27-28 September, 2005, Bratislava27-28 September, 2005, Bratislava

ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT COMMUNITY OF ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE MEETINGPRACTICE MEETING

Strategic Environmental Assessment Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) – Tool for Sustainable Planning (SEA) – Tool for Sustainable Planning

and Decision-Makingand Decision-Making

UNDP Regional Centre for Europe and CISUNDP Regional Centre for Europe and CISBratislava, SlovakiaBratislava, Slovakia

Henrieta MartonakovaHenrieta Martonakova

OverviewOverview

Introduction to SEAIntroduction to SEA SEA status in our region, with emphasis SEA status in our region, with emphasis

on EECCA countries;on EECCA countries; Capacity building needs in EECCACapacity building needs in EECCA Key entry points for SEA Application;Key entry points for SEA Application; Potential role for UNDP???Potential role for UNDP???

What is SEA?What is SEA?

Systematic and transparent process to ensure that Systematic and transparent process to ensure that significant environmental (SD) effects arising from significant environmental (SD) effects arising from plans, programmes, policies (legislation) are:plans, programmes, policies (legislation) are:

Identified and analysed;Identified and analysed; Assessed;Assessed; MitigatedMitigated Communicated to decision-makersCommunicated to decision-makers MonitoredMonitored

…….when all options in the planning and decision-.when all options in the planning and decision-making process are open;making process are open;

…….on par with economic, social and health issues.on par with economic, social and health issues…….providing opportunities for consultations and public .providing opportunities for consultations and public

involvementinvolvement

Stages of SEAStages of SEA

Elaboration of P/PElaboration of P/P SEASEAInitiationInitiation Determine need of SEA (screening)Determine need of SEA (screening)

ScopingScoping

Analysis of detailed context Analysis of detailed context and issuesand issues

Environmental reportEnvironmental report

Determine detailed context and Determine detailed context and issuesissues

Contribute to development and Contribute to development and comparison of alternativescomparison of alternatives

Review and finalize environmental Review and finalize environmental reportreport

Development and Development and comparison of alternativescomparison of alternatives

Review and finalizing of the Review and finalizing of the proposed P/Pproposed P/P

Decision-makingDecision-making

Difference between SEA and EIADifference between SEA and EIA

EIA of projectsEIA of projects SEA of strategic initiativesSEA of strategic initiatives

Technical instrument related to Technical instrument related to activities with geographic and activities with geographic and technical specificationstechnical specifications

Political instrument related to Political instrument related to conceptsconcepts

Reactive approach - at end of Reactive approach - at end of decision-making processdecision-making process

Pro-active approach -at earlier Pro-active approach -at earlier stages of decision-making stages of decision-making processprocess

Identifies specific impacts in the Identifies specific impacts in the environmentenvironment

Address issues of sustainable Address issues of sustainable developmentdevelopment

Limited review of cumulative Limited review of cumulative effectseffects

Early warning of cumulative Early warning of cumulative effectseffects

Emphasis on mitigating and Emphasis on mitigating and minimizing impactsminimizing impacts

PreventionPrevention – in terms of identified – in terms of identified environmental objectivesenvironmental objectives

Why is SEA important?Why is SEA important?

Enables mainstreaming of environment and Enables mainstreaming of environment and sustainable development principles into planning sustainable development principles into planning and decision-making;and decision-making;

Facilitates integrated planning and decision-making Facilitates integrated planning and decision-making process;process;

Encourage cross sector coordination;Encourage cross sector coordination; Facilitates regional and transboundary co-operationFacilitates regional and transboundary co-operation Builds public trust and confidence in decision-makingBuilds public trust and confidence in decision-making Promotes good governance Promotes good governance Help donors to meet their commitments with respect to Help donors to meet their commitments with respect to

sustainable development;sustainable development;

SEA Legal Framework in our RegionSEA Legal Framework in our Region

EC SEA DirectiveEC SEA Directive- In force from 21 July 2004In force from 21 July 2004

UNECE SEA Protocol to the Espoo ConventionUNECE SEA Protocol to the Espoo Convention- 37 Signatories: 37 Signatories: all EU and SEE countries, 4 EECCA all EU and SEE countries, 4 EECCA

countries: Armenia, Georgia, Moldova, Ukrainecountries: Armenia, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine

- 2 Parties: 2 Parties: Finland, Czech RepublicFinland, Czech Republic

SEA in Countries in Transition- current SEA in Countries in Transition- current statusstatus

