. The department to undertake awareness programmes on climate change throughout the country as many citizens were unaware of environmental issues. The environmental education should incorporate diverse media forms and be inclusive of languages spoken in different communities. . The department's energy and waste reduction initiatives were commended, but this should be expanded to include water as an important resource. . The department should begin the employment process in the previous financial year, so that there are no long time-frames before people start working. . In light of the delays in the completion of EIAs causing delays in some construction development projects, especially in the Eastern Cape, (due to lack of capacity in the Department), a special briefing by the Department should be scheduled in 2010.