Britta Rennkamp

Expertise: Climate policy, energy policy, sustainable development, energy transitions, political economy, science and technology studies, innovation policy

Dr Britta Rennkamp is a senior researcher at the African Climate and Development Initiative (ACDI), University of Cape Town, South Africa. Her research focuses on climate policy and technology in developing countries and the links between poverty, inequality, energy and mitigation of climate change. Britta has contributed to the scholarship of Science and Technology Policy Studies specifically in the field of climate change and energy in the Global South. Her work analysed renewable energy, coal and nuclear programs, carbon taxation, green industrial and innovation policies in developing countries. She published various papers and book chapters on the overall question on integrating policies for emissions reductions, energy supply and sustainable development in Africa and Latin America. Her current research investigates bidirectional relationships between climate policy and social inequality informing Just Energy Transitions in Sub-Saharan Africa.

She has successfully managed sixteen research and consulting projects and conducted multi-stakeholder engagements in climate policy processes in Germany, South Africa, Mozambique, Colombia, Peru and Brazil. Britta is co-directing the ARUA Centre of Excellence in Climate and Development (ARUA-CD) and leading the work on climate governance. Prior to joining UCT, she worked for the German International Cooperation (GIZ) in Brazil and the German Development Institute (DIE) in Germany. Britta holds a PhD in Science Technology Policy Studies from University of Twente, and a Diplom/MPhil in Regional Sciences of Latin America– Political Sciences, Economics, Latin American History, Spanish and Portuguese language and literature from University of Cologne. She has eighteen years of international work experience in sustainable development research, consulting and teaching.

 

Selected Publications

INVITED AUTHORSHIPS

Rennkamp, B & Muluh, L. Chapter 12: Renewable energy and just energy transitions in South Africa, in IEA (2024), Clean Energy Innovation Policies in Emerging and Developing Economies, IEA, Paris https://www.iea.org/reports/clean-energy-innovation-policies-in-emerging-and-developing-economies

Rennkamp, Britta […] (2022) Contributing Author to Chapter 17: Decision Making Options for Managing Risk, Sixth Assessment Report. WG II, Climate Change 2022 Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability, International Panel on Climate Change, IPCC.

Rennkamp, Britta (2022) Large Scale Renewable Energy Technology in Sub-Saharan Africa: Towards Net Zero Futures, Contributing Author: UNEP Climate Technology Progress Report.

JOURNAL ARTICLES

Jimu, Tawanda and Rennkamp, Britta (2024), Science to practice – networked governance of sustainability transitions in an African university, International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, Vol. 25 No. 9, pp. 19-39.

Rennkamp, Britta (2019) Power, coalitions and institutional change in South African climate policy, Climate Policy, pages 756-770.

Rennkamp, B. 2019 Power, coalitions and institutional change in South African climate policy, Climate Policy, pages 1752-7457.

Rennkamp, B., and Marquard, M. 2018 South Africa's multiple faces in current climate clubs, South African Journal of International Affairs, pages 443-461. 

Rennkamp, B., Haunss, S., Wongsa, K., Ortega, A., Casamadrid, E. 2017: Competing Coalitions: The Politics of Renewable Energy and Fossil Fuels in Mexico, South Africa and Thailand, Journal Energy Research and Social Science, Volume 34, pages 214–223. 

Rennkamp, B. and Boulle, M. 2017: Novel shapes of South-South collaboration: Emerging knowledge networks on co-benefits of climate and development policies. Climate and Development.

Rennkamp, B and Boyd, A. 2015. Technological capability and transfer for achieving - South Africa’s low carbon development goals. Climate Policy, Special Issue 2015, 1: 12-29.

Boyd, A, Rennkamp, B, Dane, A and Winkler, H. 2013. Current approaches to MRV in South Africa: A scoping study, Climate Policy 14(3): 397-416.

