Download State of the Environment Reporting

2006 SOER
“South Africa Environment
Outlook”
Briefing by DEA to the Portfolio Committee
24 August 2011
PRESENTATION OUTLINE
• Global Environmental Assessments
• Background on State of the Environment Reporting
• State of the Environment for South Africa
– Main messages
• Positives
• Challenges
– Status and trends
• Blue issues, Brown issues, Biodiversity and ecosystems
– Leverage points to improve the state of environment
• Findings of the impact study of the report
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENTS
Assessing and reporting on the state of the environment is one of the
mechanisms used to keep the environment under review.
•
Global assessments
–
–
–
–
–
•
UNEPs Global Environment Outlook series
Africa Environment Outlook
Environment Outlook for Youth
Millennium Ecosystem Assessment
Scientific Assessments of climate change and ozone depletion
Regional assessments
– Africa Environment Outlook
– SADC State of Environment Report
•
National Assessments
–
–
–
–
National Spatial Biodiversity Assessment
State of Rivers
State of the Coast
State of Air
GLOBAL ASSESSMENTS
Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (2005)
•
•
60% of the ecosystem services are being
degraded or used unsustainably and their
degradation could grow significantly worse
before 2050 due to rapidly growing
demands for food, freshwater, timber, fiber
and fuel.
Environmental degradation and loss of
ecosystem services is a barrier to the
attainment of internationally agreed
development goals.
Global Deserts Outlook (2006)
•
The impact of changes in precipitation and
temperature patterns due to global climate
change is likely to be felt hardest in desert
margins and in desert montane areas.
Drought episodes are projected to become
even more intense and frequent in the future.
GLOBAL ASSESSMENTS
Global Biodiversity Outlook 2 (2006)
•
Biodiversity is being lost at all levels
•
Only two-fifths of the world’s ecological
regions reaching the 10 % benchmark set
out in the provisional framework for the 2010
biodiversity target.
•
Habitats are being fragmented, affecting
their ability to maintain biological diversity
and deliver ecosystem services.
•
The average abundance of species is
declining, showing a 40 % loss between
1970 and 2000. Species in rivers, lakes
and marshlands have declined by 50 %.
•
The threats causing biodiversity loss are
generally increasing, and these include an
increase in invasive alien species, overexploitation and nitrogen-loading, which
leads to “dead zones” in marine systems.
CENTRAL MESSAGE FROM THESE GLOBAL
ASSESSMENTS
Environmental degradation and loss of ecosystem services is a barrier to the
attainment of development goals
There are no quick fixes
Background: State of the Environment Reporting
•
First national state of environment report
was released in 1999
•
Since then various national, provincial,
municipal and sectoral state of environment
reports were published.
•
The purpose of these reports is to:
– Provide information on the state of the
environment in accordance with NEMA
Section 31 (Access to information)
– Increase public awareness about
environmental and sustainability issues
•
Target audience:
–
–
–
–
Policy and decision-makers
Learners and youth
Public – civil society and private sector
Media
2006 SOUTH AFRICA ENVIRONMENT OUTLOOK
• Used latest information available
– Social and economical statistics readily available
– Environmental data more of a challenge:
•
•
•
•
carbon emissions
air quality
waste information
land degradation
• Contents of 2006 SAEO report reflect information
available up to about March 2006
INFORMATION SOURCES
Latest NSOER based on information from recent national assessments
and a variety of other sources such as:
– National Biodiversity Strategy and
Action Plan (2004), NSBA (2004)
– State of Biodiversity (2002)
– State of Rivers Reports, State of
Cities Report (2004), Provincial and
Municipal State of Environment
reports
– Millennium Ecosystem Assessment
(2005)
– State of the Nation Report (2005
and 2006)
– Stats SA reports (various, including
environmental resource accounts)
– Climate Change Response
Strategy (2004)
– DWAF’s National Water
Resource Strategy (2004)
– DWAF’s National Groundwater
Resources Assessment (2004)
– DWAF’s Water Management
System data
– State of Human Settlements
Report (CSIR)
– Housing Atlas (2004)
– Food Insecurity and Vulnerability
Information Mapping System
(HSRC & NDA)
– Johannesburg Plan of
Implementation
– etc
MAIN MESSAGES: POSITIVES
•
Significant progress in the area of environmental
management.
