The EaP GREEN programme is funded by the European Union and other donors, and is jointly implemented by the four partner organisations: OECD, UNEP, UNECE and UNIDO. The practical application of the Draft Law on Strategic Environmental Assessment in Moldova through the Road Map on promoting green economy: Training Workshop in Strategic Environmental Assessment 2‐3 December 2015 Meeting Hall, hotel VisPas, str. Al. Lăpuşneanu 26, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova Prepared by Michal Musil and Rodica Iordanov Report December 2015
Transcript
The EaP GREEN programme is funded by the European Union and other donors, and is jointly implemented by the four partner organisations: OECD, UNEP, UNECE and UNIDO.
The EaP GREEN programme is funded by the European Union and other donors, and is jointly implemented by the four partner organisations: OECD, UNEP, UNECE and UNIDO.
i. IntroductionoftheSEAandthepilotprojecttokeystakeholders ................................... 6
ii. PresentationoftheNationalPilotprojectandoftheSEAprocess(scopingandbaseline) ............................................................................................................................................ 7
Annex2:ListofParticipants ................................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined.
3 The EaP GREEN programme is funded by the European Union and other donors, and is jointly implemented by the four partner organisations: OECD, UNEP, UNECE and UNIDO.
1. Background
Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) effectively promotes sustainable development bymainstreamingenvironment intoeconomicdevelopmentatanationaland local level.SEA isawell‐established,practicalandefficientplanningandenvironmentalgovernancetool/systemsetoutintheUNECEProtocolonSEAtotheConventiononEnvironmentalImpactAssessment(EIA)inaTransboundaryContext. It ensures thatdevelopmentplans inkeysectors suchasenergy,water and waste management with likely significant adverse environmental impacts areefficiently developed taking into account environmental (and health) considerations. SEA, inparticular, will allow identification of the most sustainable and cost‐effective strategicdevelopment alternatives in Moldova for attracting new investments and for improving itsenvironment. SEA also helps strengthen the country’s environmental governance throughfosteringtransparencyandconsultationwithrelevantstakeholdersandthepublicpriortotheapproval of plans andprogrammes. SEA in a transboundary context can also greatly facilitateregionalcooperationonenvironmentalmatters.
(c) to provide recommendations for environmental optimization and modifications of theNationalGreenEconomyActionPlanfortheRepublicofMoldova(ActionPlan),and
Since June 2013, the UNECE secretariat to the Convention on the Environmental ImpactAssessment in the Transboundary Context (the Espoo Convention) assists the Ministry ofEnvironmentoftheRepublicofMoldovatopreparefortheaccessiontotheProtocolonStrategicEnvironmentalAssessment(ProtocolonSEA)totheConvention.Theactivitiesaimtodevelopanational environmental assessment system in linewith theProtocol on SEA (EuropeanUnionSEA Directive). They are implemented in the framework of the EU programme ‘GreeningEconomiesintheEasternNeighbourhood’(EaPGREEN)inseveralphases,including:
Phase I (June 2013 to July 2014) focused on a revision of legislative and institutionalframeworksforSEAanddevelopmentofanewLawonSEA
PhaseIII (August2015–December2016) includesmainly implementationof thesecondpilotSEA for theRoadMaponGreenEconomy (the focusof further support is currently– January2016discussedwiththeGovernmentofMoldova).
The EaP GREEN programme is funded by the European Union and other donors, and is jointly implemented by the four partner organisations: OECD, UNEP, UNECE and UNIDO.
This report is related to the Phase III that aims to carry out a national pilot SEA forenvironmentaloptimizationandmodificationsof theNationalGreenEconomyActionPlan fortheRepublicofMoldova(ActionPlan).Thepilotprojectwill
‐ Contribute to further introduction of SEA as a tool for greening the economy at thenationallevel
TheSEApilotwas launchedby the initial trainingworkshoponDecember2–3,2015,whichfocusedontheinitialSEAsteps–scopingandbaselineanalysis,aswellasprovidedopportunitytodiscussthedetailedSEAprocessanditsintegrationintheRoadMapelaboration.ThisReportsummarizestheproceedingsandresultsofthisfirsttrainingworkshop.
5 The EaP GREEN programme is funded by the European Union and other donors, and is jointly implemented by the four partner organisations: OECD, UNEP, UNECE and UNIDO.
2. Workshopdesign
The workshop was organised by the P.A. EcoContact in partnership with Ministry ofEnvironmentofRepublicofMoldova(hereinafteralso‘MoE’),MinistryofEconomyofRepublicofMoldova(hereinafteralso ‘MoEc’)andtheUnitedNationsEconomicCommissionforEurope(UNECE).ThelogisticalsupportfortheeventwasprovidedbytheP.A.EcoContact.
