Green economy plan
Environmental projects are also focused on creating jobs and aiding SA’s economy
n order to meet its mandate to protect the SA environment and address the triple challenges of job creation, poverty and inequality, the department of environmental affairs (DEA) has its work cut out as it strives to balance the environmental needs of the country with the need to grow the economy.
To aid and facilitate this outcome, President Jacob Zuma launched Operation Phakisa in 2014.
Based on a “big fast results” Malaysian methodology, Operation Phakisa is designed to implement the National Development Plan (NDP) in key socioeconomic sectors; with the DEA the designated lead department on the Oceans Economy, the first implementation phase of Operation Phakisa.
In 2010, SA’s 3 924 km long coastline (with the inclusion of Prince Edward and Marion islands) was estimated to contribute almost R54bn to SA’s GDP and accounted for 316 000 jobs. It is believed that by leveraging the country’s rich marine resources, harbours and marine-related industries, this figure could potentially rise to over R129bn.
“Operation Phakisa has introduced a new approach of syndication where different government departments are now working together to achieve a common goal,” says DEA minister Edna Molewa.
“We identify and remove obstacles and constraints to a project’s successful completion and fast-track any issues with the lead minister of each respective ministry. It’s about cutting any red tape and bureaucracy.”
Molewa adds that globally the trend has moved beyond merely managing oceans — to sustainable use of ocean space — and that SA was including neighbouring countries in all discussions.
Operation Phakisa has focused on fasttracking marine transport; marine manufacturing;
Ioffshore oil and gas; aquaculture; marine protection services and ocean governance; and tourism. A number of opportunities are being explored, including the repairing of oil rigs and servicing of vessels that pass through SA ports. A number of small harbours have been upgraded and redeveloped, while plans are in place for a number of new harbours. Similarly, plans are in place to accelerate offshore oil and gas exploration.
The aquaculture sector is also being given a significant boost, with constraints facing the sector being addressed and removed wherever possible.
A number of aquaculture leases have been awarded. A draft Oceans Management Bill has been finalised in order to provide an Integrated Marine Protection & Oceans Governance Framework and a National Oceans & Coastal Information System has been established. In addition, a Water Quality Monitoring Programme has been developed.
As part of government’s commitment to assist the country’s transition to a low-carbon, resource-efficient and climate-resilient development path — delivering high impact economic, social and environmental benefits — the DEA has a Green Economy Strategy in place.
The strategy has eight key pillars: green buildings and the built environment; sustainable transport and infrastructure; clean energy and energy efficiency; natural resource conservation and management; sustainable waste management; water management; sustainable consumption, production; and agriculture food production and forestry.
“Our intention is to have reduced our energy demand significantly by 2030 through technological innovation, good behavioural practice and public commitment to more efficient, sustainable and equitable energy use,” says Molewa.
A key aspect was the establishment of the National Green Fund in 2012. It provides start-up funding for innovative and highimpact green economy projects that the private sector or banks are hesitant to finance: supporting the transition to a greener economy and simultaneously addressing the twin challenges of poverty reduction and job creation.
Molewa reports that to date the fund — which was initially allocated R800m and has recently been allocated an additional R590m — has approved 53 projects, focused on investment, research and capacity-building.
“The projects are yielding positive results in terms of job creation, with nearly 8 124 job opportunities created and at least 6 300 individuals trained since 2013,” she says. “In addition, fund interventions have led to 30 000 ha being converted to conservation land use, benefiting owners within the wildlife economy. Waste management projects have collected and recycled over 8m kg of waste in the past year alone.”
A number of major projects have been approved recently, including pilot technology for plastic recycling, which Molewa hopes will make a significant contribution to the management of the plastic waste stream.
Waste is something Molewa is particu-