Module 2: Environmental Policy and Planning (Notes)
The National Environmental Policy is a set of principles and objectives for an integrated and multi sectorial approach addressing the totality of the environment
It covers the following areas
Improvement of natural resources management through research &technology;
Pursuing an environmental management goal through natural resources management
Preserving a clean and healthy environment
Solving problems of environmental degradation and pollution.
The objectives of the National Environmental Policy are
To ensure sustainable and equitable use of resources without degrading the environment
To prevent and control degradation of land, water, vegetation, and air which constitute the essential life support systems;
To conserve and enhance natural and man-made heritage, including the biological diversity of the unique ecosystems of Tanzania
To improve the condition and productivity of degraded areas including rural and urban settlements
To raise public awareness
To promote individual and community participation
To promote international cooperation.
The Act
The national environmental management act of Tanzania is among the public policy which seeks among other things
To integrate the environmental policy and the conservation strategy into the planning process
To involve stakeholders in environmental management
To promote environmental education and public awareness
To promote research and technology initiatives
To evolve and strengthen a national environmental information system
To promote environmental impact assessments
To guide the development of environmental legislation framework
To prepare a long term investment plan to address major environmental concerns.
The Policy context
Since it is often difficult to define the boundaries of the policy context relating to particular issues
Here there is a brief analysis of the most obvious linkages that can help us to put specific policies in the context and understand the processes that might be involved in policy change
a) An assessment of those policies which are immediately relevant to a particular set of concerns
b) An analysis of the formal mechanisms which generate policy
c) An analysis of the informal mechanisms that generate policy
d) The mechanisms envisaged for the implementation of those policies
e) The ways in which feedback about policy implementation and the impacts of policy reach policy makers and influence future policy processes
f) A comparison of policies across areas, sectors and levels in order to identify possible areas of linkage, harmonization and policy conflict
All these can be done through the following criteria
- Transparency
- Accountability
- Contracts
- Choice
- Effective feedback
- The legal framework to be understood
- The working rules,
- The collective choice rules
- The constitutional rules
Issues that can be considered when assessing the legal framework include
The coverage of legal documents
How the rules “perform” or satisfy the needs
The extent to which the framework includes rules regarding the governance
Mechanisms in place that regulate environmental issues
The extent to which national legislation is harmonized with international norms and regulations.
Analyzing resources and incentive structures
Appropriate resource and incentive structures should
Foster good management
Encourage the efficient, equitable and sustainable use of resources
Ensure the production and distribution of appropriate goods and services
Encourage investment that reduces vulnerability to shocks such as natural disasters.
The mechanisms that need to be analyzed include
Investment policies
Public sector incentives,
Private sector promotion measures
Cost recovery and pricing policies,
Investment appraisal tools
Principles of environmental policy
i. Goals
Secure an environment, as humans need it for health and existence,
Protection of air, water, soil, plants and animals from unfavorable effects of human interferences,
Removal of damage or disadvantages from human interferences into the environment.
ii. Principles
Precautionary Principle
The polluter pays principle
The principle of Common but Differentiated Responsibility (CBDR)
International cooperation principle
Intergenerational equity principle
Intra generational equity principle
The principle of eco-system integrity
The principle of public participation in the development of policies
Principle of access to justice
Those who are poor and hungry will often destroy their immediate environment in order to survive. The cumulative effect of these changes is so far-reaching as to make poverty itself a major global scourge (The Brundtland Commission, 1987)
Policy Formulation and the Role of Government
Dimensions of policy
Policy as a label for a particular field of activity
Policy as an expression of general purpose
Policy as a specific proposal for solving problems
Policy as a decision of the government
Policy as an entity with authority elements
Policy symbolizes a program
Policy as an output of the actors
Policy as a theory or model
Policy as stands for process
Types of policies
a) Distributive Policies
b) Regulatory Policies
c) Private Policies
d) Administration policies
Issues affecting public policies in developing countries
- Political influence
- External aid influence
- The state of the economy
- Government Capacity and Legitimacy
Formulating Environmental Policy
Environmental policy has five steps
i. Agenda setting
ii. Policy formulation
iii. Policy adoption
iv. Policy Implementation
v. Policy Evaluation with monitoring at the middle
Policy processes in Tanzania
Flow of Stages in the Policy Formulation Process in Tanzania
- Minister
- Principle Secretary
- Task Force
- Cabinet Secretariat
- Inter Ministerial Technical Committee
- Cabinet
Policy implementation
Policy implementation refers to the transformation of policy choices or programmes into operational measures.
