josheena Naggea is a visiting scholar at the Charles Telfair Centre. 

    This article is republished from the World Economic Forum. Read the original article.

    Main photo by lex on Flickr

    Charles Telfair Centre is an independent nonpartisan not for profit organisation and does not take specific positions. All views, positions, and conclusions expressed in our publications are solely those of the author(s).

    Floating solar panels could provide much of Africa’s energy – new research

    By
    Charles Telfair Centre
    -
    0

    Iestyn Woolway, NERC Independent Research Fellow, Bangor University

    Alona Armstrong, Professor of Energy & Environmental Sciences, Lancaster University

    New research has found that several countries could meet all their energy needs from solar panel systems floating on lakes. Climate, water and energy environmental scientists R. Iestyn Woolway and Alona Armstrong analysed how much energy could be produced by floating solar panels on just 10% of the water surface of one million bodies of water globally. They found that Ethiopia and Rwanda could generate more energy than their current national energy need from the floating energy systems alone.

    How do floating solar panels work?

    Also known as floating photovoltaic systems, these are solar panels mounted on structures that float on water bodies like lakes, reservoirs and ponds.

    Floating solar panel systems use pontoons or rafts to keep the solar panels afloat. These floating structures are anchored or tethered to the edges of the water bodies to ensure stability. The systems can be designed to withstand varying water levels and weather conditions, including storms.

    About five million  square kilometres of Earth’s surface area (or 3.7% of the Earth’s surface that isn’t covered with ice) is taken up by lakes and reservoirs. Solar panel systems could be floated on many of these surfaces.

    Just like solar panels mounted on buildings or the ground, the floating systems convert sunlight into electricity using photovoltaic cells. The generated electricity is then transmitted to the grid or used locally. Being on water helps keep the floating solar panels cool, and they produce more electricity than land-based solar panels and may last longer.

    Floating solar panel systems are used by countries that do not have a lot of land available but do have large and numerous water bodies. Ghana recently installed the largest floating solar panel system in Africa on one of its reservoirs.

    We used a tool called the Global Solar Energy Estimator to help us calculate how much energy solar panels could generate in over 1 million water bodies around the world. We gathered data about sunlight and air temperature and specific details about the solar panels. Using satellite images of the water bodies, we worked out which parts of the water could be covered by solar panels.

    We did not include water bodies that dry up, freeze over for more than six months a year, are situated within a protected area, and are more than 10km from a population centre. We also limited the size of the floating solar systems, taking potential technical and environmental constraints into account.

    What are the advantages of floating solar systems for African countries?

    Our research found that Rwanda and Ethiopia could generate far more energy from these systems than they currently use. Rwanda could generate 237% of its current total energy needs, and Ethiopia 129%. Chad could generate 73% of its current energy need from floating solar systems alone. Mali, Madagascar, Malawi, Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Togo could generate between 15% and 58% of their total energy demand from floating solar panels.

    We also found that there are 1,977 water bodies across Africa that could be used to float solar panel systems. This would spare the land that would otherwise be needed for land-based solar panels.

    Floating solar panels can also help reduce water evaporation from lakes and reservoirs. This would benefit water scarce countries in Africa.

    Another benefit is that the panels shade the water and this can reduce harmful algae blooms – mats of toxic bacteria – growing on the surface of the water, destroying water quality and aquatic life. This can improve the health of water bodies and reduce water treatment costs.

    Floating solar panel systems can also be set up in rural, remote or off-grid areas that have never had a regular supply of electricity before.

    What are the hurdles?

    African countries will need to address these problems if they want to make full use of floating solar panel systems:

    Grid connectivity and infrastructure: Many regions in sub-Saharan Africa have limited or unreliable grid connections. The grids need to be improved if these countries are to make full use of the electricity generated by floating solar panel systems. If expanding the centralised grid is too expensive, off-grid solutions such as mini-grids near the water bodies need to be developed.

    Regulatory and policy support: Governments will need to encourage the development of floating solar panel projects, including incentives, subsidies and streamlined permitting processes. They’ll also need to set up strict regulations, including environmental and safety standards.

    Environmental considerations: Thorough environmental impact assessments will need to be carried out to avoid any potential negative effects on aquatic ecosystems and water quality.

    Social considerations: Engaging with local communities to gain their support is very important. It is critical to take into account how communities use the water body. The aim should be to ensure that everyone benefits from the energy generated in an equitable way, and that “green grabbing” – where nature is sold to set up green energy systems, disadvantaging indigenous people – is avoided.

    What else did you learn from your research?

    Many countries have large water bodies, a lot of sun and serious problems with water evaporation and algae blooms. Floating solar panel systems can address these environmental problems and create low carbon energy at the same time.

    The potential benefits are promising. But more research is needed to understand their environmental impacts and optimise their design and implementation. This includes studying the long-term effects on aquatic ecosystems and water management practices.

    Why is solar so important?

    Solar energy generation produces minimal greenhouse gases compared to conventional energy sources like coal and natural gas. This helps combat climate change and reduce air pollution. By using solar power, countries can reduce their reliance on imported fossil fuels, and enhance energy security and economic stability.

    Solar energy has also become more and more affordable. The world is aiming to achieve Net Zero – an end to all carbon gas emissions – by 2050. Floating solar panel systems can contribute to reaching this goal.The Conversation

    This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

    Main photo by Hermann Unnsteinn on Flickr

    Charles Telfair Centre is an independent nonpartisan not for profit organisation and does not take specific positions. All views, positions, and conclusions expressed in our publications are solely those of the author(s). 

    The Right Industrial Policy Is Knowledge Policy

    By
    Charles Telfair Centre
    -
    0

     

    Tanos Santos, Professor of Finance at the Columbia Business School

    Luigi Zingales, Professor of Finance at the University of Chicago

    Industrial policy is back in vogue. After decades of eschewing the use of market-shaping policy tools like tariffs and subsidies, many Western governments have embraced them, spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic, which exposed vulnerabilities in global supply chains, and by broader fears about Chinese technological and commercial dominance, which could cost the West countless well-paying jobs. If these efforts are to succeed, however, an emphasis on knowledge is crucial.

    Industrial policy has a poor track record in the West. When postwar governments tried it, they usually failed to achieve their goals, because they supported industries with no viable path to profitability. By the 1970s and 1980s, they abandoned industrial policy altogether. But if we view industrial policy as knowledge policy, its comeback can succeed.

