Coordinating SEA with Planning & Programming Processes: A Practical Implementation Manual

1. IAIA Conference on international experience & perspectives in SEA Prague, 26-30 September 2005Session E7 Nick BonvoisinUNECE Secretariat Espoo Convention on EIA in a Transboundary Contextwww.unece.org/env/eia IAIA Conference on international experience & perspectives in SEA, Prague, 26-30 September 2005

2. Module 4Practical Implementation (E7.3)Session E7Capacity Development Manual for the implementation of the UNECE Protocol on SEA IAIA Conference on international experience & perspectives in SEA, Prague, 26-30 September 2005

3. Contents • Importance of proper coordination of SEA with planning & programming processes • Introduction to various approaches for coordination of SEA with elaboration of P/Ps • Outline of different evaluation frameworks that can be applied in SEA • Tips for design of effective application arrangements for SEA Protocol in particular planning or programming process IAIA Conference on international experience & perspectives in SEA, Prague, 26-30 September 2005

4. 2. Reasons for coordination of SEA with elaboration of P/Ps IAIA Conference on international experience & perspectives in SEA, Prague, 26-30 September 2005

5. 2.1 Protocol provisions calling for coordination of SEA with P/Ps • SEA should have an important role in the preparation & adoption of plans, programmes, and, to the extent appropriate, policies & legislation… • Objective to ensure “environmental, including health, considerations are thoroughly taken into account in development of P/Ps” • SEA includes “taking into account of the environmental report & results of public participation & consultations in P/P” IAIA Conference on international experience & perspectives in SEA, Prague, 26-30 September 2005

6. 2.2. Practical concerns Need to use effective SEA procedures that: • Don’t unreasonably prolong P/P elaboration • Are not unnecessarily costly • Assist early solving of conflicting views & interests & so increase credibility of decision making IAIA Conference on international experience & perspectives in SEA, Prague, 26-30 September 2005

7. 3. Illustration of logical linkages between elaboration of P/Ps and SEA IAIA Conference on international experience & perspectives in SEA, Prague, 26-30 September 2005

8. 3.1 IAIA Conference on international experience & perspectives in SEA, Prague, 26-30 September 2005

9. 3.2 IAIA Conference on international experience & perspectives in SEA, Prague, 26-30 September 2005

10. 3.3 IAIA Conference on international experience & perspectives in SEA, Prague, 26-30 September 2005

11. 3.4 Key issues for consideration: general issues • How to maximize linkages between SEA & P/P elaboration so as to achieve the Protocol’s objectives • ….“to provide for a high level of protection of the environment, including health, by […] ensuring that environmental, including health, considerations are thoroughly taken into account in the development of P/Ps; ….” IAIA Conference on international experience & perspectives in SEA, Prague, 26-30 September 2005

12. 3.4 Key issues for consideration: detailed issues • How to maximise linkages between during: • Elaboration of P/P & Environmental Report • Consultation with authorities • Public participation • How to ensure conclusions of SEA are considered in P/P elaboration before final decision-making IAIA Conference on international experience & perspectives in SEA, Prague, 26-30 September 2005

13. 4. Options for undertaking SEA during elaboration of P/Ps IAIA Conference on international experience & perspectives in SEA, Prague, 26-30 September 2005

14. 4.1.Situation to avoid IAIA Conference on international experience & perspectives in SEA, Prague, 26-30 September 2005

15. Ex-post SEA separated from planning: key weaknesses • Doesn’t support elaboration of P/P (doesn’t use logical links between SEA & P/P elaboration). Danger of duplication of effort (in data gathering & internal assessments) • Tends to be more costly (due to duplication of effort in data gathering, comparison of alternatives, etc.) • Separate consultations on draft P/P & on environmental report may confuse public • Prolongs entire planning process • Most likely will not provide SEA in accordance with the Protocol (see Preamble, Objectives & Definition of SEA) IAIA Conference on international experience & perspectives in SEA, Prague, 26-30 September 2005

16. IAIA Conference on international experience & perspectives in SEA, Prague, 26-30 September 2005

17. Partial integration of SEA into planning:Strengths & weaknesses • Saves time (parallel to planning) • Saves money (joint use of data by planning & assessment teams) • Facilitates early considerations of different viewpoints (both in planning process & in SEA) • Can incorporate early consultations with relevant authorities & with public. • Creates favourable framework for meeting obligations of Protocol • Participation of SEA team in often lengthy & complicated planning process may be demanding IAIA Conference on international experience & perspectives in SEA, Prague, 26-30 September 2005

18. SEA fully integrated into elaboration of P/P: Overall approach Experts elaborating environmental report Public access to info and general consult. E L A B O R A T I O N OF P/P Experts elaborating P/P Relevant environmental and health authorities andpublic concerned IAIA Conference on international experience & perspectives in SEA, Prague, 26-30 September 2005

19. SEA fully integrated into elaboration of P/P: Strengths & weaknesses • Same benefits as partial integration – it saves time & money, & prevents late surprises ... • Fully internalizes SEA into planning process – brings planning experts, SEA experts & key authorities & public concerned into one forum & builds their mutual relations • Creates good conditions for meeting all obligations of Protocol • SEA experts may be marginalised in planning process • Possible internal agreements/disputes between team members may be hidden from external stakeholders – they may not understand & appreciate them IAIA Conference on international experience & perspectives in SEA, Prague, 26-30 September 2005

20. 5. Determining effective linkages between SEA & P/P elaboration IAIA Conference on international experience & perspectives in SEA, Prague, 26-30 September 2005

21. 5.1 Analysis of the planning process • Identifies possible linkages between P/P elaboration & SEA • May provide inputs into design effective SEA systems • Can be carried out either for planning procedures or for a specific process used to draw up particular P/P • Helps to design SEA procedure which is customized for specific planning process • May take a lot of time IAIA Conference on international experience & perspectives in SEA, Prague, 26-30 September 2005

22. 5.2 Suggested focus of the analysis • Logic, stages & specific tasks in planning process • Environmental/health information used in planning process • Existing provisions for consultations with environmental & health authorities • Existing provisions for public access to information & public participation IAIA Conference on international experience & perspectives in SEA, Prague, 26-30 September 2005