Transcript Report back: Environmental Working Group Break

Report back:
Environmental Working
Group
Break-away session
22 January 2009
Birchwood Conference Centre
Boksburg
Objectives of the discussion:
 To discuss questions posed in terms of
environmental planning and government
 To populate consolidated Calendar of
Events
 To discuss the draft ToR for the
Environmental Working Group
 To discuss the IDP analysis process and
propose a plan for conducting the
analysis
Points to note:
 This presentation is a concise summary
of extensive discussions
 Time constraint did not allow for
comprehensive interrogation of document
pack
 Non-exhaustive solutions, need to
interrogate options further with all roleplayers and stakeholders
Key focus areas of discussion:
 Contextualising environmental issues within Local
Government Planning with regard to Integrated
Development Plans (IDPs)
 Tools and mechanisms for available for
environmental management processes
 Capacity issues and support requirements of Local
Government
 How to improve environmental planning within IDPs
 Inter-governmental coordination and communication
 How to ensure effective implementation of the Waste
Management Bill
 Policy issues related to environmental management
and planning
 Environmental Working Group structure and
composition
 Planned activities, events etc.
Questions posed regarding
environmental management,
planning and the role of government
 How do we make an impact in terms of ensuring Environmental
planning is placed at the core of IDPs?
 What is the aspects of Environmental management that needs
to be considered?
 How do you mainstream environmental management in local
government planning?
 What should be done in terms of spatial planning?
 How do we improve synergy in terms of communication?
 What needs to be put in place for the effective implementation
of the Waste Management Bill?
 What capacity building initiatives are there on environmental
management?
 What support is needed from DEAT?
 How do we implement a listserv? (the contact list for all
stakeholders to discuss env.issues)
 What are the policy issues that need to be considered?
 What environmental events are being planned for 2009/10?
Conclusions:
Contextualising environmental issues within Local
Government Planning with regard to Integrated
Development Plans (IDPs)
 Fundamental issues:
 What encompasses environmental management?
 How can one define environmental management in line with
the powers and functions of local government?
 What are the main focus areas of Local government i.t.o
environmental management?
 What competencies and capacity is available?
 NB to consider bio-physical in terms of socioeconomic environment to ensure sustainability
 Environmental management and planning is multifaceted:
 Physical environment (Biodiversity, sensitivity of the
environment, state of the environment,etc.)
 Natural resources (water, minerals)
 Heritage resources, etc.
Conclusions:
Tools and mechanisms for available for environmental
management processes
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Multitude of tools and mechanisms need to be utilised / combined:
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Various pieces of legislation:
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Environmental Management Framework
Strategic Environmental Assessment
Spatial Development Framework
Environmental Impact Assessment
Land Use Management System
State of the Environment Reports
National Environmental Management Act
National Water Act
Municipal Structures Act
National Heritage Resources Act
Guidelines and Guidelines and Guidelines…
 Guidelines on Waste Management (DWAF and DEAT)
 Guidelines for IDP Development (dplg) Environmental Toolkit for IDP development
(DEAT)
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Seems fragmented at legislative level = complications when it comes to
implementation…
Confusion
Conclusions:
Capacity issues and support requirements of Local
Government
 Capacity Gaps:
 Environmental management in LG: Experts in specific
aspects of EM i.e waste management
 Sometimes officials aren’t efficiently competent in
environmental issues i.e Health officials dealing with
environmental planning
 Better understanding of the Municipal Structures Act to
facilitate improved comprehension of powers and
functions
 Support required specifically from DEAT:
 Fast track the implementation of the guidelines
 Action plan for supporting LG in the development of
environmental management plans
 Clarifying the powers and function related to
environmental management
Conclusions:
How to improve environmental planning within IDPs
 Reasons for Environmental planning not being completely effective:
 One reason environmental issues are not addressed is how this affect
LG’s financial resources
 The Environmental Sector plan (DEAT and the province) the
Environmental Sector Forum is not fulfilling the role.
