4 Objectives

To effect planned and measurable shifts in budgetary and resource allocations for environment to achieve the goal of people-driven, sustainable resource management and the redress of past injustices and inequalities.

To transform the existing institutional framework in line with the governance model selected in order to implement national environmental policy and develop the NESAP.

To make governance and decision making participative by reviewing current practices and developing the necessary structures, mechanisms and capacities.

To carry out a legislative audit and develop relevant and effective policy, legislation and standards through a participative process.

To carry out regular reviews of the relevance and appropriateness of these measures and update them in line with changing circumstances and requirements.

To review current sectoral policies and governmental responsibilities and decision making functions with a view to coordinating all functions relating to permitting procedures, impact assessment and legislation through agreements between relevant departments at appropriate levels.

To ensure that government officers have the requisite capacity and training to implement all policies, laws and standards and to regulate and enforce them effectively. To conduct regular audits of government's performance in this respect.

To ensure that pricing and taxing of natural resources reflect the full environmental costs and to ensure equitable pricing for all users.

To establish legitimate and efficient information systems to ensure informed and transparent decision making and effective monitoring and regulation as set out under the NESAP.

To investigate the possibility of establishing a fund to develop environmental management capacity and rehabilitate degraded environments, and support job creation and worker retraining in restructuring processes resulting from national environmental policy.

To ensure due process and provide for mediation and conflict resolution in environmental management.

To set targets to minimise waste generation and pollution at source and to promote cleaner production.

To regulate and monitor waste production, enforce waste control measures and set up information systems on chemical hazards and toxic releases and to coordinate administration of integrated pollution control and waste management through a single government department.

To ensure that local authorities have the necessary capacity and resources to provide effective management of household wastes.

To take appropriate measures to prevent the depletion of stratospheric ozone and contribute to the stabilisation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

To allocate government resources to build institutional, governmental, commercial and community capacity to participate effectively in environmental management.

To ensure public awareness of environmental issues and their ability to participate effectively in environmental management through dissemination of meaningful and relevant information.

To develop a fully participative system of environmental management.

To review needs, determine deficiencies and to develop and implement an environmental education and training programme in consultation with the Department of Education, covering formal, non-formal and interdisciplinary areas.

To integrate environmental education into the National Qualification Framework.

To strengthen and optimise the capacity of government and civil society to collect, analyse and use multi-sectoral environmental data, information, knowledge and perceptions in decision making and public participation processes.

To ensure open disclosure, accessibility and effective dissemination of environmental data and information.

To support and facilitate relevant research and development into environmental sustainability, resource management and environmental policy in line with national priorities and needs.

To ensure the protection and proactive management of human health problems related to the environment in commerce and industry.

To protect and promote employment and to create and develop environmentally appropriate jobs during environmental transformation processes in commerce and industry.

To ensure that those engaged in economic activities respect principles regarding the conservation of cultural resources.

To ensure access to information from commerce and industry in order to promote sound health, safety and environmental principles and practices.

To give citizens an active role in promoting effective environmental management of economic activities.

To encourage business and industry to adopt the principles of environmental stewardship and sustainable development and secure their compliance.

To encourage wide and effective dissemination of practical information on environmental matters and promote great public commitment to environmental management by industry.

To develop agreed, appropriate indicators of environmental performance as measures of the efficiency and impact of national, provincial and local environmental policies.

To investigate systems of environmental accounting, cost-benefit analysis and risk assessment as means of assessing the financial, social and environmental costs as a means to facilitate improved decision making on environmental and developmental issues.

To promote the principles of integrated environmental management within all areas of commerce and industry.

To debate and agreeon national and sectoral environmental priorities that address existing development needs and capacity constraints.

To encourage wider involvement by industry and other stakeholders in voluntary initiatives of varying kinds, including covenants and partnerships.

To promote voluntary environmental auditing and reporting by industry and encourage the development of the necessary skills and capacity required for wider adoption of such practices.

To promote measures to minimise waste and pollution at national, regional and international levels (includes climate).

To adopt appropriate measures to prevent transboundary environmental harm, incorporating transboundary movement of hazardous and toxic waste..

To promote the sustainable management of natural resources across international boundaries

To ensure South Africa acts in accordance with national environmental policy in dealing with international treaties and agreements.

To ensure that international conventions and agreements are implemented.

To ensure that environmental considerations are included in all international negotiations.

To ensure that foreign investment does not compromise the environmental integrity of South Africa or the principles, rights and standards established in the national environmental policy.

To ensure that international trade does not lead to wasteful use of natural resources or interfere with their conservation or sustainable use.

To ensure appropriate mandates and consultation with South African stakeholders prior to international negotiations.

To introduce increased local participation in the control of resources and to ensure that programmes are geographically and ecologically specific.

To incorporate demographic features in policies, plans and programmes, take account of resource needs and impacts and develop programmes to mitigate the adverse impact of environmental change on human populations and vice versa.

To introduce an integrated approach to the planning and management of land and natural resources.

To develop a land use planning system that takes account of specific ecosystems, and to develop and make available to all a land information system in the interests of sustainable land use.

To ensure that a proper and fully integrated land management system is developed. This must facilitate the allocation of land to uses that provide the greatest sustainable benefit to the greatest number of people.

To ensure the sound management of fragile ecosystems, including monitoring, rehabilitation and in situ conservation to preserve biodiversity.

To improve biodiversity conservation in South Africa, including the revitalisation and expansion of the South African Plan for Nature Conservation on the basis of full participation and the conservation of biodiversity on private land through programmes like the South African Natural Heritage Programme.

To integrate the management and sustainable development and utilisation of the coastal marine zone.

To ensure the sustainable and rational utilisation, conservation and management of water resources based on ecosystem and community needs.

To promote and encourage sustainable farming practices through policies that focus on the integration of human development, income generation, increased local control of resources, strengthening of local institutions and capacities and increased delivery through non-government organisations.

To cooperate with neighbouring states in the conservation of shared populations of wild species.

To set standards and procedures for the ethical taking, trade, holding and care of animals.

To ensure that tourism is sustainable and not damaging to the environment and that local communities benefit through active participation in tourism associated with protected areas.

To review subsidies and eliminate those that conflict with principles of sustainable development.