– Laws and strategies developed that focus
on key areas,
• biodiversity,
• air quality
• protected areas
• urban and rural development
• waste, and disaster management.
–
Efforts to implement and enforce the policy
framework have intensified.
–
Improving environmental conditions include
some fish stocks, which have recovered
due to good management measures, and a
slowing of habitat loss in some areas of the
country.
–
Programmes to rehabilitate ecosystems
while creating jobs have received greatly
increased budgets.
MAIN MESSAGES: POSITIVES
• Since hosting the World Summit on Sustainable
Development in Johannesburg in 2002, South
Africa has continued to play a prominent role in
international environmental governance.
• Increased attention to environmental fiscal
reform, cleaner production, energy efficiency,
and renewable energy.
MAIN MESSAGE: CHALLENGES
– The ecological footprint per
person in South Africa is
higher than the global average
(2.8 hectares per person in
South Africa compared to a
global average of 2.3 hectares
per person),
– and increased by 2% between
1991 and 2001. In other
middle- and low-income
countries, the average
ecological footprint declined in
this period.
Ecological footprint
South Africa
World
Low income countries
7
Global ha/person
• Recent detailed assessments
show that we are using up our
natural capital.
6
Africa
High income countries
5
4
3
2
1
0
Total Ecological Footprint
Total food, fibre and timber
footprint
Total Energy Footprint
Ecological footprint is a measure of human demand on
ecosystems. It represents the amount of biologically
productive land and sea area needed to produce the
resources a population consumes and absorb the
corresponding waste
MAIN MESSAGE: CHALLENGES
• In general, the condition of the South African
environment is deteriorating.
– Increasing pollution and declining air quality are harming
people’s health in some areas.
– Natural resources are being exploited in an unsustainable way,
threatening the functioning of ecosystems.
– Water quality and the health of aquatic ecosystems are
declining.
– Land degradation remains a serious problem.
– Up to 20 species of commercial and recreational marine fish are
considered over-exploited and some fish stocks have collapsed.
STATE AND TRENDS
Blue Issues
Fresh water
Water availability
Water quality
WATER AVAILABILITY
•
We have less water available, of
poorer quality than before.
•
Almost all exploitable sources are
tapped, resulting in decreased
freshwater flows in rivers.
•
There are deficits in available
water in more than half of the
water management areas.
•
There is a noteworthy amount of
water transfer between water
management areas, which can
have adverse ecological impacts.
WATER QUALITY
• Water quality is variable, with
some deterioration since the
last state of the environment
report.
• Inadequate controls over
pollution and land-use
practices have led to a
significant proportion of our
exploitable water resources
being degraded.
• The health of river ecosystems
is declining on the whole.
WATER AND CLIMATE CHANGE
•
There should be sufficient water to
meet all needs in the near future,
provided there is careful management.
•
Allowances for the ecological
component of the reserve are not
currently being met in many cases.
•
The effects of climate change on water
availability have not been factored into
these calculations. Thus this
prognosis may change.
•
By 2025 at the latest, there will be a
deficit in available water.
•
Climate change could result in a 10%
reduction in runoff by 2015
STATE AND TRENDS
Brown Issues
Climate change
Air quality
Ozone depletion
Waste
CLIMATE CHANGE - GLOBAL TRENDS
•
Absolute temperature has increased by about 0.6 °C over the last century.
•
During much of the last decade, annual ambient temperatures were higher than
the long-term average.
•
Global temperatures will likely rise a further 1.1 to 6.4 °C during the 21st
century
Global temperature
1.00
0.80
Tempoerature anomaly
0.60
0.40
0.20
0.00
-0.20
-0.40
-0.60
-0.80
1880
1890
1900
1910
1920
1930
1940
Annual Mean
1950
1960
1970
5-Year mean
1980
1990
2000
TEMPERATURE TRENDS SOUTH AFRICA
•
South Africa’s annual mean temperature has generally risen between 1960 and 2003,
although this trend is not consistent throughout the country with some areas showing
little upward trend and some a small downward trend. Over this period,
temperature increased on average 0.13 °C per decade (or 1.3 °C per century).
