SA environment will not make the grade

According to a report in the Cape Argus the national Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism was strongly criticised by the ‘Big Six’ environmental non-government organisations for a delay in releasing the report, but it answered saying there had been intensive inter-governmental consultation on how best to respond to the findings. According to the executive summary, the report shows that SA has made ‘significant progress’ in environmental management over the past decade. However, major problem areas include increasing pollution; exploitation of natural resources; declining water quality; continuing land degradation; and the over-exploitation and collapse of commercial and recreational fish species. The report says there are increasing pressures on the country\'s natural systems, but that the ability to deal with these pressures is ‘weak’. Full Cape Argus report Visit the DEAT site for the report Download the executive summary of the State of the Environment 2006 report

The report includes a number of successes such as the recovery of some fish stocks due to good management, the tripling in conservation tillage, improved coastal management and the slowing of habitat loss in some areas. But recent detailed assessments showed that South Africans were using up their natural capital, notes the Cape Argus. The ecological footprint per person was higher than the global average, and continued to grow. Full Cape Argus report

Among the recommendations in the report are the re-use of treated sewage and mine water by industry and the use of cleaner technology in Eskom’s coal-fired power stations. According to a report in The Sunday Independent, the study recommends that water conservation and water-demand management initiatives be expanded urgently across all sectors, and that land and water policies and management be integrated. The report\'s recommendations regarding greenhouse gases and climate change include urgently promoting the use of cleaner technology, particularly in Eskom\'s coal-fired power stations; increased implementation of renewable energy programmes; and ensuring adequate funding and capacity for research on climate change and its impact on society and the environment to guarantee that appropriate polices and strategies are developed. Full report in The Sunday Independent

Commenting on the report, DA spokesperson Gareth Morgan said its contents ‘paint a worrying picture’, according to the Cape Argus. He questioned why the Minister of Environmental Affairs is seeking to weaken the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA) at a time when it rather needs to be strengthened. The proposals included giving the Minister and MECs of the provinces the power to grant exemptions from environmental impact assessments and from those provisions of the act that deal with environmental authorisations, Morgan said, adding that these would not help reverse the trends shown in the report. Full Cape Argus report