GENERAL POLICY IN TERMS OF THE ENVIRONMENT CONSERVATION ACT 73 OF 1989

The General Policy in terms of the Environment Conservation Act 73 of 1989 is a South African government statement establishing a framework for environmental management. It defines the principles of sustainable development, assigns accountability to government institutions, and outlines specific policy goals across sectors including land use, pollution control, nature conservation, and energy.

• The policy is grounded in the principle of sustainable development and the belief that every inhabitant of South Africa has a right to a safe, healthy, and aesthetically acceptable environment, alongside a responsibility to respect the same right for others.
• Government institutions are held fully accountable for the environmental consequences of their activities. While the Central Government holds primary responsibility, executive functions should be devolved to provincial and regional governments and local authorities where they possess the necessary expertise and financial means.
• Land-use planning must balance essential development with environmental conservation, utilizing integrated environmental management to minimize harm. Priority is given to protecting high-potential agricultural land, water resources, indigenous forests, and wetlands.
• The Department of Environment Affairs is tasked with creating a national nature conservation plan and a classification system for protected areas to maintain biodiversity, covering various biomes, land forms, and veld types.
• Pollution control strategy prioritizes prevention through legislation and the use of the best practicable environmental options. The policy prohibits the import of hazardous waste for disposal unless it aligns with international agreements.
• Energy policy promotes a diversified approach, including the cleaner use of fossil fuels, the cost-effective use of independent renewable energy systems, and the increased use of solar energy. Nuclear energy is permitted if it is justified and managed safely.
• Economic measures are intended to internalize external environmental costs into production and exploitation costs and to ensure equitable resource access without compromising future generations.

APA

Centre for Environmental Rights (1994). GENERAL POLICY IN TERMS OF THE ENVIRONMENT CONSERVATION ACT 73 OF 1989. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/General-Policy-in-terms-of-ECA.pdf?x21779

Chicago

Centre for Environmental Rights. GENERAL POLICY IN TERMS OF THE ENVIRONMENT CONSERVATION ACT 73 OF 1989. 1994. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/General-Policy-in-terms-of-ECA.pdf?x21779.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=Centre for Environmental Rights |title=GENERAL POLICY IN TERMS OF THE ENVIRONMENT CONSERVATION ACT 73 OF 1989 |date=21 January 1994 |url=https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/General-Policy-in-terms-of-ECA.pdf?x21779 |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{centreforenvironmentalrights1994general, author = {{Centre for Environmental Rights}}, title = {{GENERAL POLICY IN TERMS OF THE ENVIRONMENT CONSERVATION ACT 73 OF 1989}}, publisher = {Centre for Environmental Rights}, year = {1994}, month = jan, url = {https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/General-Policy-in-terms-of-ECA.pdf?x21779}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }