Basic Environmental Law No. 5/98.

This Law, consisting of 37 articles divided into seven Chapters and one Annex, establishes basic principles to be carried out by the Government of Angola on the following issues: 1) natural heritage protection; 2) ecosystem preservation and 3) environmental conservation, in order to guarantee the quality of human life. This Law concerns the National Programme of Environmental Management, to be drawn up according to the national legislation. It specifies conditions and requirements to be satisfied by environmental quality standards. All projects whose activities involve the interests of the communities, interfere with the ecological balance and use natural resources to the detriment of third parties, should be subject to Environmental and Social Impact Assessment processes.
This Law defines the basic concepts and principles of protection, preservation and conservation of the environment, promotion of the quality of life and the rational use of natural resources, in accordance with the Constitution of the Republic of Angola. Its general principles are: 1. All citizens have the right to live in a healthy environment and to the benefits of the rational use of natural resources, resulting in their obligations to participate in their protection and sustainable use. 2. It is due to respect for the principles of well-being of the whole population, the protection, preservation and conservation of the environment and the rational use of natural resources. 3. The State is responsible for implementing a National Environmental Management Programme to achieve the objectives set out, creating the necessary structures and specialized bodies for this purpose and publishing legislation to enable its feasibility. Its objectives and measures are: achieve full sustainable development in all aspects of national life; maintain a balance between satisfying citizens' basic needs and nature's responsiveness; ensure the least environmental impact of the actions necessary for the country's development through proper land-use planning and the application of appropriate techniques and technologies; pay particular attention to the quality of the urban environment through the effective application of local and municipal administration; establish and strengthen a network of environmental protection areas in order to guarantee the maintenance of biodiversity; promote research and scientific study in all aspects of ecology; promote the application of environmental quality standards in all production and service sectors, based on international standards adapted to the country's reality; ensuring citizens' participation in all decision-making that entails environmental and social imbalances; establish clear and enforceable standards protecting the country's natural, cultural and social heritage; recover degraded areas; coordinate with countries bordering on environmental protection and improve the quality of life of border populations.