Reporting on the SDGs - A focus on waste reporting in the 2019 South Africa Country Report

Abstract

South Africa has an obligation to report progress towards meeting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Goal 12 seeks to decouple economic growth and resource use towards achieving sustainable consumption and production. Therefore, a strong national framework for sustainable consumption and production is required to be integrated into national and sectoral plans, sustainable business practices and consumer behaviour, together with adherence to international norms on the management of hazardous chemicals and wastes. Three of the eleven targets speak to waste, namely: 12.3 on food waste, 12.4 on sound waste management, and 12.5 on implementation of the waste management hierarchy. This paper will evaluate available data for SDG reporting, the reasons why some available data is not included in the 2019 Country Report, and what the waste sector can and should do to assist government in providing a true reflection of South Africa's progress against the SDGs.