National Environmental Protection Agency (NEPA)
by Abdullah Qazi
September 21, 2008
Last updated: June 4, 2009
Afghanistan's National Environmental Protection Agency was
established in 2005. In the same year,
Afghanistan's first Environmental Law was drafted and signed by President
Hamid Karzai. It then went though amendments by the National Assembly and
the final version was finally promulgated in early 2007. The law defines
the agency's function as well as its powers. NEPA serves as Afghanistan's
environmental policy-making and regulatory institution. It's role is to
regulate, coordinate, monitor and enforce environmental laws. The agency
is expected to play a major role in environmental protection, as well as
to be the central point in dealing with the management of Afghanistan's
environment so that it benefits all the citizens of Afghanistan.
Per the Environmental Law, NEPA has the following functions and powers:
(1) - maintain environmental integrity and promote the sustainable use
of natural resources;
(2) - promote conservation and rehabilitation of the environment;
(3) - coordinate environmental affairs at the local, national and
international levels;
(4) - develop and implement national environmental policies and
strategies in order to integrate environmental issues and sustainable
development approaches into the legal and regulatory frameworks;
(5) - provide environmental management services in the areas of
environmental impact assessment, air and water quality management, waste
management, pollution control, and permitting of related activities;
(6) - establish communication and outreach for environmental
information to ensure improved awareness of environmental issues;
(7) - implement bilateral or multilateral environmental agreements to
which Afghanistan is a Party;
(8) - implement the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered
Species of Fauna and Flora (CITES);
(9) - sign on behalf of the government agreements regarding the
protection and rehabilitation of the environment;
(10) - promote and manage the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan‘s
accession to and ratification of bilateral and multilateral environmental
agreements;
(11) - coordinate the preparation and implementation of a national
programme for environmental monitoring and effectively utilise the data
provided by that programme;
(12) - prepare every two years in relation to urban areas and every
five years in relation to rural areas a State of the Environment report
for the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan for submission to the President‘s
Office;
(13) - prepare an interim State of the Environment report on emerging
issues relevant to the environment in Afghanistan not less than every two
years;
(14) - within a period of three years of promulgation of this Act,
develop a national environmental action plan, which assesses the urgency
and importance of actions that should be taken in the short, medium and
long-term in order to prevent, eliminate and reduce adverse effects as
described in the most recent State of the Environment report, and, in
consultation with relevant ministries and institutions, determines a
coordinated strategy and schedule for the implementation of those actions;
(15) - periodically compile and publish reports on significant
environmental indicators;
(16) - on an annual basis, compile and publish a report that details
the authorisations granted and activities undertaken by the National
Environmental Protection Agency;
(17) - assess the effectiveness of the implementation of the Act and
any regulations made under it in improving the sustainability of the use
and management of natural resources and conservation and rehabilitation of
the environment;
(18) - develop and implement plans for environmental training,
environmental education and environmental awareness-raising in cooperation
with relevant ministries and public bodies;
(19) - actively coordinate and cooperate with ministries, Provincial
Councils and District and Village Councils, public bodies and the private
sector on all issues related to sustainable use of natural resources and
conservation and rehabilitation of the environment;
(20) - monitor the implementation of the objectives and provisions of
this law;
(21) - fulfil any other functions that may be assigned by the Council
of Ministers.
For more, see full text of
Afghanistan's Environment Law. Latest NEPA news:
|