Rennkamp, B & Naidoo, D. 2011: Shifting governance in STI: an analysis of the global governance institutions and their impact on South African policy, South African Journal of International Affairs 18(1): 59-81

Rennkamp, B. 2010. Conceptualizing sustainable development as a global problem: The role of strategic knowledge. African Journal of Science, Technology, Innovation and Development 2(1)  (Special Issue on Innovation for Sustainability): 183-196.

BOOK CHAPTERS

Rennkamp, B., Fortes Westin, F., and Grottera, C. 2020. Política de conteúdo local e incentivos financeiros no mercado de energia eólica no Brasil. Escritório no Brasil da Comissão Econômica para a América Latina e o Caribe (CEPAL).

Burton, Jesse, Lott, Tawney and Britta Rennkamp (2018): Sustaining Carbon Lock in: Fossil Fuel Subsidies in South Africa in: Jakob Skovgaard and Harro van Asselt (eds) The Politics of Fossil Fuel Subsidies and Their Reform, Cambridge University Press.

Rennkamp, B & Bhuyan, R. 2017. The social shaping of nuclear energy technology in South Africa. In Arent, D, Arndt, C, Miller, M, Tarp, F and Zinaman, O (eds), The political economy of clean energy transitions. Oxford University Press

Rennkamp, B. 2017. Out of sync: Innovation policy and theory in unequal societies. In Kuhlmann, S and Ordoñez, G (eds), International research handbook on science, technology and innovation policy in developing countries: Rationales and relevance. Edward Elgar, Cheltenham.

Rennkamp, Britta, Perrot, Radhika (2016): Drivers and Barriers to Wind Energy Technology Transitions in India, Brazil and South Africa, in Hans Günter Brauch, Úrsula Oswald Spring, John Grin, Jürgen Scheffran (Eds.): Handbook on Sustainability Transition and Sustainable Peace (STSP), Hexagon Series on Human and Environmental Security and Peace 10, Springer, London.

Rennkamp, B and Perrot, R. 2016: Drivers and barriers to wind energy technology transitions in India, Brazil and South Africa. In Brauch, HG, Spring, UO, Grin, J and Scheffran, J (eds), Handbook on sustainability transition and sustainable peace (STSP). Hexagon Series on Human and Environmental Security and Peace 10, Springer, London. 

Rennkamp, B. 2012. ‘Development first’ in the G-20 and the BRICS? Reflections on Brazil’s foreign  politics and  civil society. In Heinrich Böll Foundation (ed), Inside a champion: An analysis of the Brazilian development model. Heinrich Böll Foundation:156-170.

Rennkamp, Britta (2010): Politikinnovation in der Innovationspolitik? Internationale Innovations- und Wissenschaftspolitik in Schwellenländern. In: Biniok, Peter (Hrsg.): Technik, Wissenschaft und Politik. Neue Forschungsperspektiven. Frankfurt a. M.: Peter Lang, p.67-82.

Altenburg, Tilman, Rennkamp, Britta (2009): Globalisierung von Wissenschaft und Innovationsprozessen – Herausforderung für Global Governance in Globale Trends 2010 Frieden - Entwicklung - Umwelt. Hrsg: Stiftung Entwicklung und Frieden, Fischer Verlag.

MONOGRAPHIES

Rennkamp, Britta (2011): Innovation for all? Legitimizing Science, Technology and Innovation Policy in Unequal Societies, Doctoral Thesis, ISBN 978-94-6191-067-7

PEER-REVIEWED RESEARCH REPORTS AND CONFERENCE PAPERS

Davis, Marion, Rennkamp, Britta et al (2021) Seizing South Africa’s Urban Opportunity, Tackling urban poverty and inequality through decarbonisation and resilience-building. Coalition of Urban Transitions, Washington DC.

Rennkamp, Britta (2020). Can Africa’s Contested Energy Futures Create Opportunities for Enhancing African-European Relations? South African Institute of International Affairs, JSTOR.

Rennkamp, Britta (2020) Implementation risk in South African and Brazilian climate policy, COP 21 RIPPLES, Deliverable 4.4. European Commission, H2020.

