Integrating Environmental Considerations into the Economic Decision-Making Process
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III. INSTITUTIONAL COORDINATION MECHANISMS

[ III | III-A | III-B | III-C | III-D | III-E | III-F ]

F. Involvement of the whole community

One of the guiding principles of a successful national environmental policy must be the encouragement for all sectors of society to become involved in development cooperation. Consultation with, and participation by, the community on the formulation and development of policies and strategies will ensure success. Achieving national community involvement is one of the biggest challenges facing the government as the new millennium approaches. Establishing effective communications between the communities, the public at large, the government, businesses and NGOs calls for adequate distribution of information between government agencies and between the government and the population.

Successful environmental management demands widespread support and involvement by an informed public, NGOs, the private sector, the scientific community and industry. Their rights, roles, and participation in development planning, decision-making and project implementation should be expanded. Environmental education at all levels of the government and the public is essential to: (a) creating understanding and awareness of the various issues; (b) understanding the alternatives for management; and (c) the community participation in deciding on how those alternatives might be implemented.

Box 4. Framework for assessing private sector projects

The elements necessary for establishing a framework for assessing private sector projects should include:

  • An outline in all new physical development projects of at least one alternative method for achieving the same objectives;
  • The provision in each project proposal of an effective mechanism for monitoring likely environmental effects;
  • The requirement for all new physical development projects to be subjected to EIAs by the Environmental Planning Section;
  • The requirement for details of all new physical development projects to be made known to the general public through the local media, and for the public to be invited or given the opportunity to make their views/objections known regarding the likely environmental effects of such projects;
  • The requirement that the final recommendation to the Cabinet on whether or not to approve a project should be made by a committee with a wide cross-sectional representation.

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