    An effective knowledge policy would focus less on creation of knowledge than on its diffusion. While innovation is clearly valuable, it is also expensive and challenging, requiring a particular combination of conditions that is often difficult to ensure. Not every country can realistically aspire to be a technological frontier. But a country does not have to produce cutting-edge innovations of its own to be able to reap the benefits (including higher productive capacity, greater wealth, and stronger military capabilities) of new processes, methods, and ideas produced elsewhere.

    Knowledge diffusion – which depends on both access to knowledge and the ability to absorb it – is the key to a prosperous society. The German and Japanese economies recovered rapidly after World War II largely because, while their physical infrastructure was in ruins, their stock of knowledge was intact. Both countries had a cohort of engineers, doctors, scientists, and managers capable of absorbing, spreading, applying, and building upon the advanced knowledge brought by occupying American forces.

    Recognizing the value of such knowledge transfers, one might ask why the state needs to get involved. The answer is that knowledge diffusion is the quintessential externality. When an individual or a firm invests in knowledge, it typically captures only a fraction of the returns: knowledge acquisition often brings far higher social returns than private gains. This explains why the state has long supported and incentivized knowledge production, such as by creating a patent system and strengthening education.

    An effective knowledge policy must include both domestic and international components. On the domestic front, it requires a targeted education policy, subsidies encouraging local actors to import knowledge, and a flexible intellectual property (IP) framework, which strikes the right balance between motivating innovation and encouraging its diffusion. Countries that are far from the technological frontier are better off with lax IP regimes, such as the one that enabled India to build a thriving pharmaceutical industry. (Membership in the World Trade Organization has since driven India to adhere to stricter rules).

    In a geopolitically fragmented world, such domestic measures must be complemented by free-trade zones to facilitate knowledge-sharing among partner countries. These zones would allow for specialization in some areas, but not in all. Economists’ obsession with comparative advantage notwithstanding, this is not necessarily a bad thing. After all, a country at the technological frontier – or close enough that it can continue to absorb new knowledge – is likely to be a more productive and prosperous economic partner.

    When it comes to importing technology, countries should erect barriers only in sectors where catch-up is both achievable and desirable (the same sectors where direct subsidies might also be justified). In this sense, the United States and the European Union have much better reason to invest in strengthening their domestic semiconductor industries than India, which is so far behind in this area that any resources spent on catching up are probably wasted. But even the US risks failing to achieve its semiconductor ambitions, unless it also implements an education policy that encourages the study of engineering. Taiwan leads the world in semiconductor production thanks not only to its vast knowhow, but also to its appropriately educated workforce.

    But even for an economy with the right capabilities, if too many of its peers are trying to catch up in the same area, the costs of the strategy will rise, and the probability of success will drop. This brings us to another reason why free-trade zones are useful: they can facilitate policy coordination, at least among allies. India would be far more willing to abandon its semiconductor ambitions if it knew it could rely on a steady supply from a trusted partner.

    To be sure, that partner might make demands of its own – say, for India to strengthen its IP enforcement, which would be very costly. But, in today’s tense and divided world, such trade-offs are practically inevitable. A sensible knowledge policy must recognize the constraints under which allies operate.

    Western governments are bringing back industrial policy at a particularly fraught moment. Strategic considerations cannot be ignored, as they were during the decades when globalization was progressing rapidly, and Pax Americana remained firmly in place. Instead, leaders must rise to the challenge and devise sophisticated industrial-military strategies – including knowledge policies – that account for a wide range of risks, objectives, and pressures.

    Copyright: Project Syndicate, 2024.
    www.project-syndicate.org

    Main photo by CDC on Unsplash.

    Charles Telfair Centre is an independent nonpartisan not for profit organisation and does not take specific positions. All views, positions, and conclusions expressed in our publications are solely those of the author(s).

    Mauritius’ next growth phase: a new plan is needed as the tax haven era fades

    By
    Charles Telfair Centre
    -
    0

    Pritish Behuria, Senior Lecturer in Politics, Governance and Development, Global Development Institute, University of Manchester

    Mauritians will head to the polls by November 2024 and politicians are considering the economic direction of the island country.

    For the last two decades, the country’s economic growth has depended heavily on its offshore sector – the provision of financial services by banks to foreign firms.

    As an isolated country located in the south-western Indian Ocean, Mauritius has linked itself to global financial sectors by easing the flow of capital into and out of its economy. It has signed double taxation avoidance agreements with other countries, and its capital gains taxes are attractively low.

    Through double taxation avoidance agreements, foreign entities can establish funds in locations outside their home countries, to take advantage of lower taxes.

    But recent initiatives have dimmed prospects for the offshore sector. For instance, the OECD’s (the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development) multilateral convention to implement tax related measures significantly limits the incentives available under double taxation avoidance agreements.

    As a political economist, I take an interdisciplinary approach to studying development challenges in today’s connected world. My work examines how countries with relatively little economic power manage domestic and external forces to achieve economic transformation.

    Tax haven strategies have allowed countries such as Mauritius to gain huge amounts of foreign exchange. But in a recent paper I argue that these strategies may not have the same appeal in years to come. This leaves Mauritius at a crossroads once again.

    The Mauritian government has previously found ways to diversify its economy during times of crisis. First, from sugar to industry. Then to tourism. Later to the offshore sector. Now there is talk of investing in the blue economy, but there are few signs that a clear strategy has been defined. With offshore revenues threatened, the Mauritian economy may soon struggle to identify new sources of foreign exchange.

    Diversified economy

    Mauritius is Africa’s most widely celebrated democratic developmental state – held up as a shining example. It transformed itself from a country with a per capita income of US$260 in the 1960s to one with a per capita income of more than $10,000 in 2021.

    At independence in 1968, observers had little hope for the Mauritian economy. Nobel Prize winner James Meade predicted a tragic future for the island nation. He cited sugar dependence, population density and diverse ethnic composition as its weak points.

    Yet Mauritius has defied pessimistic predictions and conventional economic theory. It has become among the most diversified African economies.

    In the 1970s, economic development was largely focused on industrialisation to reduce dependence on imports. While there was minimal growth in exports, manufacturing employment grew from 5% to 20% of the labour force over the decade. But as sugar prices fell in the late 1970s, the Mauritian economy plunged into crisis.