Rennkamp, Britta, Katrina Lehmann Grube, Rejoice Mabhena and Annela Anger-Kraavi (2020) Climate change mitigation, Rapid Transitions and Social Inequality in South Africa, COP 21 RIPPLES, Deliverable 3.6. European Commission, H2020.

Rennkamp, Britta, Maria Gabriela von Bochkor Podcameni, Katrina Lehmann Grube, Rejoice Mabhena and Annela Anger-Kraavi (2020) Climatic Change, Rapid Transitions and Social Inequality in Brazil, COP 21 RIPPLES, Deliverable 3.6. European Commission, H2020.

Rennkamp, Britta (2019) The role of NDCs in fulfilling energy related SDGs in Sub-Saharan Africa, Policy Brief, CUTS International Geneva.

Rennkamp, Britta and Jesse Burton (2018): Redirecting fossil fuel subsidies to fund sustainable development, Policy Brief, World Wildlife Fund WWF South Africa.

Rennkamp, Britta and Fernanda Fortes Westin (2018): Local content requirements and financial incentives in emerging wind energy markets in Brazil and South Africa in Zachmann, Georg et al (ed) Report on assessing the technology innovation implications of NDCs, technology portfolio choices, and international competitiveness in clean technologies, Deliverable 3.3. COP 21, RIPPLES.

Rennkamp, Britta, Trollip, Hilton, Keen, Samantha, Moyo, Alfred (2018) South African’s Technology Innovation Systems for Concentrated Solar Power in Zachmann, Georg et al (ed) Report on assessing the technology innovation implications of NDCs, technology portfolio choices, and international competitiveness in clean technologies, Deliverable 3.3. COP 21, RIPPLES.

Burton, Jesse, Lott, Tawney and Britta Rennkamp (2016): Sustaining carbon lock-in: fossil fuel subsidies in South Africa, Stockholm Environment Institute Workshop on Fossil Fuel Incentives.

Rennkamp, Britta and Radhika Bhuyan (2016): The Social Shaping of Nuclear Technology in South Africa, Working Paper, UNU WIDER, Helsinki.

 

NON-PEER-REVIEWED RESEARCH REPORTS AND CONFERENCE PAPERS

Masheleni, Celine, Cobban, Leigh and Rennkamp, Britta (2019) Gearing the 4th Industrial Revolution towards Climate Compatible Development in Africa, Conference Paper presented at the African Research University Alliance (ARUA) Second Biennial Conference: Africa and the Fourth Industrial Revolution: Defining a Role for Research Universities University of Nairobi, 18-20 November 2019

Rennkamp, Britta (2016): Trading off climate change mitigation and poverty eradication in South Africa: drivers and barriers to institutional change, Conference Paper to the Berlin Conference on Global Environmental Change, Transformative Global Governance Post-Paris, 23-24th of May, 2016.

Rennkamp, Britta, Sebastian Haunss, Araceli Ortega, Erika Casamadrid, Krid Wongsa (2016): Trade offs or win-win situations? Renewable energy programs in middle income countries, Conference Paper to the Berlin Conference on Global Environmental Change, Transformative Global Governance Post-Paris, 23-24th of May, 2016.

Rennkamp, Britta and Andrew Marquard (2016): South Africa’s multiple faces in current climate clubs, Conference Paper to the Berlin Conference on Global Environmental Change, Transformative Global Governance Post-Paris, 23-24th of May, 2016.

Rennkamp, Britta, La Grange, Sasha, Stone, Adrian, Trollip, Hilton (2015): Towards prosperity through low emissions pathways in Sub-Sahara Africa: Insights from Ghana, Rwanda, Zambia and Mozambique, Conference Paper to Fifth Climate Change and Development Conference (CCDA-V), 28-30th October, 2015, Victoria Falls, Matabeleland North, Zimbabwe.

Buijs, Bram, Winkler, Harald and Rennkamp, Britta (2014): Successful energy innovation in South Africa and around the world, A study in support of DST’s Energy Research, Development and Innovation Strategy, ERC Working Paper, Cape Town.

