Notions of environment and environmental management in Akwa Ibom State, Southeastern Nigeria

In the study of environmental degradation, there has not been sufficient attention paid to the perceptions of the local inhabitants. The importance of traditional beliefs and practices has often been overlooked. This paper looks at traditional and Christian beliefs in Akwa Ibom State in South Eastern Nigeria. Interviews, observations and focus group discussions were used to collect the data. The data analysis shows that knowledge and attitudes are somewhat linked to tradition but also influenced by Christian ideas concerning genesis. There are a number of recommendations made.     

Implications of environmental degradation in Nigeria

The environment can be broadly classified into two areas: physical and cultural. The interaction between these two categories have far reaching implications for both. Their interaction is already exerting a negative influence, in various ways, on man and on ecosystems. An urgent and enduring solution is therefore called for to ensure the survival of both man and ecosystems. This paper looks at three major environmental problems in Nigeria — gas flaring, soil erosion and solid waste. It analyses their causes, and socio-economic and socio-cultural implications for the country. In conclusion, a strategy of action is proposed to combat these problems and alleviate their pressure on the nation.     

Status and prospects of environmental protection in Hong Kong

Summary Environmental protection in Hong Kong traditionally has been neglected by the government and private sector, with citizens showing little interest. The overwhelming pre-occupation with economic growth and a plethora of pressing social needs are often cited as the main excuses for past apathy. Since the late 1970s, the government has taken positive steps to establish administrative structures and statutes to arrest environmental decline. Legislative processes, however, have often been delayed and the effectiveness of the laws trimmed by the strong industrial lobby. The erratic developments in the 1980s nevertheless allowed the enactment of four dedicated environmental laws and a complement of ancillary control measures. The current status of the environment in the fields of water, waste, air and noise has been assessed to highlight the pertinent maladies and shortcomings. The 1989 White Paper provided a clear package of official policies and programmes to correct past ills in a ten-year comprehensive plan. The ameliorative measures, both present and projected, are evaluated for their effectiveness and prospects. Some issues that deserve more attention and improvements are suggested.     

Old problems and new dilemmas: the conundrum of environmental management reform in China

ABSTRACT

Underpinning China’s severe and continuing environmental degradation is a stubborn gap between environmental regulation and regulatory enforcement at the local level. In the past, scholars have sought explanations for the causes of this implementation gap by interviewing frontline environmental officials. Due to the fact that the self-perception data used in most of those existing studies were gathered prior to 2012, the possible factors contributing to the compromised effectiveness of local environmental enforcement from 2012 onward remain largely unknown. This empirical weakness should not be overlooked, as the prevailing institutions governing China’s local environmental management practices have been experiencing many frame-breaking transformations since 2012. Drawing on semi-structured interviews with leaders of environmental law enforcement teams in all administrative districts of Guangzhou in 2017, this paper not only summarizes pervasive elements which negatively impact the current effectiveness of environmental regulatory efforts, but also provides qualitative evidence and theoretical accounts for three enforcement dilemmas stemming from reform measures taken by the central government.     

Issues in the environmental sanitation of Lagos mainland,Nigeria

Summary Lagos is asserted to be the filthiest capital in the world. The influx of people into the metropolitan area has no corresponding technology to cope with the solid waste generated by the ever increasing population. Coupled with this lack of technology is the lack of adequate knowledge of the composition and generation rate of the refuse which has led to mismanagement of the environment. Paper waste is identified to constitute the major form of waste generated in Lagos and, in most cases, over 90 percent of the wastes generated are combustible, therefore, the use of incineration is recommended for effective management of the refuse.Dr Afolabi A. Adedibu and Mr A.A. Okekunle are members of staff in the Department of Geography at the University of Ilorin. Dr Adedibu, the senior author, has recently served as Foreign Curriculum Consultant to the Center for African Studies at the University of Florida. Dr Adedibu has presented earlier papers on Nigeria's solid waste management problems inThe Environmentalist, Vol.5, pp.123–127 and Vol.6, pp.63–68.     

