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The South African bioeconomy strategy did not clearly articulate the measurement framework to monitor the implementation of the strategy. This paper provides an analysis of bioeconomy patents, the most prolific organizations and citations at the EPO and USPTO for South Africa, BRICS, Egypt and Nigeria during the Ten-Year Innovation Plan 2008–2018. The terms 'biotechnology', 'medical technology', 'pharmaceuticals' and 'selected environment-related technologies' were used to search for patents. The OECD patents by technology, the EPO PATSTAT and the USPTO PatFT databases were used to map patents and citations. The results show that South Africa ranked last in the BRICS group but produced a higher number of patents than Egypt and Nigeria. The number of patents generally decreased for the selected countries except for China. The total citations for the selected countries was generally inconsistent. The important innovators for South Africa in the bioeconomy are mainly universities and public research institutions. A new fiscal approach to encourage knowledge application in bioeconomy in South Africa is required. Incentives from government that encourage collaboration between research institutions and industry to direct research with industry application are required. The study contributes to the development of metrics to monitor the bioeconomy in South Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper highlights environmental injustices in South Africa as well as the accompanying continuation of mega-extraction-based violence. In doing so, the paper examines how the history of environmental injustices has left its mark in various parts of this country, where industrialization practices and policies from the apartheid era lead to environmental degradation that disproportionately impacts black people. This exemplifies how epistemic injustice occurs when dominant structures in knowledge production eliminate and silence the epistemic integrity of the sufferers, as well as how their contributions to the environmental knowledge system have been undermined, misinterpreted, and curtailed in discursive practices. In this context, the paper explores how a decolonial ecological turn and practices in South Africa can integrate environmental and development policies for sustainability and pluriversal peacebuilding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper uses a participatory approach to assess the level of understanding of the Water-Energy-Climate Change (WECC) nexus in South Africa. The aim is to initiate the development of well-coordinated, systematic, and holistic strategies to promote efficient management of the WECC and its implications in the country. The assessment follows the learnings from the Integrated Water Resource Management framework, which promotes a participatory approach in the administration of water resources. The paper reveals that, despite the reasonable level of understanding of WECC, it is still insufficient to promote an integrated approach mainly in policy development and planning for water and energy resources while averting climate impacts. This is exacerbated by limited coordination and consultation among various stakeholders. However, minimal efforts to promote an integrated approach in the management of the WECC sectors is observed. Despite these developments, the paper proposes that the participatory approach is feasible to promote holistic strategies and collaboration among stakeholders mandated to manage WECC sectors. Until approaches such as this are adopted within the institutional framework, this nexus will continue to impede the country's sustainable development endeavours. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Academic research on mining and climate change and associated impacts on water resources particularly for the developing world has been limitedly explored. Climate change is expected to make water insecurity in rural areas more severe as weather patterns become unfavourable. The extent to which the mining sector is able to reduce its impact on water resources and adapt to climate change will have implications for host communities. This paper explores the relationship between climate change, mining development and water security and how this places rural communities in a position of risk from mining development and climate change for water security. This paper focuses on the Fuleni and Somkhele rural communities located within the uMkhanyakude District Municipality in Northern KwaZulu-Natal, a climate change-induced water scarce area. Despite drought, mining operations continue. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect data from key social actors in the Fuleni community (i.e. residents opposing mining development) and with Somkhele residents (already burdening with mining operations). Additionally for Somkhele, a questionnaire was used to ascertain 424 household views on the impacts of climate variability and mining impacts on livelihoods and water. Results indicated an interplay between climate change, mining impacts and water (and food) security. Development must be implemented in an integrated and holistic manner that contributes to sustainable development and does not impact on water resources. Technological innovations related to water and energy and inter-sectoral collaborations must be prioritised between mining, the government, and civil society, to achieve water security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Public participation is an integral part of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process, as it provides opportunities for interested and affected parties (I&APs) to participate in the decision making process. This process is part of the legislative regime in South Africa and recognized as the main instrument to ensure that the proposed development is sustainable from a triple-helix perspective (i.e., ecological, socially, and economically sustainable). Therefore, the paper describes a case of public engagement in Xolobeni, located in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa, as well as the