Agenda 21 in South Africa free essay sample

The Agenda 21 areas that enjoy attention in South Africa include trade, financing, technology, industry, transport and sustainable tourism, with an additional area that focuses on changing consumption patterns. Trade The Departments of Foreign Affairs, and Trade and Industry, together with the Southern African Development Community (SADC) authorities, coordinate any Agenda 21 strategies relating to trade in South Africa. Some of the key points that either have been addressed (in the last decade), or are still being addressed, include the introduction of management practice standards (relating to pollution and waste management), the introduction of ISO 14001 and ISO 9000 series of international standards (which pertain not only to environmental management standards, but also to the monitoring and compliance thereof), and the introduction of new health and safety codes that will bring along with them a form of accountability. Apart from encouraging and promoting economic growth in the primary, secondary and tertiary sectors, the impact on the environment is monitored and means to reduce these impacts are introduced where possible. The major challenges faced by this sector in implementing sound Agenda 21 strategies include labour disputes (surrounding job security, job creation and pay increases as decided by trade unions, employees and employers), the role of NGOs, particularly in rural communities, the HIV/Aids factor, global economic trends, corruption and fraud, and the relative lack of skilled labour in the country, to mention a few. Finance The South African Department of Finance is the authority in this regard, and since the national budget is controlled by this ministry, available funds for all other Agenda 21 strategies originate here. Over the last decade, under the leadership of Trevor Manuel, but more recently under the leadership of Pravin Gordhan (2009 onwards), the trend in taxation has been towards favouring the lower-wage earner and the establishment and development of social grants. Despite the apparent decrease in tax revenue, tax collection has improved year-on-year (until 2009, when the global economic downturn affected the South African economy), so more funds have been available for development projects and programmes. House building, job creation, primary health-care facilities and extended sanitation services are just some of the very important areas in which Government funds development and other project that improve the quality of life for millions of citizens. The main challenge facing this aspect of Agenda 21s principles is the current (2009) economic situation: Because the end of the crisis cannot be accurately predicted, it may take a few years before tax collection is back at its levels of 2005 and 2006. While the economy slows down, jobs are lost, development slows down and investment shrinks. Hence, the available capital in taxes is severely impacted. Technology With the focus being on the transfer of environmentally sound technology, the South African Bureau of Standards contributed to the development of the ISO 14000 series of standards. In the late 1990s, the South African National Accreditation System (SANAS) was also introduced as the body responsible for the accreditation of certification entities and controlling the awarding of environmental certificates. In addition, the countrys Intellectual Property Rights legislation which complies with the World Trade Organisations Trade Related Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) agreement, was also finalised in the late 1990s. The Technology Transfer Act, together with the Department of Trade and Industrys Technology Transfer Centre both in place or operational by 2000, ensure that the best, available and affordable clean technologies are preferred and utilised in all technology transfer transactions. Initially, the implementation of clean technologies was focused on the fish-processing industry, the dairy industry, the wood, metal and furniture industries and the textile industry, but since the early 2000s, pilot projects have been rolled out in other industrial sectors, and larger focus areas have been identified. These include water and waste technology, housing technology and biotechnology. Industry Because the Department of Trade and Industry assumes authority over the trade, technology and industrial sectors, the Agenda 21 policies that were formulated for the technology sector apply equally to the industrial sector (since they are so closely related). However, a number of challenges within the industrial sector must be overcome before policy implementation can be rolled out in this sector. Firstly, pollution via point-source or diffuse sources that result in impacts on environmental and human health must be adequately addressed. Secondly, the overuse of water resources must be curbed, and thirdly, habitat destruction due to urban development must be addressed. Transport The Department of Transport (in the late 1990s) formulated an Environmental Policy for Transport that advocated the use of environmental impact management tools in this sector. Cleaner technologies, too, received much attention in the document in the form of cleaner fuels and the technologies that support them. Transportation and land-use planning were earmarked as a strategic partnership that would be beneficial to both sectors, while enjoying a symbiotic relationship. Sustainable tourism The Department of Tourism (previously known as the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism), along with the Directorate of Tourism Development Planning and Provincial Liaison, are responsible for implementing sustainable tourism strategies nationwide. Eco-tourism is, of course, one of the primary focus areas, followed by the implementation of environmental management systems in hotels and other tourism-related establishments. However, by 2004 there were no national strategies to inform the development of such projects, although white papers had outlines ideal suggestions for the technical, environmental, social and financial aspects of sustainable tourism. Changing consumption patterns A wide range of governmental departments work together to formulate strategies for future consumption pattern changes. Water, forests, agricultural resources, pollution, energy and occupational health and safety aspects are just some of the areas that enjoy attention under this banner, since consumption of resources and products affects all of these to certain degrees. However, no national strategy or policy has been formulated to guide the implementation of nationwide strategies in this sphere.