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INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE AND TRENDS IN EIA FOR DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS

INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE AND TRENDS IN EIA FOR DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS. Clive George EIA Centre and Institute for Development Policy and Management University of Manchester, UK. SEPA/World Bank/DFID workshop Beijing 21-22 March 2005. International experience - background. USA – NEPA 1970

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INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE AND TRENDS IN EIA FOR DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS

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  1. INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE AND TRENDS IN EIA FOR DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS Clive George EIA Centre and Institute for Development Policy and Management University of Manchester, UK SEPA/World Bank/DFID workshop Beijing 21-22 March 2005

  2. International experience - background • USA – NEPA 1970 • EU – EIA Directive 1985 • Russia – State Ecological Expertise 1985 • NOTE – all had extensive environmental legislation prior to EIA • EIA introduced to “fill the gaps” (mainly for large or complex projects) • World Bank OD 4.01 1990 • NOTE – similarities and differences compared with national EIA systems Ongoing legislative/procedural improvements: • UK Environmental Protection Act 1990 • UK Environment Agency 1996 • EU Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control Directive 1996 • Revised EU EIA Directive 1997 • World Bank OP 4.01 1999 • EU SEA Directive 2001 (in force 2004)

  3. International experience – examples of good practice Case study examples from: Lee and George (2000) Environmental Assessment in Developing and Transitional Countries, Wiley, Chichester • air pollution impacts – Bidadi Hobli, India • seismic impacts – Xiaolangdi, China • ecological impacts - Chevron, Namibia • social impacts – Xiaolangdi, China • strategic impacts – coastal development, Egypt

  4. Improving EIA – issues • quality of EIA studies - strengthening the review system • assessment of alternatives - mainstreaming into project design • improving cost-effectiveness • refining screening and scoping mechanisms • simplifying the system for simple projects • strengthening the system for complex projects • integrated decision-making and trade-offs • improving public involvement • follow-up - environmental management plans, monitoring and enforcement • biodiversity impacts • transboundary and global impacts • strategic issues derived from MENA Regional EIA Directors’ workshop, Tunis, 2002

  5. Quality of EIA studies • mainstreaming into project design - begin early, assess alternatives • independent consultants? • the case of Turkey • authorised consultants? • the case of Bulgaria • strengthening the review system • competence of the competent authority • the case of Rades Power Plant, Tunis

  6. Screening and scoping - full EIA and simple EIA Examples of success – Egypt, Tunisia

  7. Integrated decision-making • environmental decisions • availability of standards or policies • sustainability decisions • environmental, social and economic trade-offs • environmental economics (limited validity) • value judgements – political/technical/public • the case of Manchester airport

  8. Public involvement • good governance • source of environmental knowledge • source of free technical expertise • validation of EIA quality • the case of UK road schemes • source of free monitoring capacity • use of NGOs in India • early warning of unexpected concerns • the case of UK recycling (Leicester)

  9. Follow-up • Environmental Management Plans • World Bank OP 4.01 Annex C • monitoring and enforcement • the case of Tanzania • the need for resources • co-ordination with other national, local and sectoral environmental authorities • quality of legislation • the case of UK environmental law

  10. Strategic issues • can often be assessed only by checking compliance with national, regional or local policy • SEA as policy development • the case of China’s energy policy • SEA as problem-solving • the case of Egyptian coastal degradation • transboundary impacts • Europe’s Espoo Convention on EIA • the Danube Convention • the Mekong Convention • global impacts • Kyoto commitments • commitments under Convention on Biological Diversity, Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), Hazardous Wastes (Basel Convention) etc.

  11. Biodiversity impacts • Guidelines for Incorporating Biodiversity-Related Issues into Environmental Impact Assessment Legislation and/or Process and in Strategic Environmental Assessment CBD COP 6 2002 Decision VI/7 Annex • Capacity Building in Biodiversity and Impact Assessment, International Association for Impact Assessment http://www.iaia.org/Non_Members/Special%20Projects/CBBIA/CBBIA%20Inception%20Report%20(1).doc

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