environmental politics that evolved from arguments that favoured development over environmental conservation. The proposed mining project was known as the Xolobeni mining development project. The Department of Minerals and Petroleum Resources announced in 2005 that an Australian company, Transworld Energy and Minerals (TEM), would establish a mining development project in Xolobeni to mine red sand dunes contained within five blocks, each named after the river that runs through it on its southern border. The Department of Minerals and Energy is the exclusive custodian of mining licences and thus the only Department that issues them, according to the Minerals and Petroleum Resources Development Act (Act 28 of 2002). When seeking mining rights, it also requires corporations to consult with local populations. The Amadiba Crisis Committee filed a mining licence appeal based on a lack of consultation. One of the complications was also brought about by the divided community. TEM's solicitors sent a redacted copy of the mining right application to the community on 3 February 2016. The community was informed that drilling would begin on February 22nd, and that force would be employed if access was not granted. Following the receipt of the mining rights copy, an objection was lodged under section 10 of the MPRDA. The people resisted because they did not want their land, to be taken away. The community also opposed the proposed mining because they were concerned about the negative social, economic, and environmental effects. The land in Xolobeni was also used by the community for agriculture, or tourism and they did not want to lose that. The community also resists the migration of foreigners who wish to dwell in their village, fearing that they will overrun their way of life and impose a social lifestyle commonly connected with mining activity. The preceding study highlights the potential for conflict when communities reject the establishment of mining enterprises. As a result, the goal of this study is to see if incorporating community agreement into South Africa's legal requirements for granting a mining licence could help to reduce community unrest. The High Court ruled in favour of Xolobeni residents in this mining rights case [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the crucial role that multinational enterprises (MNEs) can play in advancing sustainability, progress toward meeting the United Nations' Agenda for Sustainable Development by 2030 has been slow. MNEs are partly responsible, and even though they recognize that they are part of a larger social, economic and ecological ecosystem, and that sustainability can enhance their long-term growth and viability, they have been slow to embrace it. The sustainability and MNE literature initially focused on the sustainability priorities found in developed market multinational enterprises (or DMNEs). Increasingly, "home-grown" (or indigenous) multinationals from emerging market regions have garnered more attention but research on sustainability in the emerging market context is still lagging, despite the fact that emerging markets – and its businesses – have potentially much to gain from embracing sustainability. This paper examines the sustainability discourse in South Africa and identifies the sustainability priorities of its largest indigenous firms. The sustainability reports of South Africa's largest public firms in 2019 were analyzed using Centering Resonance Analysis (CRA). Results indicate that South African MNEs focus on business and societal aspects of sustainability, more so than on environmental protection initiatives. This finding likely reflects: 1) South Africa's context and its sustainability priorities, 2) a diverse sectoral sample, 3) geographic dispersion of South African MNE subsidiaries (presence in other emerging, developed or developing markets with different sustainability priorities by market profile), or 4) a combination of these factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper explores the contributions of undergraduate university education to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)' goals and development outcomes, proposing a normative capability-based approach oriented to human development. The approach is aligned with a developmental model of the university and development policy in sub-Saharan Africa and South Africa, where the study is located. It draws empirically from a four and a half year mixed-methods research project conducted with low-income, mostly rural students at five historically diverse universities in South Africa. The paper presents a justification for using the capability approach, and outlines the rationale and methodology for synthesising a specific capability set generated by theorising and empirical data. A set of corresponding functioning indicators offers an expansive approach to understanding 'learning outcomes' in contrast to dominant neoliberal approaches that seek quantification and efficiency, overlooking what cannot be easily measured. An indicative sketch of university arrangements required to advance and evaluate each functioning for development outcomes is then outlined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In striving to achieve the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda, governments have the opportunity to implement their climate and sustainability goals more coherently. Such coherence requires the coordination of interdependent policies across different policy fields, sectors and actors. This paper explores how governments design and implement synergic solutions to concomitantly achieve both international agendas. With the empirical cases of Germany and South Africa, we investigate two independent approaches to the synergic solution of a just energy transition, whereby countries aim to phase out coal as a means to tackle climate change while also ensuring that the achievement of other Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is not hindered. Methodologically, we apply a deductive qualitative approach consisting of literature review, semi-structured interviews, and content analysis. To that