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INTRODUCTION
In
line with other parts of the world, the environment is moving closer to
the centre of the socio-political stage in South Africa. However, the
South African situation is different in the sense that heightened
environmental concern coincides with a period of social- and political
transition. Through the transitory period and beyond, several challenging
and durable themes are likely to remain at the centre of environmental
management in South Africa.
Some
of these are:
1. Population
and resources.
2. Land
distribution and management.
3. Urbanisation
and cities.
4. Management institutions.
5. Pollution and Waste Management.
Human
population growth and absolute numbers are often seen to be the most
fundamental threat to sustained development and the environment in South
Africa. However, the relationship between population and resources in the
environment is complex and needs to be considered very carefully before
any inferences to one or the other can be made. From a conservative
environmental position, the management of resource use and environmental
impact are central. However, from the perspective of material and
political disadvantage, improved living and working conditions and access
to resources and the systems that mediate their distribution are often the
environmental priorities.
Of
the many issues that confront environmental managers in South Africa, land
is probably the most emotionally and politically charged. Beyond the
pivotal issue of land distribution, there are many complex areas of land
management policy and practice that remain to be argued openly and in
detail.
Among
these are:
1.
State,
private sector, community, traditional leaders and individual roles in
land management.
2. The
extent and nature of rural development and the case for affirmative
action.
3. Socio-politically
and environmentally appropriate systems of land tenure and the
manner in which to implement tenure reform.
4. Short-
and long-term mechanisms for the resolution of conflict over rural and
urban land.
A
realm of potential conflict is that which lies at the interface between
the imperatives of conservation and those of resource-poor communities. An
emerging orthodoxy stresses the need to link conservation with
socio-economic development, by allowing proximate communities to have
sustainable access to the life-supporting and income-earning potential of
nature reserves and other protected areas. This may indeed be an equitable
answer to a growing concern, but the issue should not be reduced to a
"one or the other” scenario.
Population
and resources, and land distribution will remain areas of challenge and
opportunity through the current period of socio-political change. The
environmental and socio-political needs are to deal with the material and
perceived legacy of apartheid. In environmental management terms, this
might mean a shift in focus to living and working environments, and to
land reform. Past discriminatory policy has added a layer of complexity in
South Africa, but there are also several factors that give this Country a
potential environmental management edge on a number of Third World
nations. These include an economy with considerable promise, a depth of
skills, management ability and achievement in environmental and related
fields, growing environmental mobilisation, and a socio-political
"window of opportunity" as structures and relationships are
changed and remoulded.
In
recognition of problems highlighted above, I initiated a process of
developing and updating national environmental policy in 1995, during my
tenure as Deputy Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, with the
full support of the members of the then Portfolio Committee of Environment
such as Messrs Mahlangu, Moorcraft, September, Chalmers and Cassim to
mention but a few. The
process was launched by the then President N Mandela at the Consultative
Conference on National Environmental Policy (CONNEP) on 17 and 18
August 1995 during which a remarkable group of individuals – leaders
from Government departments, business, environmental, civil rights,
traditional leaders, religious leaders, labour community based
organisations and non-governmental organisations met to discuss
environmental policy needs and an appropriate process for drawing up a
national environmental policy. Indeed, all the participants agreed that we
needed an all-inclusive policy away from the apartheid environmental
policy which is sadly still written in some topographical areas of South
Africa especially in the former homelands, informal settlements and
townships. However, debates in some areas had been characterised by
confrontation and mistrust. We spent many hours searching for a path
toward agreement. Finally a new environmental policy was promulgated by
our Parliament last year. The challenge that lies ahead now for all South
Africans is to implement the said policy. Because the politics of mistrust
are the greatest obstacle to the process of innovation and the changes
that we all believe is necessary to achieve the goals we share, I would
strongly recommend that the proposed Foundation for the Champions of
Environment’s Board of Trustees be inclusive as far as possible to
represent all stake-holders while retaining its autonomy.
The
environment issue is of critical national and international importance.
The threats to the survival of our environment and the people who inhabit
it make the issue a top national priority. The socio-economic implications
of the destruction or degradation of our environment imposes a serious
obligation on everybody to play his or her part to protect our
environment. Environmental concerns require a holistic and non-political
approach because it affects all players, irrespective of social standing.
Any activities by anybody that harm the environment impact on the lives of
all people of South Africa. The task of saving our environment calls for
the elevation of the problem as a priority that warrants a national
“Marshall Plan” to save our national heritage by identifying, building
and rewarding individuals, institutions and agencies as Champions of the
Environment that will place our national endeavour at environmental
protection on par with other international awareness and educational
campaigns.
Individual
politicians from all political parties should be free to participate and
contribute towards the success of the Foundation’s mission. The
representatives from the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism,
Department of Culture, Science and Technology and Department of Education
should also be invited as ex-officio members of the Board.
Finally,
creating a better future depends in part, on the knowledge and involvement
of citizens and on a decision-making process that embraces and encourages
differing perspectives of those affected by governmental policy. I hope
that this proposed foundation will succeed in creating educational media
campaigns to encourage South African’s participation in environmental
matters that affect their daily lives. I now call upon all those who are
interested in this initiative not to hesitate to contribute towards the
success of the Foundation’s mission.
