Jesse Burton

Jesse Burton is a researcher in the Energy Systems Research group at the University of Cape Town and a senior associate at global thinktank E3G, where she provides analysis and policy advice on coal transitions globally.

She is a specialist in coal and electricity markets and energy and climate change policy in South Africa. Her research focuses on the challenges and opportunities of the energy transition for coal dependent countries, including just transition strategies.

Her research has quantified and examined the politics of fossil fuel subsidies in South Africa, the cost and greenhouse gas implications of future coal investments, the costs and risks of stranded assets in the South African energy sector, and the economics of coal-fired power and coal mining. She led the South African team of the global Coal Transitions research project, which examined the implications of fossil fuel economics and climate policy on large coal countries, including labour market effects. Recent projects have included the development of an electricity plan for South Africa in the context of global climate policy goals, analysis of the employment and skills impacts of future electricity pathways, strategies for implementing a just transition for coal workers and communities in South Africa, and the development of Just Transition strategic plans for the South African government.

Jesse is a member of the Just Transition taskforce of the Powering Past Coal Alliance, sits on the Advisory Board for the National Business Initiative Just Transition Pathways Project, and is a member of the Mpumalanga Green Economy Cluster steering committee, She has lectured widely at postgraduate level on energy and climate change topics, including convening the 'Introduction to Energy Policy and Sustainable Energy Engineering' course and coordinating the postgraduate programme at the (former) Energy Research Centre at UCT.

 

Qualifications

BA (Hons) - History, Rhodes University

MSc - Energy and Development Studies, UCT

 

Publications

Book chapters and journal articles

Marais, L., Burton, J., Campbell, M. and Nel, E., 2022. Mine closure in the coal industry: global and national perspectives. In Marais, L., Burger, P., Campbell, M., Denoon-Stevens, S., Van Rooyen, D. (Eds), Coal and energy in Emalahleni, South Africa. Considering a just transition. Edinburgh University Press: Edinburgh. (forthcoming).

Baker, L, Burton, J., & Trollip, H. (2020) ‘The Energy Politics of South Africa’ in Hancock, K. & Allison, J (eds) The Oxford Handbook of Energy Politics. Oxford: Oxford University Press. DOI:10.1093/oxfordhb/9780190861360.013.25.

Burton, J, Lott, T, Rennkamp, B. (2018) ‘Sustaining Carbon Lock-in: Fossil Fuel Subsidies in South Africa’. In van Asselt, H & Skovgaard, J. The politics of fossil fuel subsidies and their reform. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Baker, L and Burton, J (2018) 'The politics of procurement and the low carbon transition in South Africa' in A. Goldthau, M. Keating and C. Kuzemko (eds.) Handbook of the International Political Economy of Energy and Natural Resources. Edward Elgar.

Thomas Spencer, Michel Colombier, Oliver Sartor, Amit Garg, Vineet Tiwari, Jesse Burton, Tara Caetano, Fergus Green, Fei Teng & John Wiseman (2017): The 1.5°C target and coal sector transition: at the limits of societal feasibility, Climate Policy, DOI: 10.1080/14693062.2017.1386540. https://doi.org/10.1080/14693062.2017.1386540

 

Selected research reports and working papers

Ahjum, F, Godinho, C, Burton, J, McCall, B & Marquard, A. (2020). A low-carbon transport future for South Africa: technical, economic and policy considerations. Energy Systems Research Group, University of Cape Town, South Africa.

Merven, B., Hartley, F., McCall, B., Burton, J., and Schers, J. (2019) Improved representation of coal supply for the power sector for South Africa SA-TIED Working Paper #84, October 2019. IFPRI, Washington DC. https://sa-tied.wider.unu.edu/sites/default/files/pdf/SATIED_WP84_Merven_Hartley_McCall_Burton_Schers_October_2019.pdf

Burton, J, Marquard, A, McCall, B. (2019). Socio-economic considerations for a Paris Agreement-compatible coal transition in South Africa. June 2019, Energy Research Centre, University of Cape Town, South Africa.

Strambo, C., Burton, J., Atteridge, A. (2019). The end of coal? Planning a “just transition” in South Africa. Stockholm Environment Institute and Energy Research Centre. Workshop brief, available at https://www.sei.org/publications/the-end-of-coal-planning-a-just-transition-in-south-africa/.

McCall, B., Burton, J., Marquard, A., Hartley, F., Ahjum, F., Ireland, G., & Merven, B (2019). Least-cost integrated resource planning and cost-optimal climate change mitigation policy: Alternatives for the South African electricity system. Energy Research Centre, University of Cape Town.

Hohne, N., et al (2019). Chapter 4: Bridging the Gap – Enhancing mitigation ambition and action at G20 level and globally. In UNEP (2019) The Emissions Gap Report 2019.

Burton, J, Caetano, T, McCall, B (2018) South Africa’s coal transition: understanding the implications of a 2oC-compatible coal phase out plan for South Africa. Energy Research Centre, University of Cape Town.

Hartley, F, Burton, J, Cunliffe, G, Caetano, T, Ntuli, N, Fourie, R, Chiloane, L. (2018). Co-benefits assessment of the future development of employment in the power sector and skills needed in South Africa. Energy Research Centre, University of Cape Town.

Ireland, G & Burton, J (2018). An assessment of new coal plants in South Africa’s electricity future: The cost, emissions, and supply security implications of the coal IPP programme. Energy Research Centre, University of Cape Town.

Steyn, G, Burton, J, Steenkamp, M (2017). Eskom’s financial crisis and the viability of coal-fired power in South Africa: Implications for Kusile and the older coal-fired power stations. Meridian Economics, Cape Town: South Africa.

Amit Garg, Jan Christoph Steckel, Jesse Burton, Julio Friedmann, Frank Jotzo, Gunnar Luderer, Pao-Yu Oei, Michiel Schaeffer, Samantha Smith, Fabby Tumiwa, Adrien Vogt-Schilb, Paola Yanguas-Parra, Xianli Zhu (2017). Chapter 5: Bridging the gap – Phasing out coal. In UNEP (2017) The Emissions Gap Report 2017.

Burton, J. Caetano, T, Hughes, A, Merven, B, Ahjum, F, McCall, B. (2016). “The impact of stranding power sector assets in South Africa: Using a linked model to understand economy-wide implications.” Energy Research Centre, University of Cape Town, Cape Town.

Baker, L., Burton, J., Godinho, C., Trollip, H. (2015) “The political economy of decarbonisation: exploring the dynamics of South Africa’s electricity sector”. Energy Research Centre, University of Cape Town: Cape Town.

Burton, J &Winkler, H (2014). “South Africa’s planned coal infrastructure expansion: drivers, dynamics and impacts on greenhouse gas emissions” Energy Research Centre, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.