    In the early 1980s, Mauritius adopted reforms, adhering to conditions set by the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. The government decided to go further than simply liberalising its financial sectors and reducing capital controls. Against the advice of multilateral donors and foreign governments, Mauritian politicians decided to build an offshore financial centre.

    In the late 1990s and 2000s, Mauritius was widely celebrated for rapid economic growth and diversity. This came from special economic zones (promoting textiles and apparel growth), tourism and the offshore sector.

    For decades, African countries have sent government officials on study tours to learn from Mauritian success.

    But like most late developing countries (or former colonies), Mauritius is still heavily reliant on imports. Its offshore sector has provided vast amounts of foreign exchange to buy imports. If offshore sector revenues dry up, Mauritius might have to apply to the International Monetary Fund for loans.

    Mauritius as a tax haven

    In my paper, I describe the evolution of Mauritius as a tax haven. It started with strategic state involvement. The Mauritian government amended its banking legislation to offer lower taxation and exemption from exchange control.

    Its tax treaty with India soon became the most significant avenue for the development of Mauritius’ offshore businesses. An increasing number of Indian funds moved their businesses to Mauritius to take advantage of tax benefits.

    Similarly, Mauritian entities have been the leading investors in India since 2000. Mauritius-based funds have invested around US$170 billion in India this century. But things are changing. There are signs that funds are now selecting Singapore (as well as other competitors to Mauritius) as the preferred destination for investments.

    India’s response to the OECD’s convention to implement tax related measures has gone further than many other countries. The Indian government agreed to remove the capital gains exemption that entities held in Mauritius had enjoyed over the years. By 2018, Singapore had overtaken Mauritius as the leading investor into India.

    In March 2024, India and Mauritius amended their double taxation avoidance agreement to comply with the OECD’s measures. Among the changes, firms do not qualify for tax incentives if the principal purpose of their transaction is simply to avoid tax.

    What next for Mauritius?

    The new amendments to the double taxation agreement are likely to constrain the growth of Mauritius’ offshore sector. The financial sector has not transformed beyond providing basic services like fund administration. This is unlike other more diversified financial sectors like Singapore, which specialises in capital markets, foreign exchange, commodity trading and corporate banking, aside from fund administration.

    With foreign firms recently buying some of Mauritius’ biggest offshore management companies, there are signs that Mauritian banking will be relegated to simply doing basic work for larger financial centres. It is likely that overall revenues and foreign exchange from the sector will reduce.

    Focusing resources on a new pillar for Mauritian growth is more urgent than ever.

    In the last few years, Mauritian political discussions have been characterised by questions over Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth’s authoritarian turn, as well as accusations of corruption, nepotism and cronyism. The nation will have to reach a new political and economic consensus to avoid future economic difficulties.

    Main photo by Stephen Dawson on Unsplash

    This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

    Charles Telfair Centre is an independent nonpartisan not for profit organisation and does not take specific positions. All views, positions, and conclusions expressed in our publications are solely those of the author(s).

    Workshop Proceedings: Beyond Talent Scarcity: Unlocking Mauritius’ Workforce Challenge

    By
    Charles Telfair Centre
    -
    0

     

    Charles Telfair Centre, June 2024

    In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, several sectors of the Mauritian work landscape have experienced labour shortages and poor rates of talent retention. To better understand the dynamics influencing this phenomenon and explore potential solutions, the Charles Telfair Centre, in partnership with Rogers,  organised the “Beyond Talent Scarcity: Unlocking Mauritius’ Workforce Challenge” workshop on May 22nd at the Voilà Hotel Bagatelle.

    Moderated by Manisha Dookhony, Chairperson of MINDEX, the event brought together practitioners from various sectors, including hospitality, IT, finance, health, and education, as well as experts in human resource management, law, and economics. Centred around three main themes: education, work culture, and policy, the discussions highlighted the complexity of the factors influencing labour shortages in Mauritius. This brief highlights the key outcomes of the discussion and the proposed roadmap for action.

    Delving into contributing Factors

    Data suggests that education, labour retention, and emigration patterns are the main factors contributing to talent scarcity in Mauritius. However, the exact impact of these factors is less clear.

    Education

    Education plays a crucial role as the producer of an efficient and effective future labour force. Its ability to do so was one the first element addressed: the workshop explored to what extent educational institutions and training programs were able to respond adequately to our economic needs and how it contributed or not to brain drain.

    In a context of declining demographics, the historically low number of students registering for the High School Certificate (HSC) examinations raise concerns about the future job-seeking population size: “If Mauritius wants to be a high-income country, the lack of qualified graduates presents a bleak picture for the future,” one participant highlighted. The workshop underlined concerns on the dwindling quality of the public education system resulting in many students struggling to achieve basic qualifications. The ability of the education system to produce the relevant future workforce is challenged by its inadequacies in guiding students towards pertinent career pathways.

    The discrepancy between university degrees offered locally and the needs of the labour market was also pointed out as a significant deficiency. Priority sectors such as ICT, finance, and economics suffer the most from this mismatch with an insufficient number of graduates in these disciplines. A such, these sectors face a dire scarcity of qualified human resources.

    To compound this gap, factors such as the lack of specialised degree and the strong presence of international recruiters for study abroad contribute to exacerbate the brain drain and hence the local talent shortage. The absence of certain specialised degrees in local universities, give students no choice but to study abroad. Students may also turn to international institutions, if they perceived these as offering more progressive, advanced quality programs. Similarly, the increasing number of recruitment agents from international universities in Mauritius feeds a mindset that international studies are preferable to local training. The lack of oversight on these activities was highlighted as another possible shortfall of the educational landscape.

    Throughout the discussion, it emerged that the shortcomings of educational institutions are structural in nature. From decreasing quality education to perceived inconsistencies in the current curriculum, the issues raised suggest that addressing them would likely require systemic reforms and a change of mindset.

    Labour Retention and Emigration

    In the context of an aging population and a declining workforce size, the Mauritian labour market displays various push factors contributing to low retention rates and increased emigration patterns.

    Work culture

    With the first three to nine months of employment being critical for labour retention, the latter and related brain drain were seen as a direct result of inadequate work culture with perceived limited equity and inclusion within public and private organisations. These unfavourable conditions, it was argued, are driving work emigration from Mauritius.

    One participant pointed that “today’s generation seeks a work culture prioritising work-life balance, autonomy, and growth within their work environment”, elements that employees perceive to be lacking in the current labour market. Perceptions of nepotism and systemic inefficiencies across the public and private sectors contribute to local dissatisfaction and the desire to seek employment abroad.

