Good Practice Recommendations On Public Participation In Strategic Environmental Assessment

The recommendations are based on existing good practice and are intended as a practical tool to provide helpful guidance and to improve the implementation of the provisions of the Aarhus Convention in decision-making to: a) to assist Parties when designing their legal framework on public participation in environmental decision-making; b) to assist public officials on a day-to-day basis when designing and carrying out public participation procedures on environmental decision-making under the Convention, and c) to provide an invaluable tool through which to share expertise and good practice so as to promote early, timely and effective opportunities for such participation. They may also be of value to members of the public, including NGOs and the private sector.

The recommendations are based on existing good practice and are intended as a practical tool to provide helpful guidance and to improve the implementation of the provisions of the Aarhus Convention in decision-making to: a) to assist Parties when designing their legal framework on public participation in environmental decision-making; b) to assist public officials on a day-to-day basis when designing and carrying out public participation procedures on environmental decision-making under the Convention, and c) to provide an invaluable tool through which to share expertise and good practice so as to promote early, timely and effective opportunities for such participation. They may also be of value to members of the public, including NGOs and the private sector.

These recommendations are based on existing good practice and are intended as a practical tool to provide helpful guidance and to improve the implementation of the provisions of the Aarhus Convention in decision-making to: a) assist Parties when designing their legal framework on public participation in environmental decision-making; b) assist public officials when designing and carrying out public participation procedures on environmental decision-making under the Convention, and c) provide an invaluable tool through which to share expertise and good practice so as to promote participation. The Recommendations may also be of value to public, NGOs and the private sector involved in environmental matters.

These recommendations are based on existing good practice and are intended as a practical tool to provide helpful guidance and to improve the implementation of the provisions of the Aarhus Convention in decision-making to: a) assist Parties when designing their legal framework on public participation in environmental decision-making; b) assist public officials when designing and carrying out public participation procedures on environmental decision-making under the Convention, and c) provide an invaluable tool through which to share expertise and good practice so as to promote participation. The Recommendations may also be of value to public, NGOs and the private sector involved in environmental matters.

This Guidance volume explains the benefits of using SEA in development co-operation and sets out key steps for its application based on recent experiences.

This text explains what constitutes good practice in applying environmental assessment as an environmental management tool. A wide range of case studies and other student text features are employed to demonstrate how the different methods, techniques and disciplines of environmental assessment can be used. The authors address the key concepts for environmental assessment procedures: methods for using E.A.; techniques for impact prediction and evaluation; environmental risk assessment; EA consultation and participation; project management; environmental statement review and post-project analysis; and strategic environmental assessment. Worldwide case studies include: gas pipelines, hydroelectric power plants, gold mining, river crossings, waste-to-energy plants and gravel extraction in England, Scotland, Ireland, Canada, the USA, Venezuela, the Netherlands, Iceland, Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa and Ghana.

This Handbook provides a clear overview of how to achieve meaningful public participation in impact assessment (IA). It explores conceptual elements, including the democratic core of public participation in IA, as well as practical challenges, such as data sharing, with diverse perspectives from 39 leading academics and practitioners.

This authoritative handbook surveys the full breadth and depth of SEA, bringing together a range of international perspectives and insights on the theoretical, methodological and institutional dimensions and practical issues of the field. It then subjects this conventional wisdom to a critical reappraisal, looks at the vast lessons of experience and offers new ideas and interpretations as to where the field is going. The volume is organized into six major sections, beginning with an introduction and overview of the development of the field and a framework for evaluating SEA good practice. Part I comprises a review of SEA frameworks in leading countries (Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the USA), the European Union and developing regions (Africa, Asia, Latin America and Newly Independent States). Part II reviews SEA practice in several major sectors (energy, minerals, transport, water, development assistance and coastal zone management). Part III addresses the linkages between SEA and other comparable tools such as spatial planning and environmental management. Part IV probes key cross-cutting issues in SEA, including how to address cumulative and trans-boundary effects. Part V identifies ways and means of SEA process and capacity development, focusing on how to improve and upgrade the theory and practice of the field. Part VI examines the shift from conventional SEA towards more integrative approaches, drawing on experience and examples from a number of countries. Published with IAIA