EU countries + Bulgaria and Croatia:EU countries + Bulgaria and Croatia: rapid pace of rapid pace of adaptationadaptation in terms of legislation and demonstration in terms of legislation and demonstration projects (EU driven process);projects (EU driven process);

SEE countries:SEE countries: basic approaches needs to be basic approaches needs to be established; established;

EECCA countries:EECCA countries: use of the SEA elements in the use of the SEA elements in the OVOS/SER system – low level of application in OVOS/SER system – low level of application in practicepractice

Level of implementation varies from country to countryLevel of implementation varies from country to country

Strategic Environmental Assessment – Strategic Environmental Assessment – Promotion and Capacity BuildingPromotion and Capacity Building

Target countries:Target countries: Armenia, Georgia, Moldova, Armenia, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine, and BelarusUkraine, and Belarus

  In cooperation with the In cooperation with the Regional Environmental Centre Regional Environmental Centre for Central and Eastern Europe (REC)for Central and Eastern Europe (REC)

Armenia:Armenia: SEA of the Yerevan Master PlanSEA of the Yerevan Master PlanBelarus:Belarus: SEA of the National Tourism SEA of the National Tourism

Development PlanDevelopment PlanGeorgia. Moldova, Ukraine: Georgia. Moldova, Ukraine: national Capacity national Capacity

Building Manual for the SEA Protocol Building Manual for the SEA Protocol ImplementationImplementation

SEA capacity building project SEA capacity building project in EECCA in EECCA Countries Countries

Main Stages / Outcomes Main Stages / Outcomes

11 Analysis of current status in EA and identification of Analysis of current status in EA and identification of capacity building needs capacity building needs

22 Demonstration of SEA in practice and SEA guidance Demonstration of SEA in practice and SEA guidance developmentdevelopment

33 Evaluation of effectiveness, quality and lessons learned Evaluation of effectiveness, quality and lessons learned from SEA demonstration process,from SEA demonstration process,

44 Development of national and regional capacity building Development of national and regional capacity building strategies for the SEA Protocol implementationstrategies for the SEA Protocol implementation

Current SEA related EA systemsCurrent SEA related EA systems- main features- main features

EA system: sub-systems and links to EA system: sub-systems and links to decision-makingdecision-making

Initiative (strategic or project level)

Assessment of Environmental impact (OVOS)

Decision taking

State Environmental Review (SER)

Current EA systems –main featuresCurrent EA systems –main features

SEA elements included in legislation on:SEA elements included in legislation on:

- Environmental protection;- Environmental protection;

- Environmental Impact Assessment;- Environmental Impact Assessment;

- Environmental Permitting;- Environmental Permitting;

- Regulations on spatial and land-use planning;- Regulations on spatial and land-use planning;

Low level of implementation – limited experience;Low level of implementation – limited experience;

Processes not aligned with internationally accepted Processes not aligned with internationally accepted practicepractice

Current EA systemsCurrent EA systems- main features- main features

++ SEA elements, incl. public involvement in national SEA elements, incl. public involvement in national env. lawsenv. laws

++ Well developed OVOS/EIA systemWell developed OVOS/EIA system

-- Legislation does not separate provisions for projects, Legislation does not separate provisions for projects, and PPs – EA of P/P rarely applied in practice;and PPs – EA of P/P rarely applied in practice;

-- No clear screening procedures – too many, artificial No clear screening procedures – too many, artificial reviews;reviews;

-- Scoping limited to the EIA report content (not Scoping limited to the EIA report content (not applicable to strategic documents)applicable to strategic documents)

-- Absence of clear provisions for consultations and Absence of clear provisions for consultations and public participation – rarely applied in practice;public participation – rarely applied in practice;

-- No practical experience with transboundary No practical experience with transboundary consultationsconsultations

CB needs for SEA Protocol CB needs for SEA Protocol ImplementationImplementation

Legal framework for SEA (incl. Terminology)Legal framework for SEA (incl. Terminology) National SEA guidelines, manuals National SEA guidelines, manuals

and training materialsand training materials Training and education Training and education Pilot projectsPilot projects Procedural schemes for different types of Procedural schemes for different types of

strategic documentsstrategic documents EIA/SEA associations/centersEIA/SEA associations/centers Accreditation systems for SEA expertsAccreditation systems for SEA experts