Caetano, Tara and Britta Rennkamp (2014): Socio-economic implications of additional nuclear power plants in South Africa, ERC Working Paper on behalf of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Cape Town.

Boyd, Anya, Keen, Samantha, Rennkamp, Britta (2014): A comparative analysis of emerging institutional arrangements for domestic mrv in developing countries, ERC Working Paper, Cape Town.

Rennkamp, Britta, Westin, Fernanda (2013): Feito no Brasil? Made in South Africa? Boosting technological development through local content requirements in the wind energy industry. Conference Paper presented at 11th Globelics Conference, 11-13th of September 2013, Ankara, Turkey.

Rennkamp, Britta (2013): South African approaches to MRV of mitigation actions: The case of installing solar water heaters. Measurement and Performance Tracking Project Case Study Series, World Resource Institute, Washington D.C.

Rennkamp, Britta, Caetano, Tara, Marquard, Andrew (2013): Estimating effective carbon prices: A case study for South Africa, Environment Secretariat, Environmental Policy Committee, oecd, Paris.

Rennkamp, Britta, Moyo, Alfred, Grottera, Carolina, Wills, William (2012): Reducing inequality and poverty while mitigating climate change: Key challenges for research and practice in middle- income countries in Africa and Latin America. maps Working Paper, Cape Town

Wlokas, Holle, Rennkamp, Britta, Torres, Marta, Winkler, Harald, Boyd, Anya, Tyler, Emily Fedorsky, Catherine (2012): Low Carbon Development and Poverty: Exploring poverty alleviating mitigation action in developing countries, maps Working Paper, Cape Town

Boyd, Anya, Rennkamp, Britta, Winkler, Harald, Larmour, Richard, Letete, Thapelo, Rahlao, Sebataolo, Trikam, Ajay (2012): South African approaches to measuring, reporting and verifying: A scoping report, ERC Working Paper, Cape Town

Rennkamp, Britta (2012): Sustainable Development Planning in South Africa: A Case of over-Strategizing? Conference Paper for the 2012 Berlin Conference of the Human Dimensions of Global Environmental Change on "Evidence for Sustainable Development". 5- 6th October 2012, Berlin

Rennkamp, Britta, Kuhlmann, Stefan (2010): Endogenous vs. exogenous models for innovation policy in late industrializing countries, Conference Paper unesco South Asia and South East Asia Science and Technology Policy Forum on ‘Regional cooperation in science and technology: Opportunities and challenges in the context of Globalization’, Delhi, 26-29th November 2010

Fischer, Doris, Rennkamp, Britta (2009): Addressing global challenges: New approaches and governance mechanisms for multinational science and technology cooperation, Background paper to the Workshop of the Committee for Scientific and Technological Policy (cstp) Paris, 25-26th March 2009: oecd

Stamm, Andreas, Dantas, Eva, Fischer, Doris, Ganguly, Sunayana, Rennkamp, Britta (2009): Sustainability-oriented innovation systems: towards decoupling economic growth from environmental pressures? Discussion Paper 20/2009, Bonn: Deutsches Institut für Entwicklungspolitik / German Development Institute.

CONFERENCE PAPERS

Rennkamp, B. 2016. Trading off climate change mitigation and poverty reduction in South Africa: Drivers and barriers to institutional change. Paper delivered at the Berlin Conference of Transformational Climate Governance, 23-24 May, 2016.

Rennkamp, B, La Grange, S and Stone, A. 2014. Towards prosperity through low emissions pathways in Sub-Sahara Africa: Insights from Ghana, Rwanda, Zambia and Mozambique, Conference Paper to Fifth Climate Change and Development Conference (CCDA-V), 28-30^th October, 2015, Victoria Falls, Matabeleland North, Zimbabwe.

