Environmental Management (Amendment) Act, 2025 (Act No. 5 of 2025).

This Act consisting of 33 sections amends the original text giving particular attention to addressing climate change in all its parties, from the definitions to the powers of the Director of Environment - now explicitly in charge of the coordination of climate change impact and vulnerability assessment, preparation of mitigation and adaptation actions, coordinationg of greenhouse gas inventory and establishment of monitoring and verification system for greenhouse gases emissions - to the powers of the Minister. The new Section 29A establishes the National Carbon Monitoring Centre (NCMC) to coordinate activities relating to the management of greenhouse gases and carbon trade, including coordinating carbon and greenhouse gas matters, registering and verifying carbon projects and credits, establishing monitoring and reporting systems, managing carbon trading transactions, promoting investment and collaboration, providing training and technical advice, overseeing regulatory implementation, conducting research, and maintaining an information system. It is also added a new Section, 75A, to designate the National Environmental Advisory Committee as the National Climate Change Steering Committee, tasked with advising the Minister on greenhouse gas management, providing strategic direction for climate initiatives, monitoring progress, recommending policy adjustments, and coordinating multi-sectoral engagement in climate action. Section 105 on Strategic Environmental Assessment is now supplemented by Section 105A, which mandates the inclusion of climate change impact and vulnerability assessments to identify high-risk areas and develop practical adaptation measures for informed decision-making. Section 174A is added to mandate the National Carbon Monitoring Centre to establish a Greenhouse Gas Inventory System for measuring, reporting, and managing emissions across sectors, with sector ministries required to submit their inventories biennially.