The environment includes many things the land, water and air, all plants, animals and microscopic forms of life on Earth, the built environment and our social, economic, political and cultural activities that form part of everyday life. For this reason an effective environmental policy must cover a wide range of issues.
At present there is no overarching environmental policy that reflects the view of our new democratic government. As a result environmental concerns are not adequately taken into account in many important areas of policy and government administration.
This Green Paper is aimed at initiating a broad framework for an integrated and holistic approach to environmental management in all areas of government. It does not present detailed policy proposals for the many specific issues involved in achieving effective environmental management and sustainable use of natural resources. Rather it proposes a framework of principles, structures, processes and mechanisms to integrate environmental governance and enable the development of policy, strategy and action to address specific issues and sectors.
In five years time, environmental policy will have made a significant contribution to improving the quality of life of all citizens, particularly disadvantaged groups through progress in reconciling economic development with the sustainable use, protection and improvement of the environment for present and future generations. This will be evident in:
Environmental policy in South Africa should give effect to the many rights in the Constitution that relate to the environment. These include rights relating specifically to the environment, as well as those relating to governance such as locus standi, administrative justice, and public participation. It should also seek to entrench sustainable development in policy and practice as an accepted philosophy of resource management and utilisation.
In its broadest sense, the word environment embraces the conditions and / or influences under which any individual or thing exists, lives or develops. These include the following categories of conditions and influences:
Section 24 of the Bill of Rights in the Draft Final Constitution(1) of the Republic of South Africa guarantees environmental rights for the people of South Africa.
Section 24 states that "...Everyone has the right:
(a) to an environment that is not harmful to their health or well-being; and
(b) to have the environment protected for the benefit of present and future generations,
(i) through reasonable legislative and other measures that prevent pollution and ecological degradation;
(ii) promote conservation; and
(iii) secure ecologically sustainable development and use of natural resources while promoting justifiable economic and social development..."
The concept of sustainable development stems from the recognition of the growing impact of human economic activity and numbers on the global environment. This awareness emphasises the need to integrate environmental management and economic development in order to maintain and improve the quality of life.
The commonest definition of sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present while not compromising the needs of future generations. The wide range of interpretations given to this apparently straightforward definition have emphasised that there is no single accepted definition and no single clear path, or model, for achieving sustainable development. In every situation, policy must develop an acceptable concept of sustainable development. This makes it essential to develop the concept in relation to the issues facing environmental policy in South Africa.
The following priority objectives are adapted from those in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) document titled SADC Policy and Strategy for Environment and Sustainable Development, are proposed as those most relevant to sustainable development in the South African situation.
RDP basics
The Reconstruction and Development Programme was the response of the new democratic government to demands for socio-economic reform a programme of hope, with a commitment to people and the development of communities at its heart. Development is only real if it makes our lives better. It is real when it contributes to a long and healthy life, when it meets essential needs for jobs, food, energy and water, when there is adequate access to education, political freedom, guaranteed human rights and freedom from violence. It is measured in terms of quality of human life.
Sustainability, growth and integration
There is a close relationship between sustainable development, realising the goals of the RDP and improving environmental management. In many ways the goals of the RDP match those of the programme outlined in Agenda 21, the global programme for sustainable development agreed on at the UN Earth Summit in 1992.
Growth and development are essential to improve the quality of life enjoyed by South Africans. The government is committed through its macroeconomic strategy (GEAR) To securing an economic growth rate of 6%. this rate is required to make a significant contribution to addressing the socio-economic backlogs created by apartheid. But growth and development must be more equitable, less polluting and more efficient in the use of energy and natural resources. This is essential to ensure that the impact of environmental degradation and pollution on peoples lives, particularly the poor, does not get worse. New national environmental policy must focus on developing win-win opportunities that promote both environmental and economic gains.
In order to achieve these objectives, it is essential to integrate environmental concerns into all policies and decision making processes in government ministries and departments. Harmony must be sought between this national environmental policy and many other policies, including all policies that affect the use and management of resources.
All South Africans will be affected by the national effort to achieve sustainable development. The participation of every South African through all levels of government, business, industry, unions and the community is therefore central to developing a sustainable environmental management system in South Africa.
This Green Paper is part of the Consultative National Environmental Policy Process (CONNEPP). CONNEPP aims to develop the broad policy and strategic framework to enable sustainable environmental management in South Africa.
Under certain topics and in certain sections, there is more than one option or possibility and this is reflected as a debate item in the text. The White Paper, that follows from this document, will set out the policy choices and decision making procedures government adopts in consultation with stakeholders.
The national environmental policy will play a crucial role in setting the scene for the broad changes in direction and approach that government needs to take to ensure that South Africa's future development is ecologically sustainable and equitable.
This environmental Green Paper covers the broad concepts, principles and actions required by government. The policy process must be a dynamic one, open to review and modification. It must take account of changing circumstances, new knowledge and emerging community attitudes.
The essential elements of this national Green Paper for South Africa are:
The contents of this Green Paper are intended to stimulate discussion that will assist government in arriving at a national environmental policy for South Africa.