Applying the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) for public bodies in the South African context: the eThekwini experience

Abstract

The eThekwini municipality's most recent State of the Environment (SOE) report was released in July 2005 and used the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) sustainability reporting guidelines as a guiding framework. This method was novel in the development of a SOE report and many of the decisions reached were without precedent in the South African context. This paper relates the experiences of the team responsible for developing the report. It describes how the GRI was used and assesses the advantages and disadvantages of using the guidelines for public bodies in this context. It also explores the broader principles of corporate citizenship and the applicability of these to a public body.

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Notes on contributors

Quentin Hurt

Respectively, Environmental Consultant; and Managing Director and Environmental Consultant, ECOSERV Environmental Consulting Services.