The Durban Metropolitan Area (DMA) has a large, diversified and growing economy. It is, however, as yet not providing adequate numbers of jobs for residents. Economic development is also negatively impacting on the natural environment in some areas (e.g. air pollution in the South Industrial Basin). The Council is, however, actively seeking to promote economic activity that maximises job opportunities which do not impact negatively on the health of the environment or residents.	What can you do to improve the situation
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What is causing the economy to impact negatively on the environment? A rapidly increasing population as a result of high birth rates and urbanisation is placing strain on the economy of the DMA. This in turn has negative impacts on the natural envrionment (e.g. air pollution in the South Industrial Basin).
What is the current state of the economy? The DMA has a large and diversified economy with strong manufacturing, tourism, transportation, finance and government sectors. The DMA also has a dynamic and growing small and micro business sector. There has, however, been little growth in the jobs provided by the formal sector over the past 20 years. As a result, the DMA has very high rates of unemployment and unequal access to economic opportunities throughout the metropolitan area.
How does the economy impact on the environment? In the past, industrial growth has occurred with few environmental controls, creating a legacy of degraded living environments particularly in the industrial heartland of the Durban South Basin. Economic activity has had significant negative impacts on the DMA's natural environment resulting in air, soil and water pollution, high noise levels and loss of biodiversity and cultural resources.
What is being done to reduce the impact that economic activity has on the environment? The Durban Metropolitan Environmental Policy recognises the importance of managing the negative environmental impacts of economic activity and seeks to promote economic activity that maximises job opportunities which do not have a negative impact on the environment or on human health.