PREAMBLE
Whereas
many inhabitants of South Africa still live in conditions of poverty,
environmental pollution and degraded environmental resources;
Everyone
has a Constitutional right to an environment which is not detrimental to
his/her health, or well-being and to have such right protected, for the
benefit of present and future generations, through reasonable legislative
and other measures that;
·
prevent
pollution and ecological degradation
·
promote
conservation and create a national code of conduct backed by appropriate
legislation to ensure humane treatment of animal populations;
·
secure
ecologically sustainable development and use of natural resources while
·
promoting
justifiable economic and social development.
and
whereas the Government of the Republic requires the active support of all
people to respect and protect these rights
now
the people of South Africa have decided to establish the CHAMPIONS
OF THE ENVIRONMENT FOUNDATION (CEF) in
an effort to realise these Constitutional objectives.
VISION
To
be the foremost promoter of Champions of Environment in all sectors
of society of the Republic of South Africa and ultimately the whole of
Africa.
MISSION
To
identify, support and reward Champions of Environment in all
sectors of South Africa and to harness resources in the promotion of sound
environmental science, technologies and management.
AIMS
The
Foundation will continuously scan the strategic environment of the
Republic and encourage all South Africans to respond appropriately to the
impacts of such environment on them. Specific aims directed at the
components of the strategic environment are the following.
1.
The Political Environment
The
foundation aims to promote
1.1.
the maximum participation of all political parties in parliament in
the achievement of its goals and objectives;
1.2.
the promulgation of appropriate environmental management policies,
strategies, laws and regulations by the government;
1.3.
co-operative and harmonised governance between the different levels
of Government in the field of environmental management;
1.4.
the allocation of appropriate resources by Government for
addressing national-, regional- and local environmental management issues
and problems and;
1.5.
the transformation of environmental management in South Africa,
taking into account all components of our strategic environment.
2.
The Legal/Administrative Environment
The
foundation aims to promote
2.1.
respect for and the protection of environmental human legal rights
as reflected in the Constitution of the Republic;
2.2.
the establishment of achievable environmental legal performance
standards;
2.3.
compliance with the provisions of environmental laws and
regulations and;
2.4.
fair decision-making in environmental law enforcement.
3.
The Technological Environment
The
foundation aims to promote
3.1.
and support research into and the development of appropriate
environmental technologies to prevent pollution and ecological
degradation;
3.2.
and encourage the policy principle of Best Practicable
Environmental Option (BPEO) in technology selection;
3.3.
and support the use of technologies for waste minimisation;
3.4.
and support technologies focused on optimising the recycling and
re-use of valuable waste materials
4.
The Business/Financial Environment
The
foundation aims to promote
4.1.
the implementation of internationally recognised environmental
management systems and business practices by private enterprise in South
Africa;
4.2.
and support a risk averse approach to environmental management;
4.3.
environmental awareness and competence in business management;
4.4.
employee empowerment and capacity building in environmental
management in business enterprises and;
4.5.
awareness of the financial benefits associated with sound
environmental management practices.
5.
The Economic Environment
The
foundation aims to promote
5.1.
awareness and competency in environmental economics;
5.2.
promote an understanding of the importance of integrated
environmental management in advancing South Africa’s economy
5.3.
the internalisation of economic externalities and an awareness of
"green" investments and investors in the South African economy
and;
5.4.
the acceptance and implementation of appropriate environmental
management performance standards by South African enterprises to remain
competitive in the international economic field.
6.
The Social Environment
The
foundation aims to promote
6.1.
an awareness and understanding of societies' environmental rights
and obligations;
6.2.
community participation in environmental management at the local,
regional and national level;
6.3.
the involvement of interested and affected parties in environmental
development planning and implementation projects;
6.4.
an equitable distribution of environmental resources with a
specific focus on the youth and women;
6.5.
the compilation of social impact assessments for development
projects and;
6.6.
focus on the human being as the most important change agent and
component of the environment.
7.
The Cultural/Historical/Traditional/Religious Environment
The
foundation aims to promote
7.1.
respect for and the protection of South Africa's diverse
Cultural/Historical/Traditional/Religious heritage;
7.2.
the conservation and protection of the Nation's cultural/
historical/ traditional/ religious resources and
7.3.
and encourage the responsible management of environmental
diversity.
8.
The Natural Environment
The
foundation aims to promote
8.1.
the recognition of the human resource as the most important natural
environmental resource;
8.2.
the conservation and protection of environmental natural resources
for the benefit of all South Africa's people;
8.3.
the rational and appropriate utilisation of South Africa's natural
resources for the economic advancement of all the people of the country
and
8.4.
the conservation of biological diversity and special measures for the protection of sensitive ecosystems,
places of scenic beauty and rare and endangered species of wildlife.
9.
