Environment bill in Parliament

SEVENTEEN years after Independence a bill to manage Namibia’s environment properly and sustainably has finally been tabled in the National Assembly.

“The Bill aims to establish a sustainable development advisory council, appoint an environmental commissioner and environmental officers,” Environment and Tourism Minister Willem Konjore said on Thursday, when he introduced the new bill in Parliament. “It will provide for assessment and control of activities which may have significant effects on the environment.”The Bill lays down environmental management principles which all Government institutions and private persons must adhere to.In t he context of resource utilisation and conservation, as well as land use, this is underpinned by the concept of sustainable use and development without causing negative environmental effects, which is the foundation stone of contemporary environmental management,” Konjore added.Debate on the Bill will start today.The 32-page bill prescribes stiff sentences of N$500 000 or 25 years in prison, or both, for non-compliance, and it gives a lot of power to the new post of Environmental Commissioner and his deputy.The Commissioner will review all applications for environmental clearance certificates and issue these certificates after approval.The Commissioner must also travel around the country and carry out inspections to see if institutions and companies like mines and tourism operations comply with the future Environmental Management Act.The Commissioner will further determine “whether a listed activity requires an (environmental) assessment.”This means that any mining company or land developer for agricultural, industrial or tourism purposes must seek approval in the form of an environmental assessment clearance certificate from the Commissioner.”It gives a lot of power to that post and it could lead to either bribery attempts by applicants or them putting severe pressure on such a Commissioner,” a well-placed source in environmental circles told The Namibian.”Another critical point is that the proposed Sustainable Development Advisory Council will only sit twice a year, it is reckoned that there will not be a lot of decision-making coming from that body,” the source added.The Commissioner will also assist state institutions and ministries to prepare environmental plans.The future Advisory Council will have all its members appointed by the Minister, four from Government and four from private institutions “representing the interests of organisations, associations or institutions concerned with environmental matters,” according to the Bill.The Council is to advise the Minister on a development policy and a strategy for the management and protection of the environment.”It will provide for assessment and control of activities which may have significant effects on the environment.”The Bill lays down environmental management principles which all Government institutions and private persons must adhere to.In t he context of resource utilisation and conservation, as well as land use, this is underpinned by the concept of sustainable use and development without causing negative environmental effects, which is the foundation stone of contemporary environmental management,” Konjore added.Debate on the Bill will start today.The 32-page bill prescribes stiff sentences of N$500 000 or 25 years in prison, or both, for non-compliance, and it gives a lot of power to the new post of Environmental Commissioner and his deputy.The Commissioner will review all applications for environmental clearance certificates and issue these certificates after approval.The Commissioner must also travel around the country and carry out inspections to see if institutions and companies like mines and tourism operations comply with the future Environmental Management Act.The Commissioner will further determine “whether a listed activity requires an (environmental) assessment.”This means that any mining company or land developer for agricultural, industrial or tourism purposes must seek approval in the form of an environmental assessment clearance certificate from the Commissioner.”It gives a lot of power to that post and it could lead to either bribery attempts by applicants or them putting severe pressure on such a Commissioner,” a well-placed source in environmental circles told The Namibian.”Another critical point is that the proposed Sustainable Development Advisory Council will only sit twice a year, it is reckoned that there will not be a lot of decision-making coming from that body,” the source added.The Commissioner will also assist state institutions and ministries to prepare environmental plans.The future Advisory Council will have all its members appointed by the Minister, four from Government and four from private institutions “representing the interests of organisations, associations or institutions concerned with environmental matters,” according to the Bill.The Council is to advise the Minister on a development policy and a strategy for the management and protection of the environment.