Nitrous oxide: Nitrous oxide concentrations have risen approximately 20

percent since the start of the Industrial Revolution, with a relatively rapid
increase toward the end of the 20th century. Nitrous oxide concentrations
have inereased from a pre-industrial level of 270 ppb to over 332 ppb in 2023.
Reflectivity or Absorption of the Sun's Energy activities such as agriculture, road
construction, and deforestation can
change the reflectivity of the earth's surface, leading to local warming or
cooling. This effect is observed in heat islands, which are urban centers that
are warmer than the surrounding, less populated areas. One reason that
these areas are warmer is that buildings, pavement, and roofs tend to reflect
less sunlight than natural surfaces. While deforestation can increase the
earth's reflectivity globally by replacing dark trees with lighter surfaces such
as crops, the net effect of all land-use changes appears to be a small cooling.

SEMINAR QUESTIONS FOR 2ND SEMESTER 2024

1. The fight against Climate Change is a complex environmental reality.
The global economy is currently built on a foundation of greenhouse
gas emission and action to change this threatens to destabilize
economic development everywhere. Discuss.
water vapor are the most important greenhouse gases, and they have e
profound effect on the energy budget of the Earth system despite making up
only a fraction of all atmospheric gases.
Human Activities:
Recognition of global climate change as an environmental issue has drawn
attention to the climatic impact of human activities. Most of this attention has
focused
On carbon dioxide emission via fossil-fuel combustion
and deforestation. Human activities also yield releases of other greenhouse
gas’s, such as methane (from rice cultivation, 1livestock, landfills, and other
sources) and chlorofluorocarbons (from industrial sources). There is little
doubt among climatologists that these greenhouse gas’s affect the radiation
budget of Earth; the nature and magnitude of the climatic response are a
subject of intense research activity.
Concentrations of the key greenhouse gases have all increased since the
Industrial Revolution due to human activities. Carbon dioxide, methane, and
nitrous oxide concentrations are now more abundant in the earth's
atmosphere than any time in the last 800,000 years. These greenhouse gas
emissions have increased the greenhouse effect and caused the earth’s
surface temperature to rise. Burning fossil fuels changes the climate more
than any other human activity.
Carbon dioxide: Human activities currently release over 30 billion tons of
carbon dioxide into the atmosphere every year. Atmospheric carbon dioxide
concentrations have increased by more than 50 percent since pre-industrial
times, from approximately 280 parts per million (ppm) in the 18th century to
over 4 14 ppm in 2023.
Methane: Human activities increased methane concentrations during most
of the 21 st century to more than 3.5 times the pre-industrial level, from
approximately 722 parts per billion (ppb) in the 18th century to over 1,867
ppb in 2023.
 INTRODUCTION TO CLIMATE CHANGE
What is climate?. Climate is the long-term weather pattern in an area,
typically averaged over 30 years. More rigorously, it is the mean and
variability of metrorological variables over a time spanning from months to
millions of years. Weather other the other hand is the state of the atmosphere,
describing for example the degree to which it is hot or cold, wet or dry, calm
or story, clear or cloudy.

Since the Industrial Revolution, human activities have released large

amounts of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere,
which has changed the earth's climate. Natural processes, such as changes
in the sun's energy and volcanic eruptions, also affect the earth's climate.
Climate Change, is the periodic modification of Earth's climate brought
about as a result of changes in the atmosphere as well as interactions
between the atmosphere and various other geologic, chemical, biological, and
geographic factors within the Darth system.

The atmosphere is a dynamic fluid that is continually in motion. Both its

physical properties and its rate and direction of motion are influenced by a
variety of factors, including solar radiation, the geographic position
of continents, ocean Currents, the location and orientation
of mountain ranges, atmospheric chemistry, and vegetation growing on the
land surface. All these factors change through time. Some factors, such as
the distribution of heat within the oceans, atmospheric chemistry, and
surface vegetation, change at very short timescales. Others, such as the
position of continents and the location and height of mountain ranges, change
over very long timescales. Therefore, climate, which results from the physical
properties and motion of the atmosphere, varies at every conceivable
timescale.

Greenhouse Gases
Greenhouse
gases are gas molecules that have the property of
absorbing infrared radiation (net heat energy) emitted from Earth's surface
and reradiating it back to Earth's surface, thus contributing to the
phenomenon known as the greenhouse effect Carbon dioxide, methane, and
Garbage often contains dangerous pollutants such as oils, chemicals, and
ink. These pollutants can leech into the soil and harm plants, animals, and
people
.
Inefficient garbage collection systems contribute to land pollution. Often, the
garbage is picked up and brought to a dump, or landfill. Garbage is buried in
landfills. Sometimes, communities produce so much garbage that their
landfills are filling up. They are running out of places lo dump heir trash.
Sometimes, landfills are not completely sealed off from the land around them.
Pollutants from the landfill leak into the earth in which they are buried. Plants
that grow in the earth may be contaminated, and the herbivores that eat the
plants also become contaminated.

Around the world, people and governments are making efforts to combat
pollution. Recycling, for instance, is becoming more common. In recycling,
trash is processed so its useful materials can be used again. Glass, aluminum
cans, and many types of plastic can be melted and reused. Paper can be
turned and broken down into new paper.

Recycling reduces the amount of garbage that ends up in landfills,

incinerators, and waterways. Austria and Switzerland have the highest
recycling rates. These nations recycle between 50 and 60 percent of their
garbage. The United States recycles about 30 percent of its garbage.

Governments can combat pollution by passing laws that limit the amount and
types of chemicals factories and agribusinesses are allowed to use. The smoke
from coal-burning power plants can be filtered. People and businesses that
illegally dump pollutant into the land, water, and air can be fined for millions
of dollars.

