The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) emphasized its commitment to fostering behavioral change in environmental practices rather than punishing offenders.
Dr. Innocent Barikor, the Director General of NESREA, made this clear on Thursday during the Expert Critique Meeting for reviewing the National Environmental (Permitting and Licensing Systems) Regulations.
Barikor stated that sealing business premises for environmental violations is a last resort. NESREA prefers to educate stakeholders on proper environmental practices. The agency has implemented various interventions to raise awareness and promote safe environmental behaviors.
Discussing the meeting’s focus, Barikor highlighted the importance of the National Environmental (Permitting and Licensing Systems) Regulations, first established in 2009, in controlling regulated community activities. These regulations aim to improve air quality, conserve the environment, and reduce exposure to waste and hazardous substances through the issuance of environmental permits.
“However, after 15 years of implementation, gaps have emerged, particularly with new global challenges like climate change, marine pollution, and biodiversity conservation,” Barikor noted. To address these, NESREA is reviewing the regulations with support from the UNEP-LEAP Small Scale Funding Agreement (SSFA) under the Montevideo Programme V.
Barikor emphasized that permitting and licensing are crucial for balancing growth, innovation, and public safety, and there is always room for improvement. He called on participants to use their expertise to refine regulatory processes, enhance clarity, and eliminate inefficiencies.
“Today’s session is a critical opportunity to harness collective knowledge for a more resilient and effective environmental governance framework,” Barikor concluded, urging participants to consider this review process as a commitment to sustainable environmental legacy.
