“THE STATE OF OUR ENVIRONMENT
SHOULD REMAIN UNDER A WATCHFUL EYE”
GOVERNMENT RELEASES THE 2006 ENVIRONMENT
OUTLOOK – STATE OF ENVIRONMENT REPORT AND
URGES THAT MORE WORK NEEDS TO BE DONE.
28 JUNE 2007 - The Department of Environmental
Affairs and Tourism today made public key
and comprehensive findings arising out of
the South Africa’s 2nd National State of
Environment Report. The first national State
of the Environment Report was released in
1999 and work on the second report started
at the end of 2004 and completed in September
2006 , followed by intensive intergovernmental
consultation of how best to respond to its
findings.
The 2006 report reports consists of A comprehensive
hard copy report of more than 800 pages
of text and statistics, an Executive Summary
detailing the key findings , and overview
of the current state in a Internet version
and a Youth State of the Environment report
In responding to the key findings Ms Pam
Yako, Director General for the Department
of Environmental Affairs and Tourism said
“government acknowledges and takes note
of the report and expresses its appreciation
to the individuals and organizations who
contributed to the report. Even though the
report was commissioned by government, the
views expressed in the report are not necessarily
those of government and do not report only
on government performance as it relates
to the environment”. “Whilst the report
outlined a general decline in the state
of the environment, in line with various
other assessments, we are confident that
our response strategy to these issues will
continue to ensure that our country is a
leader in sound environmental management
and sustainable resource use” Yako said
Yako added that the lengthy process undertaken
to develop the state of the environment
report, over more than two and a half years,
also means that there have been major developments
in related areas, which are not reflected
in the report, particularly cross-cutting
issues in the social sector and that this
represents a missed opportunity to provide
a much more sustainability outlook
“It is acknowledged that responding to
human vulnerability arising from the state
of the environment in South Africa requires
both current policy review and development
but most importantly the need to move with
speed in adopting a National Framework for
Sustainable Development, Empowering the
environmental management and enforcement
agencies and bringing environmental sustainability
principles into the mainstream of all aspects
of governance, planning, decision-making
and operation, and, in broad terms, into
all of human behavior, which work is at
an advanced stage” Said Yako
The government’s response as outlined clearly
demonstrates that government has put in
place various programmes, legislative instruments
and initiatives which includes the various
social partners to appropriately respond
to any emerging issues that may affect the
environment and limit its capacity to support
growth and development”
Pam Yako announced that the department
will immediately embark on a project to
continuously update the report and all provinces
will by June 2008 release the various provincial
states of Environment Reports and ensure
that those are integrated in the main framework
for government monitoring and evaluation.
She further added that the report is now
available for the public to take stock of
where we are and adopt sustainable ways
of consumption and production for the benefit
of future generations.
For a full version of the report and the
comprehensive government response visit
www.deat.gov.za
Mr Mava Scott