SEMINAR QUESTIONS FOR 2ND SEMESTER 2024

1. All living things-from one-celled microbes to blue whales-depend on
Earth's supply of air and water. When these resources are polluted, all
forms of life are threatened. Discuss
Rain washes other pollutants into streams and lakes. It picks up animal
waste from cattle ranches. Cars drip oil onto the street, and rain carries it
into storm drains, which lead to waterways such as rivers and seas. Rain
sometimes washes chemical pesticides off of plants and into streams.
Pesticides can also seep into groundwater, the water beneath the surface of
the earth

Heat can pollute water. Power plants, for example, produce a huge amount of
heat. Power plants are often located on rivers so they can use the water as
a coolant. Cool water circulates through the plant, absorbing heat. The
heated water is then returned to the river. Aquatic creatures are sensitive to
changes in temperature, some fish, for example, can only live in cold water.
Warmer river temperatures prevent fish eggs from hatching.

Another type of water pollution is simple garbage. The Citarum River in

Indonesia, for example, has so much garbage floating in it that you cannot
see the water. Floating trash makes the river difficult to fish in. Aquatic
animals such as fish and turtles mistake trash, such as plastic bags, for food.
Plastic bags can kill many ocean creatures. Chemical pollutants in trash can
also pollute the water, making it toxic for fish and people who use the river as
a source of drinking water. The fish that are caught in a polluted river often
have high levels of chemical toxins in their flesh. People absorb these toxins
as they eat the fish

Garbage also fouls the Occan. Many plastic bottlcs and other picccs of trash
are thrown overboard from boats. The wind blows trash out to sea. Ocean
Currents carry plastics and other floating trash to certain places on the globe,
where it cannot escape. The largest of these areas, called the Great Pacific
Garbage Patch, is in a remote part of the Pacific Ocean. According to some
estimates, this garbage patch is the size of Texas. The trash is a threat to fish
and seabirds, which mistake the plastic for food. Many of the plastics are
covered with chemical pollutants.

Land Pollution:

Many of the same pollutants that foul the water also harm the land. Mining
chemicals. Sometimes leaves the soil contaminated with dangerous
Pesticides and fertilizers from agricultural fields are blown by the wind. They
can harm plants, animals, and sometimes people. Some fruits and vegetables
absorb the pesticides that help them grow. When people consume the fruits
and vegetables, the pesticides enter their bodies. Some pesticides can cause
cancer and other diseases

Trash is another form of land pollution. Around the world, paper, cans, glass jars, plastic products,
and junked cars and appliances cover the landscape. litter makes it difficult for plants and other
producers in the food web to
create nutrients. Animals Can die if they mistakenly eat plastic.,
And rives, places where little life exist below surface water

Mining and drilling can also contribute to water pollution. Acid mine drainage (AMD) is a major
contributor to pollution of rivers and streams near coal mines. Acid helps miners remove coal
from the surrounding rocks. The acid is washed into streams and rivers, where it reacts with
rocks and sand. It releases chemical sulfur from the rocks and sand, creating a river rich
in sulfuric acid. Sulfuric acid is toxic to plants, fish, and other aquatic organisms. Sulfuric acid is
also toxic to people, making rivers polluted by AMD dangerous of water for drinking and
hygiene.

Oil spills are another source of water pollution. In April 2010, the Deepwater Horizon oil rig
exploded in the Gulf of Mexico, causing oil to gush from the Ocean floor. In the following
months, hundreds of millions of gallons of oil spewed into the gulf waters. The spill produced
large plumes of oil under the sea and an oil slick on the surface as large as 24,000 square
kilometers (9,100 square miles). The oil slick coated wetlands in the U.S, states of Louisiana
and Mississippi, killing marsh plants and aquatic organisms such as crabs and fish. Birds, such as
pelicans, became coaled in oil and were unable to fly or access food. More than 2 million
animals died as a result of the Deepwater
Horizon oil spill.

Buried chemical waste can also pollute water supplies. For many years,
people disposed of chemical wastes carelessly, not realizing its dangers. In the
1970s, people living in the Love Canal area in Niagara Falls, New York,
suffered from extremely high rates of cancer and birth defects. It was
discovered that a chemical waste dump had poisoned the area's water. In
1978, 800 families living in Love Canal had to abandon their homes.
If not disposed of properly, radioactive waste from nuclear power plants can
escape into the environment. Radioactive waste can harm living things and
the pollute water.

Sewage that has not been properly treated is a common source of water
pollution. Many cities around the world have poor sewage systems
and sewage treatment plants. Delhi, the capital of India, is home to more than
21 million people. More than half the sewage and other waste produced in the
city are dumped into the Yamuna River. This pollution makes the river
dangerous to use as a source of water for drinking or hygiene. It also reduces
the river's fishery, resulting in less food for the local community.

A major source of water pollution is fertilizer used in agriculture. Fertilizer is

material added to soil to make plants grow larger and faster. Fertilizers
usually contain large amounts of the elements nitrogen and phospharus,
which help plants grow. Rainwater washes fertilizer in to streams and lakes.
There, the nitrogen and phosphorus cause cyanobacteria to form harmful
algal blooms
sea ice in the Arctic. The melting ice is forcing polar bears to travel farther to find f00d, and their
number are shrinking

People and governments can respond quickly and effectively to reduce air pollution. Chemicals
called chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are a dangerous form of air pollution that governments
worked to reduce in the 1980s and 1990s. CFCs are found in gases that cool refrigerators, in
foam products, and
in aerosol CFCs damage the ozone layer, a region in Earth's upper atmosphere. The ozone layer
protects Earth by absorbing much of the sun's harmful ultraviolet radiation. When people are
exposed lo more ultraviolel radiation, lhey are more likely to develop skin cancer, eye diseases,
and other illnesses,

In the 1980s, scientists noticed that the ozone layer over Antarctica was thinning. This is often
called the "ozone hole." No one lives permanently in Antarctica. But Australia, the home of more
than 22 million people, lies at the edge of the hole. In the 1990s, the Australian government
began an effort to warn people of the dangers of too much sun. Many countries, including the
United States, are now severally limited the production of CFCs.

