The Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Dr Dion George, celebrates South Africa's prestigious World Future Policy Award 2025 win, recognizing the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act of 2004 (NEM:BA) as one of the world's eight best policies in the main category, Living in Harmony with Nature and Future Generations.
"The awarding of the World Future Policy Award, the world's leading prize for policy solutions, is testament to South Africa's role as a global leader and pioneer in environmental management," said Minister George.
The Award, conferred by World Future Council, celebrates laws that promote ecological sustainability. South Africa's National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act, or NEM:BA, adopted in 2004, is one of the specific environmental management acts under the overarching National Environmental Management Act (NEMA), Act 107 of 1998 (NEMA), and considered amongst the world's most ambitious and progressive biodiversity frameworks. Grounded in the constitutional right to a healthy environment, it secures intergenerational equity through a science-based governance system and safeguards biodiversity for present and future generations. The Act introduced groundbreaking measures for threatened and invasive species, conservation of ecosystems, sustainable use of biological resources, benefit-sharing, and inclusive public participation processes.
This year's eight award-winning policies set new global benchmarks by showing how legal systems can be transformed into future-just frameworks – and thereby contributing to the well-being of all living beings on earth and future generations. Six of the eight winning policies are awarded in the main category, one is honoured with the 'Vision Award', and one takes home the 'Global Impact Award'.
"This year's World Future Policy Award winners are a testament to the power of law to forge a sustainable and just future," stated Dr Grethel Aguilar, Director General of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
An independent Jury of international experts selected the winning policies from an initial 41 nominations, submitted from 21 countries. These groundbreaking frameworks tackle today's urgent environmental challenges while safeguarding the wellbeing of future generations. The laws make an outstanding contribution to the well-being of present and future generations of all living beings on Earth.
"This award reaffirms our commitment to living in harmony with nature, while securing opportunities for growth and jobs in line with the priorities of the South African Government of National Unity, and we receive it with deep pride and renewed determination," said Minister George.
The winners were celebrated on 11 October 2025 during a high-level awards ceremony in Abu Dhabi at the IUCN World Conservation Congress.
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E-mail: cwilken@dffe.gov.za
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