•
Days with warmer temperatures have generally increased while days with cooler
temperatures have decreased.
Temperature anomaly
Mean temperature anomaly for 28 selected South African climate
stations from 1961 to 2007 (base period: 1961 to 1990)
1.2
1.0
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0.0
-0.2
-0.4
-0.6
-0.8
1961
1966
1971
1976
1981
1986
1991
1996
2001
2006
TEMPERATURE TRENDS NOT CONSISTENT
Sea Surface Temperatures and Sea Level Rise
South Africa
•
•
South Africa’s annual mean sea surface temperature also shows a general upward trend over the
last century. Over this period, mean annual sea surface temperatures increased by about 1 °C.
Successive IPCC reports have reduced their estimates of projected sea-level rise (currently
estimated at between 0.18 and 0.59 meters by 2099.
As the sea level rises, there will be increased coastal erosion, higher levels of saltwater going into
estuaries and groundwater, and greater vulnerability to extreme storms.
Mean annual sea surface temperature
22
21
20
Degrees C
•
19
18
17
16
15
1903
1911
1919
1927
1935
1943
1951
1959
1967
1975
1983
1991
1999
2007
CARBON EMISSIONS
•
Our per capita greenhouse gas emissions remain high – dependence on
coal
Carbon dioxide emissions per capita
10
9
8
Metric tons
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
1990
Mexico
India
Brazil
Argentina
SA
0
2004
The HSRC’s 2007 SA Social Attitudes Survey shows that South Africans are growing increasingly
concerned about climate change but are reluctant to bear the cost of initiatives to curb greenhouse
gas emissions
CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS
•
Climate change will have profound effects on human
well-being, the economy, and the environment.
– Reduced freshwater flow in rivers
–
Climate-induced changes to our coast will
adversely affect the fishing industry, especially
subsistence fishers.
–
Impacts of existing environmental problems
such as land desertification could combine with
the effects of climate change to increase their
harmful nature.
•
Responses to global warming are not expected to
reverse trends in the near future.
•
The predicted effects of climate change, such as
increased floods and droughts, reduced water
availability, and greater land degradation will impact
very heavily on the large numbers of vulnerable
South African people.
AIR QUALITY
Results from National Economic Development and
Labour Council shows:
–
Elevated PM10 concentrations occur
across the country, with levels exceeding
South African National Standard
–
Significantly high concentrations of fine
particulates occur within fuel-burning
residential areas. Health safety limits are
frequently exceeded.
–
Increasing NO2 concentrations along busy
traffic routes within metropolitan areas
have been detected over the past decade.
–
The SANS annual limit for benzene (C6H6)
is exceeded at all traffic-related monitoring
sites.
–
Elevated PM10, SO2, NO2, and C6H6
concentrations, in excess of air quality
limits, have been recorded at industryrelated monitoring stations.
CONSUMPTION OF OZONE DEPLETING SUBSTANCES
• Consumption of several
ozone-depleting substances
decreased from 1998 to 2001
Consumption of HCFCs
300
– but has been increasing since
2001, with an increase in HCFC124 consumption since 2002.
– However, a small amount of legal
CFCs are imported and exported
to fill asthma inhalers as well as
air conditioners and refrigerators
manufactured before 1996.
200
ODP tons
• Almost completely phased out
the use of ozone-depleting
substances such as CFCs and
carbon tetrachloride.
250
150
100
50
0
1986 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004
HCFCs still used in air conditioning systems
CONSUMPTION OF OZONE DEPLETING SUBSTANCES
• The CFC methyl bromide (used as a pesticide in the agricultural
sector) is still being imported and used.