WATER POLLUTION

Some polluted water looks muddy, smells bad, and has garbage floating in it. Some polluted
water looks clean, but is filled with harmful chemicals you can't see or smell,

Polluted water is unsafe for drinking and swimming. Some people who drink polluted water are
exposed to hazardous chemicals that may make them sick years later. Others consume bacteria
and other tiny aquatic organisms that cause disease. The United Nations estimates that 4,000
children die every day
from drinking dirty water

Sometimes, polluted water harms people indirectly. They get sick because the
fish that live in polluted water are unsafe to eat. They have too many
pollutants in thir flesh

There are some natural sources of water pollution. Oil and natural gas, for example, can leak into
oceans and lakes from natural underground sources. These sites are called petroleum seeps. The
world's largest petroleum seep is the Coal Oil Point Seep, off the coast of the U.S. state of
California. The Coal Oil Point Seep releases so much oil that tar balls wash up on nearby
beaches.

Human activity also contributes to water pollution. Chemicals and oils from factories are
sometimes dumped or seep into waterways. These chemicals are called runoff. Chemicals in
runoff can create a toxic environment for aquatic life. Harmful algal blooms prevent organisms
such as plants and fish from
living in the ocean. They are associated with "dead zones" in the world's lakes
Air and water currents carry pollution. Ocean currents and migrating fish
carry marine pollutants far and wide. Winds can pick up radioactive material accidentally
released from a nuclear reactor and scatter it around the world. Smoke from a factory in one
country drifts into another country.
The three major types of pollution are air pollulivn, water pollution, and land pollution.

Air pollution
Sometimes, air pollution is visible. A person can see dark smoke pour iron the exhaust pipes
of large trucks or factories, for example. More often, air pollution is invisible. Polluted air
can be dangerous, even if the pollutants are invisible. It can make people's eyes burn and
make them have difficulty breathing. It can also increase the risk of lung cancer.
Sometimes, air pollution kills quickly. In 1984, an accident at a pesticide
plant in Bhopal, India, released a deadly gas into the air. At least 8,000 peopledied within
days. Hundreds of thousands more were permanently injured.
Natural disasters can also cause air pollution to increase quickly.
When volcanoes erupt, they eject volcanic ash and gases into
the atmosphere. Volcanic ash can discolor the sky for months. After the
eruption of the Indonesian volcano of Krakatoa in 1883, ash darkened the sky around the
world. The dimmer sky caused fewer crops to be harvested as far away as Europ and North
America
Most air pollution is not natural, however. It comes from burning fossil fuels-coal, oil, and
natural gas. When gasoline is burned to power cars and trucks, it produces carbon monoxide,
a colorless, odorless gas. The gas is harmful in high concentrations, or amounts, City traffic
produces highly concentrated carbonmonoxide.

Cars and factories produce other common pollutants, including nitrogen

Oxide, sulfur dioxide, and hydrocarbons. These chemicals react with sunlight produce smog,
thick fog or haze of air pollution.
Smog makes breathing difficult, especially for children and older adults. Some cities that
suffer from extreme Smog issue air pollution warnings. The government of Hong Kong, for
example, will warn people not to go outside or engage in strenuous physical activity (such as
running or swimming) when smog is very thick.
When air pollutants such as nitrogen oxide and sulfur dioxide mix with
moisture, they change into acids. They then fall back to earth as acid rain
 FOURAH BAY COLLEGE- USL
ENVIRONMENTAL LAW
2024-2025
SECOND SEMESTER

LECTURER: MOHAMED SHERIDAN KAMARA ESQ.

COURSE OUTLINE

Topic 1: Introduction to pollution

Topic 2: Introduction to Climate Change
Topic 3:Introduction to environmnental governance

INTRODUCTION TO POLLUTION
Pollution is the introduction of harmful materials into the environment.
These harmful materials are called pollutants. Pollutants can be natural,
such as volcanic ash. They can also be created by human activity, such as trash or
runoff produced by factories. Pollutants damage the quality of air, water and land
Many things that are useful to people produce pollution. Cars spew pollutants from
their exhaust pipes. Burning coal to create electricity pollutes the air. Industries
and homes generate garbage and sewage that can polute the land and water.
Pesticides-chemioal poisons used to kill weeds and insects- seep into waterways
and harm wildlife.

Pollution is a global problem. Although urban areas are usually more polluted than
the countryside, pollution can spread to remote places where no people live. For
example, pesticides and other chemicals have been found in the antarctic ice sheet.
In the middle of the northern Pacific Ocean, a huge
collection of microscopic plastic particles forms what is known as the Great Pacific
Garbage Patch.
the creation of the presidential initiative on renewable energy, clímate
change and food security is also, a turning point in the fight against climate
change in the country.

