National Framework for Sustainable Development

Dorah NteoDepartment of Environmental Affairs

Outline

• Background• Mandate• Rationale• Sustainable Development defined in SA context• Priority Areas for Strategic Intervention• Key Elements of a National SD Strategy• Recommendations for a Green Economy

Plan

Background• National Framework for Sustainable Development was

approved by Cabinet in July 2008

• The 2009 -2014 MTSF identifies the implantation of the NFSD as one of the priorities for the mandate period

• NFSD implementation starts with the translation of a “framework” into a “strategy” with a clear action plan & targets

• Draft Strategy was published for public comment on 14 May 2010, Gazette number: 33184

NFSD/NSSD mandate

Constitutional:“…secure ecologically sustainable

development and use of natural resources while promoting justifiable economic and

social development.” Section 24 (b) of the Constitution

WSSD outcome:

Para 162 of JPOI : “…take steps to make progress in the formulation and elaboration of national strategies for sustainable development…..”

Rationale

A need for a single coherent framework that articulates our development context, and sets out our common vision and priorities for sustainable development

NFSD identifies key, short, medium and long–term challenges

in sustainable development efforts

Sets a framework for a common understanding and vision of sustainable development;

identifies strategic focus areas for intervention

Sustainable Development defined in SA context

• SA’s approach to SD asserts that social, economic and ecosystem factors are embedded within each other, and are underpinned by governance systems

GovernanceGovernance

Ecosystem servicesEcosystem services

SocioSocio -- political political

systemssystems

EconomyEconomy

Governance

Ecosystem services

Socio-Political system

--

Economy

Priority Areas for Strategic Intervention

Key Elements of a National SD Strategy

Towards a green economy: Key Concerns

– The economy is highly energy intensive

– There is a strong emphasis on GDP growth which tends to promote unsustainable patterns of production and consumption;

– The natural resource base is under severe pressure;

– Our electricity demand exceeds the available supply capacity

– There is widespread poverty, unemployment and inequality.

Recommendations for a Green Economy Plan

• Strategic goals from an SD perspective should include:

– Increasing the contribution of the Environmental Goods and Services Sector to employment and the GDP;

– Reducing the resource intensity of the economy (including energy and carbon);

– Promoting cleaner technologies and investing in sustainable infrastructure; and

– Promoting sustainable livelihoods and building local economies

“Our biggest challenge in this new century is to take an idea that seems abstract

-- sustainable development -- and turn it into a reality for all the world's people.”

Kofi Annan, Secretary General of the United Nations March 2001.

THANK YOU