MIDLANDS STATE UNIVERSITY

DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY AND ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES

NAME REG. NO. PROGRAMME HEALTH : : : TARIRO MANGENA R0432737 POST-GRADUATE DIPLOMA IN ENVIRONMENTAL

AND SAFETY COURSE : ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATION ASGMT

:

DGES 502 SAFETY, HEALTH AND Discuss the extent to which the Environmental

Management Act 20:27, any 3 Statutory instruments under it attempt to foster Sustainable Development in Zimbabwe

DUE DATE LECTURER

: :

9 SEPTEMBER 2011 MR V. T. MUTEKWA

Discuss the extent to which the Environmental Management Act 20:27, any 3 Statutory instruments under it attempt to foster Sustainable Development in Zimbabwe

Sustainable development (SD) is a pattern of resource use, that aims to meet human needs while preserving the environment so that these needs can be met not only in the present, but also for generations to come (sometimes taught as ELF-Environment, Local people, Future). The term was used by the Brundtland Commission which coined what has become the most often-quoted definition of sustainable development as development that "meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. (United Nations ,1987) and (Smith, Charles; Rees,
Gareth ,1998)

Sustainable development ties together concern for the carrying capacity of natural systems with the social challenges facing humanity. As early as the 1970s "sustainability" was employed to describe an economy "in equilibrium with basic ecological support systems. (Stivers, R. ,1976). Ecologists have pointed to The Limits to Growth, ( Meadows, D.H., D.L. Meadows, J. Randers, and W.W. Behrens III.,1972) and presented the alternative of a "steady state economy ( Daly, H. E.,1973) environmental concerns. The field of sustainable development can be conceptually broken into three constituent parts: environmental sustainability, economic sustainability and sociopolitical sustainability. in order to address

www.cadi.ph/sustainable_development.htm

The Environmental Management Act 20:27, through enforcement practices of the Environmental Management Agency (EMA), as stipulated by the act, promote sustainable development in many ways. The act stipulates the functions and powers of the agency(EMA) (statute 10). Subject to this Act and any other enactment, the functions of the Agency shall be (a) to formulate quality standards on air, water, soil, noise, vibration, radiation and waste management; (b) to assist and participate in any matter pertaining to the management of the environment; and in particular: (i) to develop guidelines for the preparation of the National Plan, environmental management plans and local environmental action plans; (ii) to regulate and monitor the collection, disposal, treatment and recycling of waste;

(iii) to regulate and monitor the discharge or emission of any pollutant or hazardous substance into the environment; (iv) to keep records in the form of registers of all licences and permits issued under this Act; (v) to regulate and monitor the control of invasive alien species; (vi) to regulate, monitor, review, and approve environmental impact assessments; (vii) to regulate and monitor the management and utilisation of ecologically fragile ecosystems; (viii) to make model by-laws to establish measures for the management of the environment within the jurisdiction of the local authorities; (ix) to develop and implement incentives for the protection of the environment; (x) to recommend to the Government the conventions which the country may join, and incorporate their provisions into national law; (xi) to co-ordinate the production of a report on the state of the environment every five years for the purpose of paragraph (c) of subsection (1) of section five;

The functions of EMA therefore are coordinated and integrate into laws as set parameters and regulations that control many aspects of environmental development. Ideally, when communities cooperate, it becomes easier to foster sustainable

development. Community involvement in areas undergoing different kinds of developments that can have variable environmental impacts is a key factor. The community should be made aware of the nature of the development and considered as key stakeholders. Awareness workshops such as these are normally carried out by those responsible for the developmental projects; however it should be the duty of EMA officers to ensure that a community is made aware of the importance of sustainable development. EMA achieves this through provision made in the act which stipulates that any organization partaking in activities that affect the environment must have an Environmental Management Plan (statute 96). With regard to Environmental management plans; specified authority means any government agency, person or class of persons that (a) exercises functions, or engages in operations, which may affect the environment or which involve the management of the environment; and(2) Every specified authority shall prepare an environmental management plan within such period as the Minister may specify. (3) Every environmental management plan prepared in terms of subsection (2) shall contain the following (a) a description of the functions exercised by the specified authority in respect of the environment; and (b) a description of the environmental standards set or applied; and (c) a description of the policies, plans and programmes that are designed to give effect to the plan; and (d) the degree of compliance required of other persons; and (e) arrangements for co-operation with other persons on environmental management; and (f) a description of the manner in which the specified authority will ensure that its functions are exercised in a way that will ensure compliance with this Act, other

relevant enactments, and environmental standards so as to achieve the management and protection of the environment. (4) The procedure and other matters relating to the making, development and implementation of management plans shall be as prescribed.

Whilst statute 10 provides for this to a certain extent, people tend to appreciate sustainable development if it adds some direct value into the lives of individuals and communities as a whole. Provision of incentives for environmental management (statute134) is an effective tool therefore in encouraging sustainable development. With regard to the provision of incentives for environmental management; The Minister, on the recommendation of the Agency and in consultation with the Minister responsible for finance, shall determine: (a) such fiscal, economic or social incentives as are necessary for promoting the protection and management of the environment and the conservation and sustainable utilisation of natural resources; and (b) such measures as are necessary for preventing the unsustainable use of natural resources and controlling the generation of pollutants.

REFERENCES
1. Daly, H. E. 1973. Towards a Steady State Economy. San Francisco: Freeman. Daly, H. E. 1991. Steady-State Economics (2nd ed.). Washington, D.C.: Island Press. 2. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT ACT [CHAPTER 20:27] Act 13/2002, 5/2004 (s. 23)1, 6/2005 (s. 28)2 3. Meadows, D.H., D.L. Meadows, J. Randers, and W.W. Behrens III. 1972. The Limits to Growth. Universe Books, New York, NY. ISBN 0-87663-1650
4. Smith, Charles; Rees, Gareth (1998). Economic Development, 2nd

edition. Basingstoke: Macmillan. ISBN 0333722280. 5. Stivers, R. 1976. The Sustainable Society: Ethics and Economic Growth. Philadelphia: Westminster Press 6. United Nations. 1987."Report of the World Commission on Environment and Development." General Assembly Resolution 42/187, 11 December 1987. Retrieved: 2007-04-12
7. www.cadi.ph/sustainable_development.htm