CONCLUSION
In conclusion, it is safe to opine that while the environrnental legal
infrastructure of Sierra Leone is continually burgeoning undertaking, it was
further enhanced by passing of the Environment Protection Agency Act No.
15 of 2022 which, as a landmark piece of legislation, will have a significant
impact On the environmental landscape in Sierra Leone. The EPA 2022 also
caters for a number of new environmental regulations, which are designed to
make it especially difficult for businesses and individuals to pollute the
environment. The EPA 2022 is definitely a positive step forward for Sierra
Leone, and it is expected to have a significant impact on the country's
environmental quality in the years to come
shrubs, bush or forest either by burning or cutting without notifying the Ward Environment
Committee or the Chiefdom Environment Committee, such person commits an offence and is
liable upon conviction to a fine not less than Le10,000,000.00 or to imprisonment for a term
of not less than 2 years, or to both such fine and imprisonment.
4. Further, the National Environment Compliance and Enforcement Coordination Committee
is also prominently placed in environmental infrastructure in Sierra Leone with its core
functions being the coordination, collaboration, cooperation and building effective synergies
in the enforcement of environmental laws. They are responsible to educate the public on
environmental laws, compliance practices and en for cement procedures and prepare
quarterly and annual reports based on its activities.
5. As a functional body and implementation mechanisrn, the Multilateral Environmental
Agreements Implementation Coordination Committee
(MEAICC) is also charged with (a) coordinating and enhancing the effectiveimplementation
of all Multilateral Environmental Agreements signed and
ratified by Sierra Leone; coordinating the gathering of information and preparation of reports
to sub regional, regional and global organizations on the implementation of Multilateral
Environmental Agreements; reporting on all conferences, meetings, trainings attended on
Multilateral Environmental Agreements, preparing annual national status report on the
implementation
of all Multilateral Environmental Agreements in Sierra Leone; and performing such other
functions as may be necessary for effective implementation of Multilateral Environmental
Agreements in Sierra Leone.
6. Then, there is the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) which is
at the helm of disaster management and disaster prevention matters which
was formally established and empowered under the National Disaster Management Agency
Act No.3 of 2020. With the establishment of the NDMA, he functions and activities of the
Disaster Management Department, Office of National Security (ONS) are more or less
subsumed under this Agency. The Agency also functions through Chiefdom, District and
Regional Disaster Management Committees respectively. It also operates in tandem with its
National Platíorm for Disaster Risk Reduction which comprises persons from diferent sectors
and areas of study with diverse knowledge and skills brought together to advocate, plan,
advise and promote the implementation of the framework for action to prevent or mitigate
disaster. It also works within the scope of the Sierra Leone Disaster Management Policy.
7. The Ministry of Environment is the executive arm of the legislative turn
wheel. At the security end, the ministry operates in tandem with Directorate
of Health Security and Emergencies (DHSE) and non-governmental organizations such as
the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Its primary focus is the development
of environmental policies and the facilitation of the implementation of environmental
strategies.
The country's environmental law also incorporates the Paris Convention
emissions mitigation, hich is an agreement within the United Nations Pramework Convention on
Climate Change dealing with greenhouse gas adaptation and finance starting in the year 2020;
and the United Nations Framevork Convention on Climate Change which is the international
environmental treaty addressing climate change, negotiated and signed by 154 states at the
United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, informally known as the Earth
Summit, held in Rio de Janeiro from 3 to 14 June, 1992, entered into force on 21 March, 1994;
To implement these laws and regulations, there are various regulatory and implermentation
mechanisms namely;

1. The Environment Protection Agency is continuously authorized under the EPA 2022 with its
mandate being to enforce thc Act and regulations made under it. It advises the government on the
formulation of policies on all aspects of the environment including the protection of the
environment; co- ordinates the activities of bodies concerned with the technical or practical
aspects of the environment in order to facilitate cornmunication between such bodies and the
Minister as well as effective supervision of the generation, trcatment, storage, transportation and
disposal of waste; collaborates and coordinates with such forcign and international bodics as the
Agency considers necessary for the purposes of the implementation of this Act; ensures
compliance with prescribed environmental impact assessment procedures in the planning and
execution of development projects; act, in its own accord or in co-operation with government
agencies, local councils and ther bodies and institutions, to control pollution and generally
protect and improve the environment and promotes studies, research, surveys and analysis for the
improvement and protection of the environment and the maintenance of a sound ecological
system amongst others.

