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Agenda item 4 (including item 3)

Explore the institutional mechanisms and coordination involved in producing Austria's national State of the Environment Report, mandated by the Environment Agency Austria. Discover the legal base, historical context, process organization, content structure, applied methods, current status, key findings, and future outlook of the report. Gain insights on the approach, assessment methodology, drafting process phases, quality assurance, external consultation, and institutional cooperation essential for comprehensive and accurate reporting. Learn about the specific characteristics, recommendations, target audience focus, and organizational composition of the report's production team.

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Agenda item 4 (including item 3)

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  1. Agenda item 4 (including item 3)

  2. Institutional & coordination mechanisms for the production of state-of-the-environment reports Experiences in preparationofthe national SoEreportbythe Environment Agency Austria

  3. Overview ■Legal base§§…. ■ MandatedInsitutiontodraft national SoER ■ Process & Organisation ■Structure & content ■ Method(s) applied ■Specificationsofthe Austrian SoER ■Current Status ■Findings ■Outlook

  4. Legal Base History ■ The Environment Agency Austria was established by an act of law (the Environmental Control Act) in 1985. ■ In 1999 the Environment Agency Austria received the legal status of a limited liability company. ■ Represented by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management (“The Ministry of Life”) ■ As such it is 100% owned by the Republic of Austria.

  5. State of the Environment Report in Austria – Mandated Institution Austrias national State ofthe Environment Report isdrafted & publishedbythe Environment Agency Austria (mandatedbodytoconduct environmental control) Every 3 yearsthe Report is - byfederallaw – tobedeliverdbythe Federal Ministry on Environment (BMLFUW) tothe Austrian National Assembly Its 9th Version (= 27 yearsofreporting) ofthe 2010 State ofthe Environment Report was deliveredtothe Austrian National Assembly on 01/07/2010 – Today weare in theprocessof „production“ ofour 10th report (around 30 yearsof environmental control & reporting in Austria)

  6. State of the Environment Report in Austria – Approach Rationale: Offertargetgroupofthe national SoER a quick andacurateoverview on assessmentsofmaindevelopmentsleadingtofocusedrecommendations (concludingchapter) Assessment-Approach based on expert judgement based on evironmentalcontrolactivities hastobeevidencedriven connextocorresponding/underpinningtopics the national reporthastobeindicated (referencingevidence in otherchapters) toprooftraceabilityofjudgement

  7. State of the Environment Report in Austria – Process – the 3 year-life cycle of the drafting process I-II II. „Forming“ Phase Chapter Concept First Quality Assurance Sessions InHouse I. „Storming“ Phase Stock takingofpreviouscycle Constant Screening of relevant topics (e.g. supportedbyIssuetrackers, Megatrends, expert interviews) Delegation ofResponsibilities (Internal Client, Head ofDivisions, PM & PL, Chief Editor) Teambuilding (Core Team =Editorial Team, Chapter responsible Head ofdepartments)

  8. State of the Environment Report in Austria – Process – the 3 year-life cycle of the drafting process III-IV III. Performing Phase 1. Drafting Phase 2nd QA-Sessions InHouse (2-3 cycles) First Lectorate & Layout 1. ExternalConsultation (threecycles) Revision (Sideletter) 2. Draft 2. Lectorate & Layout ExternalConsultation ( cycles) Production Publication & Distribution Press conference (Synthesis Document) IV. Transisitonal Phase PerformingLessonsLearnt Balancingof Resources Budget Planningnextconsecuticecycle

  9. Institutional Cooperationregarding the production of the Austrian SoeR Bearing in mindthatthe Agency isentitledbylawofdraftingthe SOER - itis still favourable - tocooperatewith relevant dataowner (e.g Austrian ProvincialGovernments, Statistics Austria, Energy Agency Austria, ) Toensurecomprehensiveness, soundnessandget a feelingofexternalappreciation/feedbackbeforepublishing: ExternalConsultationwiththe Austrian Minsitryof Life All Expertise in InHouse (National Reference Centresofteh EIONET arewthoutexeptionlocatedwithinthe Agency The onlyExternalExperitiseneeded: Biocides (Austrian Health Agency) Sometimes an External Editor iscontracted (Journalist)

