R&D in Environmental Impact Assessment for Sustainable Development. Prof. Dr. Mohamed Saber National Research Center Egypt

Transcription

1 R&D in Environmental Impact Assessment for Sustainable Development Prof. Dr. Mohamed Saber National Research Center Egypt 1

2 Outlines of Presentation Role of R & D in Achieving Sustainable Development Sustainable Development Concepts' EIA as a Tool for Achieving Sustainable Development (Egyptian Perspectives) Some Egyptian Successful Stories 2

3 Role of R & D in Achieving Sustainable Development 3

4 R&D definition R & D are a practice predominantly involved in generating and transferring modern technology to end-users R & D are a fashionable realm of scientists, but rather a dual process requiring broad range of actors, users or stakeholders More importantly, R & D redefine the responsibility of local people from being just recipients and beneficiaries to actors who prompt and provide strategic inputs R & D explore and clarifies null hypothesis, designs, experimentation and efficiency of performance R & D improve synthesizing and theorizing of all the concepts of sustainable development Now we witness a growing worldwide interest in the use of R & D in achieving sustainable development 4

5 Main roles of R & D in achieving sustainable development R & D sustain generating, sharing, exchanging, utilizing knowledge and appropriate technology R & D give rise to a wide range of knowledge inventions ranging from technological to socio-institutional R & D shape synergy between local competences, resources and innovations R & D collect diverse sources of knowledge from local to global science R & D necessitate an all-inclusive perspective of both the biophysical and social spheres 5

6 Relation between R & D and Sustainable development R & D as pool of concepts, practices, norms and attitudes inspire population to improve their knowledge for sustainable development R & D pursue broader and profound participation of user groups in the process of exploring and improvements in local situations as well as recognizing needs and opportunities R &D are vital in numerous socio-cultural, political, economic dimensions such as community structures, gender, collective action, property rights, power relations, policy and governance 6

7 Role of R & D in achieving Sustainable development Respond to problems, needs and opportunities identified by the users Identify and evaluate technology options that are on inherited local knowledge and available resources Ensure that technical innovations are appropriate from local socio-economic, cultural and political contexts Promote wider sharing and use of innovations 7

8 Role of R & D in achieving Sustainable development R & D phases and activities Assessment and diagnosis Experimenting technology options Studying sustaining local innovations Dissemination and scaling up of innovations Managing R & D for sustainable development includes project development, resource mobilization, data management, monitoring and evaluation, capacity development 8

9 Conclusions R & D programs reinforcement sustainable development of projects R & D support finding better ways to preserve materials particularly those of critical importance to the nation s cultural hiritage R & D find solutions to complex problems often requires forming interdisciplinary teams, bringing together participants with expertise R & D defend sustainable development by supporting social equating, environmental conservation and setting feasible economy 9

10 Sustainable Development 10

11 Environmental conservation or economic development Following the publication of Carson's Silent Spring in 1962, attention was drew towards the relationship between economic growth and environmental degradation Arguments started at UN Stockholm conference 1972 without reaching any accepted definition Hot arguments' continued for several years in many following international and regional meeting about the concept of sustainability In 1987 Barbier stated that the goals of environmental conservation and economic development are not conflicting and could be reinforcing each other. At Rio summit 1992 sustainability was for the first time defined as the development that meets the needs and aspirations of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It envisions a desirable future state for human societies in which living conditions and resource-use continue to meet human needs without undermining the "integrity, stability and beauty" of environment 11

12 Core concepts in sustainable development 1- Appropriate technology assist and sustain people to meet their developmental needs 2- There are six core indicators for appropriate technology represented by international trade and investment, economic policy, climate change and energy, measurement and assessment, natural resource management, and communication technologies in sustainable development. 3- Integral elements for a sustainable development are R & D and innovation. A telling example for that is the European environmental research and innovation policy, which aims at defining and implementing a transformative agenda to greening the economy and the society as a whole so to achieve a truly sustainability 12

13 EIA as a Tool for Achieving Sustainable Development (Egyptian Perspectives) 13

14 EIA Definition Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) refers to the evaluation of the environmental impacts likely to raise from any project significantly affecting environmental quality 14