CB priorities of the countriesCB priorities of the countries

Country/PriorityCountry/Priority Priority 1Priority 1 Priority 2Priority 2

ArmeniaArmenia SEA guidelinesSEA guidelines Pilot projectPilot project

BelarusBelarus Pilot projectPilot project SEA guidelinesSEA guidelines

GeorgiaGeorgia Pilot ProjectPilot Project Legal reformLegal reform

MoldovaMoldova TrainingTraining SEA guidelinesSEA guidelines

UkraineUkraine Pilot projectPilot project TrainingTraining

Phase IIPhase II

SEA Pilot SEA Pilot

Project ImplementationProject Implementation

ObjectivesObjectives

To test and demonstrate opportunities for To test and demonstrate opportunities for practical application of the SEA Protocolpractical application of the SEA Protocol

To provide recommendations for To provide recommendations for environmental optimization of the strategic environmental optimization of the strategic initiativeinitiative

SEA pilot project processSEA pilot project process

Consultations and agreement with Consultations and agreement with proponent and the environmental ministries proponent and the environmental ministries on initiative subject to the pilot SEAon initiative subject to the pilot SEA

National SEA team establishmentNational SEA team establishment Work plan preparation (including Work plan preparation (including

consultations and public participation)consultations and public participation) SEA elaborationSEA elaboration SEA process evaluation + SEA process evaluation +

recommendations for improvementrecommendations for improvement

Initial Lessons LearnedInitial Lessons Learned SEA Pilot in BelarusSEA Pilot in Belarus

Too politically sensitive document selected initiallyToo politically sensitive document selected initially According to developer the role of SEA is to According to developer the role of SEA is to

criticize – reluctance to provide documents (in criticize – reluctance to provide documents (in time)time)

Short timeframe for programmes development, Short timeframe for programmes development, thus for SEA applicationthus for SEA application

Good co-operation among SEA and planning Good co-operation among SEA and planning teamteam

EIA experts struggling with impacts assessmentEIA experts struggling with impacts assessment Planning team see SEA as additional work/burden Planning team see SEA as additional work/burden

RecommendationsRecommendations Selection of less politically sensitive initiative for the Selection of less politically sensitive initiative for the

pilot SEA;pilot SEA; Promotion of SEA benefits among plannersPromotion of SEA benefits among planners Agreement on the roles and responsibilities of the Agreement on the roles and responsibilities of the

SEA team, proponent, MoESEA team, proponent, MoE SEA application at the early stage of planning SEA application at the early stage of planning

processprocess Training of experts on SEA approach and Training of experts on SEA approach and

methodologiesmethodologies SEA recommendations easily processed by planners SEA recommendations easily processed by planners

(form agreed between SEA team and planners)(form agreed between SEA team and planners) Need for a strong, committed, and respected national Need for a strong, committed, and respected national

SEA team leaderSEA team leader

Key Entry Points for SEAKey Entry Points for SEA

National cross-sector macro policies: e.g. direct National cross-sector macro policies: e.g. direct budgetary support;budgetary support;

National cross-sector strategies, plans of National cross-sector strategies, plans of programmes; programmes; e.g. PRS, programming e.g. PRS, programming documents for EU Structural Fundsdocuments for EU Structural Funds

Sector specific policies and P/P; e.g. transport, Sector specific policies and P/P; e.g. transport, energy, waste management and water plans;energy, waste management and water plans;

Integrated spatial or development plans; e.g. Integrated spatial or development plans; e.g. land-use and regional plans;land-use and regional plans;

Key Entry Points for SEAKey Entry Points for SEA

Transnational planning; e.g. watershed or river Transnational planning; e.g. watershed or river basin management across international basin management across international boundaries; boundaries; e.g. EIA of the Caspian seae.g. EIA of the Caspian sea

Mega projects; e.g. major infrastructure Mega projects; e.g. major infrastructure investments;investments;

Agency specific instruments; e.g. country Agency specific instruments; e.g. country assistance plans or strategiesassistance plans or strategies

Sets of individual projects likely to have Sets of individual projects likely to have cumulative effects not well captured in project cumulative effects not well captured in project level assessmentlevel assessment

Possibilities for UNDP Possibilities for UNDP interventionintervention

Capacity-buildingCapacity-building

Knowledge managementKnowledge management

Stand-alone demonstration projectsStand-alone demonstration projects

SEA component in the projects / areas we SEA component in the projects / areas we are already involved inare already involved in

NetworksNetworks

OECD/DAC SEA Task TeamOECD/DAC SEA Task Team

UNDP SEA web siteUNDP SEA web site

Useful linksUseful links

OECD/DACOECD/DAC

RECREC

Dutch EIA databaseDutch EIA database

Espoo conventionEspoo convention

BiodiversityBiodiversity

Bary’s publicationBary’s publication