TheeventwastargetedatpractitionerswhowillhelpdeveloptheSEAsystemintheRepublicofMoldova, environmental experts, economic experts, energy and industry planners andrepresentativesoftheotherrelevantstakeholdersincludingNGOsandacademia.
Thetrainingmeeting(2days)wasattendedbyrepresentativesfromthenationalauthoritiesoftheRepublicofMoldova,thatareresponsibleforeconomicandindustrialdevelopment,energy,transport, agriculture, tourism and health, as well as representatives from civil society andenvironmental and economic authorities. The national focal points for the EaP GREENProgramme representing the Ministries of Economy and the Ministries of Environment fromMoldovawerealsoinvitedtotakepartinthetraining.
The SEA workshop aimed at getting the participants familiar with the SEA as a tool forimprovingsectoralplanningandpromotingsustainabledevelopment.RolesofdifferentsectoralministriesandauthoritiesintheSEAprocesswereaddressed.TheMoEshareditsexperienceindraftingandpromotionoftheSEAlegislationandimplementationofthefirsteverpilotSEAforthe Master Plan of the Orhei Town. Participants also had possibilities to learn about theexperienceandlessonslearnedfromthepracticalapplicationoftheUNECEProtocolonSEAandthe EU SEA Directive in various economic sectors presented by the international trainerMr.MichalMusil.
Thepresentationswere deliveredby the International SEAExpertsMr.MichalMusil and twolocal consultants Mrs. Iordanca‐Rodica Iordanov and Mr. Andrei Isac. To support the SEAtheory, a number of case examples and practical tools were introduced in order to facilitatediscussionsonhowshallbetherelevantSEAtaskspracticallyimplementedwithintheSEApilot.It was also illustrated how the SEA requirements outlined in the Draft SEA Law andrecommendations obtained during the implementation of theprevious SEApilot project (SEA
The EaP GREEN programme is funded by the European Union and other donors, and is jointly implemented by the four partner organisations: OECD, UNEP, UNECE and UNIDO.
forOrheimunicipalityMasterPlan)mightbereflectedinthecurrentprocess,asoneoftheaimof Pilot Project is considered to apply and test the national draft law on SEA during theimplementation of Pilot Project. During training workshop participants were involved indifferentpracticalexercises,mostaccentareputtedonscopingandbaselineissues.
During the final part of the workshop opportunities for environmental optimization andmodificationsof theNationalGreenEconomyActionPlan for theRepublicofMoldova(ActionPlan)asaresultoftheSEAPilotwerediscussed.Initialpresentationswerefollowedbydetailedpresentations of the key issues identified during the scoping exercise organized within thetrainingandpossibleapproachestobaselineanalyseswerediscussed.
3. Summaryofmainoutcomes
Therearefollowingmajoroutcomesfromtheworkshop:
i. IntroductionoftheSEAandthepilotprojecttokeystakeholders
TheofficialopeningofthemeetinghasbeenmadebyMrs.IngaPodoroghin,theFocalpointofthe ESPOO Convention in Moldova; she welcomed the participants and highlighted theimportanceoftheevent,soasthe implementationofthenewinstrumentsandmechanismsasSEA that will lead to the environmental security and sustainable development. The DeputyMinistermentionedthatduring theeventwillbediscussed thecurrentsituationof theSEA inRMandmainchallengesofthesystem,andwhatmeasuresneedtobetakenintheclosefutureinordertoensurethefunctioningofthissystem.
Mr. Michal Musil, the international expert of UNECE emphasized thatthepilotSEAisintendedtodemonstratehowtheSEAdirectivecanbeappliedtonationalplans,what are the benefits for those responsible for the implementation of the plans and for thecitizens.
7 The EaP GREEN programme is funded by the European Union and other donors, and is jointly implemented by the four partner organisations: OECD, UNEP, UNECE and UNIDO.
ii. Presentation of the National Pilot project and of the SEA process (scoping andbaseline)
Representatives of relevant Ministries, institutions, agencies, university and other stakeholders,NGOsandconsultantswereinvitedtotakepartintheevent.