Rennkamp, B. 2012. Sustainable development planning in South Africa: a case of over-strategizing? Paper delivered at Conference of the Human Dimensions of Global Environmental Change 5- 6 October 2012, Berlin, Germany

Rennkamp, Britta and Stefan Kuhlmann (2010): Endogenous vs. Exogenous Models for Innovation Policy in Late Industrializing Countries, Conference Paper UNESCO South Asia and South East Asia Science and Technology Policy Forum on ‘Regional cooperation in science and technology: Opportunities and challenges in the context of Globalization’, Delhi, November 2010.

Altenburg, Tilman und Rennkamp, Britta (2009): Globalisierung von Wissenschaft und Innovationsprozessen – Herausforderung für Global Governance in Globale Trends 2010 Frieden - Entwicklung - Umwelt. Hrsg: Stiftung Entwicklung und Frieden, Fischer Verlag.

WORKING PAPERS

Rennkamp, B and Boulle, M. 2015. Novel shapes of South-South collaboration: Emerging knowledge networks on co-benefits of climate and development policies. MAPS Working Paper No.30.

Buijs, B, Winkler, H and Rennkamp, B. 2014. Successful energy innovation in South Africa and around the world. A study in support of DST’s Energy Research, Development and Innovation Strategy.

Boyd, A, Keen, S and Rennkamp, B. 2014. A comparative analysis of emerging institutional arrangements for domestic MRV in developing countries.

Rennkamp, B & Westin, F. 2013. Feito no Brasil? Made in South Africa? Boosting technological development through local content requirements in the wind energy industry. Energy Research Centre, University of Cape Town and Environmental Science Laboratory – LIMA, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro.

Rennkamp, B. 2013. South African approaches to MRV of mitigation actions: The case of installing solar water heaters. Measurement and Performance Tracking Project

Rennkamp, B, Caetano, T & Marquard, A : Estimating effective carbon prices: A case study for South Africa,  ERC Working Paper prepared for Environment Secretariat, Environmental Policy Committee, OECD, Paris

Boyd, A, Rennkamp, B, Winkler, H, Larmour, R, Letete, T, Rahlao, S & Trikam. A. 2012. South African approaches to measuring, reporting and verifying: A scoping report.

Rennkamp, B, Moyo, A, Wills, W. & Grottera, C. 2012. Reducing inequality and poverty while mitigating climate change: Key challenges for research and practice in middle-income countries in Africa and Latin America. MAPS Research Paper. Rio de Janeiro, Cape Town: LIMA/COPPE/UCT, MAPS.

Rennkamp, B & Wlokas, H. 2012: A brief inspiration on poverty and climate change mitigation. MAPS Policy Brief, Cape Town, South Africa.

Wlokas, H, Rennkamp, B, Torres, M, Winkler, H, Boyd, A, Tyler, E & Fedorsky, C. 2012. Low carbon development and poverty: Exploring poverty alleviating mitigation action in developing countries. MAPS Working Paper. Cape Town, University of Cape Town.

Fischer, Doris and Britta Rennkamp (2009): Addressing global challenges: New approaches and governance mechanisms for multinational science and technology cooperation, Background paper to the Workshop of the Committee for Scientific and Technological Policy (CSTP) Paris, March 2009: OECD.

Stamm, Andreas, Eva Dantas, Doris Fischer, Sunayana Ganguly, Britta Rennkamp (2009): Sustainability-oriented innovation systems: towards decoupling economic growth from environmental pressures? Discussion Paper 20/2009, Bonn: Deutsches Institut für Entwicklungspolitik / German Development Institute 

EDITORSHIPS

Britta was the guest editor of  the special issue on Innovation for sustainability of the African Journal of Science, Technology, Innovation and Development (volume 2, number 1)

DOCTORAL THESIS

Rennkamp, B. 2011. Innovation for all? Legitimizing Science, Technology and Innovation Policy in Unequal Societies. Doctoral thesis, University of Twente, Netherlands

ESSAYS AND ARTICLES

Rennkamp, Britta, David, Anda, Leibbrandt, Murray (2022) Navigating just transitions towards net zero emissions, Africa in Fact, 60.

