THE government is set to table a bill for establishment of a new environment management entity before the end of June this year.

Deputy Minister of State in the Vice President’s Office (Union and Environment) Khamis Hamza Khamis told the National Assembly yesterday that the government is currently finalising the draft of the bill.

Khamis said that the Environmental Management Act Cap 191 is being amended to pave the way for the replacement of the current National Environment Management Council (NEMC) with the new National Environment Management Authority (NEMA).

He said the new body will also facilitate establishment of the National Environmental Impact Trust Fund that will be mandated with mobilising and disbursing funds for addressing issues arising from climate change.

The trust fund will also help manage funds for climate resilience projects in communities that are mostly affected by climate change effects.

Khamis was responding to a question by Maryam Azan Mwinyi, Special Seats MP who wanted to know strategies in place by the government in drafting the new law.

The government’s decision comes after the parliament had in 2021 approved minor amendments in the National Environment Policy 2021 that involved mitigation measures of climate change effects.

The new law is also expected to address challenges related to management of environmental hazards such as drought and floods

“The government recognizes the essence of having in place reliable sources of funds for addressing hazards and natural disasters related to climate change such as drought, floods and storms,” he said.

Khamis said that the ministry is taking into consideration all previous research results and has been taking into consideration environmental stakeholders’ opinions from the private sector in formulation of the Trust Fund.

According to him, this time around the government is keen on identifying the whole structure of the Trust Fund, its roles and economic opportunities that will come with the Fund.

He said the Fund will operate as an independent entity and apart from receiving annual budgets from the central government, it will be responsible for mobilizing funds from global environmental agencies for climate change resilience.