Bibliography: p. 105-107. / The imminent promulgation of the Environment Conservation Act, No. 73 of 1989, which made provision for the devolution of responsibility for environmental matters to the third tier of government authority, was the primary motivation for this research, conducted throughout South Africa between 1988 and 1990. Local authority officials were concerned that they did not have the knowledge, manpower and infrastructural resources to accept this responsibility. This concern was reinforced by the rapid urbanization of predominantly disadvantaged communities for whom little provision had been made. A stratified selection for study purposes of urban areas from the whole of South Africa and all its population groups ensured a reasonable sample of metropolitan regions, regional centres, principle towns and smaller outlying urban areas. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with representatives of government authorities, Non-Government and Community Organizations and practitioners, either implementing or interacting with environmentally related legislation at the local level. With the permission of all participants, the interviews were recorded on audio-cassettes and later transcribed by the interviewers using a word processing programme. Out of these transcriptions, approximately 1000 problem-and-solution groupings were identified and classified. The most widely held perceptions of factors constraining the resolution of urban environmental problems at local authority level were subsequently compared to the provisions of the Environment Conservation Act. It was found that these perceptions of factors requiring attention for the resolution of urban environmental problems are strongly linked to the establishment, maintenance and improvement of environments which contribute to a generally acceptable quality of life. This accords with only one of the four explicit provisions of the Environment Conservation Act. There is a widespread perception that until human needs (Maslow, 1968) are either satisfied or at least addressed, and the whole population incorporated into a more equitable legal framework, the successful implementation of environmental conservation in South Africa will be severely impaired. Furthermore, that the South African ' Government's adherence to the political ideology of separate development constitutes an abuse and exploitation of scarce resources. Recommendations are that the human needs of the whole population of South Africa must be addressed and environmentally destructive legislation repealed in order to truly resolve urban environmental problems, that the participation of the public in matters relating to the effective protection and controlled utilization of the environment be required, that administrative, natural and functional boundaries need to be aligned, and that the structure and responsibilities of bureaucratic hierarchies responsible for environmental management in urban areas need to be set out clearly.

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This thesis examines longitudinally the nature of environmental concern in post-apartheid South Africa. During the years of colonialism and apartheid, environmental policy making and implementation was characterised by environmental racism that focused on ecocentric notions of nature conservation and protection, to the exclusion of black, coloured and Asian South Africans. The post-apartheid government has attempted to rectify the exclusion of black people from environmental rights, by enshrining in the Bill of Rights the right to an environment that is not harmful to South Africans' health or well-being. In light of the Bill of Rights unique political and practical implementation in South Africa, and on the basis of a comprehensive review of the empirical and theoretical literature on environmental concern, two hypotheses were formulated for testing in this thesis. The first, which is informed by an environmentalism of the poor or “empty-belly environmentalism” theory, proposes that South Africans have become more environmentally concerned since the end of apartheid. The second hypothesis is informed by the post-materialist thesis, and examines whether controlling for socio-economic status eliminates difference in environmental concern amongst the various race groups. The research design applied in this thesis is a longitudinal analysis of secondary data, in particular World Values Survey data. The results of this analysis led to a rejection of the first hypotheses, and a partial rejection of the second hypothesis. Additionally, the results reveal that since 1996 environmental concern has become less influenced by race and class. The thesis also contributes methodologically to future research on environmental concern, by raising concerns about the operationalisation and conceptualisation of environmental concern in the World Values Survey. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie tesis ondersoek die aard van omgewingsbesorgdheid in post-apartheid Suid-Afrika. Gedurende die jare van kolonialisme en apartheid was beleidmaking en -implementering gekenmerk deur omgewingsrassisme wat op ekosentriese opvattings van natuurbewaring en -beskerming gefokus het. Dit het tot die uitsluiting van swart, bruin en Asiatiese Suid-Afrikaners gelei. Die post-apartheid regering het gepoog om hierdie groot ongelykhede reg te stel, deur die reg tot 'n omgewing wat nie skadelik vir hul gesondheid of welsyn is nie, vas te lê in die Handves van Menseregte. In die lig van hierdie omgewingsbeleidspunte se unieke politieke en praktiese implementering in Suid-Afrika, en op grond van 'n omvattende oorsig van die empiriese en teoretiese literatuur oor omgewingsbesordheid, is twee hipoteses in hierdie tesis getoets. Die eerste hipotese, waaraan 'n omgewingsbewustheid van die armes of "leë maag omgewingsbewustheid"-teorie gestalte verleen het, voer aan dat Suid-Afrikaners sedert die einde van apartheid meer omgewingsbesorgd geword het. Die tweede hipotese, wat voortvloei uit die post-materialistiese tesis, ondersoek of die verskil tussen die rasgroepe in terme van omgewingsbesorgheid verdwyn as hulle sosio-ekonomiese status konstant gehou word. Die navorsingsontwerp van hierdie tesis is 'n longitudinale ontleding van sekondêre data. Die resultate van hierdie analise onthul dat omgewingsbesorgdheid sedert 1996 minder volgens ras en klas gestruktureer word; buitendien is die eerste hipotese verwerp en die tweede hipotese gedeeltelik verwerp. Hierdie resultate het kommer oor die operasionalisering en konseptualisering van omgewingsbesorgdheid in die “World Values Survey” gewek.