2. Further, the Local Council, empowered under the Local Government Act No.26 of 2022, also
plays a vital role in collaborating and coordinating aclivilies of the Agency and in linc with the
Third Schedule of the aforementioned Act, some functions of the Ministry of Environment have
been devolved to local council namely; (i) Education and Sensitization on environmental issues
(i) Environmental Management and Protection (lil) Energy Conservation (iv) Replanting of
degraded hill slopes, catchments and watershed areas (vi) Urban Tree planting (eg; parks/
gardens, avenues, trees) (v) Rehabilitation of mined-out areas.
3. Complementing the functions of local council are the Ward Environment and Chiefdom
Environment Committees primarily responsible for conserving, protecting and developing the
environment within their Ward or Chiefdom for the purpose of enharncing a healthy, safe,
secured and sustainable environment. They are empowered to designate, subject to the direction
of the Executive Chairman of the Agency, an area in their Chiefdom or locality, such as a bush
or forest, for the provision of ecosystem services including food production, water conservation,
fishery, eco-tourism, fiora, launa cultivation sacred bushes and cemeteries. Therefore, if a person
destroys growing trees
tourism in Protected Areas; collaborates with other stakeholders in developing a national
REDD+ Strategy and promoting REDD+ Projects in Sierra leone as a source of sustainable
financing for Protected Area Management; develops and implements wildlife conservation
education and training programmes throughout Sierra Leone; promotes biodiversity research;
formulates and implements awareness activities for local communities, schools, and local
administration to promote knowiedge of and participation in programs and services, relating to
socioeconomic and environmental issucs inchuding, fisheries, agricultural and forestry best
practices, forest management, land, soil and water conservation in Protected Areas 'and buffer
zones; operates, manages the National Protected Areas in line with national conservation policies
and laws; enters into public-private partnership agreements for themanagement of National
Protected Areas and cstablishes a detailed biodiversity monitoring programme including a GIS
unit that would store and disseminate data on the status of biodiversity in Sierra Leone; Also, the
Sierra Leone Meleurological Agency Act No.8 of 2017 which established the Sierra Leone
Metcorological Agency in place of the Department of Meteorology to provide for other related
matters as the sole authority for the provision of meteorological and climatological services
throughout Sierra Leone. The agency also advises Government on all aspects of meteorology,
climatology, climate change and other climate related issues; develops Government policy in the
field of meteorology, climatology, climate change and other climate related issues; promote the
use of meteorology in agriculture, food monitoring and in the monitoring of flood, drought,
desertification and other related activities; collects, processes, stores and disseminates
meteorological and climatological information both nationally and internationally in accordance
with rules and practices and procedures established under the Conventions of the World
Meteorological Organization (WMO), the International Civil Aviation Organization (1CAO),
International Maritime Organization (IMO), and other relevant conventions of the United
Nations system such as the Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and
Convention to combat Desertification, Drought etc; and more. In addition to the above, the
Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection Authority Act No. 14 of 2012 was enacted to provide
for the establishment of the Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection Authority to exercise
regulatory and supervisory control for the beneficial and peacefuluses of radioactive substances
and their applications, including licensing,

inspection and enforcement throughout Sierra Leone. It is also charged with

providing adequate protection to the public, workers and the environment
against the harmful effects of ionizing radiation and forSierra Leone to meet its obligations under
relevant international treaties, inparticular, the Treaty on Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons
and theAgreement between Sierra Leone and the International Atomic Energy Agency(IAEA) or
the Application of Safeguards in Connection with the Non Proliferation Treaty. It also provides
for the establishment of the Radiation Protection Board as the governing body of the Authority
and for other related
matters.
INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL LAW

An Overview of Sierra Leone's Environmental Laws: A Legal Framework

Samuel Uiric Betts Esq.

INTRODUCTION

The principal 1legislation that governs the entirety of the environmental landscape in Sierra
Leone is the Environment Protection Agency Act No. 15 of 2022 (hereinafter "EPA 2022").
Signed into law on the 6th September 2022, it was enacted to provide for the continuation of
the Sierra Leone Environment Protection Agency and to provide for more effective and
efficient protection and management of the environment and to provide for other related
matters in Sierra [Link] EPA 2022 repealed and replaced the Environment Protection
Agency Act No. 11 of 2008 which established a body corporate to be known as the
Environment Protection Agency (EPA), the foremost and leading agency for everything
touching and concerning environmental protection, regulatory mechanism, preventive
practices and safety policies. Also, the National Disaster Management Agency Act No.3 of
2020, in addition to establishing the National Disaster Management Agency, was enacted to
manage disasters and similar emergencies throughout Sierra Leone to establish national,
regional, district and chiefdom disaster management committees, tO establish a National
Disastcr Managemcnt Fund to provide finances for the prevention and management of
disasters and similar emergencies throughout Sierra Leone and to provide for other related
matters.

Further, the National Protected Area Authority Act No. 11 of 2012 came into
being to provide for the establishment of the National Protected Area Authority
and Conservation Trust Fund, to promote biodiversity conservation, wildlife
management, researcg sale of ecosystem services in the National Protected Areas and other
related matters. It also established the National Protected Area Authority charged with the
responsibility to exercise oversight authority over National Parks and Protected Areas
designated for conservation purposes so as to protect the fauna and flora in its natural state.
Promote sustainable land use practices and environmental management. The Authority also
ensures the protection of natural ecosystems and threatened biodiversity in Sierra Leone
including the establishment and maintenance of representative and sustainable operates,
manages the National Protected Areas in line with national Conservation policies and laws;
oversee the management of local and private nature reserves and sanctuaries throughout
Sierra Leone including zoos and wildlife rescue and rehabilitation centres, supervises the
management of wildlife outside conservation areas; regulates wildlife conservation and
management throughout Sierra Leone in accordance with the Wildlife Conservation Act,
1972 (Act No. 27 of l972), promotes eco-

an ongoing challenge due to weak institutions, chronic under-resourcing, and

rapid urbanization. All of these challenges, along with the lack of
understanding of different factors that contribute to the hierarchy of waste
management, affect the treatment of waste.

In developing countries, waste management activities are usually carried out

by the poor, for their survival. It has been estimated that 2% of the population
in Asia, Latin America, and Africa are dependent on waste for their livelihood.
Family organized, or individual manual scavengers are often involved with
waste management practices with very little supportive network and facilities
with increased risk of health effects. Additionally, this practice prevents their
children from further education. The participation level of most citizens in
waste management is very low, residents in urban areas are not actively
involved in the process of waste management.
International waste trade
The global waste trade is the international trade of waste between countries
for further treatment, disposal, or recycling. Toxic or hazardous wastes are often imported by
developing countries from developed countries. Specifically, countries which produce more
solid waste are more economically developed and more industrialized. Generally, the higher
the economic development and rate of urbanization, the greater the amount of solid waste
produced. Thcrcforc, countries in the Global North, which are more economically developed
and urbanized, produce more solid waste than Global South countries. Current international
trade flows of waste follow a pattern of waste being produce in the Global North and being
exported to and disposed of in the Global South. Multiple factors affect which countries
pruduce waste and at what magnitude, including geographic location, degree of
industrialization, and level of integration into the global economy. Numerous scholars and
researchers have linked the sharp increase in waste trading and the negative impacts of waste
Leading to the prevalence of neoliberal economic policy. With the major economic transition
towards neoliberal economic policy in the 1980s, the shift towards "free-market" policy
has facilitated the sharp increase in the global waste trade.