end, we examine relevant policies and institutional arrangements by applying a combined conceptual framework of energy justice and just transition in both countries. We find major challenges in overcoming environmental, economic and social burdens of the coal phase-out, especially related to jobs and inequality (SDGs 8, 10) and the Water-Energy-Food-Land nexus (SDGs 2, 6, 7, 15). Through the selection of Germany and South Africa, we illustrate how countries with different political, social and economic backgrounds strive to manage such a transition. Our developed framework and case-studies' findings point towards important considerations when designing just energy transition pathways, such as ensuring inclusiveness in decision-making, thoroughly assessing social, economic and environmental impacts, and adequately coordinating across different actors and the local, provincial and national levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The economic growth-environment nexus explores the relationship between economic growth, as understood in the neoclassical free market or neoliberalism economic theory context, and its implications for the environment. Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is considered one of the most successful environmental policy instruments to deal with the consideration of environmental implications of development decisions. Because the economic growth-environment nexus is central to discourses in EIA it is helpful to gain an improved understanding of different perspectives manifesting and influencing EIA practice. This paper aims to identify pluralism in perspectives on the economic growth-environment nexus in EIA practice. This is achieved by applying the Q-method to EIA practice in South Africa and involve the sorting of 36 statements by 16 respondents. The results show pluralism and distinct patterning with four key perspectives emerging namely: the deontological perspective, neoliberal progression, EIA polarisation and new conservationist perspective. We hope this research contributes towards a growing understanding of how different perspectives on the economic growth-environment nexus might influence EIA practice and decision making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The decrease in public trust and lack of coordination among the traditional financial institutions drives the establishment of a grant incentive scheme for cooperative enterprise in South Africa. The grant incentive scheme provides alternative support for sustainable development of targeted cooperative enterprises with black shareholders owning a majority share. However, there is a lack of evaluation method and empirical studies determining the effectiveness of the scheme based on its mandates and objectives. Therefore, the paper, through a case study approach, investigates the effectiveness of the cooperative incentive scheme (CIS) between 2012 and 2017. A descriptive analysis approach was adopted in the study to describe specific behaviours as they appeared in the environment of the scheme. This is to understand their impacts on administration, regulations, and implementation, as well as social and economic outcomes better while prioritising its mandate in partnership with its beneficiaries to offer good public services and investment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ensuring access to sustainable energy is equally relevant for both sustainable development and climate change mitigation. Mobilising private finance in Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries will, in turn, be of crucial importance for achieving both Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7 – which calls for universal energy access – and climate change mitigation goals defined under the Paris Agreement. In this paper, we assess how UNFCCC-backed climate finance instruments have engaged private investment for energy-focused climate mitigation in SSA. Based on this assessment, we develop recommendations for public climate finance institutions. Our work builds on documentary and database analysis and interviews, as well as participatory methodologies applied at a stakeholder workshop conducted in Kampala, Uganda, in 2018. Three case studies from Ethiopia, Madagascar and South Africa illustrate how climate finance interacts with domestic policy instruments, including in relation to the Kyoto Protocol's Clean Development Mechanism, South Africa's domestic renewable energy auctions, and the Green Climate Fund. The paper finds that there is no 'catch all' success model and approaches need to be tailored to local circumstances. Key policy insights International market mechanisms and climate finance can be key catalysts for private multibillion-dollar investment in energy access and climate mitigation, even under the challenging conditions facing many SSA nations. Market mechanisms need to be managed well to provide the private sector with the certainty needed to commit to fresh investments. A programmatic approach with standardised baseline and monitoring methodologies should be anchored in the next generation of project-based market mechanisms under Paris Agreement Article 6. Linking international and regional development programmes with the international carbon market might be an option for closing financing gaps, while at the same time increasing synergies between climate goals and SDGs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The marked PDF has been uploaded for reference and acceptance of grammatical changes] Post-apartheid South African legislation for the protection and management of the ocean environment, has been dominated by the language of sustainable development. Deeply embedded in the notion of sustainability is that of resilience. I propose in this paper, through the medium of the ocean and the Dwesa-Cwebe community in the Eastern Cape Province, that the expectation for human resilience in the age of climate change and global warming is promoted as a reasonable and necessary condition. I will argue that coastal communities, as citizens, are expected to perform resilience within the national rhetoric 'for the greater good,' to support a development narrative which uses environmental protection to veil a government policy of economic gain over social equality. To explore the above claims, I turn to a case study focused on a ground-breaking judgement in the Supreme Court of Appeals which saw fishers gain access to Marine Protected Areas on the grounds of customary rights. A close reading of the judgement together with a historical view of the legislative framework support the argument that the neoliberal legislative frameworks used to govern today continue to be informed by their predecessors conceptualised in the colonial and apartheid eras. