Environment Act 1999 (Kiribati)
Under the Environment Act, the Minister is given the functions, among others, of overall management and control of the Environmental and Conservation Division of the Ministry, to protect, restore and enhance the quality of the environment of Kiribati, balanced against the need to promote sustainable development, develop, and administer systems of prevention and control of pollution, develop national standards to promote sustainable development through environmental monitoring, ensure free access to information on environmental matters and set compulsory standards for environmental improvement.
The Act provides for the application of the following:
- The precautionary principle
- Intergenerational responsibility
- Conservation of biodiversity and ecological integrity
- Improved valuation and pricing of environmental resources
It provides for the approval of projects which may affect the environment, including the issuance of environmental impact assessment. The Act also sets performance targets for public authorities and grants the Beretitenti the power, where he deems necessary, to direct any public authority to do anything within their powers to contribute to the achievement of the objectives of the Act or to refrain from doing any act which detracts from the achievements of the Beretitenti.