  10. UNECE WGEMA ■Meeting on Environmental Assessments Geneva ■ 16.-17. April 2013

  11. Some specific characteristics of the Austrian SoER ■Comprehensive Assessment & Outlook chapter for every topic -> guides (forces) the experts towards a conclusion/a statement ■Specific recommendations: derived logical alongside from the line of arguments („red ribbon“ of evidence) – guarantees reliable & relevant informamtion ■Targeted recommendations: Addressee´s of recommendations are named, who should do what ■Main Focus on one Target Audience : high level politicians and Administration (National Assembly -> Environmental Delegates of the political parties)

  12. Organisational Specifica: The Editorial Team Interdisciplinary composition:

  13. Organisational Specifica : The Editorial Team Consistsof „Non“-Experts in thedsitinctdisciplineofthedesignatedresoponsiblechaptertopic Quality assurance contribution1: Sincewework in an evidencdriven, scientificsurroundingwithmanyexpertsfromveryspecificdisciplines -> Editorial Team members (Core team) must consistofmemberswith different discilplines areentiteldtocoordinate a setofchapters – theycanensurebytheirownscientificbackground: thecommonunderstanding -> supports an understandabletext Quality assurancecontribution 2: Entitledtoask additional questionsfor a chapter check without in chargeofscientific argumentsincethe must not know.

  14. Thank you…..Contact & Information EEA/EIONET National Reference Centrefor State ofthe Environment Reproting in Austria & DeputyChief Editor 10th Report Environmental Situation in Austria Florian Wolf-Ott florian.ott@umweltbundesamt.at Project Manager 10th Report Environmental Situation in Austria Erik Obersteiner erik.obersteiner@umweltbundesamt.at EEA/EIONET National Reference Centrefor Forward Looking Information in Austria Alexander Storch alexander.storch@umweltbundesamt.at EEA/EIONET National Focal Point for Austria- Austria Johannes Mayer johannes.mayer@umweltbundesamt.at http://www.umweltbundesamt.at/en/soer/

  15. Agenda item 5

  16. State ofthe Environment Report in Austria – Structure ONEStructureof all chapters on environmental toicssince 4 versions (12 years) whichensurescontinuity & enablescomparability: Environmental Targets (International, EU, National) Situation & Trends (Status ofcompliancewithtargets -in Austria: Assessments und time series, NO countrycompraisonsperformed ) Analysis (whathastobedone, havebennmeasurestakensucessful)  Includingthechapterof „ Comprehensive Assessment and Outlook“ Recommendations(TargetingandreferingtodistinctAdressees - in Austria)

  17. State ofthe Environment Report in Austria – Content 18 Chapters (Environmental Media andAcitivities) - covering all relevant national environmental topics AND stablechaptertopicssince 12 yearsformostofthetopics: Sustainable Development Environment & Health Water and Water Management Air Soil Climate protection and climate change Climate change adaptation Agriculture & Forestry Biological diversity and nature protection Noise Waste Management Contaminated Sites Chemicals Energy Industrial Plants Transport Tourism Spatial planning

  18. „Side event“ -> National State ofthe Environment Report vs. EEA-SOER 2010 • EEA-SOER 2010 offers „comparable“ countryreports – addressed in the EEA-SOER, - not in our national SoEreport • EEA-SOER 2010 offersdirectcountrycomparisons Whichiscomplex due to limited comparability • Different frameworkconditionsforlimitationofindicatorapplication: e.g CSI Connection rate tosewagesystems, Heatingdemand, Availablewaterresourcesfor Austria • Part B EEA-SOER 2010 Assessment: eg. WFD und Lake Neusiedl (whichisbymeans a steppe-seawith high contentofsuspendedparticles - orthecaseofsalinisationof Austrias soils in a SOER – especiallyatthe Lake Neusiedelarea – NO problemat all – on thecontrary- highlywelcomed – sincerepresenting rare ecosystems in Austria • In generalGoodprogressbyillustrationby EEA, but proper interpretationofassessmentisneeded These informationsserve in additionto national SOERs andstipulateinputstothe European Legislation UNECE WGEMA ■Meeting on Environmental Assessments Geneva ■ 16.-17. April 2013

  19. Current under „Production“: 10th SoE report (published on 01/July 2013) ■ Incudesnewtopicslike Chapter on Environment & Health

