By Jones Gadama
The Malawi Environmental Protection Authority (MEPA) is optimistic that the National State of Environmental Outlook Report, currently under development, will help identify gaps in environmental protection and management in the country.
MEPA Director General, Wilfred Kadewa, expressed this sentiment in a recent meeting in Lilongwe, highlighting that it has been over a decade since the previous report was released.
The report, which is expected to be launched in December this year, aims to assess the changes in the country’s environmental landscape over the past 15 years. According to Kadewa, the report will enable the authority to evaluate its progress in ensuring the environment is well managed.
“As a regulator, and given the responsibility to ensure the environment is well managed, we want to assess what has changed over the past fifteen years,” Kadewa said.
The development of the report is a collaborative effort between MEPA, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and GRID-Arendal, with financial support from the Norwegian Government. Co-chairperson of the report’s production, Zachariah Magombo, expressed satisfaction with the progress made so far, emphasizing that the report will be a crucial tool for strategic environmental interventions and informed policy decisions.
The report’s significance cannot be overstated, given the critical state of Malawi’s environment.The country’s natural resources are under increasing pressure due to high population growth, poverty, and lack of environmental awareness, resulting in environmental degradation, soil erosion, deforestation, water depletion, pollution, and loss of biodiversity.
To develop the report, MEPA, in conjunction with UNEP and GRID-Arendal, organized a three-day training on Integrated Environmental Assessment (IEA) in Lilongwe.
The training brought together environmental professionals, academia, civil society, policymakers, and environmental journalists to discuss principles and approaches for developing the state of the environment report.
The Minister of Natural Resources and Climate Change, Dr. Michael Usi, emphasized the importance of the report in promoting sustainable development and ensuring the responsible management of natural resources.
“The integrated assessment for the production of the Malawi State of the Environment and Outlook Report is a testament to our dedication to understanding, preserving, and enhancing our environment,” Dr. Usi said.
The report is expected to assess environmental performance, identify gaps, inform policy decisions, and promote sustainable development.
It will serve as a foundation for strategic environmental interventions and informed policy decisions, supporting the country’s development agenda, including the Malawi 2063 and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
MEPA’s commitment to environmental protection and management is evident in its continued efforts to engage stakeholders and promote sustainable development.
The authority’s work on the National State of Environmental Outlook Report is a testament to its dedication to understanding, preserving, and enhancing the environment.
As the report’s launch approaches, MEPA and UNEP have scheduled a series of stakeholder engagements, including sessions with Members of Parliament, to further the environmental agenda.
The report is expected to serve as a valuable resource for government agencies, policymakers, researchers, and other stakeholders involved in environmental management.
With the report’s expected launch in December, stakeholders are eagerly awaiting its release, which is anticipated to be a significant milestone in Malawi’s environmental journey.