Constraints to effective pollution control and management in Nigeria

The issue of environmental protection and the need to establish the practice of environmental friendly programmes in national development consciousness are matters of paramount importance. While environmental consciousness in the developed world has witnessed over the past two decades generally effective mechanisms for pollution abatement, the situation in many third world nations is at best tepid.In Nigeria, the problem of environmental pollution has been of crisis proportions with the problem in some sectors possibly the worst in the world. In response, the government has put in place legislation and established agencies for environmental protection. A number of positive results have been achieved by the nation's main environmental watchdog, the Federal Environmental Protection Agency (FEPA). However, a lot still needs to be done, in terms of improving institutional capacity and adopting economic measures for the management of pollution problems.This paper, therefore, examines the major sources of Nigeria's environmental problems, discusses the weaknesses of existing legal and institutional arrangements and suggests strategies for a more effective pollution control management in Nigeria.     

Solid waste management and a new environmental edict: a case study from Ilorin,Kwara State,Nigeria

Summary The Government of Nigeria is increasingly aware of problems emanating from poor environmental sanitation. This awareness has led to various edicts both at the national and state levels on environmental sanitation with particular reference to solid waste management. Such an edict was critically examined for the Kwara State of Nigeria. At a glance, the edict looks impressive and timely, but a closer study reveals many loopholes some of which are outlined. Most important of these, is a failure to consider adequately the full requirements of the population. Many of the facilities needed for effective implementation are also grossly inadequate. Suggestions are made to make the campaign for increased environmental sanitation in the nation more successful.This paper further elaborates a theme first partially developed by Dr Adedibu inThe Environmentalist, Vol. 5, pp. 123–127.     

Tunnel vision in environmental management

Summary This is a paper about problem-solving styles in Environmental Management and the specific deficiencies in these styles that might be groupd under the label ‘tunnel vision’. The latter, a form of selective attention, contributes to inadequate problem-formulation, partial solutions to complex problems and to the generation of even more intractable, additional problems. Examples of tunnel vision in military and environmental decision-making are discussed, together with the situational, personal and educational factors that exacerbate its influence. The paper concludes with some recommendations for changes in professional education that might help to recduce the occurrence of tunnel vision. Dr Alan Miller who is now associate professor at the University of New Brunswick received his training in biology (in England) and ecology (in Canada). He then spent several years pursuing research at the Northwest Institute for Medical Research in Chicago, USA. A growing interest in the human aspects of environmental and medical problems led to a further graduate study in psychology, followed by teaching positions in Ireland and Canada. His current interests include: the education of environmental professional; the psychosocial problems involved in environmental management, and, the problems inherent in interdisciplinary project groups.     

Ideology and environmental risk management

Summary Although risk management is interdisciplinary in nature, in practice it is excessively compartmentalized. For instance, two quite different orientations to risk management are commonly seen, the relationship between them being one of suspicious rivalry rather than cooperation. Thus, anyone interested in developing a more integrated form of risk management is faced with the problem of trying to understand why these opposed factions have developed and what sustains their mutual antagonism. Hopefully, this paper makes a contribution in this regard by discussing the psychological and socio-political roots of environmental ideology.Dr Alan Miller is currently Professor of Psychology at the University of New Brunswick. He received his early training in biology (in England) and ecology (in Canada). He subsequently spent several years pursuing research at the Northwest Institute for Medical Research in Chicago, USA. A growing interest in the human aspects of environmental and medical problems led to a further graduate study in psychology, followed by teaching positions in Ireland and Canada. His current interests include: the education of environmental professionals; the psychosocial problems involved in environmental management, and the problems inherent in interdisciplinary project groups.     

TQM and strategic environmental management

Beyond the avoided costs for noncompliance lies an area of economic opportunity. Strategic approaches are necessary to tap these opportunities, but only recently have the principles of Total Quality Management been considered for environmental applications. This article identifies common principles in strategic environmental planning and thematic bridges to TQM philosophies. By applying TQM to strategic environmental planning, an environmental manager can thus address both avoided cost and environmental opportunity to improve overall corporate strategic advantage.     

Self-organizing systems and environmental management

The characteristics of self-organizing systems are described and their implications for environmental management are discussed. It is concluded that the aim of management should be to enhance the capacity of the system for self-management, with active intervention being used only to steer it away from large discontinuities. Environmental managers must view ecosystems and themselves as parts of a larger sociobiophysical system, cultivate the capacity of environmental systems for self-management, and learn to live with change and uncertainty. Practical consequences of this approach for plans, policies, programs, and institutions are discussed.     

