Effectiveness of state of the environment reporting (SoER) in the Gauteng Province

Abstract

The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, and Agenda 21 called for improved environmental information for decision making. In response to this demand for information, State of the Environment (SoE) Reporting has since become the globally accepted means of reporting on environmental issues, and of measuring progress towards sustainable development in the countries which have adopted the principles contained in Agenda 21. However, although a wealth of knowledge has been developed in terms of conducting and preparing SoERs there is still very limited research on the actual effects SoE Reporting has had on decision making. The purpose of this mini-dissertation was to investigate the effectiveness of SoE Reporting within Category A, B and C Municipalities in the Gauteng Province. The research results suggest that notwithstanding the extensive time and resources spent on conducting SoERs, the overall effect has been limited within the selected Gauteng Municipalities.