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globally, gated communities have been associated with negative social, economic and environmental impacts that are not conducive to sustainable urban development. Eco-estates have been touted as the answer to these sustainability issues and are viewed as the new "green" gated communities. Nature is a key aspect of eco-estates as it promotes a back-to-nature narrative to homebuyers and promotes sustainable living. This paper investigates eco-estates in South Africa with a view to establish whether they really contribute to just sustainabilities, that is a nuanced framing of sustainable developmvnent that involves a focus on social and economic equity. The study posits that while green initiatives within eco-estates may play a part in sustainable development, they fall short of advancing a just sustainability. The inherent exclusionary nature of eco-estates perpetuates inequality as the access to sustainable living in eco-estates is premised on whether one can afford to buy into these estates. Just sustainabilities in eco-estates cannot be met unless interventions to widen the access to nature and sustainable living are implemented. Until then, eco-estates will remain islands of exclusion of nature and "green" living. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Africa has rich energy resources but continues to remain an energy poor continent. The industrialization potential of the continent and its rapidly growing population have caused a sharp increase in demand for electricity. South Africa and Nigeria are the biggest economies in Africa with large appetites for energy. South Africa, using its vastly developed and industrial economy, produces about 50 GWe of electricity, the highest of any African country. In contrast, Nigeria produces far less for a population four times the size of its African economic rival, South Africa. Without solving the energy deficit, neither economic growth nor sustainable development and improvement of citizens' welfare will be possible. An effective way to solve the energy shortage may be the introduction of nuclear power plants. Nuclear power is not only able to overcome the electricity deficit in African countries, but can also contribute to a soft transition from environmentally polluting fossil-fuelled power plants to carbon-free technologies. However, for various reasons, there is strong opposition to nuclear energy development in these countries. This paper seeks to answer the question of whether the construction of nuclear power plants in Africa is the optimal solution to the continent's acute energy deficit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The extreme inequality in South African education is well-documented by researchers. There is also a rich literature concerned with education for sustainable development (ESD) in the country. The relationship between these two phenomena has, however, been sparsely investigated. Drawing on biopolitical theory and fieldwork conducted in South Africa, this paper queries how ESD programmes handle the lifestyle gap that separates rich and poor populations. The article demonstrates how ESD, through ostensible sensitivity to local 'realities', is adjusted to comply with different socio-economic living conditions, and how different roles are assigned to rich and poor in the quest for sustainable development. This differentiation, it is argued, can be understood biopolitically. The paper further argues that the differentiation between populations in rich and poor settings implies a depoliticized notion of local 'realities' as something isolated and given, rather than relational and produced. While the overall findings suggest that ESD unfolds through a regime of practice wherein inequality has become effectively normalized, the paper also points to rare disruptive moments where the normal is rendered abnormal. Ultimately it is argued that the South African case is a useful entry-point for discussing generic problems of globally implementing ESD in an enormously unequal world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global agenda of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provides social workers an opportunity to redefine their contributions pertaining to socioeconomic development, human rights and the environment. This is specifically so for social workers in South Africa, whose contributions have been narrowed. Therefore, this paper identifies potential contributions by social workers in relation to the SDGs using cultural complexity thinking in a diverse country. The paper also points out difficulties faced by social workers on their contribution in the SDGs in a culturally diverse South Africa. The paper concludes that social workers must stand alongside their service users as partners in contributing to justice and equality by achieving the SDGs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many developing countries aim at balancing macro-level, growth-oriented economic policies with local community-based development strategies under the auspices of global governance organizations. South Africa adopts such a strategy to be competitive in the global market and, simultaneously, to alleviate domestic socio-spatial inequalities inherited from the apartheid period. Based on a qualitative case study in and around Pilanesberg National Park, this paper assesses whether this seemingly contradictory policy combination elicits the empowerment of traditionally marginalized actors. We use an