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Environmental movement in South Africa
Organisations
Conferences
South African youth climate activists in 2020.


The environmental movement in South Africa traces its history from the beginnings of conservation and preservation groups in the late 19th century, to the rise of radicalism amongst local ecologists and activists. The early environmental movement in South Africa was primarily made up of conservation groups whose membership was dominated by affluent whites.[1] Many of these groups advocated for forms of fortress conservation that were used to justify forcibly removing Black South Africans from their land. Throughout the mid to late 20th century, justice-centered environmental groups sprung up in connection with anti-apartheid movements advocating for change on issues that affected the environment as well as the rights of workers, showing how environmental issues in the country were "inextricably linked to issues of race and politics." [2]

Timeline

Green Pages

Colonial Era

  • 1856: The government of the Cape Colony passed the Forest and Herbage Preservation Act. Knysna forest and Tsitsikama forest were designated as nature preserves. [3]
  • 1883: The Natal Game Association, a group focused on the conservation of wildlife was founded. It was the first known non-governmental organization in South Africa that focused on environmental issues.[4]

Apartheid Era

  • 1955: Congress_of_the_People_(1955) held at Kliptown. Freedom Charter includes article on agrarian & environmental rights, in particular 'save the soil'.[6]
  • 1973: Endangered Wildlife Trust founded
  • 1976 Koeberg Alert founded following the decision to site South Africa's first nuclear power station only 30 kms from Cape Town[7]
  • 1977: The Dolphin Action & Protection Group founded with the motto and policy 'Dolphins Should Be Free'.[8]
  • 1983: Koeberg Alert reconstituted, "broadens the focus of the protest" to place the entire nuclear issue "within its social, political and economic context." [7]
  • 1984: The Naturalist Society, also known as Natsoc founded. [9]
  • 1987: Cape Town Ecology Group founded; with motto: 'Free the Humans'
  • 1988: Earthlife Africa formed; Khanyisa, environmental awareness organisation founded in townships of Langa, Nyanga, Guguletu and Khayelitsha
  • 1989: Earthlife Africa exposes mercury poisoning of workers at Thor Chemicals;[10] Kagenna Magazine is published; Green Action Forum founded by Greg Knill. Establishment of the Ecology Party in Cape Town.
  • 1990: A fishing industry campaign by the Food and Allied Workers Union links workers issues to the environment.
  • 1991: First National Conference on Environment and Development; Environmental Monitoring Group releases a document "Towards Sustainable Development in South Africa";[11] General Magnus Malan takes over as new Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry; Bev Geach of the Weekly Mail publishes The Green Pages, a directory of environmental groups
  • 1992: Earthlife Africa pressurizes the government for an inquiry into asbestos related deaths. Environmental Justice Networking Forum (EJNF) formed at an ELA conference. Establishment of the Green Party by activists in Cape Town.
  • 1993: Group for Environmental Monitoring (GEM) founded.[12]

Post-Apartheid Era

Climate change protesters in Durban participate in the 2011 Global Day of Action
  • 1994: After South Africa's first democratic election, environmental rights submitted for debate to the Constitutional Assembly.[13]
  • 1995: eThekwini ECOPEACE, an environmentalist political party now known as ECOPEACE founded.
  • 1996: South Africa's Bill of Rights proclaims: "Everyone has the right to an environment that is not harmful to their health or well-being."[14]
  • 1997: The ANC government moves to provide lead-free petrol as one of its first pro-environment policies
  • 1998: The Truth Commission hears about asbestos-related deaths from mining
  • 1999: Groundwork (GW), a non-profit, environmental justice service and development organization founded by 3 ex-EJNF activists. Founding of the Government by the People Green Party by Judy Sole.
  • 2000: South Durban Community Environmental Alliance (SDCEA) formed; eThekwini ECOPEACE wins one seat in the eThekwini Municipal Council, the first time a Green Party of any sort in South Africa has won at the polls
  • 2002: Rio+10 World Summit on Sustainable Development held in Johannesburg; Earthlife launches the People's Environmental Centre, the Greenhouse.
  • 2003: Asbestos Relief Trust (ART) set up, and the Kgalagadi Relief Trust (KRT), both of which evaluate claims and provide compensation for qualified claimants. A media statement, indicates that the ban on the use of asbestos and asbestos-related materials was "well overdue." National Energy Caucus founded.
  • 2004: Marthinus van Schalkwyk appointed as Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism
  • 2006: Eskom, South Africa's national energy utility issues energy-saving lightbulbs to consumers as part of a "demand-side" energy-reduction campaign.
    • Dept of Environmental Affairs and Tourism holds hearings on nuclear power. First evidence of contamination and worker-related deaths caused b exposure to radiation.
  • 2009: South Africa participates in the Copenhagen Climate Change round. [15]
  • 2010: SA Government announces mothballing of PBMR. Edna Molewa appointed Minister of Environment under Jacob Zuma.
  • 2011: South Africa hosts COP17 in Durban, a new framework emerges. Allied Climate & Health Conference releases "Durban Declaration" declaring a health emergency, signed by 250 medical professionals and public health organisations.
  • 2015: South Africa hosts South African International Renewable Energy Conference.[16]
  • 2016: Vukani Environmental Justice Movement formed in Mpumalanga Province. Establishment of The Greens in Cape Town.
  • 2019: Barbara Creecy sworn in as new Minister of Environment under Ramaphosa. The Government of the People Green Party participated in the 2019 National and Provincial Elections and obtained 0,13% of the vote in the Western Cape Province, but no parliamentary seat Archived 22 April 2009 at the Wayback Machine.
  • 2021: The Greens contested the Local Government Elections in the Cape Town metropole but did not secure a seat in the council Archived 22 April 2009 at the Wayback Machine.
  • 2022: March, "Deadly Air" case heard in South Africa. Court confirms the constitutional right of the country’s citizens to an environment that isn’t harmful to their health. This includes the right to clean air, as exposure to air pollution affects human health. [17]
Extinction Rebellion protesting coal in South Africa
  • September, Shell 'Wild Coast' Ocean Exploration Case heard. High Court in Makhanda ruled that Shell’s exploration right to conduct seismic surveys on the Wild Coast of South Africa was granted unlawfully and therefore set it aside. [18]