Consideration of the practical aspects of policy implementation is a critical part of the policy process
This is done through the Involvement of stakeholders.
However, this may be preceded by a Baseline surveys as a strategy to provide the required details to guide smooth implementation of the policy
Policy monitoring and evaluation
Policy monitoring and evaluation is another important component of policy process that follows after formulating and implementing a policy.
This evaluates the outcomes of the implementation process, and shows the relationship that exists between policies and their impacts
The role of participation in policy making
Participation is an important part of policy making.
This implies that for the mainstreaming of social inclusion to be effective, a key element is the involvement of all relevant actors at each stage of the policy cycle.
Types of participation in Policy process
a) Consultation
b) Participation
c) Co-decision making
Models in policy formulation
1. The rational comprehensive model
2. The incremental model
3. The systems model
Characteristics of a good policy
- There is public support
- Policies are just
- Sound decisions are backed by solid analysis
- Policies are relevant
- Policies can be implemented
- Results are monitored
Environmental policy experiences from Africa countries around the world are pursuing environmental management at various levels and employing a range of strategies.
However, environmental policy in developing countries remains largely incoherent
because poverty and socioeconomic needs that seen as more pressing than the need for environmental controls
Below are case studies
Environmental policy in Botswana
The current environmental policy of the Republic of Botswana pays most attention to the utilization of the land and the needs of livestock
The social and cultural impacts of the population on the environment have been left outside the policy
Major Environmental Problems
Growing pressure on water resources, resulting from increases in population
Degradation of range pastures resources
Depletion of wood resources both in commercial harvest and domestic fuel
Over use or exploitation of some veld products
Pollution of air, water, soil and vegetation resources
Environmental Policy contents
The conservation of all main ecosystems
The protection of endangered species
The maintenance of stocks of renewable resources
The maintenance of stocks of renewable resources
The distribution of incomes and rewards more equitably
The cost effective restoration of degraded renewable natural resources
The prevention and control of pollution
Environmental Policy in Zambia
Zambia has a relatively long history of natural resources conservation and environmental management.
Before the colonial era, traditional leaders exercised control over harvesting of trees, hunting of wildlife and catching of fish leading that might have led to over fishing.
Important steps in the management of her environment and resources
The National Conservation Strategy (NCS), 1985
The Environmental Protection and Pollution Control Act, 1990
The creation of the Environmental Council of Zambia , in 1991
The creation of a Ministry to coordinate environmental matters, in 1992
The National Environmental Action Plan (NEAP) of 1994
The National Biological Diversity Strategy and Action Plan 1998
The National Forestry Policy
The National Policy on Environment
Ghana Environmental Policy
Drawing on International Development Association (IDA) resources and technical assistance since 2008 and support from other development partners, Ghana now has a well established environmental policy framework
After three years of policy reforms and institutional capacity building, important results include:
In forestry, a log tracking system to verify the legal origin of timber exports is being piloted starting in 2010 by four large timber companies.
In support of improved transparency, bi-annual revenue disbursement reports are disseminated to the public within 30 days of publication by Forestry Commission.
In the mining sector, “Social Responsibility Guidelines for Mining Companies in Mining Communities” were prepared
A draft Strategic Environmental Assessment on oil and gas has been developed for consultation..
National environmental policy in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe's National Environmental Policy is closely linked to its overall development policy and plans
The country is relatively well endowed with natural resources (forest, agricultural lands, livestock, water resources, wildlife and minerals)
The problems associated with the management of these resources are: overgrazing, deforestation and soil erosion, degradation, land shortage and overgrazing.
However, Zimbabwe is one of the leading countries in Africa in terms of work on the environment
The country's rich wildlife resources have been well managed
Urban sanitation is adequate
Environmentally sensitive areas have been designed and gazetted as national parks and forest reserves.
Post a Comment