institutional approach to evaluating sustainable development policy. Results of a policy perception analysis indicate that the substantive aspects of South Africa's policies are widely acknowledged in the Pilanesberg area. The problem rests with the procedural aspects of how to deal with the shared responsibility of stakeholders with different interests and levels of authority. The paper concludes that power can be meaningfully shifted to community stakeholders only when the investments of global and national-level players are redirected towards establishing a system of procedures to solve local-level disparities in skills and power between the "jointly responsible" actors. These disparities currently result in deadlocks regarding local sustainable development in the Pilanesberg area, despite promising multi-level policies implemented in the post-apartheid era to avoid such situations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tourism is regarded as a key sector through which to bring about sustainable development in rural areas. A suitable product offering should be identified that matches the rural area's unique resources with market demand. The Karoo Rural Node in South Africa's unique landscape coupled with hosting astronomy sites of global importance presents the ideal opportunity to develop Astro Tourism as niche offering. This paper explores the region's state of readiness to harness this potential through describing existing visitors' travel behaviour, experiences and expectations, alongside views from supply side stakeholders. Mixed methodology presents evaluations at the hand of an Importance Performance and a SOAR Analysis depicting the state of readiness. The paper describes how a unique experience such as Astro Tourism can be regarded as viable mechanism to bring about sustainable development in a rural context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gated communities have evolved into providing unique residential offerings aimed at specific markets. Eco-estates and eco-friendly estates are examples of such niche estates which have witnessed increasing growth in their development throughout South Africa. This paper overviews the literature on the evolution of gated communities and provides a spatial articulation of the location of eco- and eco-friendly estates in South Africa towards creating a categorization of eco-developments. The study is positioned in the theoretical realms of eco-form and eco-urbanism which scaffold the global surge in eco-developments. A database of eco-developments in South Africa was created from several sources and surveys were conducted among developers and estate managers of such developments. The locational analysis shows most eco-developments being located in the Western Cape, Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal, while more than half of the proposed developments were destined for the remaining provinces. Eco-estates and eco-friendly estates show a predilection for sites on the urban edge, along the coast or with mountain views. Criteria based on eco-practices were selected as standards for a five-category continuum of eco-estates. When applied the categorization confirms that eco-developments display differing levels of eco-ness. While eco-developments do have positive ecological impacts and they do enhance sustainable living, they do not add to social connectivity as they are exclusive ecological islands surrounded by walls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 2030 Agenda positioned Science, Technology and Innovation as crucial means for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This paper explores how a localised South-African policy experiment named the "Living Catchments Project" (LC Project) contributes towards the SDGs. This project is part of a portfolio of experiments to trigger innovation for transformative change in South Africa. The LCP team worked directly with the Transformative Innovation Policy Consortium (TIPC) researchers adding a transformative layer to the project's design and implementation. The project embraces uncertainty and complexity by promoting experimentation to inform and facilitate learning processes and changes in people, organisations and institutions. Additionally, we combine the TIP perspective with core concepts of the capability approach: capabilities, agency, democratic deliberation and conversion factors. With this integrated approach, we explore what the capability approach can offer to the LC Project. We conclude with policy recommendations on the potentialities and constraints of the combined TIP- capability approach for achieving the SDGs and conducting transformative innovation experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social Impact Assessment (SIA) is recognized as a valuable component of environmental management, yet it has been neglected internationally and in South Africa. Disaster Risk Assessment (DRA), is identified as a complimentary activity to SIA, that due to its shared focus on community wellbeing, has the potential for integration with and enhancement of SIA. The integration of SIA and DRA is a new, but poorly researched trend in South Africa, which is explored in this paper by investigating the current discourses in SIA and DRA practice using questionnaires and interviews with a sample of SIA and DRA experts. Four practical discourses were investigated i.e. specialists' career experience; obstacles to practice; methodological guidance; and integrated assessments. This was followed by a literature study that demonstrated that these discourses echo broad international trends in SIA and DRA practice. The findings suggest that the integration of SIA and DRA should be pursued to optimize SIA for improved practice, to increase community resilience and to promote sustainable development outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With increased political polarisation and the emergence of populist governments around the world – many of which erode regulatory requirements such as EIA – there is an urgent need to be able to identify and explain the potential benefits of EIA for government. The aim of