Integrated Assessment of Trade-Integrated Assessment of Trade-Related Policies and Biological Related Policies and Biological

Diversity in the Agriculture SectorDiversity in the Agriculture Sector

Introdution to Integrated Assessment

Session 6

Geneva, 25-27 October 2006Geneva, 25-27 October 2006

Division of Technology, Industry, and Economics

Economics and Trade Branch

What we want to achieve?

Ideally…Design and implement trade policies in the agricultural sector that will maximise development goals and minimise impacts on biodiversity

What do we need for this…Information on impacts and opportunities of a policy:

– Socio-economic impacts => development goals– Environmental impacts => conservation and

sustainable use of biodiversity

What is Integrated Assessment?

Economic

Social

Environmental

Systematic process for obtaining, processing and disseminating information on

the environmental, social

and economic impact of a

specific policy or set of policies

Sustainable Dev.

Biodiversity

Sustainable DevelopmentSustainable Development

""Development that meets the needs of the present Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future without compromising the ability of future

generations to meet their own needs.generations to meet their own needs.""

Brundtland Commission Report Brundtland Commission Report ""Our Common FutureOur Common Future""

Sustainability Perspective

Space

community

family

nation

myself

planet

no

w

next

e lec ti on

next

gen

eration

life-t i me

there and later

Time

What does Integrated Assessment of trade-related policies do?

Integrated assessment uses a range of impact assessment tools to evaluate the environmental social and economic impacts of trade – liberalisation and other trade-related policies at national level…

…with the aim to provide policy and decision makers with information necessary for informed decision-making.

Similar Approches: Sustainability Assessment (SA), Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), Strategic Impact Assessment (SIA),…

Environmental Impact Assessment

Systematic examination of the environmental consequences of a project with the aim to reducing or mitigate the negative consequences and enhance positive ones.  

Strategic Environmental Assessment

Systematic process for evaluating the environmental consequences of proposed policy, plan or programme at early stage of decision making (to consider them on a par with economic and social considerations). 

=> Strategic level + proactive approach

EIA and SEA

Integrated Asessment

Also at the strategic level of policies, programmes, and plans

Gives equal importance to environmental, social and economic consequences and aims to analyse interlinkages and address trade offs (substantive integration)

Aims to integrate assessment methods and tools within the planning process

Aims to integrate good governance issues in the planning process: participation, transparency, accountability, information access

Focus of an Integrated Assessment

An integrated assessment needs to be focused to be manageable and generate targeted results.

• What policy and policy measures are assessed?

• What time-frame in view of the stage of planning?

• What sectors or commodities of interest ?

• What geographical focus (e.g. poor regions)

• What critical issues (e.g. biodiversity, equity etc.)?

When should Integrated Assessments be used?

Anytime in the Policy Cycle!

10

Ex-ante Ex-postPolicy and

Planning

Components of an Integrated Assessment

Organisational process Analytical

process

Conceptual framework