Thesis (MCom. (Accounting)) -- University of Limpopo, 2014 / This study explored the impact of Environmental Management Practices on firm financial performance through a case study of selected JSE SRI South African mining companies. Previous studies focused more on disclosure or international research but none focused on this impact in JSE SRI South African mining firms hence this study attempted to fill this gap. Using a mixed methods approach, the study examined whether the firms’ carbon emissions, energy usage and water usage had any impact on the firms’ return on equity. The study concluded that Environmental Management Practices did impact firms’ financial performance and offers many opportunities for academia, industry, managers, regulators and society to use these findings as a means for more research into and better understanding of these environmental management practices and their potential benefits to society.

This study investigated the effectiveness of environmental education (EE) initiatives of selected government departments in South Africa, namely the Department of Basic Education, the Department of Water Affairs, the Department of Environmental Affairs and the City of Tshwane municipality. The literature review formed the framework within which the qualitative study was conducted. Considerable research emphasises that teachers are implementers of EE initiatives. However, these implementers are not trained in EE and on how to infuse environmental content in teaching and learning. In addition, the study investigated the factors that lead to partial or total failure of EE initiatives by the selected government departments and the City of Tshwane municipality. Fundamentally, EE initiatives are not effective and/or sustainable due to the lack of effective training of implementers, particularly teachers and subject advisors. The lack of relevant resources, coordination, and monitoring and support contributes greatly to ineffectiveness and the lack of sustainability of the initiatives. The lack of monitoring and support results in unsustainable initiatives because the teachers lose courage. The research findings revealed that the approach of having one champion in schools during the implementation of EE initiatives by partners poses some challenges, especially after the partners had left. The champion might be promoted to another school or may even be promoted in the same school. Once the champion is promoted, the responsibilities increases and the teacher then stop championing the EE programme or project. The factors mentioned above are aggravated by the lack of knowledge and skills to infuse EE initiatives because teachers regard EE initiatives as an add-on. In addition, schools lack finances to sustain EE activities and these results in schools not continuing with these activities. This study advocates that teachers and subject advisors should be effectively trained in EE to enable them to effectively infuse environmental concepts and topics in teaching and learning and make it more practical rather than theoretical. Relevant resources should be made available to teachers and monitoring and support should be considered. Effective coordination and collaboration should be taken into account to ensure sustainability of the EE initiatives. In addition, the study provides guidelines that would improve the effective implementation of EE initiatives by both implementers and partners. / Curriculum and Instructional Studies / D. Ed. (Didactics)

Thesis (MA (Political Science))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / The study investigated what the degree of political accountability is in water projects as practiced by project implementers. The evaluation was also aimed at determining the impact of political accountability on project sustainability. In order to evaluate the question, field research was conducted. Field research was of a quantitative nature, using a questionnaire. This involved (a) selecting two systems (project implementers, a municipality and a non-governmental organisation) where the systems’ political accountability within water projects could be compared, and (b) interviewing community respondents from a set questionnaire in four villages. The main findings are that (i) the level of political accountability in water projects depends on the system implementing a water project, (ii) three elements of political accountability (responsibility, information, and inclusion) differ significantly between the two systems, and (iii) political accountability has a significant impact on project sustainability. It is recommended that project implementers take into consideration the identified three elements of political accountability in order to improve project sustainability.