Consumption of Methyl Bromide
800
700
ODP tons
600
500
400
300
200
100
0
1991
1993
1995
1997
1999
2001
2003
2005
REFUSE REMOVAL
• Number of households not receiving adequate refuse removal in
SACN cities increased by 90 073 between 2001 and 2004
• This is an increase of 13,3 % an a reversal from the declining trend
between 1996 and 2001
• This has serious implication for environmental sustainability
Number of households
Number of households without adequate refuge removal
(adequate =1/week)
250,000
200,000
150,000
100,000
50,000
0
Buffalo City
Cape Town
Ekurhuleni
eThekwini
1996
Johannesburg
2001
2004
Mangaung
Msunduzi
Nelson
Mandela Bay
Tshwane
Environmental
protection
Defence
General
public
services
Housing and
community
amenities
Recreation,
culture and
religion
Economic
affairs
Health
Social
protection
Education
Rand million
OPERATING ACTIVITIES: LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Cash payments for operating activities - local government
90000
80000
70000
60000
50000
2005/06
40000
2006/07
30000
20000
10000
0
R&D
environmental
protection
Waste water
management
Pollution
abatement
Environmental
protection nec
Waste
management
Protection of
biodiversity
and
landscapes
Rand thousands
OPERATING ACTIVITIES: LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Environmental protection
1000000
900000
800000
700000
600000
500000
400000
300000
200000
100000
0
2006/07
STATUS AND TRENDS
Biodiversity and Ecosystems
Aquatic ecosystems
Rivers
Marine and coastal resources
Terrestrial biodiversity
POSITIVE TRENDS
•
In parts of the country habitat loss is
slowing due to:
–
–
–
stock removal programmes,
conversion from stock to game farming,
removal of incentives for vegetation
clearing
•
Working for Water Programme’s budget
increased significantly – important
programme with regard to poverty
alleviation
•
Several contractual parks were
established. SA played leading role in the
establishment of transfrontier
conservation areas
•
Spatial Biodiversity Assessment
completed
AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
•
Aquatic ecosystems are in the worst
shape, and are experiencing a rapid
loss of functioning.
– When the river ecosystem status
outputs are compared with those
of terrestrial ecosystems, it
becomes clear that the state of
river biodiversity in the country
needs urgent attention.
•
Wetlands:
– Estimated 50% of South Africa’s
wetlands have been destroyed or
converted.
– Only 10% fully protected
– There is no available information
on about 66% of them, which is a
serious impediment to our ability
to protect and manage this
valuable resource adequately.
RIVERS
•
The health of river ecosystems is
declining on the whole, with
effluent pollution continuing to
grow.
–
–
–
•
Generally in good to fair condition in
the upper reaches and tributaries
In fair to poor condition in the lower
reaches.
Most rivers in highly urbanized areas
are in poor condition
Rivers: 48% are moderately
modified, 26% are largely to
critically modified, while 26% are
intact.
MARINE AND COASTAL RESOURCES
●
●
●
●
As much as 40% of South Africa’s
population lives within 100 km of the
coast. There is substantial development
pressure for infrastructure
In the main healthy due to strong
management measures
Several new MPA’s established
Total number of Blueflag beaches in South Africa
per province
25
20
15
10
Greater emphasis on public awareness
and education
5
0
●
Pelagic resource is recovering
2001
2002
Eastern Cape
●
Number of blue flag beaches generally
increasing (but 5 beaches had their
status removed in 2007/08)
2003
2004
KwaZulu-Natal
2005
2006
Western Cape
2007
South Africa
ESTUARIES
•
Some estuaries are in poor state of health and is declining.
– The condition of 28% of them is considered to be excellent; that of another 31%
is good; 25% is classified as fair and 15% as poor. The overall level of protection
of South African estuaries is low.
– Estuaries around intensively developed areas (Cape southwest coast, Port
Elizabeth, and southern KwaZulu-Natal) are in the poorest condition.
WASTE WATER INTO THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT
Daily wastewater discharge is 62% greater than five years ago, even though the number of
discharge points has only increased by four, which indicates a significant increase in
wastewater volume per discharge point – most released in surf zone.
