Read our Full Statement in English
Read our Full Statement in Dhivehi
14 August 2025
Transparency Maldives expresses concern over the sudden decision of the government which has weakened the governance structure of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), now Environmental Regulatory Authority (ERA), by moving away from the oversight of a governing board and integrating it directly under the Ministry of Tourism and Environment. Furthermore, the 6th Amendment to the EIA Regulation (2012/R/27) allows the Cabinet and Minister of Tourism and Environment to Fast Track the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process for projects deemed of special importance to the government, creating significant risks of corruption and undermining the existing minimum timelines and adequate review periods, essential stakeholder and public consultations, particularly from vulnerable group, weakening accountability and risking inequitable impacts.
The merger of the Ministry of Climate Change, Environment and Energy with the Ministry of Tourism in February 2025 into the Ministry of Tourism and Environment, coupled with the removal of the EPA Governing Board, creates a significant risks of conflict of interest. The ministry’s dual responsibility for developing the tourism sector and promoting tourism-driven infrastructure, which often involves environmentally harmful reclamation, and their role as the overseeing environmental regulation can, in the absence of strong and transparent governance mechanism create conflicts in protecting business interest and environmental protection undermining EPA’s independence, and ability to prioritize environmental protection and sustainability.
The EPA was formed in 2008 under a presidential decree to regulate activities for protection, conservation and management of environment and biodiversity, and to waste management and pollution prevention. Since inception, EPA has struggled to independently regulate public-sector projects and it has been a common practice by successive governments to fast track and greenlight new development and infrastructure projects, often conceptualized and developed without due processes or consultations with the community. Such practices are more common during and around election years, skewing the level playing field. The post-merger removal of its advisory board further weakens its autonomy, risking EIAs becoming mere tokenistic procedural formalities
Transparency Maldives calls on the government of Maldives to:
- Establish the EPA as an Independent Entity: Grant the EPA autonomous status with guaranteed funding, free from political influence, to ensure transparent and effective environmental governance.
- Reinstate Oversight Mechanisms: Restore the EPA’s advisory board to provide independent oversight, mitigating conflicts of interest arising from the merger of the Ministry of Climate Change, Environment and Energy with the Ministry of Tourism.
- Reform the EIA Process: Reverse the 6th Amendment to the EIA Regulation (2012/R-27) to eliminate fast-track provisions that allow the Cabinet and Minister to speed up projects and potentially influence elections and abuse of state resources during campaign periods
- Enhance Public Participation: Mandate transparent, inclusive consultations with communities, especially vulnerable groups, in EIAs to uphold accountability and prevent undue influence in project approvals.
- Strengthen Anti-Corruption Safeguards: Implement robust monitoring and third-party audits for EPA-regulated projects to address systemic abuse of state resources.
-Ends-
14 Aug- press statement (english) Copy of 06 augu- press statement (dhi)