Local Agenda 21 and environmental economics: A sustainable economy for the Greater Durban Metropolitan Area

The City of Durban has been identified as one of fifteen cities world-wide (and the only one in Africa) to be developed in terms of the United Nations' Local Agenda 21 Programme for localized sustainable development. After sketching the relationship between the environment and the economy, in which the limitations of environmental economics are noted, the existing economic situation in the Greater Durban Metropolitan Area is examined. Major macroeconomic and microeconomic issues are identified; and in the process, particular attention is paid to the dominant role played by industry. Concluding comments are offered on the possibility of successfully promoting sustainable development in the region.