The National Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) appointed GeoAfrika Technologies, in associated with WSP Environmental, to undertake the compilation of municipal environmental profiles for all 44 District Municipalities in South Africa. The aim of this was to provide a better context of the municipal environment and to provide them with a tool to assist and inform development planning. The information compiled was fed into the State of Environment and Environmental Outlook reporting. Seven distinct thematic areas were applied to form the basis for the environmental profiles: biodiversity, waste management, climate risk and vulnerability, climate change and mitigation, air quality, environmental protection and environmental governance.