Environmental policies in Africa are being hindered by a lack of
adequate and accessible data and poor coordination between
countries, according to experts who were speaking at the launch
of 'Africa Environment Outlook 3, Summary Report for Policy
Makers'. For policies to work, there is a need for "clear
implementation [of] roadmaps with realistic targets and funding
mechanisms" and for "institutional mechanisms to ensure
alignment and collaboration", says the report. The report was
commissioned by the African Ministerial Conference on the
Environment (AMCEN) and launched at the First Universal Session
of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Governing Council in
Nairobi, Kenya, last week (21 February). Frank Turyatunga,
regional coordinator for UNEP's Division of Early Warning and
Assessment in Africa, says that policymakers need data and
information on issues such as biological diversity, air quality,
climate variability and marine resources, so they can make
decisions on how they can be protected or used sus