Armitage Environmental and Social Consulting

28/05/2026

Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIAs) are a legal requirement for many projects in Zambia under the Environmental Management Act, yet they are still frequently misunderstood or applied too late in project planning.

A few examples:
• Screening is mandatory early on and determines whether a full ESIA or Environmental Project Brief is required
• Public consultation is not optional and must be documented as part of submission
• Approval from ZEMA must be obtained before any site works begin, not after construction starts
• Some projects also require additional sector permits such as water abstraction or land conversion approvals alongside the ESIA

Common compliance gaps include late submission, incomplete baseline data, weak stakeholder engagement records, and starting works before approval is granted.

At AESC, we support clients through every stage of the process, ensuring ESIA requirements, permits, and compliance obligations are correctly managed from the outset.

25/05/2026

Today we celebrate the strength, diversity, and progress of Africa, a continent rich in natural capital, cultures, and opportunity.

From sustainable resource management to inclusive development, Africa’s future will be shaped by how well we balance growth with the protection of our environment and communities.

At AESC, we are proud to support this journey by helping projects across Zambia and the region align with environmental responsibility, social inclusion, and long-term sustainability.

Happy Africa Freedom Day! 🌍

22/05/2026

🌍 International Day for Biological Diversity

Biodiversity is the foundation of healthy ecosystems, resilient communities, and sustainable development.

In Zambia and across the region, protecting habitats, restoring degraded landscapes, and integrating biodiversity considerations into projects is not optional, it is essential for long term environmental and social balance.

At AESC, we support clients in understanding and managing biodiversity risks through robust environmental and social due diligence, helping ensure development works with nature, not against it.

https://youtu.be/GK_vRtHJZu4?si=5EEPubIcu9dn_Tvy

41K likes, 1.8K comments. "Why is biodiversity so important? - Kim Preshoff"

19/05/2026

🌱 Hidden Environmental Impacts of Everyday Projects

Not all environmental impacts are immediately visible.

Road construction can fragment habitats and disrupt wildlife movement. Agricultural expansion can increase pressure on water resources through abstraction. Even renewable energy projects like solar farms can lead to land use change and ecosystem displacement if not properly planned.

The reality is simple: nothing is impact-free.

This is why early environmental and social due diligence matters. Identifying and managing these impacts through robust assessment and planning helps ensure development is both responsible and sustainable.

13/05/2026

📊 Before Approval: ESIA Reality Check

Two projects can look identical on paper at the start. The difference shows up later.

Unassessed development often runs into avoidable issues: redesigns, delays, higher costs, and unexpected environmental and social impacts.

ESIA-informed design, on the other hand, builds mitigation in from the beginning. From mining and agriculture to energy and infrastructure, early due diligence helps identify risks, shape better decisions, and keep projects both compliant and finance-ready.

Good design is not just what you build, but how early you understand what you are building into.

11/05/2026

The Great Green Wall is more than a tree-planting project. It is one of Africa’s most ambitious restoration efforts.

Launched in 2007 by the African Union, the Great Green Wall Initiative spans the Sahel region from Senegal in the west to Djibouti in the east. The goal is to restore 100 million hectares of degraded land, capture and store carbon from the atmosphere, and create millions of jobs by 2030.

It brings together over 20 countries and focuses on restoring landscapes through a mix of reforestation, sustainable land management, and community-led approaches.

While geographically distant from Zambia, the model is highly relevant. With ongoing deforestation and land degradation pressures locally, similar large-scale, coordinated restoration efforts could play a critical role in strengthening resilience and protecting natural resources.

https://www.unccd.int/our-work/ggwi

What is the Great Green Wall? Imagine a living symbol of hope, the largest living structure on the planet, one that stretches 8,000km across Africa, ushering in a new era of sustainability and economic growth. Launched in 2007 by the African Union, the game-changing African-led Great Green Wall init...

07/05/2026

🌿 Innovation meeting local challenge 🌿

Joseph Nguthiru’s invention shows how smart, circular thinking can turn environmental problems into solutions.

In Zambia, where water hyacinth continues to choke waterways and plastic bags persist as a pollution challenge, this kind of innovation offers real promise. By converting invasive plant waste into usable materials, we can imagine a future where hyacinth becomes a resource instead of a nuisance and even a pathway to reducing reliance on single use plastics.

At AESC, we see opportunities like this as part of a bigger shift toward practical, scalable environmental solutions that work for communities and ecosystems alike.

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1DoQ7ATPcX/?mibextid=wwXIfr

05/05/2026

Zambia’s Carbon Feed-In Premium Programme (CFIP) is now moving from policy to implementation, with the Call for Proposals officially open.

Designed to accelerate investment in grid-connected solar PV, CFIP introduces a results-based mechanism that links payments to verified greenhouse gas emission reductions. The aim is simple: improve project viability, strengthen investor confidence, and expand clean energy capacity in Zambia.

For developers and investors, this presents a clear opportunity:
Additional revenue support to improve bankability
Alignment with Zambia’s climate commitments
Access to a structured, transparent investment framework

With applications open to IPPs, ZESCO, and other energy sector stakeholders, now is the time to position projects for submission ahead of the 31 May 2026 deadline.

At AESC, we support clients in preparing for opportunities like CFIP through environmental and social due diligence, ESG alignment, and carbon project readiness, helping turn concepts into compliant, financeable projects.

Turning opportunity into investable outcomes.

https://www.facebook.com/share/17vvV8TjVB/?mibextid=wwXIfr

How will Zambia’s Carbon Feed-In Premium work?

The Carbon Feed-In Premium Programme (CFIP), will help drive the decarbonization of Zambia’s energy sector by promoting the deployment of new and additional energy technologies to expand clean energy use, reduce reliance on fossil fuels and improve the power supply capacities in the country.

It will link payments to verified greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions from renewable power delivered to the national electricity grid and apply dynamic baselines anchored in Zambia’s unconditional Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), to safeguard environmental integrity, improve investment certainty, and accelerate clean energy deployment.

In essence, the CFIP will provide additional incentive payments to investors in renewable energy installations, in case the standard power purchase price is not enough to make a project economically viable, helping projects secure financing. Respective payments will be funded through the trade of carbon credits between Norway and Zambia under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.

For more information and questions about the CFIP, contact the CFIP Administration at the Ministry of Green Economy and Environment: [email protected]

01/05/2026

Happy Labour Day from AESC!

Behind every project, every investment, and every outcome are people.

This Labour Day, we recognise the role of workers in building not just economies, but sustainable and responsible development.

30/04/2026

Why Investors Care About ESDD in ESG-Driven Markets

In today’s ESG-driven landscape, Environmental and Social Due Diligence is not optional, it is essential.

ESDD helps investors identify and manage key risks, from legal non-compliance to environmental liabilities and reputational exposure. It also plays a critical role in unlocking access to funding, with institutions like the IFC, banks, and DFIs requiring clear visibility on environmental and social performance.

Most importantly, strong ESDD protects long-term asset value by ensuring projects are resilient, responsible, and aligned with evolving standards.

No ESDD = blind investment risk.

28/04/2026

Today we honour Kenneth Kaunda, whose leadership laid the foundation for a united and independent Zambia.

A legacy that continues to guide the country forward.

Happy Kenneth Kaunda Day!