National Environment Policy 1992 and other sectoral Policies

1. National Environment Policy 1992 and other sectoral Policies Dr Mahfuzul Haque

2. Historical Background • Move by the civil society and NGOs for a separate Ministry to address environmental issues of the country • 1989: Ministry of Environment and Forests was established. It has the a) Dept of Environment; b) Dept of Forests; c) BFIDC • 1992: Earth Summit, Rio-de-Janeiro, Brazil • 1992: National Environment Policy • 1994: National Forest Policy

3. Core Environment Policies • National Environment Policy 1992 • National Forest Policy 1994 • Forestry Master Plan (1995-2015) • National Conservation Strategy (NCS) • National Environment Management Action Plan (NEMAP), 1995 • National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA), 2009 • Bangladesh Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan (BCCSAP), 2009

4. Sectoral Policies • National Energy Policy 1995 • National Water Policy 1998 • National Water Management Plan • National Health Policy 1999 • Industrial Policy 1999 • Flood Action Plan (FAP) 1989 • National Fisheries Policy 1997 • National Coal Policy (Draft)

5. National Energy Policy 1995 • Policy aims at ensuring environmentally sound sustainable energy development causing minimum damage to environment • Economically viable environment friendly technology to be promoted • Thrust given on renewable energy and EIA to be mandatory for any new energy project • Use of fuel wood to be discouraged and replacement to be made available at affordable price

6. National Water Policy 1998 • Ensure sustainable harnessing of surface and groundwater • Ensure availability of water to all • Decentralize water management • Ensure sustainable public and private water delivery system • Encourage private sector in water management • National Water Management Plan (NWMP) ensures people’s participation in water projects

7. National Health Policy 1999 • Stipulates 60% of budgetary allocation in health care services • Women, children and poor to receive preference in health care services • Community Clinic for every 6000 people • Reduce child and maternal death within next 5 years

8. Industrial Policy 1999 • Emphasis on SME in general and cottage and handicraft industries in particular • 16 thrust areas: agro-industry, artificial flowers, computer software and IT, electronics, frozen food, floriculture, gift items, infrastructure, jute goods, jewelry and diamond, leather, oil and gas, seri-culture, silk industries, stuffed toys, textile and tourism

9. National Fisheries Policy 1997 • Development and increase in production • Poverty alleviation through IGA and socio-economic development of fishermen • Replenish need for animal protein • Earning of F/C through export • To ensure ecological balance, conservation of biodiversity and public health development

10. National Environment Policy 1992

11. Objectives:Environment Policy 1992 • to ensure ecological balance • to protect against natural disasters • to control activities polluting environment • to ensure environmentally sound development in all sectors • to ensure sustainable use of natural resources • to associate with global community and implementation of international agreements

12. Sectotal issuesEnvironment Policy 1992 • The policy has addressed 15 sectoral issues: Agriculture, Industry, Health and Sanitation, Energy and Fuel, Land, Forest, Wildlife and Biodiversity, Fisheries and Livestock, Coastal and Marine Environment, Transport and Communication, Housing and Urbanization, population, Education and Public Awareness, Science, Technology and Research • Action Plan and Institutional Issues

13. “agriculture”Environment Policy 1992 • Environment-friendly technology for agricultural development and food self-sufficiency • Control use of soil fertility depleting agro-chemicals; ensure OHS for agri-workers; to encourage IPM; and promote use of organic fertilizer • Promote environment-friendly jute and jute goods

14. “industry”Environment Policy 1992 With respect to “industry” sector, the policy suggests: • To adapt corrective measures to contain pollution • To conduct EIA for all new industries • To ban establishment of polluting industries • To ensure sustainable use of raw materials in industries and to prevent wastage

15. “health and sanitation”Environment Policy 1992 • Incorporate environment-friendly issues in the health policy • Obstruct measures against public health • Inclusion of health and sanitation issues in national curriculum • Develop environment-friendly rural and urban habitat; and ensure environment-friendly accommodation for the workers

16. “energy and fuel”Environment Policy 1992 • Discourage use of polluting fuel and encourage environmentally sound fuel • Emphasis on renewable energy • Reduce use of fuel wood, agri-residues as fuel and promote alternative sources of energy • Nuclear energy to be discouraged and precautionary measures to be taken against nuclear pollution and radiation • Conduct EIA prior to energy and mining projects

17. Implementation Mechanism • National Environment Council-headed by the head of government (Prime Minister) oversees monitoring of the Policy • Executive Committee of National Environment Council- headed by Minister, MOEF implements the plan and coordinates inter-sectoral issues • Meetings of these Committees are rarely conducted

18. Implementation Mechanism • Periodic (every 5 years) review and updating is necessary for this live document • Inter- sector coordination is necessary • National Environment Council and its Executive Committee to meet regularly • Regular monitoring and supervision by the Prime Minister’s Secretariat is necessary • Involvement of the civil society and media is necessary to oversee implementation, review and updating of the Policy by the government

19. Challenges of Implementation • “Environment” to be the priority of the government with political blessing irrespective of the changes of the regime • Role of the judiciary is important in taking suo motu rules • Role of the civil society and media as “watch-dog” helps effective implementation of the policy

20. Probable Questions • What are the objectives of the National Environment Policy 1992? Discuss. • The sectoral policies of the government also addressed environmental issues and concerns of the country- discuss.

21. Reference Materials • National Environment Policy 1992 • Environment and Development Alliance, Hand Book: Environmental Procedures and Guidelines, Dhaka, 1999.

22. THANK YOU