Discharge volume (cubic
metres/day)
Volumes of wastewater discharged into marine
environment
600000
500000
400000
300000
200000
100000
0
Northern
Cape
Western
Cape
Offshore discharges
Estuary discharges
Eastern
Cape
KwaZuluNatal
Surf zone discharges
MARINE AND COASTAL RESOURCES - CHALLENGES
•
MPA’s are not representative of marine and
coastal biodiversity. Many of the marine
zones on the west coast lack protection and
are among the most severely threatened
ecosystems in the country.
•
Extractive use is the main threat to marine
biodiversity. A recent evaluation indicated
that up to 20 species of commercial and
recreational marine fish are considered
over-exploited or collapsed.
•
By catch remains serious problem
•
Wastewater discharge into marine
environment has increased substantially
•
Reduced freshwater flow have adverse
impact on estuaries
Climate change impacts:Sea-surface temperatures
off southern Africa appear to have increased by
about 0.25°C per decade over the last four decades can severely affect marine ecosystems and
productivity
The potential impacts of sea level rise on coastal
environments include increased coastal erosion,
inundation, increased salt water intrusion, raised
groundwater tables, and increased vulnerability to
extreme storm events.
TERRESTRIAL BIODIVERSITY
•
Generally in a better state than that
of river and marine ecosystems.
•
Areas of high biodiversity
unfortunately coincide with areas
facing the greatest pressures –
namely the southwestern Cape, the
central grasslands, and the eastern
coastal regions.
•
Widespread land degradation is
causing loss of functioning of
ecosystems and reducing the
productivity of land, which has
serious consequences for the
livelihoods of the rural poor.
•
Recent assessments indicate that
almost 10% of South Africa’s birds
and frogs, and 20% of our
mammals, are threatened.
PROTECTED AREAS
About 6% of SA is formally protected and the protected area network does not
sufficiently represent all habitat types –
110 of 447 vegetation types are not protected at all
Only 10% of wetlands are protected
9% of coastline fully protected
National Parks (1925-2007)
4000000
25
3500000
20
3000000
2500000
15
2000000
10
1500000
1000000
5
500000
0
0
19251929
19351939
19451949
19551959
19651969
(ha)
# of Parks
19751979
19851989
19951999
20042007
Number of parks
–
–
–
Area (ha)
•
ALIEN INVASIVE SPECIES
•
The rate of spread of invasive plants is
increasing more rapidly than can be managed
through existing programmes for their
removal.
•
Significant adverse consequences for
biodiversity and reduces stream flow in rivers,
which in turn has a negative influence on
aquatic and estuarine biodiversity.
•
Invasive alien plants have invaded over 10
million ha.
•
One million hectares of land have been
cleared of invasive alien plants during the past
eight years
•
Controlling them is currently costing South
Africa an estimated R600 million a year. A
similar investment will need to continue over
the next 20 years to be successful.
TERRESTRIAL BIODIVERSITY: CHALLENGES
• Will be difficult to attain the goal of reducing the rates of
biodiversity loss by 2010
• Aquatic ecosystems in poor condition and some west coast
ecosystems are regarded as critically endangered
• Wetlands continue to be destroyed – need full assessment
of wetlands in South Africa
• Over-harvesting of indigenous plants for subsistence and
commercial use.
• There remain some critical indicators for which we have no
adequate data and without which our assessment of the current
situation is incomplete
– land cover
– finer scale information on habitat degradation/sensitive areas.
LEVERAGE POINTS FOR IMPROVING THE
STATE OF THE ENVIRONMENT
•
Information for decision-making
•
Building capacity
•
Strengthening implementation and enforcement
•
Mainstreaming the environment
INFORMATION FOR DECISION-MAKING
•
•
•
•
•
•
Improve access to environmental information
Use appropriate technologies such as remote sensing and the Internet to provide
access to information
Integrate the collection, management and sharing of information and reports on
environmental and other related matters across all government departments and
research institutions
Set in place mechanisms to fill data gaps for environmental priority areas:
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
areas of air quality, carbon emissions,
Waste,
some aspects of water quality,
groundwater use and recharge,
spatial aspects of land and habitat degradation,
cultural heritage,
human vulnerability, and
–
certain aspects of biodiversity.