15 Basic principles EIA establishes a systematic method for incorporating environmental and sustainable considerations into decision-making EIA provides the necessary elements to make an informed decision 15

16 EIA can Modify and improve the project design Ensure efficient resource use to achieve sustainable development Enhance social equity Identify the measures for monitoring and managing environmental impacts Provide project sustainability 16

17 Why an EIA? Environment impact assessment seeks to: Ensuring that the developmental options under consideration are environmentally, socially and economically sound and sustainable Ensuring that any possibly adverse environmental consequences are recognized early in the project cycle and are taken into account in the project design Identify ways to improve projects environmentally and minimize or compensate adverse impacts 17

18 Projects classification In the Egyptian legislations are classified to: White projects include establishments and project with minor adverse environmental impacts Grey projects includes establishments to be screened for major adverse environmental impacts. The establishment is categorized by activities, quantity of production and project size. The applicant must carry out a more elaborate environmental screening (Format A) Black projects includes establishments or projects which due to their potential and sustainable environmental impacts require a full EIA study. The establishments are screened by activities, quantity of production and project size (Format B) 18

19 FORMS Environmental Screening Form (A) (General Information) 1- Project title 2- Type of Project ( Residential, Commercial, Tourist, Industrial, Others) 3- Project Developer/applicant Name of Owner & contact person Address Fax No. Phone No. 4- Estimated capital investment /L.E. 5- Competent Licensing authority 6- New Project or extension of existing project 7- Project phases and expected starting date (Construction) - (Operation) (Future expansion) 8- Brief project description : Production capacity- Raw materials- Sources of Energy) 9- Project Site location Address Total Project area/m2 1O- Any additional information Certification I hereby certify that the information given in accurate and true to the best of my knowledge, and in case of any consequent change, prompt notification will be made to the EEAA. Certified by I.D NO. / PASPORT No. Reference Date 19

20 Environmental Screening FORM B A- General Information 1- Project title: 2- Type of project: (infrastructure, petroleum and mining, tourism, industrial, etc 3- Name of the owner (individual, company, etc) Name of the person in charge (the responsible person): Address: Telephone No: Fax No: Project budget Competent Administrative Authority New or Extension Project phase and expected starting date: Construction operation - - Future extension 4-Brief project description Project basic feature Objectives Need of justification Basic components Technology system 5- Alternatives (Site Technology- Design) Similar previous similar studies 6- Location of the project Address of the project: Total area (please attach a map that clearly shows the location of the project in relation to residential areas and neighboring activities. The map should have a suitable and clear scale and should be approved by the competent administrative authority). 7- A brief description of the construction phases and basic construction methods) (Inputs during construction and operation) In case of industrial projects, raw materials & for other projects, state kind of resources) 20

21 Inputs of water, energy, and manpower, see table 1 Inputs during construction and operation phases End products (Industrial project): or other outputs (all projects), see table Other information deemed important particularly with regard to safeguarding personnel and environment e.g. safety and fire fighting facilities B: Brief description of the environment (baseline information) General area description and most important features (Present infrastructure and services) water- electricity- sewage solid wastes hospitals Fragile or sensitive ecosystems (critical or high valued ecosystems) that are present Description of archeological & historical areas) Description of protected areas Description of recreational & tourist areas Preliminary analysis of impacts 1- Air Quality (potential effects on air quality : (Construction phase - Operation phase Site - Neighboring area - Transboundary 2- Clarify whether projects or sites that are considered sensitive exist nearby the project sites (associates, schools, residential areas etc 3- Water Quality Will the activity cause a significant change on the water availability, use, hydrology, drainage, temperature or quality? Are there existing hazard probabilities- explain the type, quantity and impact Will the activity affect surface water use?: Fisheries.- Tourism & secretion - Other activities 4- Soil Quality Would the activity provoke a significant change on land use, landscape, fertility, vegetation cover, biodiversity or quality? Please identify the impact of changes of soil quality on different activities 5- Please explain if there are any other potential or significant impacts resulting from this activity Mitigating measures : Air emissions - Waste Water - Solid and hazardous waste - Other mitigating measures Inter-institutional and public involvement Is there any contact with public authorities or others concerning the project Certification I hereby certify that the information given is accurate and true to the best of my knowledge, and in case of any consequent change, prompt notification will be made to EEAA. Certified by ID No. /Passport No Reference Date 21

