Implications of BREXIT for Environmental Assessment in the UK

HOUSE-KEEPING Thomas Fischer Conference Chair 13 June 2017 EA and BREXIT

WELCOME Doug Mair Head of School of Environmental Sciences 13 June 2017 EA and BREXIT

Original Idea What will BREXIT mean for the environmental assessment regime in the UK in the long term? Will the existing pressures on environmental practices and standards mean a considerable weakening of environmental policy? e.g. raising thresholds for plans, programmes and projects requiring assessments, or reducing timescales for preparing them? There is currently no defined strategy, process or initiative in place for engaging with or lobbying of central / devolved / local government. There clearly ought to be a role for the EA professional community. 13 June 2017 EA and BREXIT

Objectives To take stock of what has been achieved and where we are with regards to EA To discuss where we want to be and what needs to improve To reflect on how we can effectively lobby government to support effective EA To prepare a report on the outcomes of the event. 13 June 2017 EA and BREXIT

Complications… This workshop was planned before the government announced a snap election, the results of which make anticipating what Brexit may mean more difficult than ever Post factual, post evidence (post expert) turn… Central government’s views on IA However, looking at the current situation one wonders whether an IA approach could have prevented at least some of what is increasingly turning into a rather confused picture 13 June 2017 EA and BREXIT

The day 13 June 2017 EA and BREXIT 9:30 Registration / Coffee and Tea 10:15 Welcome (TBA, University of Liverpool) 10:25 Introduction to the day (Thomas B Fischer, EAM Research Centre, University of Liverpool) 10:30 John Glasson (Emeritus Prof, Oxford Brookes University) What have EIA and SEA ever done for us? – a personal reflection on the consideration of environmental aspects and the quality of decision making before and after the introduction of the European EIA and SEA directives (KEYNOTE) 10:50 Urmila Jha Thakur (University of Liverpool) 25 years of the UK EIA System: Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats 11:05 Riki Therivel (Levett-Therivel and Oxford Brookes University) SEA in the UK: Successes and failures 11:20 Rufus Howard (Royal HaskoningDHV) EIA – how do we improve effectiveness? preliminary findings of the Industry Evidence Progr. 11:35 SEA – how do we improve effectiveness? 11:50 Josh Fothergill (IEMA & Director Fothergill Training & Consulting Ltd) EIA, SEA and BREXIT: how should we lobby government (and who)? 12:05 Discussion 12:30-13:30 Lunch 13 June 2017 EA and BREXIT

The day 13 June 2017 EA and BREXIT 13:30 to 14:30 Group work/discussions 1 Moderated by Alan Bond (University of East Anglia): Environmentally sustainable policy, plan, programme and project making: do we need SEA and EIA – and what should it look like? (LT1) 2 Moderated by Ben Cave (Ben Cave Associates): Health in policy, plan, programme and project making: do we need SEA and EIA – and what should it look like? (LT3) 3 Moderated by Bridget Durning (Oxford Brookes University): The future of environmental assessment and the role of academia: what will it look like and what do we need? (SR6) 4 Moderated by Angie Jukes (Stockport Council): The future of SEA, EIA and other IA tools – what do local authorities need and think? (SR7) 5 Moderated by Phil Le Gouais (MottMacDonald): The future of SEA, EIA and other IA tools – opportunities and threats? (SR8) 6 Moderated by Lena Pfeifer (Berlin Institute of Technology): Planspiel on BREXIT (SR9) 14:00: Coffee and Tea 14:30 -14:55: Presentation of Group results and Discussion 14:55 – 15:15 Past and Future of Environmental Assessment: Findings of the Swedish SPEAK project – Europe’s biggest research project on Environmental Assessment of the Millennium (Kedar Uttam, KTH Stockholm)) 15:15-15:30: Olivier Sykes (University of Liverpool) Changing an established Policy Instrument? A case for (Territorial) Impact Assessment 15:30 – 16:00: Final discussion and wrap up 16:00 – 17:00: Ireland UK Branch Committee Meeting (in Roxby Building 2nd Floor) 13 June 2017 EA and BREXIT