The South African economy is faced with a number of challenges as an upper-middle income country that is highly resource-intensive, with an open economy. It has a number of developmental goals that must be achieved in order to maintain environmentally conscious sustainable development. The country will have to find pioneering ways to address the poverty problems faced by a large proportion of its people, while still ensuring economic growth at a reduced cost to the environment. In an effort to promote the shift to a “green” economy, the South African state and its related entities have developed a number of incentive programmes aimed at easing the transition. These incentives primarily support businesses in their efforts to become more energy-efficient, or to convert to renewable energy sources. The objective of this study is to critically evaluate what the South African government is doing with regard to environmental instruments aimed at assisting the country to reduce carbon emissions. This case study follows a quantitative approach, considering the financial effects that the different environmental instruments could have on South African manufacturers. Through the study the researcher will be able to make certain recommendations to businesses in the manufacturing industry who are interested in investing in renewable energy and energy efficiency. The results of the study will also give the researcher insight into the South African environmental incentives, which will allow him to make informed comments on the proposals that government has tabled regarding future environmental taxes and incentives. The research questions that the researcher tried to answer were based on the current and future policy measures that the South African government has implemented, or will implement, in order to move the country to a low-emissions trajectory. These policies were then also compared to international measures in order to determine if the policies chosen by the South African government are appropriate for the this country’s economy. This study has led the researcher to discover a number of issues relating to the status of environmental policy in South Africa. These discoveries have allowed him to make certain recommendations to businesses investing in this realm, as well as to government which develops these policy measures. The main findings of the study are that with the assistance of the South African government and related entities, investments in renewable energy have become viable. When considering the current status of South African environmental policy, the researcher has also come to realise that the country is lagging behind the rest of the world with regard to policy development. The South African economy is unique, thus policies have to be structured in a way that will not be detrimental to the country.

Thesis (MS en S)--Stellenbosch University, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study investigated the problems associated with open spaces and nature areas in Paarl. The attitudes and needs of Paarlites towards these open spaces were also assessed. A comparison was then made with area specific crime statistics to assess the actual safety of these problem areas. The needs of the community are stated according to the needs assessment. This study was conducted to ensure the sustained conservation of open spaces and nature areas, and to ensure that the needs of the community are met. The public use of these areas should also jusitfy the financial input required for maintenance and up grading of these areas. This study tried by means of an investigation into the needs, patterns of use and attitudes of Paarlites, and a comparison with the true crime statistics of the relevant areas to ascertain whether these areas are truly problematic. If public opinion about the safety of these areas cannot be substantiated, people can be lured back into using these areas. The open spaces and nature areas in Paarl is underutilized. This is due to the inadequate nature of the areas in terms of the needs of the respondents, the discontentment of the respondents because of their perceptions about the poor maintenance of the areas, the activities that take place there, and the general perception of the areas as unsafe. There were only two areas that could be perceived as unsafe after research. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie lewer 'n ondersoek na die probleme geassosieer met oopruimtes en natuurgebiede in die Paarl. Daar is ook onder Paarliete 'n houdings- en behoeftebepaling aangaande hulle oopruimtes gedoen en 'n vergelyking is met area spesifieke misdaadstatistieke getref om sodoende 'n gevolgtrekking te maak oor die areas se daadwerklike veiligheid. Die gemeenskap se behoeftes is na aanleiding van die behoeftebepaling weergegee. Hierdie studie is gedoen om die volhoubaarheid en bewaring van oopruimtes en natuurgebiede te verseker, en te sorg dat die gemeenskap se behoeftes bevredig word. Die benutting van die areas moet, relatief tot die finansiële insette verbonde aan die instandhouding en voortbestaan van die areas, voldoende wees. Hierdie werkstuk poog om deur middel van 'n ondersoek na die Paarliete se gebruike, houdings en behoeftes 'n vergelyking met die beskikbare statistieke van oopruimtes en natuurgebiede te tref om sodoende te bepaal of die areas werklik probleemareas is. As die openbare mening oor die areas se veiligheid nie gesubstansieer word nie, kan mense teruggelok word om hierdie areas te benut. Die ondersoek het bevind dat die Paarlse oopruimtes en natuurgebiede onderbenut word. Dit kan daaraan toegeskryf word dat die areas nie in die respondente se behoeftes voldoen nie; die respondente ontevrede is as gevolg van hulle persepsies oor die swak instandhouding van die areas; die aktiwiteite wat daarop plaasvind, asook die algemene persepsie dat die areas onveilig is. Die navorsing toon egter dat daar slegs twee areas is wat as onveilig beskou kan word.

