Rhetoric or action: Are South African municipalities planning for climate change?

In 2008 the South African National Disaster Management Centre commissioned a study into measures taken by local municipalities to plan for climate change. Two areas were selected for their dissimilar climatic challenges: the //Khara Hais Municipality,1 ¹The // spelling represents the click consonant in the Kxoe language that the name comes from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki///Khara_Hais_Local_Municipality * Brendon Solik is now a Consultant at Environmental Resources Management (ERM), Johannesburg, South AfricaView all notes a semi-desert area in the Northern Cape Province plagued by droughts and severe weather events, and the George Municipality, an area in the Western Cape Province plagued by droughts, the rising sea level and flash floods. It was found that despite South African laws and regulations requiring local government to take action to reduce the risk of disasters, planning for climate change is still no more than sophisticated rhetoric in the two municipalities. This lack of urgency can be ascribed to local municipalities having other more pressing developmental priorities. It would, however, be short-sighted of municipalities not to plan for climate change, as major setbacks in hard-won economic and social development follow a disaster.     

Integrated development planning or strategic paralysis? Municipal development during the local government transition and beyond

The launch of the Local Government White Paper in March 1998 provides a blueprint for the final form of local government in South Africa after its progression from apartheid structures, through the democratisation of councils, t.o the creation of developmental local government. According to the White Paper local government will centre on municipalities which will coordinate all development activities at national, provincial and local level, from private and public sectors. Municipalities will need to gain control over their devel opment resources, including land use. This article scrutinises the municipal planning legislation that has emerged since the end of apartheid in the form of the Development Facilitation Act (DFA) and the Local Government Transition Act, and argues that the Land Development Objectives (LDOs) of the DFA may not be an appropriate way to achieve developmental local government. The article argues that development tribunals could usurp the executive authority of municipalities to determine land use and therefore risk being both unconstitutional and counterproductive. It recommends that existing plan ning legislation is rationalised into an integrated framework that gives local government structures both legislative and executive authority over land‐use planning.     

DEVELOPMENT DEBATE AND PRACTICE: A situational appraisal of demographic data utilisation in planning in the Eastern Cape province

The relationship between population and development is frequently highlighted in international debates as signifying that changes in population size, age and gender structures, settlement patterns and other population characteristics have implications for public policy planning and for developing evaluation indicators. This study explores the accessibility, quality, userfriendliness and other aspects of demographic data from a planning perspective. Planners from South Africa's Eastern Cape provincial Departments of Education and Health were interviewed and the policy documents were studied to determine how they incorporate population variables. The findings indicate dissatisfaction among planners with the quality of available demographic data at sub-national levels, particularly for the smaller geographic units - regions, districts and villages. Inadequate coordination of data compilation and evaluation is another common perception. There is consensus on the potential contribution of demographic data to improved planning, and recommendations for improving demographic data accessibility and use were made.     

The Fish River SDI: New hope for industrial regeneration in the Eastern Cape?

This article reports on a case study of the Fish River Spatial Development Initiative which is spatially focused on the cities of Port Elizabeth and East London in the Eastern Cape Province. Major elements of the SDI, including the two industrial development zones which form part of it, are discussed The SDI is characterised as a nationally driven initiative which aims to create ‘sustainable ‘jobs by increasing the profile of Port Elizabeth and East London as international investment destinations, and thereby attracting large, new export‐oriented investment projects to the region. It is argued that even if the Fish River SDI succeeds in attracting such investment, it is only likely to lead to a once‐off increase in investment and employment rather than sustained industrial regeneration in the region. To ensure such industrial regeneration requires a regional industrial strategy which builds the capacity for learning and innovation in the region.     

