- Solid waste regulation on pipeline
ADDIS ABABA – Ethiopia raised impactful awareness in all forms of pollution under the comprehensive anti-pollution campaign over the past six months, the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) said.
In an interview with the Ethiopian Press Agency (EPA), Authority’s Director-General LelisieNemie (Eng.) stated that launching a six-month environmental and social impact assessment mobilization activities, the authority has been undertaking direct interventions in all areas of the country.
She emphasized that they have been exerting utmost efforts along with all regions and city administrations thereby enhancing public awareness on how to address environmental pressing issues and mitigation mechanisms.
Accordingly, it managed to reach over 6.5 million people nationwide in various thematic areas such as plastic, air, water, soil, sound and others regarding environmental and social assessment in six months, she remarked.
In the same vein, she said that about 35 million people have got the right information about mitigation mechanisms via the mainstream and social media platforms.
Lelissie said, “This bounded campaign also created the opportunity to navigate ideal initiatives, revising directives and guidelines that help further strengthen monitoring systems.”
She further mentioned that the Council of Ministers has recently approved environmental and social impact assessment proclamation which enforces public and private sectors’ companies and fosters community’s participation in all projects.
Once it becomes effective, it would help ensure a wide range of societal economic benefit, reshaping waste management while protecting the environment and the country’s climate change response to address the devastating impacts of climate change, according to the Director-General.
More importantly, the House of People’s Representatives is expected to approve a solid waste management directive which bans all single use plastic products and waste collection systems nationally.
It is worth mentioning that the authority initiated a six- month comprehensive anti-pollution campaign all over the country with a view of tackling the ever growing environmental crisis.
BY ASHENAFI ANIMUT
The Ethiopian Herald December 22/2024
