A Literature Review of Laws, Frameworks, and Policies of Sustainability: A National Perspective

Abstract

Floyd Warren Brink and Shamila Singh

The purpose of this article is to review the laws, frameworks, and policies at a global and national that influences and directs sustainability strategies, programmes and plans.

The secondary data analysis of sustainability laws, frameworks and policies from primary studies can be used to understand current issues in new and novels ways. Search engines like Google Scholar and library databases was used to find studies whose titles or abstracts contained terms like "sustainability laws," "sustainability codes," "sustainability regulations," "sustainability legislation” and “sustainability framework”. The sample was selected based on the countries that have aligned to the Sustainable Development Goals. The data will be analysed using thematic analysis to identify themes and sub-themes.

This literature review reveals the intertwined nature of global, regional, and national laws on sustainability in South Africa. Key findings highlight that global agreements, like the Paris Agreement, set important guidelines, while regional initiatives address specific local needs. At the national level, South Africa’s Constitution and environmental laws illustrate a strong commitment to sustainability, emphasizing the need for integrated and coordinated legal approaches to tackle complex sustainability challenges effectively.

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