The International Environment
The
foundation aims to promote
9.1.
and encourage the participation of the South African public and
private sectors in the drafting, signing and ratification of bilateral,
multilateral, sub-regional, regional, continental and international
agreements, conventions, treaties, protocols and other legal instruments
for the protection and appropriate utilisation of natural environmental
resources and sound environmental management taking into account the
special needs of developing countries;
9.2.
bilateral, multilateral, sub-regional and regional co-operation in
the protection of shared valued environmental assets for the benefit of
the region's peoples;
9.3.
international co-operative research into and development and
application of appropriate environmental management systems and
technologies for developing countries and;
9.4.
the design, development and implementation of appropriate,
environmental management performance standards for developing countries.
ACTIVITIES
The
Foundation will concentrate its activities in two major areas as explained
below:
1.
Identifying and Rewarding Environmental Management Champions
In
the identification and rewarding of outstanding environmental management
performance, the Foundation will recognise contributions from the
following categories:
·
Individuals;
·
Groups
(youth, women, etc.);
·
Communities;
·
Non-governmental
Organisations;
·
Educational
(primary, higher and tertiary);
·
Organs
of State including Local-, Provincial- and Central Government authorities;
·
Small-,
medium- and macro enterprises.
Each
category could be subdivided into smaller entities down to the individual
level.
Opportunities
for participation could be arranged through invitations for submission of
examples of outstanding environmental management performance, development
and application of innovative technologies, significant research
contributions etc. Competitions could also be arranged wherever and
whenever appropriate.
Rewards
could be in the form of certificates, cash prizes, bursaries, study tours
or continued support for promising prize-winning endeavours.
For
each reward a set of fair evaluation criteria should be designed and
developed by knowledgeable people. Respected and competent evaluation
panels could be constituted for the purpose of allocating rewards.
2.
Harnessing of Resources
The
second area on which the Foundation will focus its activities will be the
harnessing of resources in promoting appropriate environmental management
research, technology and training. In this regard the Foundation will
concentrate on the following:
a)
canvassing support, funds, equipment and materials from the private
sector;
b)
canvassing support, funds, equipment and materials from
international donor countries, institutions and United Nations
organisations;
c)
canvassing support and funds from national and international
foundations, which promote sound environmental management;
d)
canvassing support and funds from organs of State in order to
rationalise the utilisation of scarce resources.
Funds,
equipment and materials collected by the Foundation will be allocated to
deserving institutions for conducting appropriate environmental applied
research, designing, developing and verifying the application of
appropriate innovative environmental technologies as well as environmental
management empowerment and capacity-building training programmes. In the
allocation of resources, previously disadvantaged institutions and
individuals will be given preference.
In
the selection of programmes for support the Foundation will focus on the
environmental perspectives of government's policies of transformation
including the following initiatives.
a) Poverty relief;
b) Job creation;
c) Integrated sustainable rural development;
d) Integrated pollution and waste management;
e) Community awareness of environmental rights and obligations;
f) Awareness of environmental rights and obligations amongst workers,
learners and students;
g)
Community involvement in environmental management issues and
aspects;
h) Appropriate applied research projects involving the unemployed and
previously disadvantaged individuals to solve environmental management
problems;
i) Research into and the development and verification of appropriate
innovative environmental technologies for developing countries;
j) Appropriate environmental management empowerment and
capacity-building training programmes involving the unemployed graduates
from tertiary educational institutions;
k) Support for the accommodation of United Nations Environment
Programme training institutions such as the Basel Convention Institute and
the Africa Training Centre for Environmental Management and the
involvement of other African tertiary education and training institutions
in expanding the activities of such institutions.
The
strategic management of the Foundation will be in the hands of a Board of
Trustees consisting of eminent persons representing the following
interests:
a)
Individual politicians;
b)
organs of State, as ex-officio members;
c) organised business and industry;
d)
communities;
e)
education and training institutions;
f) donor organisations and foundations;
g)
individuals with specific environmental management expertise;
h) women and youth representatives.
i)
traditional leaders
j)
religious institutions
k)
labour.
An
interim committee consisting of environmentalists and other interest
groups who will decide on the appointments will invite nominations for
appointment on the Board of Trustees.
As
a first task, the Board will write a constitution and establish the
administrative and financial rules for the foundation.
ADMINISTRATION
The
Board of Trustees should be administered as a non-profit making entity. At
first the administration of the Foundation should be in the hands of a
Board appointed staff consisting of an Executive Officer, a Secretary and
a Financial Manager. Further administrative services could be provided by
a chosen institute, which has the knowledge and capacity on environmental
issues, such as Rhodes University and Delta Environmental Centre.
CONCLUDING
REMARKS
The
establishment of a Foundation for Champions of Environment is both timely
and opportune in view of the need for co-operative support for the
environmental perspectives of the government's policies of transformation
and the transformation. A collective initiative will ensure the correct
status for such an important body and will send an unambiguous message to
the people of the world of the seriousness with which all South Africans
approach our environment.
Enquiries:
HB Holomisa, MP
082-552-4156
e-mail:
holomisa@udm.org.za
Pretoria
Tel:
012-321-0010
Fax: 012-321-0014
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