, LEG2601 Assignment 1
Semester 2 2025
DUE 25 August 2025
Use this document as a guide and for references to answer your assignment
Environmental Governance and the Main Aspects of Governance
Environmental governance has emerged as a crucial pillar in the quest for
sustainable development and the effective management of environmental resources.
It represents the frameworks, institutions, policies, rules, and practices that guide
how societies manage their interaction with the environment. In a world facing
climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, and resource degradation, robust
environmental governance ensures that development does not come at the cost of
ecological integrity or social equity. This essay evaluates the concept of
environmental governance and explores its main components as they relate to
environmental management, with reference to South African context and broader
global principles.
Understanding Environmental Governance
Environmental governance goes beyond mere environmental management. While
environmental management focuses on practical actions to protect or restore the
environment, governance refers to the underlying systems of decision-making and
accountability. It is concerned with who makes decisions, how these decisions are
made, and whose interests are represented.
In the South African context, environmental governance is shaped by both the
national constitutional mandate and a range of environmental legislation and
policies. It reflects the country’s commitment to sustainable development, social
justice, and ecological integrity. Governance ensures that environmental decisions
are participatory, transparent, and informed by science, while also balancing social
and economic needs.
Key Aspects of Environmental Governance in Environmental Management
1. Legal and Institutional Frameworks
A cornerstone of environmental governance is the establishment of legal
structures and institutions. In South Africa, this includes the Constitution
(Section 24), the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA), and
Semester 2 2025
DUE 25 August 2025
Use this document as a guide and for references to answer your assignment
Environmental Governance and the Main Aspects of Governance
Environmental governance has emerged as a crucial pillar in the quest for
sustainable development and the effective management of environmental resources.
It represents the frameworks, institutions, policies, rules, and practices that guide
how societies manage their interaction with the environment. In a world facing
climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, and resource degradation, robust
environmental governance ensures that development does not come at the cost of
ecological integrity or social equity. This essay evaluates the concept of
environmental governance and explores its main components as they relate to
environmental management, with reference to South African context and broader
global principles.
Understanding Environmental Governance
Environmental governance goes beyond mere environmental management. While
environmental management focuses on practical actions to protect or restore the
environment, governance refers to the underlying systems of decision-making and
accountability. It is concerned with who makes decisions, how these decisions are
made, and whose interests are represented.
In the South African context, environmental governance is shaped by both the
national constitutional mandate and a range of environmental legislation and
policies. It reflects the country’s commitment to sustainable development, social
justice, and ecological integrity. Governance ensures that environmental decisions
are participatory, transparent, and informed by science, while also balancing social
and economic needs.
Key Aspects of Environmental Governance in Environmental Management
1. Legal and Institutional Frameworks
A cornerstone of environmental governance is the establishment of legal
structures and institutions. In South Africa, this includes the Constitution
(Section 24), the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA), and
