A new five-year programme on environmental cooperation between Norway and South Africa was signed in Pretoria on 13 December.

“Long-term environmental cooperation with South Africa can have a significant effect because South Africa plays an important role in the region in terms of environmental policy, and acts a driving force among developing countries in the environmental field,” said International Development Minister Erik Solheim.

The environment is one of the main priority areas for Norway’s development assistance to South Africa, together with democracy and human rights, research and higher education, and energy. Norway’s assistance to South Africa totalled NOK 107 million last year. The environmental programme will be financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs through the development assistance budget, and the Ministry of the Environment will be responsible for substantive follow-up.

“One important objective of the cooperation programme is to build up strong and efficient environmental authorities in South Africa,” said Minister of the Environment Helen Bjørnøy.

A key element in the new agreement is support for implementing global environmental conventions, thus enabling South Africa to meet its obligations and become an active team player in their further development. Three areas of cooperation will be in particular focus: reducing pollution, conserving biological diversity and environmental governance. The funding for the programme will amount to around NOK 10 million a year.

Norway and South Africa have enjoyed fruitful cooperation on international issues for many years, and have been cooperating on environmental issues since 1995. Norwegian development assistance funds have been used to establish an air-quality monitoring system in Durban. South Africa’s legislation has been amended so that the authorities can set higher standards for companies that cause pollution. Norway has also helped South Africa develop legislation requiring environmental impact assessment before any major development. The active participation of South African organisations is an important part of the cooperation between the two countries.