1.2 THE AGENDA FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND RESPONSIBLE DEVELOPMENT AND THE LAWYERS' ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION TEAM (LEAT)

The AGENDA for Environment and Responsible Development is a non-governmental organization (NGO) founded in 1994 with the objective to develop a culture of responsibility within the business community and in development activities generally, and one that keeps environmental considerations in mind. AGENDA was founded by Business Care Services, a Tanzanian company and has, to date, engaged in a variety of initiatives to achieve its objectives, including publication of a regular newsletter, hosting a workshop on the impacts of structural adjustment on the environment and a planned workshop on financial and lending institutions and environmental conditionality on loans.

The Lawyers' Environmental Action Team (LEAT) was founded in 1994, as a membership organization for public interest environmental lawyers and others, and received its NGO registration in early 1995. The objectives of LEAT are to advocate good environmental standards, compliance with environmentally-related laws, spearhead enforcement efforts and amendments to existing laws, and to lobby for enactment of stronger laws for a healthy environment in Tanzania.

The partnership of these two NGOs in compiling and distributing this handbook is significant in that it provides a unique and novel perspective on the environment by clearly laying out the legal requirements which exist for the protection of the environment, while at the same time noting the relevant environmental problems and the most responsible business behaviour in solving those problems, whether or not they are regulated by law.