    Wage and careers

    A core driver of emigration highlighted during the workshop is our inability, in Mauritius, to compete with international wage levels compounded by the more limited career prospects that Mauritian organisations are perceived to offer compared to global organisations. Wage and career prospects were also highlighted as those leading to most dissatisfaction in the Mauritius National Employee Survey. One participant added that “despite companies striving to address these gaps, workers are still deciding to leave”.

    Socio-Cultural context

    Indeed, the roundtable offered insights into sociocultural factors driving emigration. The lack of adequate human experiences in terms of healthcare, family dynamics, social fulfilment, and security was identified as instrumental in fostering brain drain.

    For instance, limited access to efficient healthcare services was raised as a motive. One participant specified that some individuals decide to migrate to ensure better healthcare for their families and aging parents through family reunification procedures.

    Local family dynamics, which can be unsupportive of individual independence, and the lack of public spaces for social realisation were also identified as contributors to emigration among the youth.

    Diaspora

    With limited or ineffective incentives for the return of the diaspora, the country has not yet been able to fully capitalise on its large educated and skilled diaspora.

    Participants noted a certain detachment between Mauritians abroad and their country of origin. This phenomenon is evidenced, they argued, by the low rate of remittances being sent to Mauritius compared to other Small Island Developing States (SIDS).

    It was also highlighted that those among the diaspora who have returned have done so out of necessity rather than choice, with family needs being a primary reason for return migration. Participants who have migrated back to Mauritius after working overseas mentioned the difficulty of adapting to the local work culture, which, among other things, offers less flexibility and opportunities for challenging careers. They also shared that the reduction in life and cultural experiences upon returning was an additional drawback.

    Recommendations

    The workshop identified some initial steps for a labour retention roadmap.

    Educational Reforms

    • Strategic higher education & vocational streams: To address perceived inconsistencies between education and labour market needs, participants recommended comprehensive educational system reforms. Specifically, they suggested that Mauritius draw inspiration from Singapore’s educational strategy, which sets specific quotas to ensure sufficient human resources for priority economic sectors. The workshop proposed that Mauritius could implement similar practices to alleviate labour shortages in key sectors.
    • The proposition for a schooling system focused on redressing economic gaps by steering students into sectors most affected by labour shortage was, however, not unanimous. Referring to the high numbers of students choosing to undertake their tertiary education abroad, it was posited that locally producing graduates with a varied skills set could also prove valuable to Mauritius. More so as the absence of more specialised degrees in local universities may well be also contributing to brain drain, as students turn to international universities that offer more progressive degrees.
    • Employer partnerships with education providers: Institutions should also strive to equip students with a clear understanding of the career pathways and potential work experiences offered by different courses. This could be achieved through improved partnerships between universities and industry, providing students with more sustained workplace experiences through work-integrated learning programs, such as long-term internships and industry projects. A young-adult participants highlighted that: “while I had little optimism for my future in Mauritius at the start of my studies, my experiences at university through industry projects, industry visits and internships have changed my perceptions: I believe now, that there are interesting career growth prospects for graduates in Mauritius”.
    • Work-Study balance: On a more practical side, universities and training institutions and employers need to get better at tailoring student timetables and work planning to allow positive education and work experiences. This is particularly important for international students who can legally work for up to 20 hours per week.
    • Communication Bridges: The disconnect between young adults’ perceptions and aspirations and what employers can provide could be addressed by multiplying initiatives to create effective communication channels between the education sector, the industry, and the youth. Such efforts would allow for a better understanding of young people’s professional and personal aspirations, but also for the youth to better understand what Mauritian employers have to offer.

    Labour Force Reforms

    The workshop participants advocated for policy reforms regarding wages, labour retention, and attracting the diaspora back to Mauritius as well as aligning company culture with workers’ expectations.;

    • More competitive remuneration packages: Participants suggested that strategic incentives, such as competitive remuneration and benefit packages, could not only encourage Mauritians to stay in the local labour market but also attract highly skilled migrants to the island. According to theory and evidence higher pay leads to improved employee productivity, turnover and recruitment.
    • Connecting the diaspora: To engage the diaspora in the island’s development, it was suggested to create a platform where Mauritians abroad can register and stay updated on local opportunities. Such platform could be managed by stakeholders such as the Economic Development Board and Business Mauritius.
    • Extending the Retirement age: Extending the retirement age was argued to be effective in retaining experienced professionals in the workforce, thereby mitigating the current scarcity of qualified talent.
    • Organisational Culture Shifts: Rethinking organisational culture by developing more inclusive, flexible and empowering work cultures would help attract and retain talent. They suggested implementing strategies to improve workplace engagement by promoting better work-life balance, transparency, employee autonomy and living the company’s stated missions and values with authenticity.  Employers should enhance their talent management systems with clear and transparent communication around pay structures and potential career growth opportunities within the organisations. Such initiatives would not only help attract and retain talent, it would also improve company performance.

    Diversifying the Workforce

    • Structural Planning: More generally, a lack of structural planning was identified at the national level. To address this deficiency, participants called for less diversification of focus areas and recommended building expertise in key sectors such as finance, ICT and tourism. They argued that such a strategy would create a viable economic structure, reflecting a more positive image of the island and attracting both local and international talent. This could be achieved through better communication and partnership between the public and private sectors, working together to design creative ways to build expertise on the island.
    • Tapping into the African Talent pool: While retaining local labour and encouraging return migration were central recommendations, it was also highlighted that tapping into the African talent pool could help remedy the labour shortage. Migration from Africa to Mauritius can be enhanced through improved education, work opportunities, and legislation to facilitate labour movement. To attract professionals, the workshop recommended implementing cultural integration strategies along with better wages. Additionally, participants advocated for Mauritius to further explore development opportunities in collaboration with African countries.
    • Tapping into the female labour pool: Using the feminisation of the textile industry in the 80s & 90s as an example, participants urged for the design of strategies to further attract female workers into the labour market, given the current low level of female labour force engagement. Beyond greater government incentives, current organisations are shaped and moulded with a male employee as its typical worker, a bias reflected in workplace design and function. To address this gender gap, companies can develop strategies to better accommodate the specific needs of women.