22 Socio-culture environment (present and projected aspects) Nearby communities, year-round and seasonal land use, planned development activities, community structure, population, employment and labor market, income distribution, goods and services, recreation, public health Cultural habitats, archeologically and historically significant sites Indigenous people and traditional tribal lands 22

23 Framework of EIA Identification of how significant are the impacts Generation of information and data base Evaluation of impacts Identification and evaluation of mitigation measures and alternatives Developing of a monitoring plan Preparation of an EIA report 23

24 Biological Environment Biodiversity particularly rare or endangered species within or in the areas adjacent to the establishment Sensitive habitats Species of commercial importance affected by the establishment. Invasive species 24

25 Potential impacts An identification of the impacts which are unavoidable or irreversible is imminent Wherever possible, quantitative description of the adverse impacts in terms of environmental costs and benefits are useful Impact analysis of industrial projects should be divided between construction and operation impacts 25

26 Determination of Adverse impacts Identifying all significant changes which the project will incur These changes would include, but not limited to, changes on employment opportunities, wastewater effluents, air emission, solid waste, land use, infrastructure, exposure to diseases, risk of industrial hazards, noise, traffic and sociocultural behavior Assessment of the impacts from changes brought up by the project on the baseline environmental conditions Analysis distinguishing between positive and negative impacts, direct and indirect impacts, intended and nonintended impacts as well as immediate and long term impacts should also be done. 26

27 Mitigation of adverse impacts For a proposed project, a recommendation of feasible costeffective measures to prevent or reduce significant adverse impacts to acceptable levels are required An inclusion of measures for emergency response to accidental events, should be set as appropriate Estimating the impacts and costs of these measures and of the training requirements as well Consideration of compensation to affected parties for impacts which could not be mitigated 27

28 Objectives and Benefits of EIA EIA is a safeguard tool for developers indicating that Protection is better than treatment EIA financial loads of curing environmental impacts are always very high, e.g., treatment costs are usually higher than tacking precaution, especially at the project's early stages EIA could be visualized as a dose of vaccine given to an infant to protect him/her from invasion of dangerous virus that could cause vital physical and financial defects at the coming stages of his life. As with vaccine, the ramification of neglected or skipping an EIA are serious EIA strategies offer the potential to cut emissions and pollution thus reducing the firm's future compliance and liability costs 28

29 Development of a monitoring plan A detailed plan to monitor the implementation of mitigating the adverse impacts of the project during construction and operation should be prepared including luding the following aspects: 1- Hydrology, ground water, drainage and effluents 2- System performance 3- Public health 4- Flora and fauna Together with estimates of capital and operating costs 29

30 EIA report Information contained in the report should be arranged and resented to the responsible licensing authorities in the following format: Executive summary Policy, legal and administrative framework Description of the proposed project Description of the environment Significant environmental impacts Analysis of alternatives Mitigating management plan Monitoring plan Interagency and public/ngo's involvement Non- technical summary of the report for political and public use List of references Appendices: - List of environmental assessment prepared - Records of interagency and public/ngo's communications - Data on unpublished document references 30

31 Egyptian Successful Stories 31

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33 This work was produced through UNDP, GEF, PIMS no Scientific Committee 1- Professor Hamdallah Zedan Head of the National Biodiversity committee and the former assistant secretary general of the United Nation - CBD secretary general. 2- Professor Mostafa Fouda Minster of environment advisor for nature conservation 3-Professor Mohamed Saber National research center- biodiversity expert & NBSAP consultant 4-Engineer Wahed Salama Former manager of Nature Conservation Sector, EEAA 5-Dr Khaled Allam Harhash Manager of genetic resources department, EEAA 6-Dr Tarek A Temraz NBSAP, project manager 33

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35 SAVE YOUR MONEY BY following R & D and EIA 35

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