Resources

Carbon

The South African environmental law reform process is well underway. Publication of the draft National Air Quality Management Bill is imminent. When passed, it will replace the outdated Atmospheric Pollution Prevention Act (1965), and will introduce much more stringent air pollution control measures to the South African scene. Provinces are already in the throes of putting together Air Quality Management Plans and municipalities will be formulating the necessary new regulations to meet them. Much attention is likely to be focused on smoke, dust and vehicular emissions, but industrial emissions will likely come under the spotlight too.

Water

The first draft of the National Water Resource Strategy (NWRS) has been published by DWAF. The NWRS is aimed at ensuring integrated water resource management. Compulsory licensing of water usage is on the cards, with compulsory regulation in water-stressed areas. Not only is there a focus on protecting water quality, but significant emphasis is being placed on water demand management (WDM), due to the general scarcity of water in South Africa.