  20. Agenda item 8

  21. What was/is it good for?Some impacts of a national SoE Reporting • SoE Report iscurrentlyemployedbythe Regional Policyforshapingthe environmental strandoftheStructural Funds fortheperiod 2014-2020 in Austria • Servesas THE National Reference on the Environmental Situation in Austria (e.g. by NGOs tostrenghtenargumentationformeasures) Iscurrentlytheforthe Environmental • Specificrecommendationsaretakenintoactionbased on therepeatedreportingofshortcomings UNECE WGEMA ■Meeting on Environmental Assessments Geneva ■ 16.-17. April 2013

  22. Agenda item 9

  23. Challenges Demandedcomprehensivenessof he compilationof environmental topics vs. demandedcontinuity (increaseofinformation) Beeingrepresentativewiththeinformationprovidedwhile not covering all topics (accordingtopriorisationofrelevance) Inderdisciplinarycooperation & coordination vs. time savingprojectmanagement Decliningpublicbudgets – also thespecificbudgetforthe national SoER And on the same time to still improve (technical, visualisation, userfriendlyness,…..) andaddnewtopics, not neglecting still relevant ones Challenge offutureof online (“Life“)-Reporting withexisting/tobedeveloped IT-tools

  24. Looking back to look forward – Lesssons learnt from our national SoER • ModeratedLessonsLearntfrom last national report- sourceofinformation • Consideration: Questionsforreflection • Advantages oftheselectedapproach • essential togiveframework (= chapterstructure) toguideexperts on theirconclusionsatthe time beingoftheevidencereported in previouschapters on thestateoftheenvironment • Limitations on chapterextent • toexcludeinsufficientinformation (missingquality, missingrepresentativecapability) not appropriatetobaserecommendations on it • DocumentedLessonsLearntisalwaysincludedin discussions on ourstrategy/conceptfortheforthcoming 10threports (work in progress) UNECE WGEMA ■Meeting on Environmental Assessments Geneva ■ 16.-17. April 2013

  25. Findings Every second/thirdyearspecificexpertisehavetobecompiled – ressource intensive activity Challenge offinancingreportingactivities: constraintsofbudget Same structure – still adaptabletonewtopics (e.g in ourcasenewchapter on environment & health) Structureiscompatibleto: Policyaims/measurabletargets (D)->State & Trends (similarto D, P, S, I of DPSIR)  Comprehensive Assessment & Outlook (R)-> Recommendations UseLectorate (editorialoffice) & Layout asadditonal QA

  26. Conclusions Continuityby a 3 yearsperiodsufficent, same structureconcept Useof Manuals, Templates Guidelines and Writing Style documents: theyinform (communcation on same levelofinformationfor all), serveasreferencetosettlesomedispute, theystructureideasandtext, document (storeknowledge) and ExperiencedSoER Core Team Members + but alwaysextendingthecoreteamtonewmembers (givestheprojectbroaderbasis on scientificdisciplines, get´snewideas, aproaches Stableelements: asExperts: NRCs (thematicNRCs & NRC SoER) as Editorial Team: PM,PL, designatedexperts Specific Advantage: All expertsunderoneroof

  27. Recommendations(e.g. towards 11th Austrian SOER) ■ Stay tuned with latest european/worldwide developments in the field of Environmental Assessment & Reporting (e.g. EEA-SOER 2015, FLIS, SENSE III, EEA-SOER 2020, EEA-AoA, UNEP, OECD, UNECE processes…..) – but our Focus probably stays on 1. National, 2. European 3. Worldwide developments – since we are dedicated to the report on the Austrian Environmental Situation and our report serves as compilation on the most relevant issues for Austria ■ Develop and keep a uniform structure that still provides opportunites for improvements / new topics / innvoation – easy comparisons are enabled ■ Evaluate the Impact of your SoE Report from time to time = information source for constant improvements

  28. Quick Outlook on possible futures for the national SoER Scenario 1: business as usual = paper version, internet publication every 3 years Scenario 2: keep paper versions but align with more ore less online „Life“- reporting Scenario 2 + n: add SENSE-compatible linkages to our hosted indicators (URL-based, CMS-feed, DataWarehouse connection) Scenarios nn: change legal base e.g report every year/every fifth year,…. Structural changes: only according to relevant, sufficiently underpinned by data -> new topics (e.g. Environment & Health) Increase on demanding wording in chapter „Comprehensive Assessmen“t (example:AustrianCourtofAudit ans its report on management on public finances) Outlook part to be strengthened (e.g employ scenario techniques, intensify use of Select more forward looking indicators, enhance options for model driven judgement)- ?

