Publication: Timor-Leste: Country Environmental Analysis
Date
2009-07
ISSN
Published
2009-07
Author(s)
World Bank
Abstract
The Country Environmental Analysis (CEA)
for Timor-Leste identifies environmental priorities through
a systematic review of environmental issues in natural
resources management and environmental health in the context
of the country's economic development and environmental
institutions. Lack of data has been the main limitation in
presenting a more rigorous analysis. Nevertheless, the
report builds on the best available secondary data, presents
new data on the country's wealth composition, and
derives new results on the costs of water and air pollution.
The CEA calls for urgent attention to gaps in the
environmental management framework, the lack of capacity to
implement the few regulations in place, and the high cost of
indoor air pollution and poor water, sanitation, and
hygiene. Timor-Leste is a young country that regained
independence in 2002, and it has emerged from a bitter past
burdened by colonialism and violent conflicts. It is still a
fragile state facing enormous challenges. The report also
points out the lack of clean water, appropriate sanitation,
and hygiene as an environmental priority. The CEA estimates
that this imposes an economic cost of about $17 million per
year by way of illness and premature death. The CEA also
looks at outdoor air pollution and at natural resource
management for land, forestry, and coastal and marine
resources. Outdoor air pollution is not a serious problem
for the time being, but it could become so in the long run
if the economy grows rapidly, urbanization continues, heavy
industry emerges, and motorization increases rapidly. This
underlines the need for good forward territorial and
development planning. In conclusion, much good work has
already been done to enhance the quality of the environment
in Timor-Leste. Efforts are under way to improve the data
base for environmental management.
Citation
“World Bank. 2009. Timor-Leste: Country Environmental Analysis. © Washington, DC. http://hdl.handle.net/10986/28126 License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.”