‘Government commitment to sustainable development will ultimately be judged by actions not words’
- Friends of the Earth
The primary responsibility for co-ordination and implementation of sustainable development programmes rests with governments. Integrating sustainability into national development policies is one of goals of the United Nations Millennium Declaration, which South Africa has endorsed.
Statement Delivered by Deputy Minister Rejoice Mabudafhasi at the 2nd Waste Management Officers' Khoro
5 October 2011 Bolivia Lodge Polokwane, Limpopo Province - The Waste Management Officers’ Khoro is an annual conference which the Department launched on 15-16 September 2010 in Boksburg, Gauteng province.
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National Framework for Sustainable Development
In July 2008, the Cabinet passed the National Framework for Sustainable Development (NFSD). The NFSD is designed to “initiate a broad framework for sustainable development in South Africa that can serve as a basis from which to develop and consolidate a national strategy and action plan”. The NFSD proposes a national vision, principles, trends, strategic priority areas, and a set of implementation measures that are intended to enable and guide the development of the national strategy and action plan.
The NFSD discusses the various environmental and social risk areas facing South Africa and maps out five strategic priority areas.
- Enhancing systems for integrated planning and implementation.
- Sustaining our ecosystems and using resources sustainably.
- Investing in sustainable economic development and infrastructure.
- Creating sustainable human settlements.
- Responding appropriately to emerging human development, economic and environmental challenges.
The NFSD states that in order to embark on the journey (‘to a sustainable, economically prosperous and self-reliant nation’) it needs various things – a robust institutional framework, an action plan or roadmap to make sense of the five strategic priority areas, and “to ensure that everyone is on board and stays on board …for this we need ongoing consultation and communication”.
And it is this last requirement which sees the government holding regular national summits to which all interested parties are invited to attend. Critics say that South Africa does not actually having a national co-ordinated policy on sustainable development. It’s still on its way to developing one.
To download the NFSD document, click here>>
Long-term mitigation scenarios: strategic options for South Africa
This important research document sets out the various long-term scenarios for South Africa relating to climate change and carbon emissions The report is often used as a basis for relevant policy decisions on climate change in South Africa.
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SOUTH AFRICA AT THE TENTH CONFERENCE OF PARTIES (COP-10) ON CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY (CBD) IN JAPAN.
Media Statement 18 October 2010. South Africa has sent a high powered delegation led by the Department of Environmental Affairs to the tenth meeting of the tenth Conference of Parties (COP10) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) which started in Nagoya, Japan today.
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SA LAYS OUT ITS FOCUS AREA FOR THE GLOBAL CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY
At the end of October 2010, Japan will host the tenth meeting of the Conference of Parties to the Convention of Biological Diversity. SA set outs its position and focus areas in a media release dated 14 September 2010. To read the release and download the media presentation click here >>
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NEW ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT (EIA) REGULATIONS
The new regulations, effective 2 August 2010, are aimed at improving the efficiency and effectiveness of EIA. It also introduces an approach where impacts associated with the sensitivity of the receiving environment are treated with more care; achieved through the introduction of a Listing Notice dedicated to activities planned for predefined sensitive areas. The lists of activities requiring environmental authorization prior to commencement have also been revised.
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LOOKING FOR REVENUE
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A RECYCLING ECONOMY
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NEW AIR QUALITY ACT COMES INTO FULL EFFECT ON 01 APRIL 2010
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Government's Response to Climate Change and the Environment
In March 2009, government hosted The 2009 Climate Summit to formulate a national framework for the country's response to climate change. (The first Summit was in 2005). The 2009 Summit was held in Midrand, Johannesburg and the 700 delegates hailed from government departments, civil groups, business groups, NGOs and academia. The Summit laid the foundation for a participatory process that is set to culminate in a Policy White Paper on climate change by 2010, and the translation of this policy into a legislative, regulatory and fiscal package by 2012. To read the media release,
click here
On 4 August 2009, government held a National Information and Consultation session in Pretoria. It was hosted by Environmental Affairs but many other government departments were present. Business, NGOs and some academics also attended. The aim of the session was to consult and provide info ahead of the global talks in Copenhagen in December 2010. Importantly, it set out South Africa's expectations ahead of Copenhagen. To read more click here
At the update, the following draft document was released, which sets out SA's position ahead of Copenhagen and the major hurdles to be cleared for a successful agreement at Copenhagen. Click here for Discussion document: National Information and consultation session.
