UNDP South Africa

ENSURE ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY

Nine planet Earths would be required to absorb the world's carbon if every person had the same energy-rich lifestyle as people in developed countries. Nearly one billion people live in slums. 2.5 billion people-nearly half the population of the developing world-live without adequate sanitation. Since 1990, 1.6 billion more people gained access to safe drinking water.

Summary of Country report

Since 1994, environmental issues have moved into the socio-political arena. They bring together human rights, access to natural resources, social justice, equity and sustainability. In the last twelve years, government has focused on prioritising people’s needs while safeguarding the country’s natural assets.

The South African government has made good progress in eradicating backlogs and providing adequate housing. Over three million subsidies have been approved, benefiting over 10 million poor people. Cumulatively, government has spent R40 billion on housing developments since the inception of the housing programme. This has contributed to the construction of houses and the preparation of sites totaling 2,4 million.

Major progress has been made with regards to provision of basic water and sanitation services as access to basic services increased from 59% of the population in 1994 to 94% of the population in Mach 2007.

Targets and indicators

Target 7.A: Integrate the principles of sustainable development into country policies and programmes and reverse the loss of environmental resources

Target 7.B: Reduce biodiversity loss, achieving, by 2010, a significant reduction in the rate of loss

• 7.1 Proportion of land area covered by forest
• 7.2 CO2 emissions, total, per capita and per $1 GDP (PPP)
• 7.3 Consumption of ozone-depleting substances
• 7.4 Proportion of fish stocks within safe biological limits
• 7.5 Proportion of total water resources used
• 7.6 Proportion of terrestrial and marine areas protected
• 7.7 Proportion of species threatened with extinction
  
  

Target 7.C: Halve, by 2015, the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation

• 7.8 Proportion of population using an improved drinking water source
• 7.9 Proportion of population using an improved sanitation facility
  
  

Target 7.D: By 2020, to have achieved a significant improvement in the lives of at least 100 million slum dwellers

• 7.10 Proportion of urban population with access to secure tenure