| dc.description | In view of the major discoveries oil and gas in the WIO region and the potential social and economic impacts on
the economies of the countries on one hand and negative environmental impacts on the other hand, it is prudent
that adequate governance mechanisms are put in place. Governments in the region recognized this as an
emerging issue and in the Fifth Meeting of the Contracting Parties, held in South Africa in 2007 the Nairobi
Convention Secretariat was requested to assist governments to address the issue within the framework of the
Nairobi Convention. This was reaffirmed at Focal Points Meeting held in 5 August 2012 in Maputo,
Mozambique. The paper also responds to Article 4 d of the Convention, that obliges governments to ensure that
new or existing activities, developments, programs, plans and processes that are likely to cause significant
adverse environmental impacts are subjected to the coastal and marine environment are subjected to
environmental impact assessment, or environmental audits, strategic environmental assessment or strategic
environmental assessment as may be appropriate. The Secretariat in partnership with WWF, WIOMSA and
other members of the Consortium for Conservation of Coastal and Marine Ecosystems (WIO-C) have prepared
an exploratory paper that outlines elements of a conducive investment climate on oil and gas. | en_US |
