The role of social policy in transition towards a green economy: the case of South Africa

The paper examines the significance of social policy towards growth of a green economy with particular reference to South Africa. As such, the roles identified are that social policy: constructs ideological foundations which enhance growth of a green economy, promotes efficiency of green economy advancement, improves competitiveness of green economy emancipation and enables sustainability participation required of private firms and financial entities thereby enhancing establishment of a green economy when adopting economic market policies. Further, the paper outlines specific recommendations which are essential towards constructing a green economy by developing an efficient social policy in South Africa. These recommendations include constructing planning processes which empower both rural and urban social policy  establishment and implementation procedure pertaining to green issues, employing complete media mass communication models that facilitate expanded publicity concerning social policy issues which relate to green matters, exercising complete employment of academic research and development (R&D) capability of social scientific institutions which enhance and propel green economy development and constructing a government and private sector social policy collaborative venture which enhance green economy advancement. Moreover, the paper suggests integrating green technology systems in social policy planning and implementation so as to support green economy growth, introducing green funding service frameworks in social policy adoption, integrating green benchmarks in performance assessment frameworks of government department’s social policy initiatives and reinforcing green legislation.