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African Environmental Governance

Opportunities at the Regional, Subregional, and National Levels

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Book cover International Environmental Law and Policy in Africa

Part of the book series: Environment & Policy ((ENPO,volume 36))

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Abstract

In recent years, the critical role of civil society and the public in protecting the environment has become clear. International declarations and agreements such as the 1992 Rio Declaration increasingly recognise the role that individuals (including citizens and non-citizens), non-governmental organisations, and local governments have in sustainable management of natural resources and in protecting critically important areas. Countries are starting to give life to environmental governance principles by establishing institutions that guarantee public access to the decisionmaking process, as well as by creating and clarifying substantive rights to information, participation, and justice. In fact, many African nations have enshrined these guarantees in their constitutions.1

The author expresses his appreciation to Sara van de Kappelle, Stefannie Bernstein, and Jessica Yarnall for their research assistance and to Jay Austin and Kevin Gray for their thoughtful comments on earlier drafts. Resources for research conducted under this project wereprovided by the United States Agency for International Development and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. A more detailed version of this paper was published as Carl E. Bruch & Roman Czebiniak, Globalising (2002), “Environmental Governance: Making the Leap from Regional Initiatives on Transparency, Participation, and Accountability in Environmental Matters”, 32 Envt’l L Rep. 10428.

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References

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  126. A recent draft revision of the African Convention on the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources in Africa has a new article on procedural rights. African Convention on the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, Jan. 18, 2002 Draft, art. XVI (on file with author). This article would require Parties to adopt legislative and regulatory measures necessary to ensure timely and appropriate a) dissemination of environmental information; b) access of the public to environmental information; c) participation of the public in decision-making with a potentially significant environmental impact; and d) access to justice in matters related to protection of environment and natural resources. Ibid. art. XVI.1. Moreover, Parties would commit to ensuring non-discriminatory access to justice for persons in other nations who are affected by a transboundary environmental harm. Ibid. art. XVI.2. Article XX also provides for capacity building, education, and training, which will be necessary for people to effectively utilize their procedural and substantive rights and to contribute meaningfully to decision-making processes. These provisions could provide a basis for elaborating a more detailed set of guidelines and tools for ensuring public involvement.

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  127. Done at Arusha, Tanzania, 30 Nov. 1999.

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  128. See Arts. 112(2)(b) (environmental impact assessment), 112(2)(d) (public awareness and education regarding chemicals), 112(2)(i) (exchange information on pollution and conservation technology), 114(2)(c) (establish databases and networks to exchange information on mining), 116(b) (exchange information on wildlife management).

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  129. Memorandum of Understanding between the Republic of Kenya and the United Republic of Tanzania and the Republic of Uganda for Cooperation on Environmental Matters, done at Nairobi, 22 October 1998.

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  133. Art. 14(2).

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  134. Art. 14(3).

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  135. Art. 16(4)(a) (“The Parmer States agree not to carry out any activity that may have significant transboundary environmental impact or harm without prior consultations, timely notification and provision of adequate technical information and data.”)

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  141. Arts. 14(2) (EIA), 9(f) (pledging to “institute new techniques or measures which enhance ... partnerships with local people” in the management of forest resources).

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  142. Art. 16(2)(d).

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  144. MOU, n. 5 above, art. 16(2)(e).

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  145. Art. 16(3).

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  146. This initiative also relates to Article 8 of the MOU, which seeks to “initiate, develop, implement and harmonize policies, laws and programmes to strengthen regional coordination in the management of the resources of the lake Victoria ecosystem ....”

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  148. Protocol on Shared Watercourse Systems in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Region, at art. 5(b)(i), (iv). While Article 2(5) requires member states of a shared watercourse to “exchange available information and data regarding the hydrological, hydrogeological, water quality, meteorological and ecological condition of such watercourse system,” this requirement appears to apply only between states and not necessarily to public access to information.

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  149. Arts. 5(d)(iii), 5(d)(iv), and 5(e).

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  152. Ibid., art. 3 (“Information Exchange”).

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  153. Art. 8(2).

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Bruch, C.E. (2003). African Environmental Governance. In: International Environmental Law and Policy in Africa. Environment & Policy, vol 36. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-0135-8_11

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-0135-8_11

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