Environment Act 2000 (Papua New Guinea)

The Environment Act provides for the protection of the environment in accordance with the Constitution, particularly its Fourth National Goal and Directive Principle. It regulates environmental impact of development activities to enable sustainable development of the environment as well as the economic, social and physical well-being of people. This can be achieved by protecting the life-supporting capacity of air, water, soil and ecosystems for present and future generations, and proactively minimizing any adverse effect of developmental activities on the environment. The Act also provides for the protection of the environment from environmental harm, promoting the application of a precautionary approach to the assessment of risk of environmental harm. It further provides for the management of national water resources and the responsibility for their management. It provides for permit requirements to engage in certain activities classified as Level 2 or 3 activities. The classification of activities shall be prescribed by way of regulations. The Act also provides for certain offenses against the environment and corresponding penalties.