A review of the military approach to urban environmental deterioration in Nigeria

The concern of this paper is a review of the urban environmental degradation and the current approach by the military (environmental task force) in solving the problem. It is based on the experience of a few states in Nigeria. The paper proposes a comprehensive urban planning approach which should be integrated with an awareness campaign.     

Government policy and environmental protection in the developing world: The example of Nigeria

Environmental protection is a topical and controversial issue of contemporary Third World development. As a result of the growing crisis of environment and development as well as issues of global environmental balance, divergent views and proposals have been put forward by external governments, international agencies, and environmental groups in resolving the environmental degradation problems of the developing world. However, very little appraisal has been made of the efforts by indigenous Third World governments in facing up to their environmental conservation issues. This article examines the role of past and recent government environmental control policies and programs in Nigeria. The article analyzes three aspects of environmental protection: (1) the theoretical economic bases of environmental protection and the Nigerian approach to environmental protection, including traditional values and modern institutional control measures, the latter embracing nature conservation efforts; (2) environmental considerations in national development plans; and (3) the evolution of a federal environmental protection agency and a national policy on environment. Finally, the article discusses the future challenges and directions for environmental policy.     

Energy recovery from municipal solid waste in Nigeria and its economic and environmental implications

An assessment of potential biomass resources in Nigeria for the production of methane and power generation is presented in this paper. Nigeria, as an underdeveloped and populous country, needs an uninterrupted source of energy. The country's energy problems have crippled large sectors of the economy. The percentage of people connected to the national grid is 40%. These 40% experience electricity supply failure on average 10–12 hours daily. Energy generation from municipal solid waste (MSW) is an effective MSW management strategy. Yearly waste generation has increased from 6,471 gigagrams (Gg) in 1959 to 26,600 Gg in 2015. This amount is projected to reach 36,250 Gg per year by 2030. Methane emission for 2015 was 491 Gg, and it is projected to reach 669 Gg in 2030. These values translate to 3.48 × 10⁹ kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity for 2015, with a projected 4.74 × 10⁹ kWh by 2030. The revenue to be derived from the electricity that is generated could have been US$365.04 × 10⁶ for 2015, and it is estimated that it will reach US$473.82 × 10⁶ by 2030. It was found that methane emissions from MSW increased with time, and capturing this gas for energy production will lead to a sustainable waste management.     

Environmental management problems in India

Environmental problems are becoming serious in India because of the interacting effects of increasing population density, industrialization and urbanization, and poor environmental management practices. Unless stringent regulatory measures are taken, environmental systems will be irreversibly degraded. Lack of political commitment, lack of a comprehensive environmental policy, poor environmental awareness, functional fragmentation of the public administration system, poor mass media concern, and prevalence of poverty are some of the major factors responsible for increasing the severity of the problems. Environmental problems in India are highly complex, and management procedures have to be developed to achieve coordination between various functional departments, and for this, political leaders have to be convinced of the need to initiate environmental protection measures.     

Groundwater resource management and environmental protection

Population and economic developmental pressures will continue to put increasing pressure on the environment, especially on scarce water resources. Meanwhile, large numbers of poor families in the developing countries still lack access to safe water. An integrated water resource planning and policy analysis framework is presented that permits the main issues and alternative options to be systematically considered and prioritized, especially problems arising from groundwater pollution. Basic principles of water resource economics are used to illustrate how the neglect of long-term environmental considerations jeopardizes the availability and quality of groundwater resources in the Greater Manila area. This paper contains a brief overview of drinking water and sanitation issues in developing countries, presents a policy-oriented analysis of a groundwater problem of great relevance worldwide, and demonstrates how the study conclusions might be implemented practically in a constrained developing country context.     

Industry Agreement Acts and environmental management in Australia

In Australia many major developments are authorized by agreements negotiated between companies and the state government and ratified by Parliament as Agreement Acts The means by which these are negotiated and ratified, their terms, and their legal status are thus of great importance to Australian resource and environmental management These aspects are examined, revealing a lessening of the tendency to provide special rights and privileges and a trend towards the inclusion of more resource and environmental management provisions in the Acts It is argued that major developments require special conditions beyond the scope of general laws in order to control their social and environmental side effects, and that Agreements Acts could be a valuable means to this end Ways of improving them from this point of view are discussed