The four environmental narratives identified in South Africa are : The Conservation, The Economic, Non-state Actors, Local Views.

The motive of the conservation is that it justifies approach by creating alarm and panic about the state of the environment, in particular its declining quality. It also sees the environment as a victim in need of rescue from ignorant and destructive local communities, it does not assume that collaboration is possible and that joint solutions may be found.

The motive of the economic is that it identifies opportunities to exploit resources (sell them for profit) to make money by those who have the means and therefore the power. the motive of the non-state actors view is that the intrinsic value of the environment that should be protected and respected . The firm belief that environmental resources are finite.

the motive of the local communities views is the the nature of the relationship with the environment is shaped by socio-political context and that polices and practices as framework direct views and responses of local communities, during the colonial times such polices and practices served to distort communities' relationship with the environment.

two main environmental discourses are sustainable development and environmental and social justice.The role of discourse in the environmental policy process, it critically examines the claims made for normative discourse management and highlights the need to consider carefully the institutions through which environmental policy discourse is mediated.