Given this economic platform of privatization, neoliberalism is based on expanding free-

trade agreements and establishing open-borders to international trade markets. Trade
liberalization, a neoliberal economic policy n which trade is completely deregulated, leaving
no tariffis, quotas, or other
restrictions on international trade, is designed to further developing countries'
economies and integrate them into the global economy. Critics claim that although free-
market trade liberalization was designed to allow any country the opportunity to reach
economic success, the consequences of these policies have been devastating for Global South
countries, essentially crippling their economies in a servitude to the Global North. Even
supporters such as the International Monetary Fund, "progress of integration has been uneven
in recent decades." Specifically, developing countries have been targeted by
trade liberalization policies to import waste as a means of economic expansion. The guiding
neoliberal economic policy argues that the way to be in tegrated into the global economy is
to participate in trade liberalization and exchange in international trade markets, Their claim
is that smaller countries, with less infrastructure, less wealth, and less manufacturing
ability, should take in hazardous wastes as a way to increase profits and stimulate their
economies.
Challenges in deve loping countries
Areas with developing economies like Sierra Leone often experience exhausted waste
collection services and inadequately managed and uncontrolled dumpsites. The problems are
worsening. Problems with governance complicate the situation. Waste management in these
countries and cities is
refers to the requirement for a waste generator to pay for appropriate disposa!
of the unrecoverable materials.

Hazards of waste management

There are multiple facets of waste management that all come with hazards, both for those around
the disposal site and those who work within waste management. Exposure to waste of any kind
can be detrimental to the health of the individual, primary conditions that worsen with exposure
to waste are asthma and tuberculosis. The exposure to waste on an average irsdividual is highly
dependent on the conditions around them, those in less developed
or lower income areas are more susceptible to the effects of waste product, especially though
chemical waste. The range of hazards due to waste is extremely large and covers every type of
waste, not only chemical. There are many different guidelines to follow for disposing different
types of waste.

Application of rational and consistent waste management practices can yield

a range of benefits including:
1. Economic- Improving economic efficiency through the means of resource use, treatment, and
disposal and creating markets for recycles can lead to efficient practices in the production and
consumption of products and materials resulting in valuable materials
being recovered for reuse and the potential for new jobs and new business opportunities.
2. Social- By reducing adverse impacts on health through proper waste management practices,
the resulting consequences are more appealing to civic communities. Better s0cial advantages
can lead to new sources, of employment and potentially lift communities out of poverty,
especially in some of the developing poorer countries and cities.
3. Environmental - Reducing or eliminating adverse impacts on the environment through
reducing, reusing, recycling. and minimizing resource extraction can result in improved air and
water quality and help in the reduction of greenhouse gas omissions.
4. Inter-generational Equity- Following effective waste managernent practices can provide
subsequent generations a more robust economy, a fairer and more inclusive society and a cleaner
environment.
Waste minimization

An important method of waste management is the prevention of waste material being created,
also known as waste reduction. Waste Minimization is reducing the quantity of hazardous wastes
achieved through a thorough application of innovative or alternative procedures. Methods of
avoidance include reuse of second-hand products, repairing broken items instead of buying new
ones, designing products to be refillable or reusable (such as cotton instead of plastic shopping
bags), encouraging consumers to avoid using disposable products, removing any food/liquid
remains from cans and packaging, and designing products that use less material to achieve the
same purpose.

bulk of the waste that is generated by household, industrial, and commercial

activity In the first systematic review of the scientific evidence around global waste, its
management, and its impact on human health and life, authors concluded hat about a fourth
of all the municipal solid terrestrial waste is not collected and an additional fourth is
mismanaged after collection, often being burned in open and uncontrolled fires - or close to
one billion tons per ycar when combined. They also found that broad priority arcas each lack
a "high-quality research base", partly due to the absence of "substantial research funding",
which motivated scientists often require. Electronic waste (ewaste) includes discarded
computer monitors, motherboards, mobile phones and chargers, compact discs (CDs),
headphones, television sets, air conditioners and [Link] Waste Management'
involves the practice of 7R'-'R'efuse, 'R'educe', Reuse, 'R'epair, R'epurpose, 'R'ecycle and
'R'ecover. Amongst these '7R's, the first two (Refuse' and 'Reduce') relate to the non-creation
of waste by refusing to buy non-essential products and by rcducing consurnption, The next
two (Reuse' and Repair) refer to increasing the usage of the existing product, with or without
the substitution of certain parts of the product. Repurpose' and Recycle' involve maximum
usage of the materials used in the product, and 'Recover is the least preferred and least
efficient waste management practice involving the recovery of embedded energy in the waste
material. For example, burning the waste to produce heat (and electricity from
heat).

Principles of waste management

The waste hierarchy refers to the "3 Rs" Reduce, Reuse and Recycle, which classifies waste
management strategies according to their desirability in terms of waste minimization. The
waste hierarchy is the bedrock of most waste minimization strategies. The aim of the waste
hierarchy is to extract themaximum practical benefits from products and to generate the
minimum
amount of end waste. The waste hierarchy is represented as a pyramid
because the basic prermise is that policies should promote mcasures to
prevent the generation of waste. The next step or preferred action is to seck
al ternative uses for the waste that has been generated, i.e., by re-use. The
next is recycling which includes composting. Following this step is material
recovery and waste-to-energy. The final action is disposal, in landfills or
through incineration without energy recovery. This last step is the final resort
for waste that has not been prevented, diverted, or recovered. The waste
hierarchy represents the progression of a product or material through the
sequential stages of the pyramid of waste management. The hierarchy
represents the latter parts of the life-cycle for each product.

