Luanda - The National Assembly (AN) Friday unanimously approved a draft resolution for Angola to ratify the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Protocol on Environmental Management for Sustainable Development.
Approved with 156 votes in favor, none against and no abstentions, the legal tool is a regional agreement developed by the SADC, an inter-governmental organization made up of 16 countries in the region.
The protocol addresses a variety of issues related to the environment, including biodiversity protection, waste management, water conservation, and pollution control and climate change mitigation.
The treaty establishes guidelines and principles for SADC member states to adopt and implement in their own countries, with the aim of achieving economic development that is ecologically sustainable.
Signed in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, on August 18, 2014, the protocol aims to promote sustainable environmental management and the conservation of natural resources in the Southern African region.
It also promotes regional cooperation between the SADC member states in terms of encouraging the exchange of information, technology and best practices between countries in the region.
The protocol strengthens environmental protection to improve human health and well-being, promote the equitable and sustainable use of natural resources, foster shared management of the transboundary environment and deal effectively with the impacts of climate change.
Explanations of vote
The MP Florbela Malaquias justified her vote in favour because she believes that sustainable development is a tool that boosts humanism in various ways.
"We consider this to be humanism, because sustainable environmental management defends the equality and dignity of all human beings and guarantees the well-being of all generations," she said.
UNITA MP João Bernardo on his turn said he hopes that Angola's ratification of the Protocol "will be another opportunity that will allow the Angolan government to join a stage for sharing experiences with regard to good environmental management for good sustainable development, in order to guarantee the good ecological services that humanity needs".
The National Assembly also unanimously approved the Draft Resolution for Angola's ratification of the Protocol on Common Hydrographic Systems in the SADC Region.
The Protocol on Common Hydrographic Systems in the SADC Region was signed on August 18, 1999 , South Africa.
Angola, as a full member of the Southern African Development Community exercises its rights and fulfills its obligations, one of which is to be bound by the Agreements, Protocols and other instruments deemed important for the pursuit of its aims and objectives.
The Protocol will guarantee regional scientific, technical, technological, legal-administrative and commercial cooperation in the use and management of hydrological resources shared by the countries of the region. DC/VIC/TED/AMP
