Sudan is facing a wide range of environmental, social, and natural resource challenges such as deforestation, land degradation, and loss of biodiversity and habitats. These challenges also include pollution, conflict over diminishing natural resources, food insecurity, and poor waste and sanitation services in both rural and urban areas. Climate change exacerbates these issues, which hinder Sudan’s ability to develop sustainably.
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), through the Adapt for Environment and Climate Resilience in Sudan (ADAPT!) project, supported the Government of Sudan in developing its first State of the Environment and Outlook Report. It is the first of its kind in Sudan and was led by a team of distinguished national experts.
The State of the Environment and Outlook Report provides an overall assessment of the quality of Sudan’s natural environment. It describes what puts pressure on the country’s environment and provides an outlook of current and emerging environmental issues. It is considered as an authoritative guide to the latest science on the Sudanese environment. It provides a set of key recommendations aimed at helping the Government of Sudan and other policy-makers take more informed, data-driven decisions to sustainably manage the country’s precious natural resources and promote sustainable approaches for long-term development.
The State of the Environment and Outlook Report consists of the following ten chapters:
- Socioeconomic Status and Environment
- Environmental Governance
- Atmosphere
- Land
- Water Resources
- Biodiversity
- Persistent Challenges
- Emerging Issues
- Policy Analysis
- Scenarios and Policy Options
The ADAPT! project is funded by the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and implemented by UNEP in partnership with the Government of Sudan. It is designed to mainstream the environment and climate change in national and state planning, and policies, create good environmental data, and improve water and natural resources management. The project has been promoting the use of good environmental data and analysis for planning, decision-making, and evidence-based policies. It is supporting the development of coordinated and strong institutions with the capacity to implement good environmental governance and management, so that the livelihoods of the poorest people as well as Sudan’s economy are protected and improved. The State of the Environment and Outlook Report will play a vital role in achieving this goal.
Related Publications:
- Sudan First State of Environment and Outlook Report (2020)
- Sudan Integrated Environmental Programme
- Wadi El Ku Catchment Management Project
