NATIONAL ENVIRONMENT MANAGEMENT BILL, 2025 ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS

Summary

This Bill seeks to establish a comprehensive and robust legal framework that promotes the enhancement, protection, conservation, and sustainable management of the environment. This Bill further seeks to coordinate and harmonize conflicting activities to ensure that environmental considerations are integrated into the national development agenda. It is also aims to safeguard the environment as a common heritage for both present and future generations by reinforcing principles such as sustainable development, accountability, public participation, the polluter-pays principle, and the precautionary principles. Relatedly, this Bill proposes to align national environmental policies with international obligations and foster cooperation among governmental bodies, the private sector, and local communities. This will ensure that environmental protection becomes a shared responsibility among all stakeholders, and invariably contribute significantly to safeguarding natural resources, improving public health, and promoting socio-economic development, thereby ensuring a balanced relationship between development and environmental conservation. This Bill ascends from the growing recognition of the adverse impacts of environmental degradation on public health, biodiversity, and socio-economic development. It will address the need for long-term planning, integrated environmental governance, and public involvement. It will also ensure that environmental protection measures are not delayed due to scientific uncertainty and hold polluters accountable for the costs associated with mitigating environmental damage. Thus, the enactment of the Bill is essential in fostering an environmentally sustainable future for The Gambia.