Answer to Question #308406 in English for Brightness

Question

Explain how theories sustainable economic development have influenced South Africa economic development?

Answer 1

Sustainable development is about enhancing human well-being and quality of life for all time, in particular those most affected by poverty and inequality. Resource use efficiency and intergenerational equity are the core principles. The South African Constitution gives everyone the right to have the environment protected 'through reasonable legislative and other measures that secure ecologically sustainable development and use of natural resources while promoting justifiable economic and social development'. Southern African Development Community (SADC) was formed in 1980, and its central objective was to mobilize and co-ordinate development assistance, facilitate regional co-operation by way of joint development projects, particularly in infrastructure and to reduce dependence on the then apartheid South Africa. The concept of sustainable development has been very popular in theory however, there has not been much consensus on what should be sustained (Redclit, 1993; Sachs, 1999, and Satterthwaite, 1996).One of the most encouraging trends is the growing recognition that we need plans, policies and strategies within the national, provincial and municipal spheres of government that promote sustainable development, and that are consistent with plans and strategies to conserve water and biological diversity. These policies, plans and strategies have the potential to facilitate a more proactive approach to re-orienting our society towards the achievement of ecologically sustainable development. For example, the Western Cape provincial government is developing new legislation that will require all official decisions regarding the use of land to be based on an evaluation of whether or not the proposed development will contribute to the achievement of ecologically sustainable development. Strategic environmental assessments of public policies and plans are also beginning to be used as a tool to take account of the impacts which our decisions have on the natural environment.