Polluter-pays principle
the polluter-pays principle mandates that the polluting parties pay for the
impact on the environment. With respect to waste management, this generally

The dramatic increase in waste for disposal led to the creation of the
first incineration plants, or, as they were then called, "destructors". In 1874,
the first incinerator was built in Nottingham by Manlove, Aliott &s Co. Ltd. to
the design of Alfred Fryer. However, these were met with opposition on
account of the large amounts of ash they produced and which wafted over the
neighboring areas.
Similar municipal systems of waste disposal sprung up at the turn of the 20th
century in othcr large cities of Europe and North America. In 1895, New York
City became the first U.S. city with public-sector garbage management.
Early garbage removal trucks were simply open-bodied dump trucks pulled
by a team of horses. They became motorized in the carly part of thc 20th
century and the first closed-body trucks to eliminate odors with a dumping
lever mechanism were introduced in the 1920s in Britain. These were soon
equipped with 'hopper mechanisms' where the scooper was loaded at floor
level and then hoisted mechanically to deposit the waste in the truck.

Waste management or waste disposal includes the processes and actions

required to manage waste from its inception to its final disposal. This
includes the collection, transport, treatment, and disposal of waste, together
with monitoring and regulation of the waste management process and waste-
related laws, technologies, and economic mechanisms.
Waste can either be solid, liquid, or gases and each type has different
methods of disposal and management. Waste management deals with all
types of waste, including industrial, biological, household, municipal,
organic, biomedical, radioactive wastes. In sorne cases, waste can pose a
threat to human health. Health issues are associated with the entire process
of waste management. Health issues can also arise indirectly or directly:
directly through the handling of solid waste, and indirectly through the
consumption of water, soil, and food. Waste is produced by human activity,
for example, the extraction and processing of raw materials. Waste
management is intended to reduce the adverse effects of waste on
human health, the environment and planetary resources.
The aim of waste management is to reduce the dangerous effects of such
waste on the environment and human health. A big part of waste management
deals with municipal solid waste, which is generated by industrial, commercial, and
household activity.
Waste management practices are not the same across countries
(urban and rural
(developed and developing nations); regions
(urban and rural areas) and residential and industrial sectors can all take different approaches.

Proper management of waste is important for building sustainable and livable

cities, but it remains a challenge for many developing countries and cities.
Operating this essential municipal service requires integrated systems that
are efficient, sustainable, and socially supported. A large portion of waste
management practices deal with municipal solid waste (MSW) which is the

WASTE MANAG HMENT LAW

History of waste management

Throughout mostt of history, the amount of waste generated by humans was
insignificant due to low levels of population density and exploitation of
natural resources. Common waste produced during pre-modern tines was
mainly ashes and human biodegradable waste, and these were released back
into the ground locally, with minimum environmental impact. Tools made out
of wood or metal were generally reused or passed down through the
generations.
However, some civilizations have been more profligate in their waste output
than others. In particular, the Maya of Central America had a fixed monthly
ritual, in which the people of the village would gather together and burn their
rubbish in large dumps.

Modern era

Following the onset of the Industrial Revolution, industrialization, and the

sustained urban growth of large population centers in England, the buildup
of waste in the cities caused a rapid deterioration in levels of sanitation and
the general quality of urban life. The streets became choked with filth due to
he luck of waste clearance regulations. Calls for the establishment of
municipal authority with waste removal powers occurred as early as 1751,
" as the preservation of the
when Corbyn Morris in London proposed that
health of the people is of great importance, it is proposed that the cleaning of
this city, should be put under one uniform public management, and all the
filth be...conveyed by the Thames to proper distance in the country".
However, it was not until the mid-19th century, spurred by increasingly
devastating cholera outbreaks and the emergence of a public health debate
that the first legislation on the issue emerged. Highly influential in this new
focus was the report The Sanitary Condition of the Laboring Population in 1842
of the social reformer, Edwin Chadwick, in which he argued for the
importance of adequate waste removal and management facilities to improve
the health and wellbeing of the city's population.
In the UK, the Nuisance Removal and Disease Prevention Act of 1846 begarn
what was to be a steadily evolving process of the provision of regulated waste
management in London. The Metropolitan Board of Works was the first
citywide authority that centralized sanitation regulation for the rapidly
expanding city, and the Public Health Act 1875 made it compulsory for every
household to deposit their weekly waste in "moveable receptacles" for
disposal-the first concept for a dustbin.
In the Ashanti Empire by the 19th century, there existed a Public Works
Department that was responsible for sanitation in Kumasi and its suburbs.
They kept the streets clean daily and commanded civilians to keep their
compounds clean and weeded.

Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCOC), the Convention on

Biological Diversity (CBD) and many more international conventions.
Transparency and Accountability
The ElA processes ensure transparent and accountable. The process involves
public consultations and the publication of EIA reports, making the decision-
making process more transparent. The ELA process also provides a
mechanism for monitoring and evaluating the implementation of mitigation
measures, ensuring aCCOuTilability for any negative environmental impacts
that may arise. EIA is a crucial tool in promoting sustainable development all
across the worid. It helps to protect the environment, ensures stakeholder
participation, and promotes compliance with national and international
environmental standards. The EIA process is transparent and accountable,
making it an essential component of decision-making by any agency. By
conducting EIAs for development projects, countries can achieve sustainable
development that balances economic growth with environmental protection.
EIA Techniques and Metho ds
EIA methods can vary according to how it is utilized. They can range fron
simple to complex depending on the type of data used and the level of
expertise that is required for the research. Various qualitative and
quantitative including mixed methods are used to analyze an EIA. The data
collected is the most important asset that will determine tht impact of EIA.
Manpower, community involvement, time and budget constraints should also
be taken into consideration before EIA is conducted. Because EIA is a
research-based method, it will involve much time and effort from the
organization to collect the data and implement the technique. Some methods
involve: Impact Identification, Impact Measurement, Impact Assessment and
Communication. Some companies in Sierra Leone to a large extent have made
use of environmentally friendly companies to conduct the EIA for them. A
typical example is the one conducted recently in the Kambia District for the
Leone Rock Mining Company.

CONCLUSION: EIA can be a very useful tool to understand the complexities

of our environment. Environment based tools are becoming increasingly
important in 2lst century and research into environmental techniques are
imperative because environment is affecting our planet Earth and all species
present in the planet to a very large extent. Concerns such as pollution,
climate, water and waste management need to be assessed in detail to
understand the complexities so that we can improve the condition of our
environment. Following the techniques of EIA will drastically improve how we
management the environmental activities.

SEMINAR QUESTIONS FOR 2ND SEMESTER 2024

1. What is an Environmental Impact Assessment?. Briefly state the
purposes of an environmental impact assessment.

2. "The duty, in other words, is not merely to notify what is known but to
know what needs to be notified". Discuss this statement in line with
section ... Of the EPA Act.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT (EIA)

Meantng,
Benefits
Importance
The concept of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) originated in
the United States in the late 1960s, as a response to growing concerns
about the environmental impacts of large-8cale development projects,
The US National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) was passed in 1970,
requiring federal agencies to prepare environmental impact statements
(EISs) for major federal actions that significantly affect the quality of the
human environment. Today, EIA has become an established practice in
many countries and is recognized as an important tool for evaluating
the potential environmental impacts of proposed development projects.

What is an EIA?

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a tool used in most

environment-based organizations to measure the impact of the environment
through the assessment tool. It measures the environmental consequences of
a particular plan or policy. This could be important for Urban Planning and
Development policies because many of these policies are centered on the
environment. It supports development projects for people who assess and
analyze the environmental projects. EIA is one of the most important tools for
a country, to eliminate the emerging problems of soil degradation, various
types of pollution, etc. from its root by limiting the upcoming
industry's/project's size, operating tíme, and outputs. It allows for the
assessment of potential environmental impact on air, water, soil, biodiversity,
and human health.
EIA does not only involve environment but also considers social, cultural and
health impacts on the environment. For instance, climate change can be used
as an example where EIA could be a useful tool to measure the impact of the
environment on climate issues. EIA is usually used prior to making a final
decision by experts, giving the people of authority a detailed plan of the
positives and negatives of the EIA.
Environmental Impact Assessment or ElA can be explained as a study done
which identify, predict and evaluate potential, environmental, social, and
economic impacts of any project or activity, and to recommend measures to
minimize or mitigate those impacts. EIA compares various alternatives for a
project and seeks to identify the one that represents the best combination of
economic and environmental costs and benefits.
The term EIA refers to the anticipation of various impacts of a project that will
have on the environment and the local community. It is a decision-making
tool, which guides decision-makers in taking appropriate decisions prior to
sanctioníng clearance of a project. The key stages in the process include
proposal identification, screening, scoping, impact assessment, mitigation,
review, decision making and follow-up. EIA is integrated into the project
development process and is not seen as a barrier to development.
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is defined as the systematic
identification and evaluation of the potential impacts (effects) of proposed
projects, plans, programs or legislative actions relative to the physical,
chemical, biological, cultural and socio-economic components of the total
environment It is a process of evaluating the likely environmental impacts of
a proposed project or development, considering inter-related socio-economic,
cultural, and human- health impacts, both beneficial and adverse. EIA is a
tool used to assess the positive and negative environmental, economic, and
social impacts of a project. This is used to predict the environmental impacts
of a project in the pre-planning stage itself so that decisions can be taken to
reduce the adverse impacts. The primary purpose of the ElA process is to
encourage the consideration of environmental issues in planning and decision
making and to ultimately arrive at actions which are more environmentally
compatible. ElA, as it has developed in many countries, involves a number of
procedures and stages:
1. Identification of projects requiring EIA, sometimes known as screening;

il. Identification of the key issues to be addressed in an EIA, called

scoping
iii impact assessment and evaluation
iv. .; Impact mitigation and monitoring;
V.; Review of the completed Environmental Impact Statement and
vi. Public participation.

The result of an EIA is assembled in a document known as an Environmental

Impact Statement (EIS) which looks at all the positive and negative effects of
a particular project on the environment. This report is just one component of
the information required to aid decision makers in making their ultimate
decision about a project.
Benefits of EIA

There are many benefits to conducting an ElA. Many government and donor
agencies make use of EIA to understand and implement complex
environmental issues, such as waste management or water management
techniques. Some countries have specific legal and institutional regulations
before conducting an EIA, An EIA is a part of Resource Management Acts in
many countries which are particularly interested in preserving and
maintaining their environment such as Canada and Australia.
Some general benefits of an EIA include cost saving and reduced time of
project implementation and adhering of legal regulations. ElA is economically
feasible because it takes relatively minimal time compared to other
environment assessment techniques which might not be precise and might
not be advantageous to the organization. Another benefit of EIA is that if it is
followed according to the methods involved, it can be used to protect the