The EM Act 2011 was established to provide integrated environmental management, protection and conservation of the environment, and to provide for the sustainable utilisation of natural resources. The EM Act 2011 is similar to environmental legislation in other jurisdictions around the world, in that, the definition of environment includes social surrounds.

Implementation is guided by series of 12 environmental management principles (refer to Table 1 as an attachment). These include environmental principles commonly seen in other environmental Protection legislation. In Zambia, it is incumbent on anyone to inform the Agency of an activity or phenomenon that may affect the environment (Section 5 of the EM Act 2011). Under Section 39, any project likely or with potential to impact the environment, including mining exploration, must obtain written approval from the Zambian Environmental Management Authority (ZEMA). Authorisation occurs through an integrated decision making process between the Ministry of Mines and Zambian Environmental Management Authority.

The Environmental Management (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2025 were introduced in January 2026 and cover the regulatory process for impact assessment. Not all projects require an EIA and if these do, there are two approval pathway types:
1. An environmental and social project brief (ESPB) or  (Class V); or
2. An environmental and social impact statement (ESIS) (Class I to Class IV)

The Classes are in described Schedule 1 of the regulations and an example of these is shown in Table 2. These are also influenced by processing and type, for example radioactive minerals are Class 1. Furthermore, the contents of an ESPB, Terms of Reference for an ESIS and an ESIS are detailed in the Third Schedule and Fourth schedule of the regulations.