Browsing by Author "Rweyendela, Amani G."

Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
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    Getting closer to SDG12: incorporating industrial ecology principles into project EIA
    (Taylor & Francis, 2021) Rweyendela, Amani G.
    In gearing up environmental impact assessment (EIA) as a tool for achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12 – ensuring sustainable consumption and production – the concept of industrial ecology (IE) can offer valuable innovations. IE urges the derivation of sustainable and innovative designs from nature. This contribution sought to explore how to operationalize IE within EIA, and to anticipate some foreseeable challenges. A narrative literature review was employed to synthesize prior research. The study suggests that the proposed approach may improve EIA’ potential to steer decisions toward SDG12 by strengthening the process’s theoretical, analytical, and participatory components. IE’s implications for EIA practice are discussed against five key challenges; human resource deficits, informational gaps, institutional barriers, financial resources gaps, and EIA systems’ malfunctions. The paper is expected to raise awareness, urge governments to mobilize their EIA systems to meet SDG targets and stimulate further research on the subject.
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    Institutional influences on circular economy: a Tanzanian perspective
    (Elsevier Inc., 2021) Rweyendela, Amani G.; Kombe, Godlisten G.
    The shift towards circular economy (CE) is strongly linked to institutions, particularly laws and regulations, whose primary aim is to minimise uncertainties and align economic actors’ incentives. However, the literature is inconclusive about the factors within legislative environments and what kind of influences they produce, especially in the African context. Thus, this study sought to analyse and describe holistically the factors within Tanzania's current legislative context that may stimulate or hinder CE development. The authors conducted a narrative literature review and document review using the SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) analysis approach. The results suggest that there are several strengths and opportunities that may have created a CE enabling context. But also several weaknesses and threats impede the circular transformation. Based on the results, the authors discuss what they mean for policymakers and what is needed for the current and future legislation to support CE better. This ground-breaking Tanzanian-based study adds to the existing body of knowledge on CE's institutional antecedents in developing countries. It stands out for offering a broad view of the Tanzanian legislative environment, identifying opportunities for facilitating CE and clarifying directions for further research.
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    Strategic environmental assessment for low-carbon development: developing an analysis framework
    (Taylor & Francis, 2022) Rweyendela, Amani G.; Pauline, Noah M.; Lema, Godwin A.
    Understanding strategic environmental assessments (SEA) influence on low-carbon development (LCD) is critical as societies strive to decarbonize without jeopardizing economic growth. As best practice perceptions are still evolving, plausible conceptual and analytical frameworks are needed. This paper offers a conceptual clarification and proposes a framework for analyzing environmental reports. We employed a multi-phased, mixed-methods approach. The first phase involved an integrative literature review that combined theoretical insights from LCD and transition management with SEA’s procedural aspects. The extracted data was used to develop an initial framework in the second phase. The third phase utilized an international case study and expert consultations to illustrate, validate and refine the framework. The resulting framework comprises five review areas to be verified by a series of review questions reflecting good practice. It could assist SEA researchers, practitioners, responsible authorities, policymakers and environmental agencies better understand, prioritize and address the issue of LCD
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    The treatment of climate change impacts and adaptation in the environmental impact assessment of the standard gauge railway project in Tanzania
    (Tailor & Francis Ltd., 2021) Rweyendela, Amani G.; Mwegoha, William J.
    Transport remains one of the essential infrastructures, crucial for socio-economic development. However, climate change threatens the transport infrastructure development gains already achieved globally. The incorporation of climate change and adaptation capabilities into environmental impact assessment (EIA) processes has been extensively discussed and linked to enhanced project climate resilience. However, a considerable research gap remains unexplored, and that is assessing whether and how EIA has been used to climate-proof development proposals in Africa. This study examined how climate change impacts and adaptation capabilities featured in the EIA of a major transport infrastructure project in Tanzania. It draws on reviewing the project’s environmental impact statement (EIS) using review criteria derived from the literature. The findings revealed that all EIA stages addressed climate change in one way or another, with some of the criteria more comprehensively treated than others. A closer examination unveiled several good practices, which evidence appreciation for climate science and considerable strength in climate change preparedness. The results highlight EIA’s potential to steer climate efforts among vulnerable communities systematically. This paper will contribute to the international discussion on this issue and offer a basis for further research towards deeper engagement between the actors within EIA, transport planning and climate networks.