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UNDERSTANDING THE SEA

20th May 2013

Presented by: K. Florence

Presentation outline

• What is the SEA

• History of the SEA

• Purpose of the SEA

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What is the SEA

Key words• Strategic • Environmental• Assessment

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Strategic Environmental Assessment

Defn;

• Strategic environmental assessment (SEA) is a systematic decision support process, aiming to ensure that environmental and possibly other sustainability aspects are considered effectively in policy, plan and programme making. (PPPs)

• It is a globally recognized tool to promote sustainable development.

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HISTORY OF THE SEA

• The idea of having environmental impact assessments started in 1969, in the USA with the introduction of the National Environment Policy Act by congress.

• In 1985, the Directive of European council adopted the system as well in Europe.

• With a main aim of informing society on potential hazards imposed on the environment and human health by the intended activity/project.

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.Note;

• it only dealt with specific effects at the local level (project only) whereas many environmentally damaging decisions had already been made at a more strategic level.

• Little by little, people noticed that the earlier they considered environmental issues in the planning process, the easier and cheaper it was to avoid damages to the environment.

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.• In 1996 European Commission started

consideration of introduction of the obligatory environmental assessment (the so called Strategic Environmental Assessment – SEA) for certain plans and programmes.

• In 2001, EU Council approved this proposal by its Directive 2001/42EC, and it became binding for EU member countries since 2004.

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Purpose Of The SEA• It is used to examine the scope and

characteristics of the potential environmental effects of a given development

• SEA ensures that environmental and socio-economic concerns contribute to a balanced and sustainable development of a given sector (the oil and gas sector).

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.• SEA as currently practiced reflects the Brundtland Commission's approach to sustainable development, which suggests that environmental protection and economic development can only progress hand in hand.

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Brundtland commission=World Commission on Environment and Development

.• The SEA is completed prior to project start

up and used to propose prevention and mitigation measures in order to prevent or mitigate the negative effects associated with the development.

• And therefore to integrate results/findings into decision making

• An effective SEA takes into account the requirements and comments of the public, which is consulted as needed.

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Why do an SEA of the AG• Uganda’s oil is found in the Albertine

Graben which is an area of national and international importance in terms of its outstanding biodiversity and network of protected areas.

• The goal of the National Oil and Gas Policy (2008) is to use these (oil and gas) resources to contribute to early achievement of poverty eradication and create lasting value to society.

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.• The objective is to “ensure that oil and gas

activities are undertaken in a manner that conserves the environment and biodiversity”

• The NE Act, Cap 153, requires that the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) consults closely with relevant lead agencies in the process of the SEA.

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.

• The SEA of the AG shall contribute to informed decision making by taking into consideration the possible environmental, cultural heritage and socio-economic effects caused by petroleum development in the Albertine Graben.

• Through:– Documenting values of the resources in the AG– Assessing impact/conflicts– Suggesting alternatives

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..The main goals of the SEA were to

recommend on how to:• Ensure that environmental and sustainability

considerations are taken into account during early stages of decision making and integrate these considerations into laws/regulations and relevant PPPs; and

• Deal with high level environmental strategic aspects in general for the sector and assess specific future development

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Thank you for listening

Sustainable actions (Generations unborn have a stake in our Natural Resources)

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