Continue the ongoing development of appropriate environmental indicators and indices.
Ensure the appropriate translation of environmental science and research into practical
policy and into public information that is useable and understandable.
BUILDING CAPACITY
•
Increase investment into sustainability-focused research and
development
•
Target and develop civil society education and awareness around the
value of natural capital for human well-being
•
Assist current land-use planning and administration to deal effectively
with priority environmental issues.
•
Focus capacity-building efforts for environmental management at the
local level on the priority environmental issues including air quality,
biodiversity, and climate change
•
Establish partnerships to improve access to information.
– Special attention should be given the organizations
representing women, youth and vulnerable groups.
•
Extend the application of information and communication technology
STRENGTHENING IMPLEMENTATION AND
ENFORCEMENT
•
Roll out national environmental capacity-building programme for local
government.
•
Facilitate implementation and enforcement in key environmental priority
areas.
•
Improve the capacity within regulatory authorities to effectively
manage, implement and review the various Integrated Environmental
Management procedures and tools, notably the new EIA Regulations.
•
Mobilize sufficient resources and ensure appropriate, adequate, and
continuous training for Environmental Management Inspectors
throughout the country.
•
Train the judiciary in the principles of environmental management and
sustainable development and build legal capacity within the relevant
national and provincial departments.
MAINSTREAMING THE ENVIRONMENT
• Bringing environmental sustainability principles into the
mainstream of all aspects of governance, planning, decisionmaking and operation.
• Incorporate the depletion and degradation of natural resources
into national economic systems.
• Increase focus on the value of natural capital to human wellbeing.
• Create a shift from a model of weak sustainability to one of
strong sustainability which recognizes the heavy dependency of
our economy and our society on the services produced by the
natural environment.
ARE THE SOE PRODUCTS BEING USED?
•
Do people know of the SAEO and
associated products?
•
How do people gain access to the
products
•
What is the preferred way to access
the information on the state of the
environment?
•
How often is the information in the
report referred to?
•
Media coverage?
•
How many people use the website?
Survey sample profile
Senior level
manager, 32%
Technical
specialist, 4%
Academic/
researcher, 16%
Senior level
decision maker,
24%
Middle manager,
24%
KNOWLEDGE AND USE OF PRODUCTS
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Internet
DVD
Seen
Printed main
report
Read
Used
Youth
version
Executive
summary
MEANS OF OBTAINING A COPY
16%
From DEAT via post/
courier
Did not respond
Other
68%
8%
4%
4%
From a university library
From a government
information centre
PREFERRED MEDIUM
No response
12%
DVD
12%
Hard copy
56%
Internet
20%
HOW OFTEN IS THE PRODUCT USED?
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Internet version
DVD
Weekly
Printed main
report SAEO
Monthly
Yearly
Printed
executive
summary
Youth version
No response
Most popular sections: Water, Atmosphere, Biodiversity, Marine and Coastal, Statistics and Graphs, Scenarios
Least popular sections: Land, Waste, Human settlements, Governance
MEDIA COVERAGE
•
The SAEO was covered in
more than 20 newspaper,
magazines and journals
with 8 supplements
devoted to the findings of
the report.
–
•
•
Covered both the
mainstream press such as
the Pretoria News, Mail
and Guardian) and
specialized publications
such as Legalbrief,
Construction World and
South African Journal of
Science.
One chapter of the State of
the Nation 2008 report now
devoted to the State of the
Environment.
Programmes such as 50/50
often quotes information
from the Outlook report.
“SA sets new trend in
environmental
reporting”
“Environment in trouble”
“National Environmental
Report Maps Green
Road, Brown Road”
“State of the
Environment. A
shared responsibility”
“SA’s eco-prophecy”
THE INTERNET PORTAL
The portal has been
active for the past six
years and receives in
excess of 2000 visits
per month
Currently populating
provincial state of the
environment reports
The site can be
accessed via:
http://soer.deat.gov.za/
Thank You