  29. Agenda item 5 (d)

  30. Use of modern technologies for data presentation SENSEible sharing of environmental information Shared European National State of the Environment Pilot activities A country perspective

  31. State of play SENSE-RDF Feeds Implementation Source: EEA UNECE WGEMA ■Meeting on Environmental Assessments Geneva ■ 16.-17. April 2013

  32. Overview • SENSE in Austria • Current Implementation SENSE I & Experiences • Outlook • Beyond - Making more SEIS • SENSE II • ? SENSE III UNECE WGEMA ■Meeting on Environmental Assessments Geneva ■ 16.-17. April 2013

  33. SENSE IImplementation in Austria • SENSE provision has been integrated into our Typo3 = our CMS System • Structured information on State Of the Environment can be entered by domain experts in web interface • English version of State Of the Environment Report can be accessed via www.umweltbundesamt.at/en/soer • Information can be harvested by the EEA via RDF • Allows for reuse of EEA-SOER country part C building blocks in different contexts UNECE WGEMA ■Meeting on Environmental Assessments Geneva ■ 16.-17. April 2013

  34. Typo3 Makes SENSE UNECE WGEMA ■Meeting on Environmental Assessments Geneva ■ 16.-17. April 2013

  35. SENSE I in Austria - Topics • General • Air Pollution • Climate Change Mitigation • Nature Protection and Biodiversity • Land Use • Waste • Freshwater • Flexibility • Transport • Sustainable Tourism • Renewable Energy • Indoor Air Pollution • Multi-country Approach – Alpine Countries • Climate Change: Impacts and Adaptation in the Alps UNECE WGEMA ■Meeting on Environmental Assessments Geneva ■ 16.-17. April 2013

  36. SENSE I in Austria UNECE WGEMA ■Meeting on Environmental Assessments Geneva ■ 16.-17. April 2013

  37. SENSE Outlook in Austria • New english language portal for Umweltbundesamt • EEA-SOER C-Part texts central part • Next step: determine how to reuse SENSE process for next EEA-SOER 2015 UNECE WGEMA ■Meeting on Environmental Assessments Geneva ■ 16.-17. April 2013

  38. SENSE I – Links • SOER Austria: http://www.umweltbundesamt.at/en/soer/ • RDF Link for SOER Austria: www.umweltbundesamt.at/rdf_eea • Multi-country Approach – Alpine Countries: http://www.sense.sinanet.isprambiente.it/Plone/flexibility-alps UNECE WGEMA ■Meeting on Environmental Assessments Geneva ■ 16.-17. April 2013

  39. SENSE I and SoER contribution EAA SENSE provisionhasbeenintegratedintoour Typo3 CMS System Structured information on State Of the Environment can be entered by domain experts in web interface English version of State Of the Environment Report can be accessed via www.umweltbundesamt.at Information can be harvested by the EEA via RDF Allows for reuse of SOER building blocks in different contexts

  40. SENSE II (Indicator Pilot) in Austria - Topics • Provided Test-indicators • Air Pollution (emissions) • Greenhouse Gas emissions • Nature Protection and Biodiversity (area protected) • Contribution to EEA-Technical Report on SENSE UNECE WGEMA ■Meeting on Environmental Assessments Geneva ■ 16.-17. April 2013

  41. What we used for SENSE II (Shared European National State of the Environment) - Pilot Project 2 Service Runninglocalyas .bat and in Tomcat/ Appache Harvestingengine at EEA Small ORACLE database Mapping file Language Turtle Format .txt

  42. Thank you…..Contact & Information EEA/EIONET National Reference Centrefor State ofthe Environment Reproting in Austria & DeputyChief Editor 10th Report Environmental Situation in Austria Florian Wolf-Ott florian.ott@umweltbundesamt.at Project Manager 10th Report Environmental Situation in Austria Erik Obersteiner erik.obersteiner@umweltbundesamt.at EEA/EIONET National Reference Centrefor Environmental Information Systems in Austria Herbert Schentz hebert.schentz@umweltbundesam.at EEA/EIONET National Reference Centrefor Forward Looking Information in Austria Alexander Storch alexander.storch@umweltbundesamt.at EEA/EIONET National Focal Point for Austria- Austria Johannes Mayer johannes.mayer@umweltbundesamt.at http://www.umweltbundesamt.at/en/soer/

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