discuss two of the most fundamental agenda items. The first agenda item was
“Green Economy in the Context of Sustainable Development and Poverty Eradication”, while the second agenda item was “International Framework for Sustainable Development” (UN General Assembly. 2012:88). These two items
reflected the true critical interface between a green economy and sustainable development. What was actually meant was that wellbeing today should not be achieved at the expense of wellbeing tomorrow (Brundtland 2007:19). The main agenda behind this interface is based on the fact that the environment and ecosystem are the capital assets of the economy. If they are not protected, they might be depleted and some of their components are non-renewable and irreversible.
A green economy is a resilient economy that provides a better life for all within the ecological limits of the environment. It is the kind of economy that has a lower carbon footprint, and that creates water efficiency and resource efficiency (Walker and Jourdan 2013:15). A green economy uses recycled materials, and prevents and addresses hazardous conditions. It conserves, preserves, valuates, and recognises environmental quality and economic growth. The key aim for the need to transition to a green economy is to enhance growth while significantly improving environmental quality and social inclusiveness (UNEP 2011:76).
Many regulatory frameworks were developed for the transition towards a green economy and sustainability from a global to continental and to local scale. For this study, the Kyoto Protocol is discussed on a global scale, the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) on a continental level, and IPAP on local level.
2.9.1 Kyoto Protocol
The Kyoto Protocol is an international framework linked to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which commits its stakeholders to internationally binding emission-reduction targets. In other words, it is a mechanism to a green economy (Pearce and Barbier 2002:14). It is specifically designed to facilitate the development and deployment of technologies that can help increase resilience to the impacts of climate change and help countries to adapt to the adverse effects of climate change (UNEP 2011:10). The Kyoto Protocol is seen as a stepping stone towards a truly global emission-reduction regime that will stabilise greenhouse gas emissions and can provide the architecture for future international agreements on climate change (Power 1996:101). NEPAD as a green
2.9.2 New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD)
The NEPAD initiative, which was taken in 2011, can be regarded as a mechanism to facilitate Africa’s drive to eliminate poverty and to place countries on a path of sustainable growth and development (NEPAD 2011:1). NEPAD underscores the fundamentals of macroeconomic effectiveness and good governance. By improving their economic effectiveness, African countries intend to attain important aid for Africa. NEPAD is envisaged as a long-term vision of an owned and African-led development initiative (UN General Assembly 2012:122). It is trusted that this will place Africa on a path of sustainable development and later address its marginalisation in the global economic system. Africa must develop the capacity to sustain growth to eradicate poverty. Power (1996:40) asserted that to develop this capacity, countries must build their competitiveness, infrastructure, financial and human capital, structural diversification, health, governance institutions, and good stewardship of the environment. No country can survive in isolation. South Africa is no exception to this rule and fully participates in global plans and actions aimed at sustainable development and a green economy (NEPAD 2011:6). IPAP is one of the most significant initiatives taken by the South African government, as discussed below.
2.9.3 Industrial Policy Action Plan (IPAP)
IPAP aims to bring structural change in the South African economy to transition to a green economy. IPAP focuses on value-adding activities in the production sector, especially labour-intensive and export-orientated sectors led by manufacturing (Power 1996:5). It targets growth and development in green industries, focusing on solar water heaters but also includes solar and wind energy, biofuels, electric vehicles, and organic farming (NPC 2012:52).
The most important lesson is that achieving sustainable development and attaining a green economy is not a once-off event but an ongoing process that needs an integrated approach, serious engagement of all relevant stakeholders and continuous communication and consultation (World Bank and Commission on Growth and Development 2008). Communication and consultation are thus outlined below.
2.9.4 Communication and consultation
The DEAT (2008:51) contended that the main message portrayed by the national vision is to promote of a sustainable lifestyle that needs positive attitudes regarding the use of resources and certain practices and behaviours. Information and communication on the national vision and NSSD to all participants are significant and necessary to make sure that they all understand and support the purpose, message, and content (Pinter et al. 2005). Communication techniques and information dissemination are important instruments to spread and share experience and knowledge about sustainable development. The UNCSD (2006:43) asserted that it is vital that a communication strategy, with a concrete and coherent message and information plan, be developed and implemented. It is envisaged that an intensive stakeholder involvement and participation process be undertaken to communicate the NSSD and to consult on the development of the action plan. Such a process will broaden understanding of the NSSD and elicit support for and input into the implementation of the NSSD (Pezzoli 1997:26).
As the OECD (2001:47) explained, the participation process must promote greater engagement of organised labour, civil society, private sector and industry sectors, as well as experts to make sure that it is effective and efficient in order to obtain long-term buy-in from all relevant stakeholders into the sustainable development trajectory (Najam et al. 2003:24). Individual consumers, organisations, and households can all assist to drive the change to a more sustainable lifestyle, particularly regarding food consumption, transport, waste generation and energy use in homes. Based on this, it is crucial that communication of the NSSD includes a marketing element (DEAT 2008:52).
To successfully communicate the NSSD and ensure effective participation by all stakeholders, the following actions are required:
Attention must be given to the forums that already exist in order to facilitate and strengthens participation and ensure continuous dialogue and debate.
Establish networks and mechanisms to disseminate data and provide feedback to all members.
Run a marketing campaign to optimise sustainability and sustainable
Form products to popularise the underlying messages and content of the NSSD.
Develop appropriate feedback strategies and provide regular feedback.
Develop knowledge transfer through mobilising experts (DEAT 2008:52).
The WSSD (2002) stated that the promotion of communication and consultation across and within all three spheres of government and within all levels of the community is required to obtain the attention of the nation to these issues and to the promotion of the vision that places sustainable growth and development at the centre of South Africa’s endeavours. Similarly, to implement the NSSD and achieve sustainable development intentions successfully, the whole nation must increasingly share in the common vision (Yong 2014:55). All sectors, including all elements of the state, together with civil society organisations, organised labour, and private sector, must participate in the social contract to implement the NSSD (UN General Assembly 2012:16).
According to Krugel (2014:64), South Africa ought to enhance simple actions on a large scale. In deciding how to allocate resources and in making policy choices, the executive should seek to give effect to the vision of sustainability. Priorities and trade-offs should be clearly outlined. While sustainability concerns have an impact on all facets of life, attention must be paid to the five identified priority areas of strategic intervention (International Union for the Conservation of Nature [IUCN]
2000:15). These priorities must be at the top of the agenda that will serve as a catalyst to more rapid social development, all round accelerated and shared growth, and the achievement of sustainable development (DEAT 2008:53). Given this background, the following section critically analyses the existing relationship between sustainable development and industrial development.
2.10 Relationship between sustainable development and industrial