GREEN PAPER ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Issued by: Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism

GREEN PAPER ON THE NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY FOR SA: LEADING US ALONG THE PATH OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

"The purpose of the Green Paper on the National Environmental Policy for South Africa is to provide a basis for developing an environmental policy which will lead us along the path of sustainable development. It must also ensure that all South Africans, both now and in the future, will have an environment which always caters for their well-being".

This was said by Dr Z Pallo Jordan, Minister of Environmental Affairs and tourism, who will receive the Green Paper at the launch on 28 October.

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.

The Green Paper emphasised the need for South Africa to have a clear vision of how sustainable development should be achieved and where environmental management should be going in this country. It is aimed at initiating a broad framework for an integrated and holistic approach to environmental management in all areas of government.

Some of the essential elements of this Green Paper are:

• main environmental issues in the country that must be addressed by the policy
• Principles to assist in applying, developing and testing policy and actions including decision-making, legislation and regulation
• suggested objectives to address major issues facing environmental management and the sustainable use of resources proposals for institutional structures and regulatory mechanisms. The Green paper emphasises that these structures must meet the requirements of good governance and must be effective in implementing policy.

The content of this Green Paper is intended to stimulate discussion that will assist Government in arriving at a national environmental policy for South Africa.

One of the debates within the extensive consultative process, concerned different viewpoints on sustainable development:

Economic growth is the basis for all environmental policy and management.

Growth is incompatible with long-term sustainability.

The challenge is to promote types of growth and development which provide the means for satisfying the social and environmental foundations of sustainable development.

The environmental Policy will prioritise Government's approach towards environmental management and actions to implement this approach. It must promote equitable access to resources and services and build institutional and community capacity for participation in securing more effective environmental management and sustainable use of resources.

Comments and opinions by all South Africans are requested. submissions must be made before 17 January 1997 to the CONNEPP SECRETARIAT, P O Box 477, WITS 2050, fax (011) 339 2382. The Green Paper can be obtained from Alet Viljoen tel (012) 310-3669.

ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS AND TOURISM, PRETORIA, 28 OCTOBER 1996

ENQUIRIES: ELIZABETH MNISI TEL (012) 310-3434