A critical component of the discussions between the Portfolio Committee and the Department was on finding the balance between sustainable development and job creation. The thread that repeatedly emerged during these discussions was the manner in which unsustainable production, consumption practices, land use practices, alien species invasions and the impact of climate change could result in degraded land and ecosystem productivity, which threatens both current and future development opportunity. Initiatives to contribute significantly to job creation, social inclusion and the low carbon green economy is evident in the environmental Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) and through the National Green Fund aimed at catalysing scaled up investment in climate resilient, low carbon sustainable development.