    As Mauritius faces an unprecedented shortage of labour, endangering its competitiveness and productive capacity, the workshop provided valuable insights into the multifaceted nature of talent scarcity. While the challenges are significant, the solutions discussed offer a roadmap for building a sustainable diversified pool of available talent. By reforming the educational system, implementing strategic policy changes, enhancing corporate contributions, and leveraging the country’s unique advantages, Mauritius can unlock its workforce potential and build a sustainable future. The engagement of all stakeholders, from government and educational institutions to businesses and the diaspora, will be crucial in making this vision a reality.

    The Centre wishes to thank Manish Bundhun, Chief People executive at Rogers and Manisha Dookhony, Chairperson of Mindex for giving their time by joining the organisation committee of the workshop and for their invaluable insights in structuring the discussions.

    Main photo by pch.vector on Freepik

    Charles Telfair Centre is an independent nonpartisan not for profit organisation and does not take specific positions. All views, positions, and conclusions expressed in our publications are solely those of the author(s).

    Buying and selling forest carbon as a commodity is dangerous if it trumps other environmental and social uses – new report

    By
    Charles Telfair Centre
    -
    0

    Constance McDermott, Senior Fellow in Forest Governance and Leader of Ecosystems Governance Group, University of Oxford

    Eric Kumeh Mensah, Postdoctoral research fellow, University of Oxford

    Mark Hirons, Environmental Social Science Research Fellow, University of Oxford

    Forests are great carbon sinks – they absorb more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than they release. Globally, forests remove nearly all of the two billion tonnes of carbon dioxide that is currently being removed from the atmosphere every year.

    These days, companies can buy “carbon credits” for the carbon that is stored in living forests and offset this against their own greenhouse gas emissions. International financiers estimate that by 2050, Africa could be selling US$1.5 trillion in carbon credits per year, mainly from its forests. Environmental social scientists Constance L. McDermott, Eric Mensah Kumeh and Mark Hirons are co-authors of a report on global forest governance for the International Union of Forest Research Organisations. They have found that buying and selling forest carbon as a commodity is dangerous if it is prioritised over the other environmental and social uses of forests. It could even result in environmental damage and the displacement of forest-dependent people.

    What is a carbon sink?

    All living things contain carbon, and are considered carbon sinks when they absorb more carbon from the atmosphere than they release. Many ecosystems serve as carbon sinks, but forests have a large biomass (wood and twigs and leaves on the forest floor). This makes them a very important sink from a climate perspective.

    The carbon that trees capture is sequestered (stored) in their wood, leaves or needles, and roots. When forests are cut down or burned, their stored carbon is released into the atmosphere and becomes a source of carbon emissions rather than a sink. Forest carbon sinks can be conserved by leaving live trees standing, or created and enhanced by planting or natural regeneration of trees.

    Why is it a problem for a forest to be seen only as a carbon sink?

    Forests support and regulate soil, water and nutrient flows, and provide habitat for the majority of the world’s species that live on land. They provide people with food, fuel, fibre, medicine and other products.

    They are important to the cultural survival and well-being of many communities. In Africa alone, an estimated 245 million people live within five kilometres of a forest, and many of these people rely directly on forests for their livelihoods.

    Our research found that forests are increasingly being managed as carbon sinks, and the carbon they store treated as a commodity that can be internationally traded. Carbon markets allow businesses and governments to earn credits by paying for forests that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, which is cheaper than reducing their own emissions. This is part of what we call the climatisation of forests.

    Governing forests only as carbon sinks can promote “green grabs” where non-forested land, such as grasslands, used by communities for farming and other activities, is taken from the community and used by wealthy companies or governments to plant large tracts of trees to store carbon. Sub-Saharan Africa, in particular, is being targeted as a readily available and inexpensive location for one million hectares of forest restoration and tree plantations.

    This is especially threatening for people who do not have secure rights to the forests and land they depend on. These communities can even be restricted or banned from entering the forest. Research has found that forest-dependent communities are rarely given power to address their own priorities in forest carbon sink schemes. This can cause conflict locally and weaken local democracy.

    Let’s take the example of the Mai-Ndombe forest in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which supports about 100,000 people in 23 villages. Activities in the Mai-Ndombe under the global Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) climate change mechanism have focused on changing the practices of local forest-dependent communities away from cutting trees for artisanal logging or firewood collection. These communities have also been told not to continue with traditional methods of shifting cultivation (where parts of a forest are temporarily cleared to grow food crops without deforesting the area permanently).

    Yet in Mai-Ndombe and the Democratic Republic of Congo’s other forests, land is already allocated to companies for timber (mainly for the export market), for mining, and increasingly for forest carbon sequestration. The result is that large companies continue to extract major economic benefits from forests in ways that exclude local communities.

    Ghana’s Cocoa Forest REDD+ Programme is another example. In a bid to reduce deforestation and increase forest carbon stocks, the government of Ghana pays farmers and local communities to not plant cocoa crops in forested areas and to grow shade trees on their cocoa farms.

    These efforts to share benefits locally are very important. However, asking farmers to plant or conserve trees does not address the fact that farmers are not earning a living income from selling cocoa.

    Ghana’s cocoa farmers receive less than 7.5% of the value of a chocolate bar sold in international markets, and they suffer from food insecurity and increasing crop failures due to climate change. They do not have legal rights to the native trees that regenerate naturally on their cocoa farms.

    The focus of REDD+ on channelling large amounts of money into forests as carbon could mean that many farmers lose access to land for growing food and meeting other livelihood needs – unless this is balanced by major investments to address the core challenges the farmers are facing.

    What are some solutions?

    Forests can absorb large amounts of carbon dioxide and still support communities. A people-centred approach to forests is needed. This means giving local communities secure rights to their land and forest resources, and governing forests according to what best suits the local context, rather than making forest use fit the international market.

    The important role of traditional authorities and local customs in managing land and resolving conflicts must be recognised. Many traditional practices have managed forests sustainably for thousands of years. The challenge is to value and support these alternative approaches.The Conversation

    This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

    Main photo by Kazuend on Unsplash 

    Charles Telfair Centre is an independent nonpartisan not for profit organisation and does not take specific positions. All views, positions, and conclusions expressed in our publications are solely those of the author(s).

    Seychelles: floating baby corals can help save damaged reefs – new study

    By
    Charles Telfair Centre
    -
    0

    April J Burt, Research Associate at the University of Oxford

    Noam Vogt-Vincent, Postdoctoral fellow at University of Hawaii

    The Seychelles archipelago of 115 islands stretches across a vast area of the western Indian Ocean. Each island is fringed by coral reefs.

