"Ensuring environmental sustainability through local government action"
The two day Local Government Indaba on Environment hosted under the theme ensuring environmental sustainability through local government action ended today in Johannesburg. The objective of the indaba, hosted by the Department of Environmental Affairs in partnership with the South African Local Government Association (SALGA), was to gather key challenges faced by municipalities in complying with environmental sustainability requirements of existing legislation, policies, strategies and programmes and jointly identify priority areas of action.
The main issues include, waste services and management, air quality management, climate change, coastal management and conservation and the sustainable use of biodiversity.
One of the key challenges to the implementation of environmental programmes identified during the analysis of the municipal Integrated Development Plans (IDP) is the lack of human and financial skill. Addressing delegates during the closing session of the indaba, Deputy Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs, Ms Rejoice Mabudafhasi said municipalities need to prioritise the environment in their IDPs and allocate dedicated and sufficient funds. I am committing the department to support municipalities in the implementation of environmental programmes. With all of that we will be able to implement the Indaba resolutions.
The Department of Environmental Affairs has put in place various pieces of legislation, national frameworks and programmes aimed at promoting sustainable use of natural resources and maximising benefits to all South Africans as per the international, regional and national obligations.
The department together with provinces and municipalities has implemented the following programmes:
* deployment of officials in district family of municipalities in all provinces, these officials are based in municipalities and they are expected to support municipalities with environmental management and planning matters
* developed the guidelines for the development of air quality management plans
* developed various toolkits including but not limited to IDP and community based natural resources and conducted capacity building sessions in various parts of the country
* the department working with affected municipalities and other partners is involved in the development of air quality monitoring stations
* financially and technically support the development of environmental planning tools such and environmental management frameworks.
The indaba adopted the following resolution in order to address gaps in the management of environmental programmes in municipalities:
* that the three categories of municipalities have different environmental management responsibilities and functions and therefore it is imperative to ensure that these are implemented in the most integrated manner aligned with both provincial and national priorities and programmes
* there is a call to engage National Treasury to engage with local government and review the fiscal framework for the environment mandate
* all three spheres of government need to commit to promote longer term sustainable socio-economic development planning beyond a five year time horizon but which informs municipalities medium term (5 year) plans
* With regards to environmental sustainability, the national.
Department of Environmental Affairs, in collaboration with South African Local Government Association and the Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs will initiate a process aimed at defining and developing a sectoral co-operation mechanism and its associated institutional arrangements to enhance implementation of environmental programmes, plans and strategies.
On air quality, the NEM Air Quality Act coming into full effect on 11 September 2009 and the transfer of the air quality licensing function to metros and district municipalities, the Department of Environmental Affairs will continue to provide assistance and guidance to all spheres of government as described in the 2007 national framework for air quality management in the Republic of South Africa.
All stakeholders need to acknowledge individual and collective rights and responsibilities towards sustainable development and notwithstanding previous efforts, a strong need remains for a more empowered and effective system of environmental cooperative governance, a new paradigm that includes values and ethics in our governance and lifestyles.
Waste management is one of the key municipal service delivery mandates and there are a number of challenges with waste management at a municipal level. The recently promulgated Waste Act requires all municipalities to develop and implement Integrated Waste Management Plans (IWMP). These IWMP should be integrated into the municipal Integrated Development Plans (IDP). Integrated planning creates the opportunity to influence planning decisions to also cater for waste management services. Implementation of waste minimisation as required by the Waste Act requires a review of service provision institutional arrangements in terms of the Municipal Systems Act. Municipalities should recognise the need to raise the profile of waste management and bring it to par with the other services like water and electricity.
Enquiries:
Lizzy Suping
Cell: 083 758 0553 or
Albi Modise
Cell: 083 490 2871
Issued by: Department of Environmental Affairs
23 July 2009
