Law and Policy Database

The Coast Conservation Act vests administration, control, custody and management of the Coastal Zone, as well as administrative provisions, on the National Environmental Protection Authority. It provides for a survey of the coastal zone and the preparation of a coastal zone management plan.

The Specifications for Quantifying and Reporting on Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions and Removals is intended to benefit stakeholders by providing clear and consistent criteria and procedures for quantifying, monitoring, reporting and validating or verifying GHG inventories or projects. This part (Part 2) of the document is concerned with GHG projects for the reduction of GHG emissions or increasing GHG removals. It covers principles and requirements to identify project baseline scenarios and for monitoring, quantifying, and reporting project performance in relation to the baseline. It provides the basis to validate and verify GHG projects.

The Ozone Layer Protection Regulations of 2006 of Samoa regulate the supply, purchase and handling of controlled substances, making it unlawful for any person other than authorized supplier to import, export, sell, offer for sale or distribute a controlled substance. Controlled Substances are those substances defined as such under the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer.

The Forest Regulation of Papua New Guinea provides for the dedication of national forests and the declaration of reserved trees. It also governs the entry of the Forest Authority into contracts, including a Forest Management Agreement. It provides for the procedures in initiating a forest development project.

The National Policy on Biological Diversity abides by the Policy Statement that "Malaysia is committed to conserve its biological diversity, promote its sustainable use and ensure the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the utilization of biological resources." The Policy has five overarching goals encompassing stakeholder empowerment, reducing pressures on biodiversity, safeguarding ecosystems, species and genetic diversity, ensuring fair and equitable sharing of benefits from the utilization of biodiversity, and building the capacity of all stakeholders.

The Climate Change Policy 2012 of Fiji adheres to the policy vision of a responsible and exemplary Fiji, leading the Pacific in combating climate change and achieving resilience, while attaining sustainable development. Its mission is essentially to increase Fiji's capacity to cope climate change by strengthening institutional and legal frameworks, maximizing access to globally available funding, strengthening Fiji's support to neighboring countries and engagement in international climate change policy.

The Circular regulates the impact assessment of climate change. The Circular provides what the assessment must cover, including the responsibilities of the government offices and agencies involved in the impact assessment.

The constitution of Tuvalu recognizes the fundamental rights of persons in Tuvalu. It defines citizenship and territory, as well as the form of government where the head of state is the British monarch.

This is a case against PT Inti Indorayon Utama, a paper milling company in Sumatra, which paved the way for standing in environmental cases in Indonesia. The court recognized Wahana Lingkungan Hidup Indonesia’s standing to file the case based on two grounds. First, the court regarded the environment as “common property,” stressing that there is a public interest in environmental preservation. Second, the environment itself is a legal subject with an intrinsic right to be sustained.

The Law defines Environmental Protection and Management as systematic and integrated efforts to preserve the functions of the environment and prevent environmental pollution and/or destruction, and specifies certain aims towards this. It identifies certain prohibited acts, as well as supervision and administrative sanction, settlement of environmental disputes, and investigation and criminal penalties. It also provides for litigating rights (i.e., the right to file litigation for compensation against activities causing environmental pollution, damage or environmental loss) of the government, communities and environmental organizations.