DRAFT WESSA Strategic Review Narrative Report June 2022

OUR MISSION, VISION AND VALUE PROPOSITION

THE STATE OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN ENVIRONMENT

One of the criteria used to compare countries’ overall environmental performance is ecological footprint. This correlates population resource demand against biocapacity (the amount of renewable resources available per person measured in global hectares). In South Africa this is Ecological footprint per person (per capita) 3.16 / biocapacity 1.03 meaning that we are in an overshoot situation putting us, along with the world in general, in a deficit position – adding to our gloomy environmental outlook. A reason for this is bluntly stated in the Environment department’s website as follows: In the public agenda, the environment does not feature as a strong national priority in the country today, relative to other challenges. Only 3% of the adult public mentioned it as the most pressing issue in the country, and 5% mentioned it as the second most important priority. This is almost unchanged relative to 2010. The top five priorities in 2020 were education, health care, poverty, crime, and the economy. This suggests that basic social needs are given precedence over environmental considerations. When asked directly about the level of personal concern about environmental issues, 44% expressed concern about the environment while 20% were unconcerned. The balance was either ambivalent (34%) or uncertain (2%). Environmental concern is 14 percentage points lower than in

2010 (39% in 2010; 20% in 2020), with increases in the share unconcerned (+5 percentage points) and ambivalence (+9 percentage points). The most pressing environmental issues the public was worried about in 2020 were water shortages (33%), air pollution (19%) and water pollution (14%). Climate change was mentioned by 9% of adults as the top national environmental concern. The main changes between 2010 and 2020 was an increase in concern over water shortages (+7 percentage points) and decreases in the share mentioning air pollution (-5 percentage points and water pollution (-4 percentage points). Climate change has remained virtually unchanged (+2 percentage points). It is obvious from the parameter scores referred to and the low priority explanation given by government, that most people in South Africa are not joining the dots between what they regard as important and the root causes of the quality of life deficits they experience. This is an area in which WESSA could help effect positive change through well-planned and carried out advocacy work. WESSA’s Strategic Review was done with the intent of re-focusing the organisation’s work in the environmental and conservation sectors to address issues which are deemed critical and important to the health and well-being of both people and the planet.

Our Mission

Educate. Advocate. Act.

We are people caring for the Earth

We educate, advocate and act for environmental justice through policy, legislation and media engagement, sustainability education, strategic partnerships, compliance monitoring and conservation programmes to drive climate action, protect and restore biodiversity, and reduce pollution.

Our Vision

To be a trusted and highly effective organisation confronting the challenges of environmental degradation with scientifically- backed knowledge, professional experience and volunteer

Our Value Pr0position

WESSA’s programmes and partnerships enable climate action, protect and enhance habitat and biodiversity integrity, and reduce terrestrial and aquatic pollution.

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