Tourism industry reaction to climate change in Kgalagadi South District,Botswana

Climate change and adaptation have become major issues in contemporary tourism development and policy discussions, especially in southern Africa where the tourism industry is largely based on the natural environment and wildlife. Previous studies on tourism and climate change have mainly focused on the global north and snow-based winter tourism activities. This study aimed to fill the gap by examining tourism operators' perceptions of climate change in Kgalagadi South District, southwest Botswana, and looking at their adaptation strategies, if any. It was found that these operators were aware of the general impacts of climate change but most saw no impacts on the tourism industry and none recognised any impacts on their own operations. Most did, however, envisage challenges to future business growth and Botswana's tourism competitiveness. The perception that climate change did not currently have any impacts may explain why there were almost no adaptation strategies in place.     

Directional trends in selected aspects of rural poverty in the Eastern Cape Province: changes during the first ten years of South African democracy

This study analysed changes in demographic, gender, basic service access and agricultural production patterns in the rural black Eastern Cape Province between 1993 and 2002 in order to offer advice for future poverty alleviation strategies. It used secondary data from national surveys and the 2001 census and stratified the Eastern Cape districts into former Transkei, former Ciskei and commercial farming district sub-regions, in accordance with the pre-1994 developmental scenarios. The results showed that the demographic and basic service access changes were positive, but that pre-existing sub-regional differences had been reinforced, indicating that the populous former Transkei was being marginalised. There has been little development for rural women, agricultural production is almost negligible and employment in commercial farming has declined. Geographically targeted interventions seem to be warranted for the demographic, gender development and basic service accessibility aspects of Eastern Cape rural poverty, but improving rural production appears to be the major challenge.     

Adapting to Climate Change in Pacific Island Countries: The Problem of Uncertainty

This paper investigates the problem of scientific uncertainty and the way it impedes planning for climate change and accelerated sea-level rise (CC & ASLR) in Pacific Island Countries (PICs). The paper begins by discussing the problems CC & ASLR poses for PICs, and it explores the limitations of the dominant approach to vulnerability and adaptation. Next, the paper considers the way scientific uncertainty problematizes policies aimed at adaptation to CC & ASLR. It argues that the prevailing approach, which requires anticipation of impacts, is unsuccessful, and the paper proposes a complementary strategy aimed to enhance the resilience of whole island social-ecological systems. Recent developments in the theory and practice of resilience are discussed and then applied to formulate goals for adaptation policy in PICs.     

Clearing the ground in the Spatial Development Initiatives (SDIs): Analysing 'process' on South Africa's Wild Coast

This article, which is based on a case study of the Wild Coast in the Eastern Cape, explores the challenges that confront the implementation of SDI projects. It is argued that, in order to encourage active participation of potential beneficiaries in such projects, 'the ground has to be cleared', which necessitates the delineation of the core social dynamics that go hand in hand with the technical aspects of the inputs and outputs of such projects. The two areas in which the SDI fell short of achieving its main objectives, and which this article seeks to address, are the communication and the conflict management strategies. The perception that local social dynamics are seen as a problem rather than as part of a dynamic process of development requires fresh assessment. In conclusion, emphasis should be placed on human resources, patience and willingness to learn about local dynamics, in addition to the great financial commitment in the project cycle.     

South Africa's infrastructure service delivery needs: The role and challenge for public‐private partnerships

South Africa's development challenges include over R100 billion needed in investment in infrastructure over the next ten years. Municipalities lack the institutional and financial capacity to address this alone and have to raise private sector finance to supplement their own resources and government grants. The borrowing of capital requires a well‐run administration that is able to raise sufficient revenue to meet all running costs, including loan redemption. Municipalities are showing increasing interest in municipal service partnerships (MSPs), including public‐private partnerships (PPPs), as a way of improving efficiency and accessing capital markets. This raises a number of challenges that include understanding and dealing with the continuing negative perceptions of the role of the private sector; clarifying the roles of the private sector and the government, especially local government; and addressing those issues necessary to produce effective and efficient MSPs in South Africa.     

