National Information and Communications Technology Policy 3.10.3 Environment The use of ICT in environmental protection is recognized as an important issue to be addressed worldwide. Currently there is increasing interest among nations in conserving the environment against obsolete ICT, and using ICT in conserving the environment. In spite of the benefits of pervasive ICT deployments, there are significant concerns that need to be addressed, with respect to the adverse impact and other consequences associated with ICT infrastructure and equipment including CO2 emissions, radioactivity and e-waste. Currently, environmental laws and regulations do not adequately address the challenges posed by e-waste. 3.10.3.1 Policy Objective To promote use of ICT in environmental conservation. 3.10.3.2 Policy Statement The Government in collaboration with other stakeholders shall ensure that ICT support effort of environmental preservation. 3.10.4 Good Governance ICT offers concrete opportunities for local and central governments to improve their performance in terms of transparency, accountability, citizen participation and decentralization. At the same time, it offers citizens to know the services they are supposed to/or receive from their contribution through taxes. The mainstreaming of ICTs within planning and design of development strategies helps to strengthen the establishment of efficient, effective and transparent governance systems. Online tools can significantly improve the rendering of services and information flows from administrations to their constituencies; communication between administrations and citizens can be enhanced and ICTs offer unique opportunities for broadened citizen involvement and participation in the decision making process. Various endeavours were made by the Government to ensure that ICT support good Governance. These include provision of online services, which increases transparency, accountability, citizens’ participation, and reduced corruption. However, there are challenges that need to be addressed which include mainstreaming the use of ICT in government operations in order to increase government accountability, transparency and reducing corruption. 39