Elevating ‘EIA’ standards
ANY environment impact assessment (EIA) is meaningless if safeguard measures and best practices are not applied to protect our environment.
This was the message from Ministry of Environment and Climate Change permanent secretary Dr Sivendra Michael to participants at the EIA meeting with approving and licensing authorities in Suva yesterday.
Dr Michael said the EIA process was a tool towards achieving sustainable development in Fiji.
“The very purposes of EIA are to ensure that developmental options under consideration are environmentally sound and sustainable, and that environmental consequences are recognised and taken into account,” he said.
“When used correctly, EIAs can help us design and implement better projects that will face up to important challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, a growing population, urban sprawl, conflicts over increasingly scarce resources, inequities and new technological opportunities.”
Dr Michael said they had convened to devise a clearer understanding of EIA regulations and the Environment Management Act 2005.
“We all know that there are existing challenges and concerns raised in terms of timelines and processes.
“We are the government of the day, we are serving our people in our communities. We are also bound by laws and regulations.
“So, to help both the parties understand the challenges we are facing and what are the challenges you are facing, and how can we devise solutions around that?
“Rightfully for us to be stewards and custodians, the government of the day is serving the wider nation.
“So, we need to be mindful of how we protect, conserve and ensure our environment is not only sustained for the current generation but the generations to come.”
When used correctly, EIAs can help us design and implement better projects that will face up to important challenges ....
– Dr Sivendra Michael