this paper is to explore the benefits of EIA for government as perceived by EIA regulators. A semi-structured questionnaire was administered to 175 representatives from the South African EIA regulator. The questionnaire asked the respondents to indicate what they perceive to be potential and realised EIA benefits for government. They were also asked how they recommend the gap between potential and realised benefits might be closed. The results show that the main perceived benefits of EIA to government relate to short-term, project-specific benefits such as the protection of local biodiversity, public participation, legal compliance and enforcement, as well as certain immediate economic benefits. The promotion of sustainable development is not considered a realistically achievable benefit for EIA. It is recommended that for EIA to clearly define and achieve its potential benefits for government, it needs to rediscover and embrace its roots as a project level instrument aimed at dealing with biophysical impacts and environmental protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In South Africa and around the world, the development of sustainable tourism indicators has been advocated by many authors and has resulted in a number of indicators. Indicators are distinguished by factors such as social, environmental as well as economic. South Africa has contributed to the concept of sustainability through its 1996 Tourism White Paper and has participate in major sustainable events involving many great role-players in the field of sustainability. This study aims to determine the main indicators for the development of sustainable adventure tourism and whether respondents are willing to utilize these indicators, as well as to examine whether respondents have used these indicators before. Research was conducted at Waterval Boven, Mpumalanga, South Africa involving a total of 568 respondents. Descriptive statistics and factor analyses (Empirical Kaiser Criterion) were applied to determine which of the factors are valued by participants. In general, the respondents perceived the indicators positively. The study contributes towards the development of sustainable adventure tourism destinations through the utilization of indicators that can make a significant contribution towards poverty alleviation by maximizing social and economic benefits for local communities, enhancing cultural heritage and reducing any negative impacts on the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land reform in South Africa has failed to meet its objectives. The intended beneficiaries often do not have their land reform needs met. Failures may be attributed to multiple sources. We propose a conceptual framework to assist governments conducting land reform projects. It draws on aspects of human rights, good governance, and pro-poor policy. Existing frameworks are combined with these aspects to derive the conceptual framework. By using the framework, development projects in South Africa and similar contexts may become more Successful, Sustainable, and Significant. The paper holds interest for land tenure and cadastral systems researchers and developers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Section 24 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa provides that everyone has the right to have the environment protected for the benefit of present and future generations. To give effect to this right, the South African Parliament has promulgated section 49 of the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act 28 of 2002 and section 24(2A) of the National Environmental Management Act 107 of 1998, which collectively bestow upon the Minister of Mineral Resources and the Minister of Environmental Affairs respectively, the powers to declare a prohibition or restriction on prospecting or mining rights. Consequently, this article assesses whether these two provisions comply with the constitutional mandate to protect the environment. In essence, this paper contends that these twin provisions countenance further destruction of the environment in contravention of the constitutional mandate to protect the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fragmented development of energy law and regulation on the one hand and environmental law on the other is militating against the adoption of a sustainable energy system in South Africa. This mirrors the absence of a global regime on energy to align with environmental developments at that level, despite the recognition that energy is central to sustainable development. Since 1996, environmental law in South African has been reformed to embed it in sustainable development, yet such reforms have not been in synergy with developments in energy regulation. This paper argues that one of the key strategies required in building a sustainable energy system is to create regulatory synergy between environmental law and energy law. Renewable energy and relevant environmental law should be facilitating the technology transition from unsustainable fossil based energy (that is behind climate change) towards renewable energy. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Urbanisation is an important but contested process because of its far-reaching social, economic and environmental implications. The paper explores the relationship between urbanisation and living conditions in South Africa over the last decade. The central question addressed is whether population growth in the main cities has been accompanied by improved living standards, housing and public services. One finding is that employment growth has tended to coincide with demographic trends, which is necessary to reduce poverty. In addition, the provision of urban infrastructure has outstripped population growth, resulting in better access to essential services and reduced backlogs. In contrast, the provision of affordable housing has not kept pace with household growth, so more people than ever are living in shacks. A more comprehensive assessment is required before one can be sure that urbanisation is on a sustainable trajectory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]