ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY AND PUBLIC POLICY IN AFRICA: CHALLENGES AND PROSPECTS FOR ACHIEVING THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS

Environmental sustainability has become one of the defining policy challenges facing African countries as the continent grapples with climate change, biodiversity loss, deforestation, land degradation, pollution, and rapid urbanization. Although many African governments have enacted environmental laws and adopted regional and international sustainability frameworks, the effectiveness of these public policies in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) remains uneven due to institutional, financial, political, and socio-economic constraints. This study examines the relationship between environmental sustainability and public policy implementation in Africa and evaluates the prospects for achieving selected environmental SDGs. A mixed-methods research design was adopted using a cross-sectional survey involving a simulated sample of 620 respondents drawn from Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda, and South Africa. The respondents comprised policymakers, environmental professionals, academics, civil society representatives, and community leaders selected through stratified random sampling. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, multiple regression, and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), while qualitative responses were analysed thematically. The simulated findings indicate that effective environmental policy implementation significantly improves environmental sustainability outcomes (β = 0.61, p < 0.001), while institutional capacity, stakeholder participation, and environmental financing positively influence progress toward achieving the SDGs. Conversely, weak governance, corruption, inadequate funding, and poor enforcement mechanisms remain major impediments to sustainability across the selected countries. The study concludes that strengthening environmental institutions, improving policy coordination, increasing public participation, and enhancing regional cooperation are essential for accelerating progress toward the SDGs in Africa. It recommends increased investment in green infrastructure, stronger environmental governance frameworks, and evidence-based policymaking to promote sustainable development across the continent.