ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT TOOLS

DISCLAIMER These slides are part of a training package that includes a Trainers Manual, User Guidelines and a CD-ROM with references and presentations The production of this package was commissioned in 2014 by the Office of the Prime Minister, as part of the Northern Uganda Agriculture Livelihoods Recovery Programme (ALREP) The training package was produced by consultants of the Makerere University College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences The contents of the package do not necessary reflect the views and opinions of the Government of Uganda and the European Union

SESSION OBJECTIVES Sensitise the participants on proactive environmental assessment tools needed during policy and programme formulation Make the participants appreciate that there are risks associated with policies and programmes Provide the participants with tools to predict the risks and come up with solutions to prevent them

Tool 1. STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT (SEA) SEA is an environmental assessment tool used for evaluating the environmental and socio-economic consequences of proposed policies, plans or programmes SEA seeks to address, as early as possible, what environmental impacts may occur, and what measures should be taken to avoid or ameliorate these impacts SEA is a systematic process to ensure environmental issues are fully integrated and addressed at the earliest appropriate stage of decision making It involves reviewing policy, plan and program proposals to incorporate environmental considerations into the development of public policies The process of SEA is relevant at all levels of public decision making which precede the project level SEA is an integrative tool that supports cross-sectoral approaches, which are needed to achieve long term sustainability objectives Unlike EIA, the costs involved in SEA are generally borne by the public sector

BENEFITS OF SEA SEA is considered an effective management tool because it aids decision making process Through SEA projects are able to: incorporate sustainable principles in decisions provide a large number of alternatives than is normally possible through EIA promote integrated environmental management and decision making strengthen and streamline project EIA

CONSTRAINTS OF SEA SEA approach faces some constraints: a level of institutional maturity is necessary to allow for effective inter-sectoral dialogue appropriate skills are required within government departments, agencies, the private sector and academics and NGOs. This is one of the biggest challenges SEA requires sufficient resources (both human and financial) to be effective

SEA – UGANDA The practice of using SEA in policy and project planning is becoming common in Uganda Currently most technical staff at districts in the country have been trained and given a manual on the use of SEA, and National Guidelines are being prepared A SEA Report is one of the documents on the environmental assessments for Bujagali Hydro- power project

Tool 2. COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS (CBA) Cost benefit Analysis (CBA) is used either to rank projects choose the most appropriate option The ranking or decision is based on expected economic costs and benefits The rule is that a project should be undertaken if lifetime expected benefits exceed all expected costs

COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS (CBA) Although complexities arise when costs and benefits are being measured and corrected, CBA is a simple tool with numerous uses and applications, especially in the environmental assessment sphere Its use increases accountability and consistency in decision- making Social CBA is used to appraise the social merit of projects or policies The projects may be public or private, and the analysis is typically used to inform public decision makers

CBA in UGANDA This tool is still elusive in policies and projects in Uganda, including the internationally funded Bujagali Hydro-power project on River Nile. According to the analysis of EIA and other reports on this project by a group of concerned environmentalist, the following was observed ‘‘There is no evidence in the SEA report that an economic analysis for Bujagali HPP was done”

Tool 3. ENVIRONMENTAL RISK ASSESSMENT Definition of terms: Risk refers to a combination of the probability, or frequency, of occurrence of a defined hazard and the magnitude of the consequences of the occurrence Hazard refers to a property or situation that in particular circumstances could lead to harm Disaster refers to a serious disruption of the function of society, causing widespread human, material, or environmental losses which exceed the ability of the affected society to cope using its own resources

ENVIRONMENTAL RISK ASSESSMENT In pursuit of economic growth and social progress, human activities may harm the environment and the people or lead to loss of quality of life The interaction between human activity and the environment is complicated and difficult to quantify, and it is not easy to judge where the balance should lie between environmental protection and economic and technological progress Environmental risk assessment is a key element in the appraisal of these complex problems, and for formulating and communicating the issues so that transparent and equitable policy, regulatory or other decisions can be taken

ENVIRONMENTAL RISK ASSESSMENT A formal risk assessment is a necessary proactive approach at the outset of a development programme as part of the package of tools for making decisions about environmental management Risk Assessment is a prevention measure against environmental damage and loss of life Risk Assessment in Uganda Concerned about technological disasters, the Government of Uganda produced Guidelines on preparedness and management of these disasters in 1998, (NEMA, 1998) The Guidelines list the types and consequences of technological disasters and how to handle them. As such there are no comprehensive guidelines on risk assessment that is science-based with public participation