Tanzania following global Environmental Processes enacted National Environmental Management (NEM) Act in 1983 leading to the establishment of the National Environmental Management Council (NEMC) which started operations in 1986.

This also followed the formulation and approval of the National Environment Policy 1997 repealed by the Environmental Management Act (EMA), 2004.

The objective of NEMC is to carry out environmental enforcement, compliance, review and monitor environmental impact assessments, and research and awareness creation through public participation.

The aim of Environment Management is to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) whose aim is to achieve development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet own needs.

The key policy instruments and strategies for attaining SDGs include Environmental Impact Assessment, Environmental Legislation, Economic Instruments, Environmental Indicators and Standards as well as Public Participation.

To ensure its implementation, there is a planning commission under the President’s office charged with national development, planning management and which coordinates development activities including integration of environmental concerns in development planning.

At the central and local government level there are departments whose work is of relevance to environment and sustainable development.

Additionally, there are NGOs, CBOs, Academic Institutions, Business Community and Professionals also involved in this task.

Under this Act, Tanzania also ratified several Multilateral Environmental Agreements in compliance to international and regional environmental treaties which include Biological Diversity, Protection, Management and Development of Marine and Coastal Environment, Convention on Climate Change, Protection of Ozone Layer, Protocol on Substances that deplete the Ozone, Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their disposal and Ban of import into Africa and Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes within Africa.

In order to achieve the SDGs, Tanzania for example prohibited the use of plastic carrier bags and put a ban into their importation.

The Laws pertaining to Environment include Land Use, Natural Resources and Conservation, Pollution related Legislation and Environmental Management Legislation.