Emerging Environmental Issues

Sudan is affected by many environmental issues including desertification, deforestation, loss of biodiversity, water scarcity, air and water pollution and pesticide contamination. While many of these issues are decades old, recently some new environmental problems have appeared that threaten to have a serious impact on the country. Examples include the use of mercury by artisanal miners, the growth in electronic waste, the proliferation of two-stroke engine vehicles (rickshaws) as a cheap means of public transport, and the use of polluting self-generated electricity by industries, rich households and markets.

Although the country has tried to address these problems within the current institutional and legislative framework, evidence suggests they are getting worse. There are growing calls for a more serious approach to tackling them, based on a comprehensive environmental management policy. This would mean, among other things, involving artisanal miners, rickshaw drivers and other groups in public awareness and training programmes to instill good environmental practice.

The successful management of these issues will improve not only Sudan’s environment, but also its economy, the stability of its communities and the health and livelihoods of its people.