2013_14 IDP Review.pdf - KZN Development Planning

We need to make a transition to ways that are ecologically sustainable, i.e. ways of livingthat can be sustained on a long-term basis by the environment.The concept of sustainability relates to all dimensions of human living and does not onlyfocus on the natural environment although the tendency is to focus on ‘green’ issuesgiven the many pressures that the natural environment is under. The most commonlyused definition is ‘development that meets the needs of present generations withoutcompromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs’ (WCED, 1987). Thus,economic production and the processes through which people enable livelihoods areintrinsically linked to the natural environment. People rely on natural resources (directlyor indirectly) for these processes. Thus, on the one hand, protection of the naturalenvironment is not enough – social, governance and economic systems need to functioneffectively also. On the other hand, if the natural environment is undermined, livelihoodswill suffer.Sustainability has economic, social, governanceand ecological dimensions; the challenge ofsustainable development is to ensure that onedimension is not enhanced at the expense of any ofthe others. These dimensions relate to:Economic sustainability: The aim to achieveeconomic growth is justifiable as long as it doesnot compromise the natural and social systemsthat enable this growth.Social sustainability: Social justice and equityare important. The building of social capital andmaintenance of social networks are seen asimportant in achieving this.Figure 1: Sustainable DevelopmentConceptual FrameworkSource: DEAEcological sustainability: Biodiversity maintenance and ecological diversity areconsidered important. Regeneration of natural resources and minimizing the use ofnon-renewable resources are underlying goals.Draft 2013/14 IDP Review Page 234Prepared by Umzinyathi District Municiplity22 March 2013