South Africa
SOUTH AFRICAN STATEMENT TO THE 14TH SESSION OF THE
COMMISSION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Theme: Position on Industrial Development and Sustainable Natural
Resource Management
UNITED NATIONS, NEW YORK
04 May 2006
INTRODUCTION
South Africa recognises th e role of industrial diversification and maximised
value addition through manufacturing in balancing and stabilizing industrial
development
South Africa derives just over 70% of its energy from coal, and will more than
likely continue to do so well into the future, South Africa is semi-arid with an
uneven distribution of water availability across the country, and lacks
significant groundwater resources. Some 34% of South Africa?s terrestrial
ecosystems are categorised as threatened, mainly due to loss and
degradation of natural habitat, followed by invasion by alien species. 82% of
our mainstream river ecosystems are classified as threatened; it is estimated
that 50% of our wetlands have already been destroyed; and 36% of
freshwater fish are threatened. River ecosystems are under pressure from
over-abstraction of water.
South Africa is dominated by very shallow sandy soils with severe inherent
limitations from an agricultural point of view. Only 3% of our land is considered
high potential land. Our rich mineral resources are seen as an engine of
economic development at a national level, while, locally, communities look to
the sector to provide employment, infrastructure and skills development. The
mining industry makes a substantial direct contribution to sustainable
development.
World-class policies and regulatory measures, a s well as a variety of voluntary
measures and partnerships are in place to encourage the sustainable use of
natural resources and the minimization of waste and pollution.
CONSTRAINTS AND CHALLENGES
Industrial development is dependent on sustainable natural resource
management. Key challenges inhibiting industrial development include:
National Constrains
1. Coping with increasingly competitive global trade. In this context South
African manufacturing companies in future will depend even more on
flexibility, speed, and sustainable local beneficiation o f natural resources.
2. Eradicating the lack of skills, in particular the combination of skills and
knowledge required to understand and gainfully manage industrial
development whilst maintaining sustainable best practice in respect of
natural resources.
3. Keeping up with rapidly advancing science and technology that are inter
alia focused on resource efficiency;
4. Increasing South Africa?s ability to integrate best practice and new
technologies into product and process standards supported by
measurement capabilities and conformity assessment infrastructure.
5. The need to accelerate the pace at which industry and utilities adopt
cleaner technologies and Cleaner Production practices
Global Constrains
1. Complying with stricter environmental regulations and technical
requirements for international trade, which will require the adoption of
costly resource-saving technologies, testing, certification and labelling.
2. Managing the impacts of the EU proposal on Registration, Evaluation and
Authorisation of Chemicals (REACH) that was put forward by the
European Commission on the Chemicals Sector and the Mining and
Minerals Sectors.
The Government Programme of Action in the economic area for the next five
years will focus interventions on the following:
· Reducing resource input costs to develop downstream labour intensive
sub-sectors;
· Exploiting synergies amongst different value chains to make use of
domestic raw materials where possible; and
· Supporting the above with innovation and skills development.
Government is considering proposals to develop a strategy to grow the South
African environmental goods and services industry. In addition to the growth
opportunities offered by this industry in terms of investment and employment,
the technologies and services offered by the environmental industry can go a
long way in making South Africa?s much needed industrial development more
sustainable in terms of natural resources.
Special efforts are ongoing to finalise sector development strategies and
programmes, with regard to chemicals, business outsourcing and tourism, ICT
and telecommunications, agro-processing, community, social services, wood
and paper, appliances, the retail and construction industries which includes
cleaner production elements.
Government is finalising the National Sustainable Development Strategy
(NSSD), which will guide sustainable development inter alia through improved
efficiency in natural resource beneficiation.
The National Cleaner Production Centre has been re-focused with the aim of
making a substantive impact in respect of resource efficiency at priority sector
level. Resource efficiency are promoted by means of the Cleaner Production
Components of the Customised Sector Programmes (CSP) for the
automotive, agro-processing and textile sectors, and the Growth and
Development Strategy for the chemicals industry.
KEY CONSIDERATIONS FOR THE POLICY SESSION
The following key considerations are suggested for the policy session
- Provision of support for natural resource management to create
sustainable livelihoods for the poor
- Strengthening of international and regional cooperation in cleaner
production efforts
- Mobilising and strengthening of cooperation in terms of the Marrakech
process
- Developing R&D networks to enhance innovative capacity and knowledge
- Promote increased industrial R&D investment
- Promoting regional collaboration in the African continent within the
NEPAD framework.
