An analysis of environmental obligations and liabilities of an electricity distribution company to improve sustainable development

Abstract

Concerns for the environment and the desire to secure sustainable development are often too difficult to achieve considering the pressure put on natural environment. Worldwide, environment must be protected to ensure social and economic development for the benefit of the existing and forthcoming generations. Developing countries ought to prioritise the protection of the environment over the exploitation of natural resources and environmental pollution. South Africa has incorporated the concept of sustainable development in the Bill of Rights in the Constitution although the country is still facing difficulties. This research article aims to analyse environmental obligations and liabilities of an Electricity Distribution Company to improve sustainable development. Environmental obligations, liabilities and sustainable development are identified to realize research objectives and respond to research questions. A correlation coefficient test is performed to determine relationship between variables. Positive (+ 1) relationship between variables was identified. The results demonstrated the electricity distribution company’s performance on environmental obligations and liabilities for environmental damaged caused. The results help to understand how to protect the environment, prevent financial liabilities and improve sustainable development. The Electricity Distribution Company had environmental incidents, which triggered environmental obligations and associated liabilities to which hinders the ability to achieve sustainable development in a comprehensive scale such as killing and endangering of protected bird species. Sustainable development will be negatively impacted as the results demonstrated that some environmental incidents were not reported and incidents occurrence hotspots not identified. Consequently, this impacts negatively on the environmental integrity. Environmental Management System could assist to address environmental obligations and associated liabilities to improve sustainable development. The system provide an international standard that ensure proper processes, risk identification, environmental aspects with the sole purpose to enhance environmental performance, achieve environmental obligations and fulfil environmental compliance obligations.