    Coral reefs are formed by colonies of invertebrate animals that build hard skeletons and grow in a myriad of forms. These complex tropical reefs support a third of all species in the ocean as well as the livelihoods of millions of people. Dependency on coral reefs for food security and economic stability is particularly acute in small island developing states such as Seychelles, where a high proportion of people live close to reef systems and there isn’t much land for alternative ways of life.

    Corals reefs are also the ecosystems most vulnerable to climate change, due to the sensitivity of tropical corals to ocean warming. Marine heatwaves that cause widespread coral mortality are becoming more frequent and more severe, leaving insufficient time for coral recovery to take place.

    The only solution to this threat is rapidly reducing greenhouse gas emissions, but effective marine management may buy coral reefs some time.

    One of the ways a damaged reef can recover is if there is a consistent supply of baby corals. Although adult corals are attached to the seabed and cannot move, baby corals float freely in the ocean. Baby corals can therefore be transported over large distances by ocean currents. Some coral reefs are more isolated, but others may be strongly connected, acting as a source of baby corals for many other reefs. Prioritising these source reefs for conservation may improve the resilience of corals in the wider region.

    In our recent study, we mapped coral reef connectivity across the Seychelles using a combination of population genetics and computer modelling. Despite the remoteness of many islands, both genetic and modelling approaches suggested that the connectivity between these remote reefs was high, with ocean currents shuttling larvae across the archipelago. We also developed an interactive web app to help marine managers understand these connections.

    Our findings suggest that localised conservation efforts have the potential to benefit coral reef health more broadly. This would be the case both within Seychelles and along the east African coast.

    Coral superhighways

    If currents transport baby corals between a pair of reefs, we say that those reefs are connected. Mapping these connections allows us to design more effective management strategies. Some corals also appear to be more resilient to hotter temperatures, and connectivity may allow baby corals to introduce genes responsible for this resilience to other reefs.

    Baby corals are tiny – usually less than one millimetre across – so they are impossible to track directly over large distances. To quantify coral reef connectivity, we have to use indirect methods. One approach is using DNA from corals in different reefs, and analysing how similar they are genetically. The more similar they are, the greater the connectivity likely is.

    Alternatively, with the help of ocean current data and biology, we can use computer simulations to predict the transport of baby corals between coral reefs.

    Because many coral reefs in the Seychelles are exceptionally remote, one may expect connectivity to be low. However, our findings demonstrate that this is not the case.

    To map connectivity across the archipelago, we analysed the DNA of 241 coral colonies from 12 islands across the Seychelles archipelago, and found evidence for recent connectivity between distant pairs of islands. For example, the DNA of many corals in the exceptionally remote Aldabra atoll – a world heritage site – shares strong similarity to corals on the most populated island in Seychelles, Mahé, despite being separated by over 1,000km of ocean.

    We found these genetic similarities by comparing the sequenced DNA of all our samples and focusing on sites where variations occurred (known as single nucleotide polymorphisms or SNPs). These variations are inherited, so individuals that are closely related will have more SNPs in common than those who are distantly related.

    Computer simulations provide insight into how the strong connectivity between remote islands in Seychelles occurs. Although the inner (highly populated) islands of Seychelles are usually surrounded by an eastward flowing ocean current, wiggles in the currents (similar to weather systems in the atmosphere) can transport some baby corals to the south. This allows them to enter a rapid, westward current that efficiently transports them towards remote islands in south-west Seychelles, such as Aldabra.

    Baby corals from Aldabra are catapulted further west by this current, away from Seychelles and towards east Africa. Aldabra may therefore be a source of baby corals for thousands of kilometres of coral reef across east Africa.

    Next steps

    Our research, as well as the development of an app, will contribute to effective management of coral reefs such as the development and maintenance of marine protected areas. Interventions on land can also, surprisingly, help vulnerable coral reefs. For example, removing rats improves coral health and resilience by restoring seabirds which rain down nutrients in the form of guano onto the islands. These nutrients reach near-shore waters and significantly increase growth and fish biomass. But eradications are extremely costly. Coral connectivity data can help island nations like Seychelles decide where to invest in such costly actions to maximise positive impacts for coral reefs.The Conversation

    This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

    Main photo by Tom Fisk on Pexels

    Charles Telfair Centre is an independent nonpartisan not for profit organisation and does not take specific positions. All views, positions, and conclusions expressed in our publications are solely those of the author(s).

     

    The Global Economy Is More Vulnerable Than It Seems

    By
    Charles Telfair Centre
    -
    0

     

    Bertand Badré, former managing direct of the World Bank and CEO and Founder of Blue like an Orange Sustainable Capital.

    Yves Tiberghien, Professor of Political Science and Director Emeritus of the Institute of Asian Research at the University of British Columbia.

    Today’s economic outlook is strangely contradictory. While global markets, led by technology and energy, have been ebullient over high short-term profits, the mood at the Spring Meetings of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund last month was decidedly somber. Two global institutions that normally speak in banalities issued strong warnings about the growing risks of economic fragmentation.

    The idea that an interdependent global economy can work within a geopolitical system based on the national sovereignty of nearly 200 states has always reflected a certain amount of idealism. Or perhaps it was more like hubris. This strange marriage did, after all, collapse in the 1930s, with the division lasting through the end of World War II.

    But idealism was not dead, and the global system was subsequently rebuilt on a foundation of agreed rules, shared international institutions, a degree of mutual forbearance, and crisis management. From the start, security considerations were kept as separate as possible from the economy, but this became especially important in the 1990s, when countries with radically different regimes began integrating into the global economy.

    Today, however, the foundations of this system are eroding fast, and global economic integration has seemingly gone into reverse. As Gita Gopinath, the IMF’s first deputy managing director, recently explained, economic fragmentation could have far-reaching implications for trade, such as reduced efficiency gains, and increase the risk of macro-financial volatility. Fragmentation could also reduce capital flows to the Global South and undermine the provision of global public goods, including climate action.

    Five key factors are driving this trend toward fragmentation. First, rising geopolitical risks have fueled mistrust and reduced systemically important countries’ will to cooperate. Though policymakers rarely acknowledge it, a crisis over Taiwan – a flashpoint in the Sino-American rivalry – could well bring down the global economic system.

