A Process
of developing national Framework for sustainable
development
International Mandate
Chapter
8 of Agenda 21 calls on countries to
adopt national strategies for sustainable
development (NSDS) that “should build
upon and harmonize the various sectoral economic,
social and environmental policies and plans
that are operating in the country.”
Five years later, the 1997 Special Session
of the General Assembly again noted the importance
of NSDS and set a target of 2002 for their
formulation and elaboration.
In addition, integrating the principles of
sustainable development into country policies
and programmes is one of the targets contained
in the United Nations Millennium Declaration
to reach the goal of environmental sustainability.
Governments have continued to reiterate their
commitment to develop and implement NSDS at
subsequent sessions of the United Nations Commission
on Sustainable Development.
The commitment to develop national strategies
for sustainable development was captured in
the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation (JPOI)
as follows: “states should take immediate
steps to make progress in the formulation and
elaboration of national strategies for sustainable
development and begin their implementation
by 2005.”
Progress in South
Africa
South Africa has already taken a number of
steps in responding to this target and is in
the process of conceptualizing the final stages
of developing the NSSD. The next step is to
address the gaps, and integrate and communicate
the elements in a coherent national sustainable
development strategy, the proposed approach
The steps already taken include the following:
- A framework for sustainable development
is in place, embodied firstly in the Reconstruction
and Development Programme, secondly, in
a number of cross-cutting implementation
strategies such as the Anti Poverty Strategy,
the Integrated Sustainable Rural Development
Strategy, the Urban Strategy and finally
in a number of sectoral policy and institutional
developments, including White Papers and
legislation that have emerged since 1994.
- An investigation into the NSSD in preparation
for the World Summit on Sustainable Development
(WSSD) in 2002 showed that although South
Africa has not specifically formulated a
NSSD, it has in place a national sustainable
development framework.
- South Africa has undertaken a review of
the implementation of sustainable development & Agenda
21 with specific reference to achievements,
barriers and challenges to the implementation
of sustainable development and Agenda 21.
- South Africa has developed a strategy
that responds to the Johannesburg Plan of
Implementation (JPOI), which includes the
Millennium Development goals and a number
of international commitments in the economic
and social fields.
- A number of key sectors have already started
engaging with their sustainable development
challenges (e.g. energy sector on alternative
energy, mining sector, water sector, health
sector, environment)
- The Cabinet approved in January 2005,
a framework for the National Strategy for
Sustainable Development. Outlining key
The role of the Department
of Environmental Affairs and Tourism
The Department of Environmental Affairs and
the Department of Foreign Affairs have been
tasked with the responsibility of coordinating
South Africa ’s response to the outcomes
of the World Summit on Sustainable Development
and will be the lead government departments
for the development of the NSSD.
DEAT through a the Directorate for International
Sustainable Development Cooperation has been
coordinating the NSSD Process which has mainly
the following main areas
- Content Development and Research
- Communications and Awareness
- Stakeholder Liaison and Engagement
- Intergovernmental Coordination and Liaison
- International Cooperation and Exchange
Through this outlines key elements of the
NSSD process, DEAT aims to (1) tap into the
specialised knowledge or various professional
within and outside of government (2) Mobilise
input from the various major groups and representatives
of civil society, Labour and the business sectors
(3) Raise awareness targeted at the general
public, media, youth and children (4) Mobilise
broader government participation, political
buy-in and support (5) Develop a networks for
exchanging experience and best practice in
the development of national strategies for
sustainable development.
Through this information portal, DEAT aims
to ensure that information relating to the
NSSD process is easily accessible for improved
participation of all stakeholders. The directorate
is open to suggestions and input into this
process and contacted through the following
medium.
The Director: International Sustainable Development
Cooperation
Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism
Private Bag X 447
Pretoria , 0001
Tel: (012) 310 3457 or Fax (012)
322 1003 or Email:nssd@deat.gov.za
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