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Media Statement
Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism
THURSDAY, 10 JULY 2008:
Mrs Nosipho Jezile-Ngcaba, Director General of the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism today announced the Cabinet approval of the National Framework for Sustainable development (NFSD) and the intention to develop an indepth implementation plan for sustainable development in the country.
In the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation (JPOI), negotiated at the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD), held in September 2002, in Johannesburg countries committed to preparing and implementing national strategies for sustainable development.
In line with the WSSD target and the Department’s role in leading and promoting the global sustainable development agenda and thereby maintaining the WSSD legacy, the department led a process towards the development of a single coherent framework that articulates South Africa’s development context, and sets out our common vision and strategic areas of intervention for achieving sustainable development. Phase I of a three phase process, through a series of dialogues has culminated in the development of the National Framework for Sustainable Development (NFSD).
“A sustainable development paradigm is integral to our 2014 vision, as it defines the social, economic, environmental and governance parameters, and explicitly recognizes the constraints that decision-makers must take into account when policies are adopted aimed at growing the economy, sustaining our natural resource base and meeting basic social and human needs,” said Jezile-Ngcaba.
Sustainable development is about enhancing human well-being and quality of life for all time, in particular those most affected by poverty and inequality. Resource use efficiency and intergenerational equity are the core principles of sustainable development.
The national framework for sustainable development seeks to build on existing programmes and strategies that have emerged in the first 14 years of democracy. It sets the framework for a common understanding and vision of sustainable development; describes the South African context, as well as defines areas for strategic intervention. The NFSD complements current efforts aimed at reducing poverty and growing the economy. It enhances the need to coherence and consideration of natural resource constraints and ecosystems services.
The next steps towards the development of a strategy will be informed by phase II, which is about preparing and planning for action, and includes the development of a detailed action plan and the mobilisation of the necessary resources. Phase III will entail the process of roll-out, implementation, monitoring and review. Both of which phases will once again be closely informed through multi-stakeholder dialogue.
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