    Second, key countries are increasingly allowing security considerations to shape economic policy, with some taking expansive action to secure access to inputs, infrastructure, and technologies. While this is understandable, countries must exercise restraint. Whereas globalization happened gradually, a deglobalization process driven by security-motivated measures (which are almost guaranteed to trigger escalation by rivals and partners) would probably be fast and unwieldy, posing severe systemic risks.

    The third factor underlying economic fragmentation is a deepening rift between the Global North and Global South. Public and private support for developing economies has collapsed at a time when many are wrestling with the legacy of the COVID-19 pandemic and confronting climate change. The decades-long trend toward convergence with developed economies has seemingly been interrupted, and resentment is building in the Global South. Net financial flows to developing countries have turned negative in 2023, and the trend is worsening in 2024. This partly explains the reluctance or refusal of many Global South countries to back the West on key geopolitical issues, such as sanctions against Russia in response to its war of aggression in Ukraine.

    Fragmentation also reflects the rapid escalation of climate risks and disasters. With “once-a-lifetime” floods, mega-fires, and droughts proliferating, many countries are at risk of destabilization within the next few years, and there is no global “safety net” in place. Meanwhile, as Harvard’s Dani Rodrik has pointed out, countries are competing for dominance in green technologies, rather than working together to accelerate progress.

    Lastly, the exponential growth of artificial intelligence is fueling national competition, rather than the global cooperation that is required. As MIT’s Daron Acemoglu and Simon Johnson have noted, regulations, policies, and institutions will be essential to ensure that AI creates jobs, rather than only destroying them. Global South countries need a voice in AI regulatory efforts.

    To be sure, the global economic system still has many sources of resilience. As the recent Indonesian, Indian, and Brazilian G20 presidencies have shown, most of the Global South remains committed to both interdependence and global governance. Furthermore, the private sector is still characterized by interdependence. We still have dedicated international organizations, global education networks, and a global civil society.

    But we must not underestimate the dangers ahead. There is good reason to think that the coming months and years will bring a series of shocks and crises. If leaders respond with tit-for-tat policies aimed at securing advantages over rivals, the integrated global economy could unravel. The speed of that process could overwhelm policymakers, and the path from economic pain to social upheaval to the abandonment of shared global rules may well prove to be short.

    As it stands, leaders are so preoccupied with wars, power struggles, social tensions, and political polarization that they appear largely unwilling to invest in saving the integrated global economy, let alone strengthening its capacity to deal with the existential risks we face. But history, economic theory, and current empirical trends indicate that this is a mistake.

    Even a partial collapse of our interdependent global economic and financial systems would be catastrophic, not least because it would undermine investment in global public goods. For politicians worried about migration’s effect on their countries, it is worth noting that, without massive investments in combating climate change, reversing desertification, and reducing poverty, millions could be attempting to cross the Mediterranean by 2050.

    National security must be a priority for policymakers. But measures to “secure” the economy must be combined with efforts to improve communication with rivals and invest in global public goods. To this end, world leaders should use the G20 and other plurilateral bodies to elevate working groups and institutions that support collective governance, with a focus on managing AI risks, addressing climate change, and averting the collapse of the global economic system on which we depend.

    Copyright: Project Syndicate, 2024.
    www.project-syndicate.org

    Main photo by energepic.com on Pexels

    Charles Telfair Centre is an independent nonpartisan not for profit organisation and does not take specific positions. All views, positions, and conclusions expressed in our publications are solely those of the author(s).

    Climate change is causing marine ‘coldwaves’ too, killing wildlife

    By
    Charles Telfair Centre
    -
    0

     

    Nicolas Benjamin Lubitz, Researcher in marine ecology, James Cook University

    David Schoeman, Professor of Global-Change Ecology, University of the Sunshine Coast 

    The effects of ocean warming are profound and well-documented. But sometimes changes in the patterns of winds and ocean currents cause seawater to suddenly cool, instead.

    Surface temperatures can plummet rapidly — by 10ºC or more over a day or two. When these conditions persist for several days or weeks, the area experiences a “coldwave”, which is the opposite of more familiar marine heatwaves.

    When a “killer coldwave” manifested along South Africa’s southeast coast in March 2021, it killed hundreds of animals across at least 81 species. More worrying still was the fact these deaths included vulnerable manta rays and even specimens of notoriously robust migratory bull sharks. In southern Africa, bull sharks, whale sharks and manta rays have previously washed up dead following such sudden cold events, especially over the past 15 years.

    As we report in Nature Climate Change, the conditions that can drive these killer coldwaves have grown increasingly common over the past four decades. Ironically, strengthening winds and currents as a result of climate change can also make these deadly localised coldwaves more likely in places such as the east coasts of South Africa and Australia, potentially putting even highly mobile species such as sharks in harm’s way.

    What’s going on?

    Certain wind and current conditions can cause the sea surface to cool, rather than warm. This happens when winds and currents force coastal waters to move offshore, which are then replaced from below by cold water from the deep ocean. This process is known as upwelling.

    In some places, such as California on the US west coast, upwelling happens regularly along hundreds of kilometres of coastline. But localised upwelling can occur seasonally on a smaller scale, too, often at the edges of bays on the east coasts of continents due to interactions of wind, current and coastline.

    Previous research had shown climate change induced changes in global wind and current patterns. So we investigated the potential consequences at particular locations, by analysing long-term wind and temperature data along the south-eastern coast of South Africa and the Australian east coast.

    This revealed an increasing trend in the number of annual upwelling events over the past 40 years. We also found an increase in the intensity of such upwelling events and the extent to which temperatures dropped on the first day of each event – in other words, how severe and sudden these cold snaps were.

    Mass deaths warrant investigation

    During the extreme upwelling event along the southeast coast of South Africa in March 2021, at least 260 animals from 81 species died. These included tropical fish, sharks and rays.

    To investigate the ramifications for marine fauna, we took a closer look at bull sharks. We tagged sharks with tracking devices that also record depth and temperature.

    Bull sharks are a highly migratory, tropical species that only tend to travel to upwelling regions during the warmer months. With the onset of winter, they migrate back to warm, tropical waters.

    Being mobile, they should have been able to avoid the local, cold temperatures. So why were bull sharks among the dead in this extreme upwelling event?

    When running and hiding isn’t enough

    Bull sharks survive environmental conditions that would kill most other marine life. For example, they’re often found several hundred kilometres up rivers, where other marine life would not venture.