In order to provide broader context of the SEA implementation in Republic ofMoldova, MrsIordanca‐Rodica Iordanov, P.A. EcoContact introduced the EaP Green activities in supportingtheimplementationoftheSEAProtocoloftheEspooConvention,Moldova’sachievementsinthefieldofenvironmentalassessment,analysisofthelegalframeworkandwhatarethenextstepsinestablishingSEAsysteminRepublicofMoldova.The introduction to the SEAprocess andPilotproject backgroundwerepresentedby thekeyinternationalexpertMichalMusil.Mr.MusilemphasizedwhataretheguidingprinciplesforSEAapplication, the typicalSEAsteps, andpossible challengesof thePilotSEA forgreenEconomyAction Plan. Also,Mr.Musilmade a presentation onmain principles of efficient practice andpotentialbenefitsofSEAasatoolforgreeningtheeconomy.ThebenefitsofSEAintermsofitscapacity to ensure, addressandsupport goodqualityplanningdocuments, economicplanning
The EaP GREEN programme is funded by the European Union and other donors, and is jointly implemented by the four partner organisations: OECD, UNEP, UNECE and UNIDO.
and strategic decision‐making; As conclusion Mr. Musil mentioned that SEA can improvecompetitiveness and potentially reduces costs, increase transparency and reduce risk forinvestorssinceSEAcanalsofacilitatebetterdecisionsattheprojectlevel;The introduction for theGreenEconomyActionPlanwasmadeby theexpert,Mr.Andrei IsacwhichhighlightedtheimportanceofSEAelaborationfortheGreenEconomyActionPlan,aswellas the necessity to apply SEA in other areas/ sectors, being key instrument ensuringdevelopment of the national policy documents without negative impact on environment. TheSEAwill contribute to the Green EconomyAction Plan development through identification ofpriorityenvironmentalproblemsandoptimizedatacollection; facilitationof thedialoguewithkeystakeholdersandgeneralpublic;helptointegratenationalgoalsintothesectoralplanningprocess,also ithighlightsneglectedproblemsthatneedasolutionatnational level,and in theidentificationofthealternatives.TheIntroductionontheplanningprocessandexpectedresultsonGreenEconomyActionPlananditsfindingswerepresentedbyMr.AndreiIsac,localconsultant.Thekeyareaofinterventionongreeneconomy,keyenvironmentalproblemsconnectedwithrespectiveareaofintervention,recommendedmeasures, alternatives,monitoring indicators, process of elaboration etc. werepresentedanddiscussed.
Trainingwas very interactivewithquestionandanswer sessionandwith setofgroup exercisesfocusedon scopingandbaseline steps.Participants,divided ingroups, filled in tables facilitatingthe identificationofkeyrelevantproblems(preliminaryscoping) intheselected fieldsrelevanttotheGreenEconomyActionPlan:energyefficiency,transport,watermanagement,agricultureetc.
PresentationsofexamplesofindicatorsforBaselineanalysisfortransport(TransportStrategy)andagricultureweredeliveredby the international consultant inorder to introduce the topicandfacilitateparticipationinthefollowingpracticalexercise.
In a group exercise, participants completed pre‐prepared tables with Baseline analysesenvironmental indicators for selected issues. Three were presented: indicators for greeneconomypromotion,water quality andwater resources. Participants discussed the presentedindicators,sourcesofdataandpossibleproblemswiththeircollection.
During final concluding session was raised the question, if any of the expectations of theparticipants, voicedduring theopening session andpresentation,werenot covered– and theentiregroupindicated,thatthisisnotthecase–allexpectationswereachieved.
9 The EaP GREEN programme is funded by the European Union and other donors, and is jointly implemented by the four partner organisations: OECD, UNEP, UNECE and UNIDO.
What is the statute theDraftLaw onSEAandwhatispossibilitytopromoteit?
At this moment the draft Law is under thecoordination ofMoE. Based on the results of thelocalpilotprojectthesetofrecommendationsfortheDraftLawhasbeenelaboratedandpassedtoMoE,whichtooktheminconsideration.Buttakingin consideration that till nowMD does not havethe functionalGovernment thedraft lawwasnotpassedtotheGovernmentforapproval,accordingwith legal procedure. (Rodica Iordanov, nationalconsultant)
According to the national legislation the policydocuments are approved by Parliament orGovernmentthroughtheDecision.InthenewLawwill be the Transitory Chapter, usually isstipulatedthatGovernmentduring6monthsfromapproval should provide modification /approvalof all secondary or primary legislation inaccordancewithnewLaw.After the Lawon SEAwill enter into the force the Central authoritieswill be responsible to elaborate the SEA for allpolicy documents approved before the Law onSEA.
