Yes.
Internationally we are playing our part in these areas. South Africa has been mandated to host the Basel Regional Training Centre on behalf of the English speaking countries, which is intended to build capacity in hazardous waste management and the transboundary movement of waste. We are well aware of the problems of asbestos. The case will be heard in London on 19 June and we are all supporting this. We must definitely all do this.
Concerning climate change, we in South Africa have joined a convention on climate change to get a solution to the escalating greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere. Because South Africa's economy is coal based, we will still have problems in this regard. We need alternatives in our townships to supply electricity or alternative means of energy.
This morning we launched the White Paper for Sustainable Coastal Development in South Africa. It comes at a very good time, because this week we celebrate World Environment Week.
It is estimated that these resources contribute R168 billion annually to the national economy, approximately 35% of the gross domestic product. The coastal population of approximately 13,7 million people includes some of South Africa's poorest and most overcrowded communities. It is our challenge as politicians to assist those communities. They must have access to our resources, but they must know how to conserve and take care of these coastal areas so as not to degrade them continuously.
This policy is aimed at maximising and sustaining the social, economic and environmental benefits provided by coastal resources. In a partnership between Government and civil society, the department will initiate a course of action that will unlock the full potential of our coast whilst maintaining the wealth, diversity and productivity of coastal ecosystems.
Central to this strategy is support for local demonstration projects aimed at fostering shared responsibility of coastal resources between Government and coastal communities. Certain communities are joining the Blue Flag campaign. This means that that particular community is able to keep the coast clean. Communities which achieve this, will get a Blue Flag. All coastal communities must strive to do that. Durban is the first recipient of the Blue Flag, and I am proud of that. All communities, right up to here in the Western Cape, should join.
With the help of this White Paper, we can establish ``one-stop-shops'' for obtaining planning, environmental and other approvals for coastal development applications. We need to support these ...