Addis Ababa University
Ethiopian Institute of Architecture, Building Construction &
City Development (EiABC)
Course: Environmental Planning
Program: B.Sc in COTM
Lecture-6
Contents of the Presentation
o Brain Storming
o Environmental Laws and Regulations
Introduction
Environmental Laws
Environmental Regulations
o Environmental Laws and Regulations in Ethiopia
o Applications of Environmental Laws and Regulations
What do you understand from Environmental Laws and Regulations?
What is the significance of acquainted with environmental laws?
The contribution of Environmental Laws in Construction Industry?
What would happen if there were no such laws?
Environmental Policy
• A policy is a rule or decision about how to act or deal with problems
Environmental policy: is any (course of) action deliberately to manage
human activities with a view to prevent, reduce or mitigate harmful
effects on nature and natural resources, and ensuring that man-made
changes to the environment do not have harmful effects on humans
• Environmental issues generally addressed by environmental policy
include (but are not limited to):
air and water pollution
waste management
ecosystem management
biodiversity protection, and the protection of natural resources,
wildlife and endangered species
Retroactive (esp. of law): having effect on the past and as well as on the future
Procedures in formulation of Environmental Policy and Environmental policy
cycle
Situation Analysis and Identification of Policy Issues (problem definition)
Problem definition
Formulation of Policy:
Vision, Formulation of Policy
vision, Goals, Objectives, …
Goals,
Objectives and Guiding Principles
Policy Formulation
Policy Formulation: Solutions development,
Solutions comparison, Policy selection
Implementation
Implementation: Supporting Institutions, Laws,
Policy Analysis
regulations, guidelines, Standards
Policy analysis: Monitoring, Evaluation & Review
Environmental Law
• Environmental planning and management operates through the legal
system
• Environmental law encompasses those legal principles and prescripts
that have been used through the judicial system to protect human health
and environmental quality
Environmental Law
• Environmental law includes official rules, decisions, and actions concerning
environmental quality, natural resources, and ecological sustainability
• Countries across the world have a variety of environmental laws set by the
respective country
Objectives of Environmental Policy/Laws
To limit/avoid the ever increasing environmental problems
To enable professional and all interested parties to take it in all activities
where necessary (e.g. construction industry -----)
To create awareness
To prevent environmental degradation
To conserve natural resources
Environmental Laws. Can be Formulated at:
1. International
2. National
3. Regional
4. Local levels
International conventions/Laws:
• There are over 260 international Conventions and agreements that deal
with environmental issues
Some of these includes the following
• To protect wildlife, wildlife habitat ,and the oceans:
The Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage
was held in Paris in 1972
Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals, 1979,
• The Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapon Tests in the Atmosphere, in Outer Space,
and Under Water in 1963
• The Convention on Early Notification of a Nuclear Accident in 1986
• The Convention on Assistance in the Case of a Nuclear Accident or Radiological
Emergency in 1986
• The Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer was held in 1985.
• The Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (known as “the
Montreal Protocol”) in 1987.
• Basel Convention on the Control of Trans-boundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes
and Their Disposal In 1989,
Regional Conventions and agreements
• The African Convention on the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources
(1968),
• The Convention on Conservation of Nature in the South Pacific (1976),
• The Treaty for Amazonian Cooperation (1978),
• The Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats
(1979),
• The Convention on Long-Range Trans-boundary Air Pollution (1979), which was
followed by specific protocols to the 1979 convention in 1984, 1985, and 1988,
• The ASEAN Agreement on the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources
(1985),
• The Bamako Convention on the Ban of the Import into Africa and the Control of
Trans-boundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes Within Africa (1991), and
• The Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Trans-boundary Context
(1991)
Environmental Policy in Ethiopia
• Environmental Policy of Ethiopia
National legislative framework for the sustainable
management of natural and physical resources
Various regulations and strategies are being
developed
• Ethiopia is signatory to many international treaties on
the environment
Ethiopian Environmental policy
Proclamations :
Environmental Protection Organs Establishment Proclamation
(Proclamation No. 295/2002),
Environmental Impact Assessment Proclamation (Proclamation No.
299/2002),
Environmental Pollution Control Proclamation (Proclamation No.
