Patrick Curran
Patrick worked at the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment from February 2016 until December 2019.
Background
Before joining the Grantham Research Institute, Patrick worked at Camco Clean Energy (South Africa) supporting the development of climate change and energy policy in sub-Saharan Africa. His work included conducting research and advising government departments, public sector institutions, development finance institutions and private sector organizations to provide policy recommendations and evidence to support decision making.
During his time at Camco, Patrick worked on projects ranging from supporting energy and carbon policy development for the National Treasury, Department of Environmental Affairs, and Department of Science and Technology in South Africa, to the review of renewable energy policies and the design of renewable energy procurement mechanisms in the SADC region, including South Africa, Zimbabwe, Namibia, and Uganda. Patrick has also worked at all scales of the public sector including providing support to local, national and regional bodies as well as explaining the implications to the private sector.
Patrick’s research interests lie in understanding how climate finance can be channeled to support public sector institutions and how it is used to create the enabling environment for climate change mitigation and adaption in developing countries. Patrick also has an interest around how renewable energy procurement mechanisms and carbon markets can be used to support sustainable development.
Patrick holds a Master of Science degree and a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) in Environmental Science from Rhodes University, South Africa and a Postgraduate Diploma in Management: Public Sector Monitoring and Evaluation from the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa.
Policy
Policy - 2019
Climate change will lead to increases in the occurrence of chronic heat exposure over longer durations and there is an urgent need to focus on managing the risks this poses, as well as the immediate risks from shorter-lived heat events. This policy brief looks at the problem with a focus on developing and emerging economies, and provides recommendations for action by government, utilities, property developers and investors, development support and finance organisations. Read more
This report and accompanying 8-page brief examine some of the emerging challenges in climate governance in South Africa and potential solutions. The lessons identified are also relevant for other developing economies. Read more
Chapter in the Banque De France’s Financial Stability Review no. 23 – June 2019. Read more
Policy - 2018
This written evidence responds to four questions set by the UK House of Commons Select Committee on International Development inquiry into ‘UK aid for combating climate change’. Read more
With substantial new hydropower generation planned for eastern and southern Africa, how can risks from rainfall variations and climate change be overcome to ensure reliable supply and socioeconomic development? This brief analyses the challenges and provides recommendations to policymakers, the energy sector and development partners. Read more
Coherent, cross-sectoral approaches to policy development are essential to meeting the Paris Agreement on climate change and the Sustainable Development Goals. Drawing on research from southern Africa, this brief makes recommendations for improving coherence, which is currently partial to weak across the region. Read more
Policy - 2017
Ongoing concerns about the best policies to achieve affordability have led to three reviews: of energy costs, of the Levy Control Framework, and of carbon pricing. This paper draws on research findings and empirical evidence to identify key principles and issues that should be taken into account by the Government in relation to these separate but related reviews. Read more
A previous draft of this report was published as a background paper submission to the China Development Forum 2017. An... Read more
Headline issue China is taking an active leadership role in a new global agenda that has sustainable infrastructure at its... Read more
News
News - 2019
Climate policy has taken a particular hit during a 10-year period of political corruption and uncertainty in South Africa but now the country has a chance to get back on track, say the authors of this commentary. Read more
Declan Conway and Patrick Curran use recent findings from research into different risk assessment approaches and adaptation planning in climate change ‘hotspots’ in Africa and Asia to show the value of hybrid methods for creating more sustainable adaptation strategies. Read more
Patrick Curran considers the findings of a new parliamentary report on UK aid for combating climate change. Read more
This June, South Africa’s much-delayed carbon tax is due to be implemented, to include a new levy on petrol and diesel. Patrick Curran contests that changing consumer behaviour and reducing emissions will be very difficult without investment in viable transport alternatives – and development of a wider suite of policies to cut emissions. Read more
New proposed carbon tax rate will need to be strengthened in order to meet country’s national & global climate change objectives says Patrick Curran. Read more
News - 2018
Identifying progress within the annual round of international climate negotiations can be a challenging business. The sessions of the Conference... Read more
Reuters Foundation News, 7 December 2018 Read more
The Conversation, 5 December 2018 Read more
The major disruption to urban water and hydroelectricity supplies caused by the conditions accompanying the 2015/16 El Niño in Southern Africa show that governments and businesses need to be more prepared for climatic extremes, argue the authors of this commentary. Read more
Patrick Curran reflects on a nine-year discussion about carbon pricing and carbon tax in South Africa as the country's government postpones the tax's implementation once again. Read more
In July, representatives of 166 countries, civil society and international institutions gathered in New York for the High-level Political Forum... Read more