SDIs: Infrastructure,agglomeration and the region in industrial policy

This article reports on the initial findings of an Industrial Strategy Project Research Programme on a key current element of national industrial policy, namely Spatial Development Initiatives (SDIs). The ISP Research Programme is concerned with industrial investment. The operational industrial SDIs are examined against the backdrops of the pattern of contemporary industrial location in South Africa and the emergence of a regional industrial policy for the country; the long‐run experience with SDI‐type programmes internationally and in South Africa; and directions in current regional industrial development theory and practice, particularly those interventions aimed at strengthening the economies associated with regional/sectoral clusters or agglomerations typically embedded in metropolitan locations. The preliminary findings of research commissioned on long‐run industrial development in Richards Bay, and the current SDI processes under way in the Fish River SDI (Eastern Cape) and the West Coast SDI (Western Cape) are then presented These findings demonstrate that for the SDIs to meet their intentions in terms of maximising inward investment, creating jobs and catalysing durable regional economic development, the large opportunity present to use SDI processes to build the capacity and social infrastructure for economic development at local and regional level on — and between — both public and private sector sides should be grasped. To this end, it is also suggested that SDIs be closely linked to other government industrial promotion and support activities, notably the cluster initiatives and SMME support programmes, both of which may themselves need, at this point, far clearer regional focus.     

西部可持续发展中区域规划控制技术模式探讨

西部开发战略是实现我国全面可持续发展的重要决策,其必须在合理有序的区域规划前提下才能具体实施.把可持续发展模式与区域规划控制理论相结合,利用模糊数学,灰色系统,人工神经网络建立模型,对西部区域规划进行有效控制,实现西部区域可持续发展,进而推动整个社会的可持续发展.     

The impact of basic and social infrastructure investment on South African economic growth and development

Basic and social infrastructure investment can assist in addressing widespread inequality and divided societies by promoting economic growth and social development. The aim of this study is to determine whether basic and social infrastructure investment differently affect economic growth and social development indicators of urban and rural municipalities. We used a balanced panel dataset containing infrastructure, economic, demographic and social indicators for rural and urban municipalities for the period from 1996 to 2012. Principal component analysis was used to construct synthetic indices of basic and social infrastructure. Restricted within least squares dummy variable estimation techniques are used to evaluate the differences between urban and rural municipalities. The elasticities of basic and social infrastructure investment generally are more pronounced for economic growth and social development indicators in rural municipalities. These findings could potentially influence policy decisions in terms of infrastructure investment in favour of rural municipalities to increase economic growth and social development.     

广州市低碳经济发展路径探析

低碳经济是应对气候变化和社会可持续发展的重要选择,广州市作为华南地区重要的中心城市,发展低碳经济具有重大的现实意义。本文通过分析广州市的经济增长、能源消费碳排放总量和碳排放强度以及各产业的碳排放数据,探讨出广州市发展低碳经济应采取节能降耗、优化产业结构、植树造林和宣传碳减排理念等途径。     

Quantifying Inefficient Expenditure in Local Government: A Free Disposable Hull Analysis of a Sample of South African Municipalities

Municipalities in South Africa play a pivotal role in the provision of basic services to communities. However, local government as a sphere in the country is notorious for its spending inefficiency, which is cited as a major factor in service delivery failure. This paper quantifies inefficient expenditure at the local government level by estimating efficiency scores for a sample of 129 municipalities in South Africa from the 2005/2006 to the 2009/2010 municipal financial years. In essence, this paper examines the technical efficiency of municipalities by using the nonparametric free disposable hull approach and finds that 10 municipalities are constantly efficient over the period. On average, input efficiency scores range from 42% to 46%, suggesting that, in general, municipalities can achieve the same output levels with over 50% less resources. Quantitatively for the 2009/2010 financial year, this amounts to a total of R80 billion being spent inefficiently, which equates to R220 million being “wasted” per day.     