300/2002),
Draft Industrial Pollution Prevention and Control Regulation,
Draft Industrial Environmental Policy and Strategy,
Industrial Sector Strategy, together with
Environmental Policy of Ethiopia
Environmental Policy Implementation Problems in Ethiopia
Lack of appropriate:
Institutions,
laws,
regulations
guidelines,
standards
Environmental Policy Implementation in
Ethiopia
Problems of policies and regulations in Ethiopia
The policies and regulations are too general and lack clear and
specific guidelines, technical and operational standards
The regulation/policy failed to indicate the way of involvement of
the community, private and informal sectors
Sectoral in nature without broad framework that would enable to
examine cross-sectoral and cumulative impacts of various activities.
• The absence of an institutional body that coordinates or oversees
cross-sectoral issues
The institutional framework that could help to enhance public
participation is not yet established
The policies lack legislative frameworks and strategies so as to
ease their implementation.
Environmental Laws, Regulations, Guidelines & Standards of Ethiopia
Environmental protection adopted in Ethiopia since1992
• The 1994 Constitution of Ethiopia under Articles 44 and 92 proclaims that :
Article 44: Environmental Rights
All citizens shall have a right to live in a clean and healthy environment.
Article 92: Environmental Objectives
Government shall endeavor to ensure that all Ethiopians live in a clean and healthy
environment
People have the right to full consultation and to the expression of views in the planning
and implementation of environmental policies and projects that affect them directly.
Government and citizens shall have a duty to protect the environment.
Contents of Environmental policy of Ethiopia
1. The Resource Base and the Need for a Policy
The natural Resource base and the rural environment
The urban Environment
Natural and cultural heritage
The need for a policy on natural resources and the environment
2. The Policy Goal Objectives and Guiding Principles
The overall policy goal
Specific policy objectives
The key guiding principles
3. Sectoral Environmental Policies
Soil husbandry and sustainable agriculture
Forest, woodland and tree resources
Genetic, species and ecosystem biodiversity
Water resources
Energy resource
Mineral resources
Urban environment and environmental health
Control of hazardous materials and pollution from industrial waste
Atmospheric pollution and climate change
Cultural and natural heritage
4. Cross-Sectoral Environmental Policies
Population and the environment
Community participation and the environment
Tenure and access rights to land and natural resources
Land use plan
Social and gender issues
Environmental economics (Environmental management, Environmental Engineering)
Environmental information system
Environmental research
Environmental impact assessment (auditing)
Environmental education and awareness
5. Policy Implementation
Institutional framework, responsibilities and mandates
Legislative framework
Monitoring, evaluation and policy review
Solid Waste Management Proclamation
Objective of the Proclamation
• The objective of this proclamation is to enhance at all levels capacities to
prevent the possible adverse impacts while creating economically and
socially beneficial assets out of solid waste.
Urban Environmental Management Programs in Ethiopia: The
case of Addis Ababa City
A. Pollution control: air, water, soil
• Waste (solid, liquid, hazardous)
• Industrial Pollution
• Pollution from transport Sector
• Indoor Air pollution
• Climate Change due to Air Pollution
• Mitigating Noise Pollution
B. Regeneration of degraded environment
• Reclamation and rehabilitation of quarry sites
• River bank rehabilitation
• Soil and water conservation and plantation to rehabilitate degraded lands
C. Mitigation of man-made and natural Environmental threats: risks and
hazards
flooding,
landslides,
earthquake,
land subsidence,
groundwater hazard,
soil erosion,
wind hazards, etc..
Conclusion
Environmental Policies are backbones to Sustainable development
Environmental policies guide every developmental activity to run within the frame
work of countries ‘ Environmental laws & regulations
Environmental Policies raises the knowledge of countries’ citizens & others
thereby helps to protect natural resources and the human health pro-actively
Construction industry (Road, Dam, Water Supply, Mining, Housing development,
….) should give due attention to prevent the Environment & the Human health
That is, Environmental Policies particularly benefits the Construction Managers
and Engineers to prepare construction activities within the frameworks of Existing
Environmental Policies
These will help to wisely use their resources: Time, Money, Human Labor & Natural
Resources.
All these fundamentally contributes to sustainable development
Thank you
QUIZ 1
1. Define EIA and explain its connection with construction.
2. Mention three drivers to environment degradation.
Note : Mid exam will be on Saturday August 14, 2021 at
9:00 AM.
( Chapter 1,2,3,4)
