The driving forces behind environmental policy
development can be categorised into National and
International driving forces.
National: .gif)
Prior to 1994, South Africa was governed by a
minority group and the policies developed were not
representative of nor beneficial to all South Africans.
Since 1994 there has been considerable pressure to
redress this bias, and reform the dualistic social and economic
situation that resulted from it.
Under the new government, key drivers stem from a
focus on the following:
- The need for growth and creation of employment
- People-centred environmental management
- Development-centred environmental management
These focus areas, and the environmental implications
are illustrated in the key development initiatives
described in Table 7.1 below. They reflect different
ways in which development priorities for the country are
being addressed and their possible impacts on the
environment. Many of these developments, in particular
the Spatial Development Initiatives and land reform
programs are driving the development agenda and also
shaping the way in which environmental issues are being
addressed.
Another important driver is the fragmented nature of
the environmental legislative framework in South Africa
in the early 1990's. It has been described as
contradictory, poorly understood, poorly coordinated,
subject to conflict of interest, poorly
administered and weakly enforced. An ongoing concern has
been the fragmentation of environmental policy. In 1997,
some 21 environmental policy development projects were
known to be underway which stretched available capacity,
especially within Provincial Environmental Departments,
to the limit.
| Table 7.1 Some Examples of Development Initiatives and their Implications |
|
Development Initiative
|
Objectives
|
Implications
|
Possible interventions and instruments
|
Macroeconomic Policy (GEAR)
|
Set goals of achieving a 6%
economic growth rate per
year with 400 000 jobs to be
created by the year 2000.
|
Rapid economic growth
rate often implies
increase in development
and use of natural
resources. Without proper
environmental
management systems in
place there could be
negative impacts in the
form of possible over-exploitation of natural
resources. (See Economics)
|
Increase in economic
growth must be
accompanied with more
investment in
environmental
management systems.
Such systems could be the
creation of Natural
Resource Accounting
system and data that will
assist government in
identifying cost/benefits of
development programmes
as part of the national
accounting system.
|
Spatial Development
Initiatives (SDI's)
|
There are several SDI
programs that involve
industrial, tourism and
agricultural development
which are meant to be
undertaken in a fast track
and large-scale manner.
The SDI programs involve
private and public sector
partnerships and
investment.
|
Since these often occur in
areas that are well
endowed with natural
resources but where there
is also widespread
poverty and weak
institutional capacity to
manage development,
possible threats to the
environment could be
increased e.g. pollution
|
Most SDIs have either
applied SEAs or EMFs ,
and are putting in place
good environmental
management systems and
guidelines that investors
need to follow. The crucial
issue here is monitoring,
capacity building, and
enforcement at the local
level.
|
Consolidated Municipal
Infrastructure Program
|
Massive infrastructure
investment is taking place
and being planned in the
areas of housing, water and
sanitation, electricity,
transport etc, led by several
government departments,
but being co-ordinated at
the local level by the
Department of Constitutional Affairs.
|
Since most of the infra
structural investments are
to be made in poor areas
and areas without
infrastructure the impacts
are more likely to be
positive than negative.
However, in the long-term
maintenance of
infrastructure will be
crucial. In the area of
housing the location of
housing on
environmentally sensitive
areas such as wetlands
would be a concern.
|
Infrastructure programs
should have EIAs done,
and should introduce
efficient use of resources
particularly in the water
and energy service
sectors. In these sectors
the application of cleaner
production technology
would be an important
factor in achieving certain
environmental standards.
|
Land Reform
|
The Department of Land
Affairs has established a
land reform program that
involves land redistribution,
restitution, and tenure
reform to facilitate the
landless, and those who
have been removed from
land in the past, acquiring land.
|
Land reform is significant
in that it can influence
population distribution
and ease pressure off
areas that have too many
people living off limited
and degraded resources.
Land reform can also
reduce resource conflicts
by conferring more rights
and security over the
ownership and use of
resources through tenure
reform. (See Terrestrial)
|
In general likely to be
positive provided that new
landowners in rural areas
are adequately supported
in the planning and
management of land use.
Training of resource users
to manage resources
sustainably is a key
intervention that is
required, together with
adequate extension
services from the
Department of Agriculture
and the private sector.)
|
International:
 |
| Agenda 21: An agenda for sustainable development into the 21st century (DEA&T) |
Since the adoption of Agenda 21, the Rio Declaration and the Forest Principles in Rio
in 1992, a host of new international conventions and agreements have emerged.
The most important of these, from an environmental perspective, are the so called
"sustainable development" conventions, which deal with Climate Change, Biodiversity and
Desertification. All three of these conventions are being implemented by the
Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism.
International conventions and agreements form part of international law that governs the relationship between countries and were developed due to the fact that many environmental problems transcend national boundaries. International law is recognised in the Constitution of South Africa (Act 108 of 1996). The Constitution provides that South Africa can enter into international agreements, recognise customary international law as part of our law and interpret the Bill of Rights and environmental rights in accordance with international law.
As a signatory to international conventions, South Africa is obliged to adhere to all the obligations imposed on it in terms of being a Party to these conventions. Direct consequences for South Africa are the development of policies, strategies, national action plans, and implementation plans to ensure that our obligations are met in terms of these international conventions. In all cases, this implies allocation of additional resources, both human and financial, for which donor assistance is often required. Ratification also has indirect consequences for several sectors such as trade, economic development, agriculture, mining, energy, transport and the environment generally.
Currently (October 1999) South Africa is a signatory to 17 international conventions. Table 7.2 provides a brief summary of all international conventions that South Africa is a signatory to.
| Table 7.2 South Africa is a signatory to 17 of the undermentioned International Conventions |
International trade is another key driver of environmental policy, and with the establishment of the World Trade Organization, there has been increased trade liberalization globally. This has resulted in increased flow of goods, technology and capital from developed to developing countries. Multinational corporations have also increased in size and influence. Because of the inter-connectedness of markets and trade between nations, actions in one country can increasingly affect other countries.
Changing consumer patterns (particularly in more developed
countries) is also affecting the environmental standards and
procedures companies put in place to ensure that the goods they
produce are produced in an environmentally sustainable manner. It is clear that
international trends are impacting on environmental decisions
and programs nationally. Institutions such as the World Business
Council for Sustainable Development and other
international NGOs, have played an important
role in influencing government decisions and civic actions.
Furthermore they have been instrumental in the development of
standards and certification measures aimed at introducing
sustainable development objectives in the operations of private
companies and industries.