According to the principle of national legislationthe retroactivity is a legal rule that a lawappliesonly to situations which arise after its adoption,and not previous situations, past. Therefore thedecision on methodology, the general legislation
The EaP GREEN programme is funded by the European Union and other donors, and is jointly implemented by the four partner organisations: OECD, UNEP, UNECE and UNIDO.
will be changed/modified, but not the policydocumentsthemselves.(RodicaIordanov,nationalconsultant)
To distinguish SEA and EIA only because SEAapplies to policies, plans and programmes, andEIA applies to projects in not enough anymore.SEAcanalso focusonassessingtheeffectsof theenvironmentonplanneddevelopment.NamelyinthecontextofclimatechangetheSEAshouldalsoassess whether environmental conditions arebeingproperlyconsidered inplanningprocesses.(MichalMusil,internationalexpert)
The levelof thedocumentwillbedecidedby theInter‐ministerial Working Group at its meetingmidDecember2015.TheSEAfortheRoadmapisto test the SEA procedures at the national leveland conduct a national pilot, as agreed at EaPGREEN NFPs, UN ECE and UNEP. (Michal MusilandAndreiIsac)
4 Is there a risk that the law on SEAprocesswilldelaytheadoptionofthepolicydocuments?
TheSEAshouldbeinitiatedasearlyaspossibleinthe planning process, ideally along withestablishment of strategic objectives, beforestrategic options are identified, and beforeproposals of actions are put forward. The SEAshould be conducted in parallel with theelaboration of the strategic plan/programme. Insuch case the delay is usually not significant(MichalMussil,internationalexpert)
5 WhatarethebenefitsofSEAThemainbenefitscouldbe:
• to achieve environmentally sound andsustainabledevelopment,
• to improve good governance and buildpublic trust and confidence in decision‐making.
(MichalMusil,internationalexpert)
11 The EaP GREEN programme is funded by the European Union and other donors, and is jointly implemented by the four partner organisations: OECD, UNEP, UNECE and UNIDO.
Evaluation forms were filled in by participants. The results of the evaluations are indicatedbelow.
The EaP GREEN programme is funded by the European Union and other donors, and is jointly implemented by the four partner organisations: OECD, UNEP, UNECE and UNIDO.
Methodology: the instrument used for the collection of the information was the anonymousquestionnaire.Thequestionnairehadbeencomposedfrom2blocks,containingopen‐andclose‐endedquestions.
Designandorganizationoftheseaworkshop
1.Thetopicwasimportantformyself.
The first question was about the importance of the topic, and relevancy of the training toparticipants’job.Themajorityofparticipants(13)mentionedthattheyarestronglyagreewiththisaspect,someoftheparticipants(5)statedthattheyagreewiththefactthateventisinlineandrelevanttothejob.
Regarding if the subjectwasadequatelycovered in frameof theevent, theparticipants statedtheyarestronglyagreewiththeaffirmation(16).Onlyasmallpartofparticipants(2)mentionedthattheymerelyagreewiththestatement.
13 The EaP GREEN programme is funded by the European Union and other donors, and is jointly implemented by the four partner organisations: OECD, UNEP, UNECE and UNIDO.
Inthiscase, theparticipantsshareddifferentopinionsbutitwashighlightedthatthepracticalexamplesbroughtduringtheworkshoparethemostvaluableforsuchanewtopicforMoldovansociety. Moreover, it was stated that international experience on how such instrument isimplemented is a good start in understanding the SEAmethodology. During the workshop aparticularattentionwasgiventothefollowingtopics:
a) ScopingExerciseb) Screeningc) SEAofOrheiMasterPland) EU/Czechexperiencee) ThebenefitsofSEAapplicationf) Datacollectiong) PublicInformationh) Publicinvolvementetc
4.What other instruments/techniqueswill you recommend for scoping tomake the ESMmoreefficient?
a)Focusgroup
b)Discussions
c)Brainstormingetc.
5.Otherthemestobecoveredinthefuture.
Aboveall, theparticipantswereasked to share their opinionon the future themesand issuesthattheywouldliketobecovered,sothatmostlyoptedonthepracticalapplicationoftheSEA(11 answers), public involvement in the process of strategic planning (10 answers) so asstrategic planning (7 answers). Someparticipants highlighted the importance of the topics asSEAlegislationandapplicationofESMfornationalstrategies.
The EaP GREEN programme is funded by the European Union and other donors, and is jointly implemented by the four partner organisations: OECD, UNEP, UNECE and UNIDO.
15 The EaP GREEN programme is funded by the European Union and other donors, and is jointly implemented by the four partner organisations: OECD, UNEP, UNECE and UNIDO.
5.Nextsteps
Following the results of the training workshop (especially the SEA process presentation),followingnextstepsandtaskscanbedefinedinordertofurtherproceedwiththenationalSEApilotprojectimplementation:
Finalizing the building of the national team of experts for conducting SEA on GreenEconomyActionPlan
The EaP GREEN programme is funded by the European Union and other donors, and is jointly implemented by the four partner organisations: OECD, UNEP, UNECE and UNIDO.
17 The EaP GREEN programme is funded by the European Union and other donors, and is jointly implemented by the four partner organisations: OECD, UNEP, UNECE and UNIDO.
The EaP GREEN programme is funded by the European Union and other donors, and is jointly implemented by the four partner organisations: OECD, UNEP, UNECE and UNIDO.
