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Environmental challenges we face today are intricately linked to the economic challenges of social injustice. It has been argued that if people are poor and national economies are weak, the environment suffers and if the environment is abused and resources are over-consumed, people suffer and the economies decline. Throughout the world people require jobs, food, education, energy, health care, water and sanitation. We need to ensure that as we address these needs, the rich fabric of cultural and social diversity, and the rights of workers are respected and that all members of society are empowered to play a key role in determining their destiny.

Issues around corporate accountability will take center stage at the upcoming World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) to be held in Johannesburg from 26 August to 4 September 2002. About 2000 global business leaders are expected to attend the summit. As advocates of sustainable development we should ask ourselves what are we doing to ensure that our practices are not harmful to us and to the environment? As responsible corporates, we should ensure that environment and social justice is upheld.

As we pursue our goal of achieving sustainable development we should re-examine our consumption and production patterns and reaffirm our commitment to the Rio declaration by working towards responsible, environmentally sound economic growth. In this issue we take a look at sustainable development challenges in Swaziland focusing on waste management, corporate accountability, water and sanitation.