Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning

Company Profile

The Western Cape Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning (DEA&DP) strives to maintain a fine line balance between economic growth, socio-economic challenges and sustainable use of our natural resources.  To this end, the Department leads the Western Cape Provincial Government’s strategic objective “Mainstreaming sustainable and optimising resource-use efficiency”.  The purpose of this strategic objective is to integrate sustainability and resource-use efficiency into the activities and sphere of influence of all Departments.

The Department has identified six key policy priorities to ensure that the purpose of the strategic objective is realised.  These policy priorities are:

• Climate Change Mitigation - To reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality management.  This includes measures to promote energy efficiency, renewable energy production, and to reduce the burning of fossil fuels.

• Water Management - To improve agricultural, industrial, commercial and household water-use efficiency, planning and management.

• Pollution and Waste Management - To improve pollution and waste planning and management.

• Biodiversity Management - To improve biodiversity planning, management and conservation.

• Land-Use Management and Agriculture - To ensure the optimal and efficient management and use of land, including the utilisation of land and natural resources for productive purposes

• Built Environment by mainstreaming resource-use efficiency and sustainability into land-use management and development, as well as into rural and built environment planning and management.