- The need to consider the impact of bilateral and multilateral trade
agreements on sustainable natural resource management
COMMISSION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Theme: Position on Industrial Development and Sustainable Natural
Resource Management
UNITED NATIONS, NEW YORK
04 May 2006
INTRODUCTION
South Africa recognises th e role of industrial diversification and maximised
value addition through manufacturing in balancing and stabilizing industrial
development
South Africa derives just over 70% of its energy from coal, and will more than
likely continue to do so well into the future, South Africa is semi-arid with an
uneven distribution of water availability across the country, and lacks
significant groundwater resources. Some 34% of South Africa?s terrestrial
ecosystems are categorised as threatened, mainly due to loss and
degradation of natural habitat, followed by invasion by alien species. 82% of
our mainstream river ecosystems are classified as threatened; it is estimated
that 50% of our wetlands have already been destroyed; and 36% of
freshwater fish are threatened. River ecosystems are under pressure from
over-abstraction of water.
South Africa is dominated by very shallow sandy soils with severe inherent
limitations from an agricultural point of view. Only 3% of our land is considered
high potential land. Our rich mineral resources are seen as an engine of
economic development at a national level, while, locally, communities look to
the sector to provide employment, infrastructure and skills development. The
mining industry makes a substantial direct contribution to sustainable
development.
World-class policies and regulatory measures, a s well as a variety of voluntary
measures and partnerships are in place to encourage the sustainable use of
natural resources and the minimization of waste and pollution.
CONSTRAINTS AND CHALLENGES
Industrial development is dependent on sustainable natural resource
management. Key challenges inhibiting industrial development include:
National Constrains
1. Coping with increasingly competitive global trade. In this context South
African manufacturing companies in future will depend even more on
flexibility, speed, and sustainable local beneficiation o f natural resources.
2. Eradicating the lack of skills, in particular the combination of skills and
knowledge required to understand and gainfully manage industrial
development whilst maintaining sustainable best practice in respect of
natural resources.
3. Keeping up with rapidly advancing science and technology that are inter
alia focused on resource efficiency;
4. Increasing South Africa?s ability to integrate best practice and new
technologies into product and process standards supported by
measurement capabilities and conformity assessment infrastructure.
5. The need to accelerate the pace at which industry and utilities adopt
cleaner technologies and Cleaner Production practices
Global Constrains
1. Complying with stricter environmental regulations and technical
requirements for international trade, which will require the adoption of
costly resource-saving technologies, testing, certification and labelling.
2. Managing the impacts of the EU proposal on Registration, Evaluation and
Authorisation of Chemicals (REACH) that was put forward by the
European Commission on the Chemicals Sector and the Mining and
Minerals Sectors.
The Government Programme of Action in the economic area for the next five
years will focus interventions on the following:
· Reducing resource input costs to develop downstream labour intensive
sub-sectors;
· Exploiting synergies amongst different value chains to make use of
domestic raw materials where possible; and
· Supporting the above with innovation and skills development.
Government is considering proposals to develop a strategy to grow the South
African environmental goods and services industry. In addition to the growth
opportunities offered by this industry in terms of investment and employment,
the technologies and services offered by the environmental industry can go a
long way in making South Africa?s much needed industrial development more
sustainable in terms of natural resources.
Special efforts are ongoing to finalise sector development strategies and
programmes, with regard to chemicals, business outsourcing and tourism, ICT
and telecommunications, agro-processing, community, social services, wood
and paper, appliances, the retail and construction industries which includes
cleaner production elements.
Government is finalising the National Sustainable Development Strategy
(NSSD), which will guide sustainable development inter alia through improved
efficiency in natural resource beneficiation.
The National Cleaner Production Centre has been re-focused with the aim of
making a substantive impact in respect of resource efficiency at priority sector
level. Resource efficiency are promoted by means of the Cleaner Production
Components of the Customised Sector Programmes (CSP) for the
automotive, agro-processing and textile sectors, and the Growth and
Development Strategy for the chemicals industry.
KEY CONSIDERATIONS FOR THE POLICY SESSION
The following key considerations are suggested for the policy session
- Provision of support for natural resource management to create
sustainable livelihoods for the poor
- Strengthening of international and regional cooperation in cleaner
production efforts
- Mobilising and strengthening of cooperation in terms of the Marrakech
process
- Developing R&D networks to enhance innovative capacity and knowledge
- Promote increased industrial R&D investment
- Promoting regional collaboration in the African continent within the
NEPAD framework.
- The need to consider the impact of bilateral and multilateral trade
agreements on sustainable natural resource management
Stakeholders