| 14.01 | Environment protection and conservation continue to be integral components of the country's development process to ensure sustainable development in line with the long-term objective of maintaining a clean and healthy environment. In the previous National Development Plans, various alarming environmental issues had been identified and appropriate programmes and actions had been taken to address them. For example in the 5th NDP(1986-1990), the policy on the conservation and protection of tropical forest and bio-diversity was formulated to protect the natural resources, while in the 6th NDP(1991-1995) and 7th NDP(1996-2000), directions and policies for better environmental management and the formulation of a comprehensive national environment strategy were prepared. |
| 14.02 | This environment strategy provides the basis for the long-term policies and actions needed to protect and conserve the country's environment from pollution and excessive exploitation of natural resources. At the same time, the existing administrative mechanisms had also been strengthened in line with the environmental programmes undertaken by various agencies. |
| 14.03 | As the country emphasises balanced development, it enjoy a clean and healthy environment. The country has never experienced serious pollution except that brought about by the haze episodes arising from the forest fires occurring locally and abroad during the dry season from September 1997 to May 1998. The serious flooding of low lying areas in 1998 and 1999 following the dry season has also had also brought about some pollution problem. |
| 14.04 | Besides contributing to the deterioration of the overall air quality, the haze episodes in 1997 and 1998 also brought about the negative effects on the socioeconomic activities and health. These episodes serve as a reminder on the importance of implementing the development process and the exploitation of natural resource be done responsibly and regulated effectively. |
| 14.05 | Since environment pollution does not have physical boundary, environmental protection and conservation require concerted efforts from al levels of society, locally and regionally. Education on and awareness for the environment should be given and inculcated extensively through appropriate measures. Progress in the 7th NDP, 1996-2000 Atmosphere |
| 14.06 | In the general, the air quality as measured by the Pollutant Standard Index(PSI) was in good conditions except during the haze episode in 1997 and 1998 . |
| 14.07 | Several technical, institutional and legal measures below have been introduced to manage air pollution problems in the country: - The National Committee on Haze was established in February 1998 to address haze problems.
- Air pollution monitoring system was also established in the four districts to monitor air quality.
- Legal provision relating to open burning was enforced in May 1998.
The full utilisation of unleaded gasoline was enforced since march 2000. |
| 14.08 | The petroleum industry has taken several measures to protect the environment including monitoring gaseous emissions from its operations. The industry geared all its operation and management systems to satisfy the internationally recognised standards for environment management such as the ISO 14000. In view of the country's moves towards industrial expansion. It is crucial that the environmental consideration be integrated in the industrial development planning and implementation. |
| 14.09 | Motor vehicles exhaust emissions if left uncontrolled could also contribute as a major source of air pollution. However even with the total number of vehicles increasing to 167,790 in 1995 to 202,244 in 1999, the severity of air pollution from the exhaust emissions has been reduced with the full use of unleaded gasoline beginning march 2000 as well as the existence of an effective road traffic system. |
| 14.10 | Nevertheless, the increase number of diesel fueled vehicles needs special attention as their exhaust emissions are more polluting than that of gasoline fueled vehicles. Diesel fueled vehicles made up 15% of the total vehicles registered in 1995 which increased to 25.5% in 1999. Therefore tight control on vehicle exhaust emissions need to be taken particularly for diesel fueled vehicles. |
| 14.11 | with regards to protection of ozone layer, appropriate action programme to phase out in stage the consumption of the chloro fluro carbon(CFC) which depletes the ozone layer as stipulated by the Montreal Protocol had been implemented in the country. Among the measures introduced include the restriction on the usage of CFC dependent equipment and encouragement on the usage of alternative materials and technologies. |
| |
WATER |
| 14.12 | Provision of adequate treated water supply to the whole population remains the main priority of national development. Additional reservoirs were built and the water treatment plants were also upgraded to meet the growing demand for the water. To the safeguard the source, water catchment areas had been gazetted and designated as protected areas. |
| 14.13 | Besides industrial and agricultural effluents also threaten the quality of river water. To minimize this threat, the enhancement and expansion of sewerage services, wastewater treatment processes and disposal facilities had been carried out in urban and housing areas as well as for new villages kampong Ayer such as kampong Bolkiah 'A' and Kampong Sungai Bunga. |
| 14.14 | Pollution in the Brunei River is caused by direct disposal of solid waste and effluents. Although there is an effluent disposal system introduced in Kampong Ayer, its coverage is limited. A pilot scheme for garbage collection was introduced in 6th and 7th NDP. However, there are still many rivers in the country which are used for garbage disposal. Thus appropriate measures will be taken in the 8th NDP to ensure that these rivers remain clean. |
| | LAND