See also

References

  1. ^ Khan, Farieda. 2001: 'Towards Environmentalism: A Socio-political Evaluation of Trends in South African Conservation History, 1910-1976, with a specific focus on the Role of Black Conservation Organisations'. PhD Thesis, University of Cape Town.
  2. ^ Khan, Farieda. 2014: 'Race, Politics, and the Environment in South Africa- Trends in the History of Environmental Civil Society Organisations'. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Farieda-Khan/publication/316240934_Race_Politics_and_the_Environment_in_South_Africa_-_Trends_in_the_History_of_Environmental_Civil_Society_Organisations/links/58f73a17a6fdcc187f3bd741/Race-Politics-and-the-Environment-in-South-Africa-Trends-in-the-History-of-Environmental-Civil-Society-Organisations
  3. ^ Pincetl, Stephanie S. (October 1991). [10.1016/0260-9827(91)90008-i "The Global Environmental Movement: Reclaiming paradise"]. Political Geography Quarterly. 10 (4): 438–439. doi:10.1016/0260-9827(91)90008-i. {{cite journal}}: Check |url= value (help)
  4. ^ a b Pringle, John A. (1982). The Conservationists and the Killers: The Story of Game Protection and the Wildlife Society of Southern Africa. Cape Town: T.V. Bulpin & Books of Africa. ISBN 9780949956231.
  5. ^ Khan, Farieda, Rewriting South Africa's Conservation History-The Role of the Native Farmers Association, Journal of Southern African Studies Vol. 20, No. 4 (Dec., 1994), pp. 499-516 https://www.jstor.org/stable/2636969
  6. ^ South Africa Department of Education (2005). "History of the Freedom Charter" (PDF). Department of Environmental Affairs.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  7. ^ a b "About KAA". KOEBERG ALERT ALLIANCE. 18 May 2011. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  8. ^ "Dolphin Action and Protection Group".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  9. ^ Fynbos Fynmense: people making biodiversity work (12.4 MB) 2006. A. Ashwell, T. Sandwith, M. Barnett, A. Parker & F. Wisani. ISBN 1-919976-29-9. 187. https://www.cepf.net/sites/default/files/c.a.p.e.report.chapter6.pages185-206.pdf
  10. ^ "Environmental Justice Case Study: Thor Chemicals and Mercury Exposure in".
  11. ^ Lewis, D R, "Environment and Economics go together?", South Environment, Sept 19-25, 1991, p20
  12. ^ Cock, Jacklyn (2004) "Connecting the red, brown and green: The environmental justice movement in South Africa" (PDF). Centre for Civil Society, University of KwaZulu-Natal. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
  13. ^ "Environmental Rights [1995] ZAConAsmRes 208 (23 January 1995)". www.saflii.org. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  14. ^ "The SA Constitution". www.justice.gov.za. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  15. ^ "Short Review of the COP-15 Conference in Copenhagen - LAS-ANS" (in Brazilian Portuguese). 8 April 2009. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  16. ^ South African International Energy Conference, Conference Report. 2015. https://www.ren21.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/SAIREC_Report_Final.pdf
  17. ^ Garland, Rebecca, South African court rules that clean air is a constitutional right https://theconversation.com/south-african-court-rules-that-clean-air-is-a-constitutional-right-what-needs-to-change-179706
  18. ^ Vlavianos, Chris, Communities celebrate as Court sets aside Shell’s exploration right off the Wild Coast of South Africahttps://www.greenpeace.org/africa/en/press/52171/press-release-communities-celebrate-as-court-sets-aside-shells-exploration-right-off-the-wild-coast-of-south-africa/
source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_movement_in_South_Africa