Renewable projects are being planned and implemented throughout Africa, bringing both immediate and long-term solutions to Africa’s energy challenges aiming to reduce greenhouse gas production and emissions.

As a country extremely vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, South Africa has identified water, disease, food security and environmental migration as key areas where climate change will exacerbate existing development challenges.

In response to the broader decline of the global environment, the concept of green economy is now evolving from being just an ideal to a concrete and achievable approach to growth that is gathering more and more support from the African continent.

Investment in natural capital can help drive the development of a green economy and secure ecosystem services on which we all depend. These services provide food, water and energy, support our livelihoods and help us stay resilient to the uncertain conditions of a changing climate.

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The global economic crisis, which started in 2007, has not spared the African continent. Slower growth was exacerbated by high food and fuel prices, and by political unrest in several North African countries. Yet, in 2012 growth has recovered and is forecast at the highest pre-crisis level.

With the uncertain outlook for global economic growth come deep concerns about the prospects for the various measures of development in Africa. There has been insufficient progress in critical areas such as poverty, food security, employment creation, and child and maternal health on our continent.

These challenges are being amplified by the inequalities in development outcomes. Moreover, sustainability is undermined by growing populations and worsening environmental degradation and climate change. These pressing issues will need to be effectively addressed in a post-2015 agenda that must be shaped by the people of Africa.

Policy-makers need to be particularly concerned that growth translates into broader gains in human welfare, that the benefits of development accrue more evenly and that issues related to sustainability of development are effectively addressed.

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Environmental wealth accounts for twice as large a share of the total wealth of low-income countries as in middle-income countries and many times more than the share in OECD countries.

So, investing in sound and equitable environmental management makes good economic sense; and it is essential for people living in poverty because they depend directly on natural resources for their livelihoods.

However, such investments must be accompanied by the empowerment of communities, local governments and the private sector to lead the development efforts. Investing in environmental management as well as human capacity could provide the catalyst to benefit the poor and marginalised while also enhancing economic growth.

In post-1994 South Africa, the greatest challenge in terms of rural development has been to reverse the inherited legacy of the marginalisation of the poor in rural regions of our country. This has entailed drastic changes in access to human and natural resources, rural infrastructure and government services.

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What kind of country do we South Africans want to live in? Despite the achievements we have made as a young democracy, the persistence of widespread poverty and extreme levels of inequality remain a major threat to social cohesion and nation-building. But how do we effectively and realistically reduce inequality and eliminate poverty?

The first transition within South Africa’s new dispensation focused specifically on political democratisation. As we approach 2014, and 20 years of democracy, a second transition for the Republic is required. This will entail a social and economic vision for our country over the next 30 years.

Our country needs to make significant progress if we are to truly be an inclusive and just society as envisaged in our Constitution. But it is clear that there needs to a sharpening of the debate. The sweeping sentiment and fear of nationalisation which has been hijacked and distorted by individuals in recent times must be replaced with a rationalisation.

There must be a common recognition of the fact that all of us stand to gain from the transformation of South Africa. Both leaders and citizens must commit to building a better future based on sound ethical values, mutual sacrifice and planning.

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