Rennkamp, B. and Audehm, L. 2020. Flattening the curve of global emissions?. Learnings for Collective Action on Climate Change from the COVID 19 pandemic. ACDI Blogs, republished on Africa Portal.

Rennkamp, Britta (2019): Negotiating climate change between unequal parties: COP25 from an African perspective, Africa Portal.

Rennkamp, Britta (2018): Alternative energy innovation for keeping Africa’s climate below 1.5° C. Africa Portal.

Rennkamp, Britta (2013): Außenpolitik und gesellschaftliche Entwicklung in Südafrika und Brasilien, Aus Politik und Zeitgeschichte, 63. Jahrgang 50–51/2013

Rennkamp, Britta and Holle Wlokas (2012): A brief inspiration on poverty and climate change mitigation, maps Policy Brief, Cape Town

PROJECTS

1. Transforming Social Inequalities Through Inclusive Climate Action (TSITICA) (Consortium lead by UCT, funded by the UK GCRF)
2. Preparedness for Resilience through Innovation and Integrated Management of Emergencies and Disasters (PRIMED), (funded by the UK Global Challenge Research Fund)
3. Horizon 2020 RIPPLES: COP21: Results, Implications, Pathways and Policies for Low- Emissions European Societies (Consortium lead by IDDRI, funded by EU)
4. Networking solutions for climate and poverty compatible development pathways (SCPD), (funded by the UK Global Challenge Research Fund)
5. Fossil Fuel Subsidies and their Reform, (Stockholm Environment Institute)
6. Transforming Energy Access, (TEA), DFID funded with the Carbon Trust, UK and TERI, India
7. Climate Clubs (German Development - Wuppertal Institute, funded by German Ministry for Economic Cooperation)
8. The Political Economy of Clean Energy Transitions (United Nations University)
9. Mitigation Action Performance Tracking (University of Cape Town, World Resource Institute)
10. Climate Change Mitigation and Poverty Reduction CLIMIP (University of Cape Town, German Institute of Global and Area Studies, Monterrey Tech Mexico, University of Chiang Mai, Thailand)
11. Mitigation Plans and Scenarios MAPS (University of Cape Town funded by Children Investment Fund Foundation, Climate research and stakeholder engagement with Brazil, Peru, India, Colombia and Chile)
12. Mitigation Action Impacts (University of Cape Town, funded by UNITAR)
13. MAPS Africa (Feasilibility study of knowledge co-production processes with Zambia, Kenya, Rwanda, Mozambique and Ghana funded by CDKN)
14. Energy Research, Development and Innovation (University of Cape Town, Department of Science and Technology South Africa
15. Sustainable Solutions through Research (German Development Institute, South Africa’s Department of Science and Technology, Germany’s Department of Research and Education)
16. Global Research Governance (German Development Institute-OECD)

TEACHING

Lectures in the Climate Change and Renewable Energy Courses, Master Program Energy and Development Studies, Energy Research Centre, University of Cape Town, 2012-2015.

Course convening, lectures and seminars in the course: “Energy Markets and Governance” as part of the Master of Philosophy in Energy and Development Studies, University of Cape Town in 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016.

Teaching in the Master course for a Master of Philosophy in Climate and Development 2015 - 2022, lectures & tutorials on climate policy and transition theory.

Lecture on climate policy in the Climate Science Analysis Group, UCT, Winter School, 2017.

Lecture on South African Climate Policy in the Globelics Academic, Institute on Economic Research on Innovation, Tshwane University of Technology, Tshwane/ Pretoria, 2019.

SUPERVISION

Supervision of Masters (MPhil) and PhD (14 MPhil, 2 PhD students graduated) - 3 PhD and 2 Master students currently under supervision.

HONORARY APPOINTMENTS

1st Chairperson of Thandolwethu Home – Unsere Liebe e.V.: Support of children safety homes in Cape Town’s largest informal settlement, Khayelitsha.