民营企业可持续发展对策研究——基于社会责任的视角

在经济全球化的新形势下,我国民营企业作为全球企业供应链的重要环节,已经不能将环境污染、产品品质、劳动权益等问题置之度外,承担社会责任已经成为我国民营企业可持续发展,融入全球经济的主要趋势和方法。因此,探讨我国民营企业社会责任问题,推动民营企业更好地履行社会责任,对实现民营企业的可持续发展无疑具有重要的现实意义。     

MNCs and Sustainable Business Practice: The Case of the Colombian and Peruvian Petroleum Industries

Multinational corporations (MNCs) play an increasingly important role in the economic development strategies of many less developed countries (LDCs). At the same time the sustainable development of LDCs requires economic growth to be accompanied by environmental protection and greater social equity. This paper contributes to the literature concerned with MNCs' contribution to the sustainable development of LDCs. The concept of sustainable business practice (SBP) is proposed as relevant to understanding MNCs' contribution, and an analytical framework incorporating the content, context, and process of SBP is used to examine what SBP might consist of, as well as those conditions important for its widespread adoption. Results from a study examining the Colombian and Peruvian petroleum industries show that despite important contributions by MNCs to sustainable development, SBP is not yet widespread. The study also shows the importance of external institutional pressures—principally in the form of local legislation—for MNCs' contribution to the sustainable development of LDCs. Finally the paper shows how the process of change toward more SBP is closely linked to the external context in which MNCs operate, the characteristics of their internal context, and the internal and external processes linking these contexts.     

Hungarian agriculture: A model for the socialist world?

Hungary's status as a model in agriculture is examined in terms of its economic, social and political performance, its planning and organizational components and the contextual factors affecting its transferability. In economic and social performance the Hungarian strategy compares favourably with the rest of Eastern Europe and the USSR. Planning and institutional factors contributing to this performance include the New Economic Mechanism planning approach, autonomous agricultural producers' co-operatives, new structures for diffusion of technology, and integration of household producers into the commodity system. While the transferability of the model remains doubtful due to factors such as size, technical base, and political choices, increased participation in the world economy may force the USSR and the rest of Eastern Europe into reforms bearing some resemblance to those in Hungary.     

绿色消费的国际经验及对长三角地区绿色发展的启示

中国随着城市化率的提高,国内经济社会发展的需求将加剧对能源和环境的压力,逐渐形成制约经济社会可持续发展的瓶颈。因此,应对全球气候变化,节能减排,不只是来自国际社会的压力,更主要是出于中国未来发展的需要。长三角地区作为经济发展水平较高的地区在进行经济转型上有独特的优势,面临资源环境的约束及结构转型的压力,绿色消费是转变城市能源消费结构的重要指标。转变生产方式和消费方式是研究可持续发展的方向之一。随着个人收入的提高,个人购买力与消费需求的增加,绿色消费的生活方式将会是未来中国城市能源需求的重要决定因素。界定何为绿色消费以及如何从消费侧进行改进,实现可持续发展是文章研究的重点。文章通过对绿色消费概念缘起的阐述,基于国内外文献研究进展的基础上,借鉴国际经验,并结合长三角地区的发展阶段和发展特点,提出实现绿色消费的政策建议。     

中国沿海地区海洋经济可持续发展能力评价研究

文章建立了海洋经济可持续发展能力灰色综合评价模型,选取了11个海洋经济可持续发展能力评价指标,运用所建立的评价模型对中国11个沿海省（区、市）的海洋经济可持续发展能力进行了综合评价及比较分析,评价结果基本上能反映中国沿海地区当前海洋经济可持续发展状况。     

西藏生态旅游业可持续发展对策探析

生态旅游业作为可持续发展战略在旅游行业的实践,兼顾对生态环境和自然资源的保护,是西藏旅游经济发展和资源环境保护一个很好的结合点。西藏拥有丰富的生态旅游资源,具备发展生态旅游业的优势条件。但是由于历史、地理区位等原因,还有许多障碍因素制约着西藏生态旅游业的可持续发展,应有针对性地从规划、资金、市场、人才等方面入手予以解决。