Integrated Environmental Management is a critical component in ensuring this harmonisation in the SADC Region, particularly focusing on EIA processes such as Public Participation. The harmonisation of IEM, Public Participation and Environmental Tools in the SADC Region presents an opportunity for the region to standardise the policies, guidelines, methodologies and approaches implemented when undertaking environmental assessments. Progress made in technologies and knowledge sharing will lead to the development of a common base of experience. This creates a pressing need for the SADC Region to act uniformly in processes and procedures to ensure sustainable development.

The SADC region is amongst the most at-risk regions to the impacts of climate change with reported increases in the frequency and intensity of floods, draughts, cyclones and heatwave events. These challenges pose a significant risk to infrastructure, and agriculture, thus affecting livelihoods and causing loss of lives. Managing these disasters is one of the pressing management imperatives as we minimise the impact of climate change on communities, particularly vulnerable rural communities. Implementation of early warning systems, climate-resilient infrastructure and agriculture support resilience and adaptation in the face of climate change.

Countries in the SADC region have an abundance of natural heritage with diverse ecosystems and wildlife, which not only present a rich source of ecosystem assets but also present an opportunity for economic growth. This duality provides an opportunity for environmental practitioners to intricately manage these processes, ensuring sustainable economic development while promoting biodiversity and nature conservation in the region. This commands the need to standardise the biodiversity sector within the SADC region to allow EAPs to play a role in the management of biodiversity and sustainable land use management both inside and outside protected areas.

Waste management is an important aspect of Integrated Environmental Management that is an inevitable consequence of not only life but of activities and developments. Waste has become a global pandemic, with many countries around the world investing in innovative technologies geared at waste avoidance, reduction and beneficiation. Mining activities often leave the environment susceptible to the contamination of air, land, and water resources. Countries within the SADC region are required to keep abreast with the latest technologies and trends in the management of waste and integrate those with best environmental practices. This creates circular economy opportunities in the waste management (general and hazardous) and mining industries, mandating the need for collaborations and policy developments and the sharing of technologies and research opportunities within the region

Mining within the SADC region is responsible for the production of approximately 50% of the world’s vanadium, platinum and diamonds, while over 35% of Gold and 20% of cobalt is mined in the SADC regions. These not only form the backbone on which the gross national product of most countries is formed but also provide opportunities for employment and foreign exchange earnings. Mining activities do, however, present environmental challenges such as disturbance or destruction of valued ecosystems, landscape changes, a release of gaseous emissions (through gas and gas extractions), and depletion and contamination of water resources. This necessitates the development of sustainable practices within the mining industries to prevent permanent environmental damage and presents governments with the opportunity to develop stringent measures in the management and regulation of these natural resources.