    Our shark tracking data from both South Africa and Australia showed bull sharks actively avoid areas of upwelling during their seasonal migrations up and down the coast, even when upwelling isn’t too intense. Some sharks take shelter in warm, shallow bays until the water warms again. Others stick close to the surface where the water is warmest, and swim as fast as they can to get out of the upwelling.

    But if marine coldwaves continue to become more sudden and intense, fleeing or hiding may no longer be enough even for these tough beasts. For example, in the event in South Africa that caused the death of manta rays and bull sharks water temperatures dropped from 21°C to 11.8°C in under 24 hours while the overall event lasted seven days.

    This sudden, severe drop paired with the long duration made this event particularly deadly. If future events will continue to become more severe, mass deaths of marine life could become a more common sight – especially along the world’s mid-latitude east coasts.

    Still learning how climate change will play out

    Overall, our oceans are warming. The ranges of tropical and subtropical species are extending towards the poles. But along some major current systems, sudden short-term cooling can make life difficult for these climate migrants, or even kill them. Especially if events like the one in South Africa become more common. Tropical migrants would increasingly be living on the edge of what they are comfortable with in these areas.

    Our work emphasises that climate impacts can be unexpected or even counterintuitive. Even the most resilient life forms can be vulnerable to its effects. While we do see an overall warming, changes in weather and current patterns can cause extreme cold events as well.

    This really shows the complexity of climate change, as tropical species would expand into higher-latitude areas as overall warming continues, which then places them at risk of exposure to sudden extreme cold events. In this way, species such as bull sharks and whale sharks may very well be running the gauntlet on their seasonal migrations.

    The need to limit our impacts on the planet by reducing greenhouse-gas emissions has never been more urgent, nor has been the need for research into what our future might hold.The Conversation

    This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

    Main Photo by Marek Okon on Unsplash

    Charles Telfair Centre is an independent nonpartisan not for profit organisation and does not take specific positions. All views, positions, and conclusions expressed in our publications are solely those of the author(s). 

     

    Embracing ‘brain circulation’ is a huge opportunity for Africa’s development

    By
    Charles Telfair Centre
    -
    0

     

    Dr Ephias Ruhode, lecturer and researcher at University of the West of Scotland’s School of Business and Creative Industries and researcher at the Centre for African Entrepreneurship and Economic Development (CAREED)

    The “brain drain” narrative misses the opportunities that a highly educated and dynamic diaspora can bring to Africa, writes Ephias Ruhode.

    African countries have collectively exported intellectual capital to the world, especially to countries in the global north. While un-skilled and semi-skilled labour moves within the continent, western nations like the UK, France, Australia, Canada, and the US are frequent destinations for highly skilled, highly educated human capital from Africa. This human capital flight, traditionally referred to as brain drain, has had a devastating effect on the African continent, while receiving nations have benefitted from innovations, patents and profits by African scholars, experts, and intellectuals. In today’s knowledge-based and globalised economy, how can African countries benefit from their human talent scattered across the diaspora?

    Knowledge-based economies are agile, well educated, and can rely on their citizens to drive innovation, entrepreneurship, and dynamism in that society’s economy. In the contemporary world, intellectual capital, more than savings or investments, is key to achieving the developmental goals of nations. Development and modernisation through the application of human knowledge and creativity are steadily overtaking the extraction and processing of natural resources as drivers of wealth creation in Africa. Zimbabwe is experiencing a rebirth of agriculture (more than 40 per cent of GDP), owing to modern approaches to knowledge exchange, learning and innovation in the sector. The Smart Africa Continental AgriTech Blueprint which was developed by Zimbabwe, foregrounds agricultural innovation and creativity as the backbone of success in agricultural output. The Knowledge Hub for Organic Agriculture and Agroecology in Eastern Africa is another example of a centre of excellence where agricultural knowledge and innovation systems have made Kenya’s agricultural sector the main contributor to the economy.

    In our globalised society, humans and systems can operate at an international scale under the facilitation of enabling technology. After centuries of technological progress, our world has become connected, home and office devices are now wired intelligently, and there are phenomenal advances in international cooperation. It no longer matters where the individual is based, they can contribute to any economy in the world.

    From drain to circulation

    There is increasing recognition that members of the African diaspora, regardless of their physical location, can contribute to innovation and competitiveness in Africa. The willingness of experts in the diaspora to serve their countries of origin has given rise to the term ‘brain circulation’.

    Brain circulation can take the form of transfer of resources, finance, technology, knowledge, and ideas, without physical movement of the diaspora communities.

    The Covid-19 pandemic taught us that work is not a place that we go to, but it is what we do. To a knowledge worker, physical location is no longer a factor in productivity due to digital connectivity. Teleworking is a reality that African institutions should innovate around (notwithstanding the existing infrastructural challenges). Globalisation and internationalisation are now opportunities for African institutions to take advantage of.

    The democratisation of knowledge brought about by the internet has bolstered knowledge interchange and collaboration. However, Africa needs to give more attention to organisational transformation underpinned by knowledge sharing and collaboration. Once this is in place, they can utilise digital tools to collaborate with the diaspora and benefit from their skills regardless of their location.

    A digitally engaged diaspora

    Traditionally, the economic contribution of the diaspora has only been spoken about in terms of financial remittances. Less is mentioned about diasporans as facilitators of global knowledge and expertise and how this can contribute to innovations in Africa.

    A step forward would be to appoint African diaspora experts to company boards and university councils. This is low hanging fruit in the process of globalising African institutions that can be grabbed to harness free and available expert knowledge.

    There is a direct benefit of accessing diverse global knowledge and practices which prepare people for the competitive global economy. It is on this basis that appointments to company boards and university councils would be hugely beneficial to knowledge creation, innovation, and sustainable development.

    China and India have developed their high-tech industry through the brain circulation model. It is recorded in AnnaLee Saxenian’s book The New Argonauts: Regional Advantage in a Global Economy, that the Chinese and the Indians, after establishing their IT innovations in America, replicated the same technologies in their home countries. In our globalised environment, it is much easier for the African diaspora community to participate virtually in the developmental projects of their country. A fertile ground for such participation must be cultivated deliberately by institutions and companies in Africa to gain the advantage that this opportunity presents.

    Main photo by DC Studio on Freepik

    Charles Telfair Centre is an independent nonpartisan not for profit organisation and does not take specific positions. All views, positions, and conclusions expressed in our publications are solely those of the author(s). 

    123...19Page 1 of 19