SEA in China A Contribution to Environmental Policy Integration? Holger Dalkmann, Zhou Yun, Daniel Bongardt IAIA Conference Seoul, 05 June 2007

Background Project: Policy Instruments for Chinese Sustainable Future EPI and SEA for the transport and energy sectors Aim: improving integration of environment in transport & energy planning in China Funded through EU Asia Pro Eco II Programme January 2007 to June 2009

Participants In Europe Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy Transport Research Laboratory The Stockholm Environment Institute Institute of Studies for the Integration of Systems In China Appraisal Centre for Environment & Engineering Chinese Academy of Transport Science Sichuan Provincial Appraisal Centre for Environment & Engineering Xichang Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau Shaanxi Provincial Appraisal Center for Environment & Engineering State Environmental Protection Administration

Current situation SEA legislation recently introduced through the EIA Law 2002 State Environment Protection Administration (SEPA) aims to: Promote assessment of plans for transport & energy Strengthen capacity of sectoral institutions to integrate environmental concerns in planning activities

Problem & solution Weaknesses of the current sector planning situation: Fragmentation of responsibilities Environment not considered a cross- sectoral priority Information and knowledge of technical & practical solutions required Must lead to immediate improvements in developing sectoral plans

Project approach Three arms to the project approach: Policy transfer – EPI and SEA Institutional capacity building Practical recommendations and solutions through two case studies Transport case study at provincial scale Energy case study at municipal scale

Work packages Build a common understanding European experience with EPI & SEA Dissemination of results and conference Case study leaning and application in China Phase 1 Inception Phase 2 Sharing expertise Phase 3 Learning by doing Phase 4 Capacity building

Package 3 Learning by doing – case studies Provincial transport plan Shaanxi Organisation and institutional setup SEA implementation Energy saving plan Xichang City, Sichuan Organisation and institutional setup SEA implementation Maps taken from Wikipedia

Thank you Daniel Bongardt g Please visit us at: Image from NASA

Case study 1 Provincial Transport Plan, Shaanxi Province Analysis of the structure of Chinese provincial transport planning institutions, and their level of cooperation Identification of problems and opportunities for more effective EPI Environmental assessment of the plan Development of alternative road projects Recommendations for reducing the environmental effects

Case study 2 Municipal Energy Plan, Xichang City Analysis of the structure of Chinese municipal energy planning institutions, and their level of cooperation Identification of problems and opportunities for more effective EPI Environmental assessment of the plan Development of alternative measures (increasing efficiency and alternative energy sources) Recommendations for reducing energy consumption and using renewable energy

EPI and SEA? EPI: Environmental Policy Integration A continual process to integrate environmental issues into policy-making SEA: Strategic Environmental Assessment A process to allow early consideration of potential environmental effects which may occur as a result of decision-making (e.g. through policies, plans or programmes)

Package 1 Building a common understanding Website – English and Chinese  Launch meeting Introductory training course 1 234

Package 2 Sharing expertise Research European experiences – EPI Research European experiences – SEA European study tour and seminar

Package 4 Building capacity Lessons learnt and implications for guidance and legislation Dissemination of results Conference to disseminate results to a broader audience