Web based tool for inclusion of health in EIA/SEA

A joint project of RIVM and the Commission for Environmental Impact Assessment

Toll for inclusion of health in EIA/SEA | Lea den Broeder

Background of the project

• EU SEA guidelines (2001)• UN/ECE SEA protocol (2003)• Dutch action programme on Health & Environment

(2002-2006)

Action point 7: MOH and MOE stimulate considereation of health in decision-making. Connection is sought with existing types of assessment such as EIA and SEA.

Toll for inclusion of health in EIA/SEA | Lea den Broeder

Objectives of the project

• Broadly available digital tool for local government and other involved parties with attention to environment related health determinants, social determinants, life style and access to care.

• A tool that promotes support for :– Attention to a wide range of health impacts in the

EIA/SEA procedure– Cooperation between local government and

environmental health specialists

Toll for inclusion of health in EIA/SEA | Lea den Broeder

Aspects like this…

Toll for inclusion of health in EIA/SEA | Lea den Broeder

As well as this:

Toll for inclusion of health in EIA/SEA | Lea den Broeder

What does the tool offer?

• Helps to identify impacts on health determinants• Through questions supported by help texts• Report of possible health impacts• Stimulates discussion and cooperation between

project initiators and authorities on possible health impacts

Toll for inclusion of health in EIA/SEA | Lea den Broeder

Two level tool

• Level 1 local government (screening)• Level 2 Commission for Environmental Impact

Assessment and Assessment team (scoping)

Toll for inclusion of health in EIA/SEA | Lea den Broeder

Topics addressed

• Environmental factors: noise, smell, air, water and soil pollution, vibrations, radiation

• External safety• Traffic safety • Composition of the population • Work, education, and income• Physical exercise and sport• Recreation • Access to care and care utilisation

Toll for inclusion of health in EIA/SEA | Lea den Broeder

or…

Toll for inclusion of health in EIA/SEA | Lea den Broeder

Toll for inclusion of health in EIA/SEA | Lea den Broeder

Toll for inclusion of health in EIA/SEA | Lea den Broeder

Toll for inclusion of health in EIA/SEA | Lea den Broeder

Pilots:

• The tool was tested in:

– One “live” project in the screening phase of SEA procedure of (NET Flevoland): Three different alternative locations were assessed with different subgroups of initiators

– Three projects in the scoping phase: Possible health impacts were assessed with the tool by 3 different subcommittees of the EIA commission.

• After the pilots the tool will be adapted on the basis of process and product evaluation outcomes

Toll for inclusion of health in EIA/SEA | Lea den Broeder

Learning points:

• Structural assessment of health impacts is difficult to attain but the instrument can add to a mentality change

• The tool provides an answer to the need for systematic discussion about broader health impacts

• Starting by using the tool systematically in the scoping phase by the EIA commission is a more promising approach than involving stakeholders in the screening phase.

• Other strategies are needed for cooperation health-environment

• Option: to integrate this tool with sustainability assessment tools.

Toll for inclusion of health in EIA/SEA | Lea den Broeder

Intention to implementation gap

Toll for inclusion of health in EIA/SEA | Lea den Broeder

Broad approach versus ‘KISS’

education, employment, culture, traffic, disabilities, risk behaviour, physical exercise, income, nutrition, criminality, demographics, social cohesion, elderly people,shops and facilities, empowerment, migrants, air quality,income and poverty….

•social determinants•physical determinants•life style

Toll for inclusion of health in EIA/SEA | Lea den Broeder

The language seesaw

Health is a big issue, you

know…

Toll for inclusion of health in EIA/SEA | Lea den Broeder

Work in process

• Implementation process (part of national programme on health and environment)

• Courses (National Centre for Environmental Health)• Development of new approaches (Commission for

Environmental Impact Assessment)

Toll for inclusion of health in EIA/SEA | Lea den Broeder

Thank you!

<Lea den Broeder, Theo van Alphen, Geert Draaijers, Veronica ten

Holder, Anne Knol,Annemiek van Overveld, Ninette van der Velden, Ilse

Storm>