Introduction

The purpose of the National Framework on Sustainable Development is to enunciate South Africa’s national vision for sustainable development and indicate strategic interventions to re-orientate South Africa’s development path in a more sustainable direction. It proposes a national vision, principles and areas for strategic intervention that will enable and guide the development of the national strategy and action plan.

The negotiated outcome of the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) held in September 2002, the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation (JPOI) sets out 37 targets for achieving sustainable development, inclusive of the Millennium Development Goals. 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. Human welfare and well-being, equity and sustainable living are at the core of many of the MDGs and JPOI targets. The interdependence between people – planet – prosperity is evident in these targets.

In line with the WSSD target, South Africa requires a single coherent framework that articulates our development context, and sets out our common vision and priorities for achieving sustainable development. This is not about creating a ‘master plan’. It is also not an extended environmental strategy. Rather 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 aims to identify key, short, medium and long–term challenges in our sustainable development efforts, sets the framework for a common understanding and vision of sustainable development; and defines strategic focus areas for intervention.

OVERVIEW OF THE NFSD
Part one - context for sustainable development - sets the context of South Africa’s sustainable development paradigm and outlines the rationale for the approach that was taken in developing the NFSD and finally outlines the definition of sustainable development, sets out a vision and a set of key principles.

The national vision for sustainable development is as follows:

The vision is informed by the environmental, social and economic and other fundamental human rights enshrined in our Constitution, and the global and national priorities captured in the MDG, JPOI and the government’s macro socio-economic policies. It is a projection of our nation’s aspirations of achieving a better quality of life for all now and in future, through equitable access to resources and shared prosperity. It places the nation on a developmental trajectory which of necessity must move society towards greater efficiency and innovation in resource use, and the integration of social, economic, ecological and governance systems.

Part two – identifies focus areas for strategic intervention that are necessary to achieve the national vision of sustainable development. These are based on research undertaken on trends.

Part three – elucidates the critical pathways that are needed to achieve the desired state of sustainable development described in the national vision, and to contribute to shared and accelerated economic growth. It first “sets the scene” and sketches the background and strategic context against which these focus areas for strategic intervention must be viewed by giving a brief description of the international and national policy goals and commitments and highlighting the key existing strategies and plans in place to meet these goals and commitments.

It concludes by proposing and describing five strategic focus areas for intervention.

Part 4 - making it happen – towards an action plan - describes a three-phased road-map that needs to be embarked upon to reach the national vision. Phase I is the national framework for sustainable development. It sets the framework for a common understanding and vision of sustainable development; describes the South African context, as well as defines 5 strategic focus areas for intervention. Phase II is about preparing and planning for action, and includes the development of a detailed action plan and mobilising the necessary resources. Phase III is about roll-out, implementation, monitoring and review.

The achievement of sustainable development is not a once-off occurrence and its objectives cannot be achieved by a single action or decision. It is an ongoing process that requires a particular set of values and attitudes in which economic, social and environmental assets that society has at its disposal, are managed in a manner that sustains human well-being without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

To successfully implement this National Framework for Sustainable Development and achieve sustainable development objectives and targets, the nation as a whole must increasingly share in the common vision. All sectors, including all elements of the state plus civil society, organised labour and business, need to take part in the social contract to implement the NFSD and the emergent national strategy to follow.

DOCUMENTS 1 People - Planet - Prosperity: A National Framework for Sustainable Development in South Africa 852KB

MEDIA STATEMENTS Media Statement 10 July 2008 National Framework for Sustainable Development (NFSD) Announced