 Disjuncture between strategies of government
 Spatial planning is done without key tools
 Planning is done without the targets
 Where to improve:
 Credible SDF
 Better coordination of environmental issues within all spheres of
government
 Capacity to understand the basic mandatory issues; clarifying roles
 Interaction of government departments, on aspects such as Infrastructure
programmes, Heritage, etc.
 Participation in IDP processes by SAHRA w.r.t Heritage issues
 Western Cape different approach to IDP analysis hamper consideration
of environmental issues – consider universal approach?
 WCDEADP developing extra set criteria for assessing Credible SDFs
Conclusions:
Inter-governmental coordination and communication
 Question:
What is the level of participation of
sector departments in forums to discuss issues?
 Political commitment is key at the municipal level
for participation in such platforms
 Integrated Planning by all government
departments. (Eexample of land use: requires
integrated planning)
 Implementation of listserv:
 Dplg to lead the task
 Explore inclusive ict for low ranked municipalities
Conclusions:
How to ensure effective implementation of the Waste
Management Bill
 Capacitate LG on Waste Management Bill
content
 Provinces to put into place WIMS ( for the
recording of waste sites)
 The cleanest town municipal awards to be
aligned to the Waste Management Bill.
Conclusions:
Policy issues related to environmental management and
planning
 Coordination and Alignment of policies and
strategies at National, Provincial and Local
Government policies
 Land Use (agricultural land, SDF approval,
SOER)
 Check the IDP Format Guide in line with
the IDP Assessment Guide
 The review of the SOERs
Conclusions:
Environmental Working Group structure and composition
 Review documents on potential integration /
fusion of government processes IGR – what
worked / didn’t work / why?
 Look at participation in existing structures i.e.
clusters, DEAT Forums
 Expand membership to include government
agencies
 National, provincial and Local Government
Represented (include Tourism and Forestry units)
 Communication plan across the sectors need to
be developed
 ID dedicated people not only Departments
Conclusions:
Planned activities, events etc.
 Non-exhaustive list (see next slide)
 Need to consult all units within
Departments
 Proposal:
 Communicate request to all Departments and
Governmentspheres to include training
activities
Planned activities, events etc.
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23 January 2009: Cabinet Lekgotla feedback on Framework on WfGD
2 February 2009: World Wetlands Day
2 – 8 March 2009: National Water Week
2 March 2009: Launch of Framework on WfGD
16 – 20 March 2009: 5th World Water Forum, Turkey
25 – 27 March 2009: National Sanitation Week
April 2009: Water Summit on WfGD (TBC)
17 – 21 August 2009: World Water Week, Stockholm
1 – 5 September 2009: National Arbor Week
26 – 30
October 2009: Weed Buster Week
23 – 30 November 2009: CME Blitz Week
24 September National Heritage Day
3 – 6 March National Climate Change Summit
4 – 7 June World Environment Week
April International Monuments Month: Scientific Hertiage
September Greening of Limpopo
August Cleanest town Limpopo
Biological Diversity Day
Day of desertification
6 March International symposium common heritage Netherlands and SA
Monthly permit committees Western Cape (2nd or 3rd week of the month: SAHRA, Built
Environment and Cultural landscape
Ozone Layer day
Cleanest week National
Recommendations:
 Comprehensive consultation on population of
events calander
 Establish database of training opportunities and
capacity building programmes offered by
government
 Explore integration of working groups with
existing structures
 Establish listserv through use of various formats
of ITC
 Further promotion of IGR and inter-departmental
policy coordination
Input provided by following
institutions:
 South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA)
 Department of Tourism, Environmental and Economic
Affairs (DTEEA) Freestate
 Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality
 Department of Environmental Affairs and
Development Planning (Western Cape)
 Department of Economic Development, Limpopo
 Department of Provincial and Local Government
 Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism
 Dr. K Kaunda District Municipality
 Department of the Premier, Western Cape
 Department of Water Affairs and Forestry
Thank you