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| 14.15 | All uncontrolled land development could jeopardise the environment. For example, drainage systems without proper planning could cause flooding, and the cutting of hill slopes not in accordance with rules and guidelines could result in soil erosion and landslides. Consequently, the 7th NDP to ensure that all projects are implemented in compliance to the EIA requirement. |
| | URBANIZATION
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| 14.16 | Urbanization brings about specific social and economic challenges especially in the provision of recreational areas, parks and gardens, maintaining the environment and the cleanliness as well as in solid wastes collection and processing. |
| | SOLID WASTES
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| 14.17 | Domestic garbage collection systems was introduced and operated by private sector. With the cooperation of the private sector, steps have been taken to minimize the use of plastic packaging and bags in business activities and to replace them with degradable materials such as paper. This steps need to be taken as plastic wastes take a long time to degrade and thus can pollute the environment. Cement package for instance are now made of paper bags. |
| 14.18 | Specific areas are allocated in all districts for the purpose of garbage disposal. In the Brunei Muara District, the existing area is almost reaching its capacity and therefore new area has to be identified. |
| | PROSPECTS AND PROGRAMMES IN THE 8TH NDP, 2001-2005 Policy Strategies
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| 14.19 | The sources and signs of pollution to the environment, either to air, land or to eco-system need to be monitored and acted upon. This is important as deterioration in the quality of the environment can affect the socio-economic development and threaten the safety, health and well-beings of the people. Therefore, steps to incorporate the environmental aspects as stipulated in the EIA requirement, in national development process are crucial to ensure a sustainable socio-economic development. |
| 14.20 | To achieve this, the following initiatives will be implemented in the 8th NDP - Ensuring sustainable utilisation of natural resources;
- Preventing and reducing the negative impacts on the environment arising from increase in population and human activities;
- Ensuring a balance between socio-economic development
objectives and the importance of maintaining quality and sustainable
environment;
- Enhancing the appropriate use of latest effective and environmentally friendly technology;
- Strengthening the regulation and enforcement measures;
- Enhancing pubic awareness and support; and
- Improving the existing facilities and services.
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| 14.21 | The National Environment strategy focuses on the following activities:
Enhancing Environmental Awareness Activities such as seminars, trainings, workshops,
campaign, exhibition and media promos to enhance public awareness will
continue to be implemented. The public awareness on the environment
needs to be further strengthened in the 8th NDP. The cooperation of all
sectors needs to be effectively strengthened. Although public awareness
on environment was made evident with the establishment of an Environment
Fund in the 7th NDP, the availability of 'green' products and services
in the market, adoption of cleaner production practice voluntarily by
the private sectors as well as the participation of the public and
private sectors in environmental activities, all these will be further
strengthened in the 8th NDP. Besides strengthening the cooperation
measures to provide incentives to encourage conservation and penalise
polluters through enforcement of regulation and legistration need to be
introduced and enforced.
Integrating Environmental Dimensions In Socio-Economic Planning And Development. The application of an Environmental Impact Assesment (EIA) needs to be used as a whole in all environment-related projects.
Improving Environmental Assesment And Natural Resource System To assess the environment and natural habitats effectively, an information database system needs to be established.
Strengthening Improvement Programmes For Urban And Rural Environments Improvement efforts on urban and rural environments need to be in tandem with population growth, urbanisation trend and economic development so that the quality of life of the population is not adversely affected due to lack of environmental infrastructures and facilities. In 1999, Bandar Seri Begawan was selected as the second cleanest city in Asia. To continue, enjoying the present status, the environmental improvement programmes under this plan will continue to:
- Increase the existing environmental facilities;
- Improve the urban landscape and recreational amenities; and
- Promote the conservation and preservation of heritage sites.
Strengthening Environmental Quality To enhance the protection of the environment, measures need to be taken such as by strengthening the enforcement of laws and regulation, ensuring sufficient human resource in the field of the environment and the use of environmentally friendly production technology by the industry.
Protecting Coastal and Marine Environmental Resources Measures to protect costal and marine environment resources will be taken to protect fish and marine life breeding grounds, as well as mangrove areas and coral reef.
Strengthening Regional And International Cooperation As Pollution has no boundaries, regional and international cooperation need to be strengthened to ensure clean environment. This is important not only for sharing of information but also to gain experience and expertise to strengthen the country's science and technology capability in the environment works.
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| | ALLOCATION |
| 14.22 | In the 8th NDP, the total allocation for the implementation of environment related projects is B$91.9 million or 1.26% from the total development allocation. |
| | CONCLUSION
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