The US government’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will support Mozambique in the development of environmental policies, clean energy production and “responsible” mining, it was announced today.
According to information from the EPA, the administrator of that US government agency, Michael S. Regan, equivalent to the Minister of the Environment, will begin a two-day visit to Mozambique on Monday to “build partnerships and share solutions” on environmental priorities, including the development of clean energy production projects, air protection, incentives for responsible mining and the recycling of plastic materials and electronic waste.
“Administrator Regan’s mission to Africa responds to President Biden’s call to action at the 2022 U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit to expand substantive and meaningful partnerships with countries, institutions, and people across the African continent,” explains the EPA, adding that after Mozambican President Regan will head to Ghana.
“Mozambique and Ghana are important partners in our collective work to ensure that economic development and environmental protection go hand in hand. We all have an interest in developing clean energy, protecting vital natural resources and ensuring equal access to clean air and clean water,” Michael S. Regan emphasised in a statement about this visit, which also involves contacts with young leaders from both countries to learn about efforts to tackle climate change and environmental justice.
Following Michael S. Regan’s visit to Mozambique, the EPA is scheduled to begin working with experts from the Mozambican government, sharing techniques to identify pollution problems and ways to address them.
The EPA will also provide “technical assistance and guidance to help the government of Mozambique and civil society engage more meaningfully in public processes around responsible mining operations” and the agency’s experts, in partnership with the US Geological Society, will also organise a webinar with a community that is struggling with the impacts of coastal erosion.
Lusa