SOUTH AFRICA WELCOMES THE OUTCOMES OF THE 3RD INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVIEW MEETING (IGR3) ON THE GLOBAL PROGRAMME OF ACTION FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT FROM LAND – BASED ACTIVITIES HELD IN THE PHILIPPINES
South Africa welcomes the outcomes of the 3rd
OUTCOMES OF THE INTERNATIONAL NEGOTIATIONS UNDER THE UN FRAMEWORK CONVENTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE (COP 17) AND ITS’ KYOTO PROTOCOL
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STATEMENT BY THE HEAD OF SOUTH AFRICAN DELEGATION URGING CANADA TO ENTER THE SECOND COMMITMENT PERIOD OF KYOTO PROTOCOL
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SPEECH BY THE MINISTER OF WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS, AT THE BMW GROUP SUSTAINABLE FUTURE CONFERENCE AT THE COP 17 ON THE 29 NOVEMBER 2011
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STATEMENT BY THE SOUTH AFRICAN MINISTER OF WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS, ON 29 NOVEMBER 2011 AT THE UNFCCC COP17
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MINISTER EDNA MOLEWA AND KZN PREMIER, DR ZWELI MKHIZE TO COLLABORATE AHEAD OF CLIMATE CHANGE NEGOTIATIONS
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DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS TO HOST PROVINCIAL CLIMATE CHANGE SUMMITS 31 August 2011
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JOINT STATEMENT ISSUED AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE EIGHTH BASIC MINISTERIAL MEETING ON CLIMATE CHANGE 26 - 27 August 2011
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SILICON SMELTERS SENTENCED FOR CONTRAVENING ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATION 17 August 2011
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AFRICA GROUP NEGOTIATORS MET TO DISCUSS THE AFRICAN POSITION FOR CoP17/CMP7) 11 August 2011
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GREEN PAPER ON CLIMATE CHANGE
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MINISTER OF WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS, MINISTER BUYELWA SONJICA ADDRESSES THE MEDIA ON CLIMATE CHANGE TALKS (COP 15) 22 December 2009
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ADDRESS BY PRESIDENT JACOB ZUMA AT UN CLIMATE CHANGE CONFERENCE, COPENHAGEN 18 December 2009
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HIGHLEVEL SEGMENT OF THE 15TH CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIES (COP-15) OF THE UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE (UNFCCC) AND THE 5TH CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIES SERVING AS THE MEETING OF THE PARTIES (CMP-5) TO THE KYOTO PROTOCOL 17 DECEMBER 2009 Statement by Minister Buyelwa Sonjica, Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs, South Africa
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SIDE EVENT CONVENED BY BRAZIL, INDIA, SOUTH AFRICA AND CHINA ON MITIGATION ACTION
Media Statement 17th December 2009 South Africa is calling for Copenhagen to deliver a 2-track outcome: (i) 1 track for the outcome of negotiations under the Kyoto Protocol on further commitments by Annex I Parties for the 2nd and subsequent commitment periods - namely an amendment of Annex B of the Kyoto Protocol; and (ii) the 2nd track for the outcome of the negotiations under the Convention.
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PRESIDENT JACOB ZUMA TO ATTEND CLIMATE CHANGE TALKS IN COPENHAGEN Media Release 6 Dec 2009 President Jacob Zuma has accepted the invitation from the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Denmark, Mr Lars Løkke Rasmussen, to attend the Heads of State and Government Segment of the 15th Conference of the Parties (COP15) to the United Nations Framework Convention of Climate Change, (UNFCCC) and the 5th Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties (CMP-5) to the Kyoto Protocol, from 17-18 December 2009.
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UPDATE BY SA GOVT ON COPENHAGEN MEETINGS Media Release, 2 December 2009 - Representatives from Brazil, China, India and South Africa, met in Beijing on 27-28 November 2009 along with Sudan, the current chair of G-77, to discuss a coordinated approach to the forthcoming UN Climate Conference at Copenhagen.
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LATEST FROM THE SA GOVERNMENT ON THE COPENHAGEN TALKS Media Release 5 November 2009. The current United Nations Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) negotiations, culminating in Copenhagen in December, aims at reaching agreement on strengthening the international climate change regime beyond 2012
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SOUTH AFRICA WANTS COPENHAGEN DEAL TO BE FAIR AND INCLUSIVE : SA GOVT Media Release 15 September 2009. South Africa is committed to doing its fair share to ensure that the December Copenhagen Climate Change talks (COP 15) produce a deal that will be favourable to developed and developing countries.
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