South africa has a number of development plans and sectorial strategies for sustainable development. the
first integrated framework for sustainable development emerged after the Johannesburg summit in 2002. an independent National planning commission presented the latest development plan in 2011. Furthermore, the departments produce their own development plans and strategies. these efforts have had no major positive impacts on reducing POVERTY, emissions and inequality. income inequality REMAINS among the highest in the world. 39% of the population lives below the national income poverty line. south africa’s greenhouse gas emissions constitute around 1% of global emissions. For a developing COUNTRY, south africa’s ANNUAL per CAPITA emissions are high, at 9.2 tons per capita, whereas its GDp per capita is closer to developing countries with far lower emissions per capita. the emissions- intensity of the south african economy is one of the highest in the world.
this paper serves as a background document for a research project that informs sustainable development planning through the analysis of developmental impacts of mitigation action