There has been ongoing global concern on environmental issues and which is supposed to have moved down into smaller institutions and areas through local agenda 2l. Environmental issues are associated not only with care for the environment but also sustainable development. Various universities are beginning to strive for sustainable development and care for the environment. Some universities are therefore integrating care for the environment in their curricula and in their daily operations on campus. The greening of higher educational institutions as models is important as they are the seat for research and training of undergraduates who will become future leaders and policymakers and caretakers of the environment. It is therefore important for undergraduates to be exposed to greening processes in operations, research and curricula whilst still on campus. This study examines the process of formulating a policy and applies that to forming an environmental policy. The study involved a comparative analysis of environmental policies of various tertiary educational institutions from different countries. The study focused on how many universities in South Africa have environmental policies and how the universities which have environmental policies went about their formulation process. The study further examines the duration of the formulation process and the constraints encountered by universities. The study then reviews strategies on how the environmental policy is being implemented and how effective the implementation process is practically and the constraints these institutions face. The findings of the study reveal that few universities ill South Africa have an environmental policy. The universities are making efforts in their implementation process however, not all the principles found in the policies are being implemented effectively as there are no environmental management systems in place and there are no measurable objectives and targets set for proper evaluation of the success or failure of the policy.

MSc. (Geography) / The South African National Environmental Management Act (Act No. 107 of 1998) [NEMA] provides the 2010 EIA Regulations that describe the minimum requirements for environmental impact assessment (EIA). EIA is used as a tool to aid decisionmaking when evaluating development proposals for activities that are likely to have negative environmental impacts. Government Notice GNR. 543 of the 2010 EIA Regulations provides all the information pertaining to EIA and the specific steps required to conduct a Basic Assessment (BA). The study primarily focuses on activities conducted within or near Protected Areas (PAs) that do not require a full scoping EIA, and is comprised of two parts. Firstly, using a modified version of the South African adapted Lee and Colley (1992) Review Package, this dissertation presents the findings of an evaluation of the quality of 13 Basic Assessment Reports (BARs). Secondly, the study ascertained and analysed the opinions of those involved in the EIA process, namely environmental assessment practitioners (EAPs), on whether EIA is performing as originally intended. A questionnaire targeted at discerning respondents’ views on this was sent to eight individuals, of whom seven responded. The findings show that 92% of the BARs performed satisfactorily in terms of overall quality (achieving grades A to C, C being considered just satisfactory). Only 54% of the assessed BARs achieved A-B grades, leaving a high proportion of borderline BARs, a disturbing figure given the importance of PAs in South Africa for encouraging tourism, generating foreign currency and protecting biodiversity. Fifty seven percent (57%) of respondents expressed the view that legal provision for the EIA process in South Africa is adequate, that the 2010 Regulations have improved the EIA process, and that the EIA guidelines for environmental practitioners are readily available and easy to use.

International awareness and demands for the protection of the environment by the public on industry has only been pushed into the limelight in the past couple of decades. Prior to this it could be argued that it was accepted that environmental protection and economic development were at odds. However it has since been recognised that there is a need to achieve environmental sustainability, the concept of which was released in the 1987 Brundtland Report released by the United Nations. There are a number of ways that industry can reduce its impact on the environment and thus help reach this goal. While some advocated that stricter legislation would result in greater innovation by industry in “cleaning-up” its act, such as the Porter Hypothesis, there were also a number of new concepts and voluntary industry codes being developed. These new practices and codes have been promoted by organisations such as the International Chamber of Commerce and include technological improvements within organisations and improved resource productivity. The aim of this case study research was to find out what the environmental policy and related performance of Summerpride Foods Ltd, a pineapple processing factory in East London was and does an understanding of its environmental performance provide insights for improved efficiency. This involved the identification and analysis of what resources were used during the processing of pineapples as well as making recommendations that would result in increased efficiencies of their use. Due to the number of resources identified, only the use of water and coal which were ranked as having the highest impact were investigated further. The literature review showed that there are industry moves to applying cleaner production and eco-efficiency concepts as a means to attaining environmental sustainability. There are a number of voluntary environmental management system standards and codes that organisations can subscribe to with most probably the ISO 14001 standard being the most internationally recognised. There are many benefits to organisations adopting such standards. The use of lifecycle assessments is a useful tool that can be used to assess the environmental impact of a product through its entire life and thus enable one to identify all resources used and their impact, as well as to provide the information required to quantify areas where the greatest improvements can be made. The results of this research showed that at the start of the study, there was no formal environmental policy in place at Summerpride Foods Ltd and that this was starting to become a requirement with some customers. The detailed results which focused on water and coal usage showed that current operating methods do not recognise the importance of any wastage and that there are a number of changes that could be made that would not only result in better efficiency of use but would also result in substantial financial savings to the organisation. Summerpride Foods Ltd currently has a number of systems in place that help reduce its impact on the environment but these are not formally recorded. Summerpride Foods Ltd should adopt the principles of eco-efficiency and record all systems that impact on the environment. This would be the first step to attaining a formal environmental management system accreditation which due the increasing competitiveness of the international market in which Summerpride Foods Ltd operates, would give it a degree of advantage over those competing pineapples processing factories that do not have such accreditation.