Role of the Environment Ministry, Department or Unit

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D. Role of the Environment Ministry, Department or Unit

Almost all the countries in the region have an environment ministry, department or unit (Examples). Their authorities, functions, etc. differ across countries and such differences often reflect the degree of government attention to environmental issues. There are two types in the organizational location of the environment ministry / unit in the region. These are

Ministry of Environment in charge of all environmental affairs
Environment as a part of a multi-functional ministry

For example, in Pacific island countries, with relatively low priority given to environmental issues, the environment department is often part of a multi-functional ministry, and is often small, with a limited number of dedicated professional staff. In such a structure, possible conflicts may be found even within the ministry.

In both cases, their role is in the areas of:

contributing to vision
policy formulation
setting standards, guidelines, controls and designing laws (More on legal aspects)
involvement of ministry staff at subnational levels
monitoring and enforcement programmes
environment assessment processes
financial and human resource capacity
inter-ministerial coordination

The typical role of the environment ministries related to policy making are:

Advisory: Technical advice, political advise
Coordinating: Coordination with other ministries
Policy making: Environmental policy making, possibly being involved in economic policy making
Implementation: Implementing agency for government programmes/projects
Monitoring: Monitoring of compliance with regulations
Administration: Service as secretariat to a higher body (which may ensure the link between the ministry and the higher policy making body)
Awareness: environmental education, awareness campaign etc.
Information: environmental database

The possible weakness of the environment ministry, department or unit include:

low priority in government's overall development policy and lack of authority/influence on policy making, could deter the agency's role in effective environmental policy making
lack of authority for enforcement could discourage effective implementation and monitoring of compliance
lack of financial/human resources could lower the quality of advisory services, monitoring compliance, etc.
no formal framework to reflect environmental policies into development planning could make coordination difficult
conflicts of interest with other ministries, or even within the ministry when the agency placed under a multi-functional ministry, could obstruct fulfilling some of the responsibilities

Comparison of Structures

From the foregoing discussion, we have seen that the commonest structures in the region for integrating the environment into decision making are:

Ministry of Environment in charge of all environmental affairs
Environment as part of a multi-functional ministry

And depending on how environment department is located, there are different advantages and disadvantages.

Ministry of Environment in charge of all environmental affairs

Advantages

The dedication of a full ministry to environmental affairs may reflect the government's high priority for environmental issues.

Specialized skills and experience in dealing with environment-related issues are developed.

Fast decision making and responses to environment related issues due to specialization and familiarities with the area.

Disadvantages

Due to physical separation from other ministries, there may be problems in coordinating, monitoring and enforcing policies.

This can lead to the isolation of the environmental issue rather than regarding it as an integral part of other issues.

There may be very little environmental input from other ministries.

If the level of coordination is low, environmental effects from other line ministries may be ignored or not completely accounted for.

Environment as a part of a multi-functional ministry

Advantages

It would make it easier for environment issues to be considered in the policy-making of that particular ministry.

When the scope is well-defined, its work becomes more focussed, which in turn makes it easier to attract personnel with technical capabilities or train them according to specific needs.

Disadvantages

It may inherently limit the scope of environment activities.

Environmental concerns in all other ministries are likely to be neglected.

Its lack of independence may mean that when there are conflicts with other functions of the host ministry, environmental concerns may be relegated to second place.

It may reflect that low priority is placed on environmental issues in a country.

Examples:

Republic of Korea: Ministry of Environment

India: Ministry of Environment and Forests

Examples of the roles of environment ministries/departments in Fiji, Malaysia, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Vanuatu and Pacific Islands