Teaching environmental assessment and management related degrees in Hong Kong: similarities and differences with Europe Olivia Bina Research Fellow, Institute of Social Sciences of the University of Lisbon Adjunct Assistant Professor, GRM, The Chinese University of Hong Kong TwoEAM project - Seminar Nankai University, Tianjin, March 2010

The disciplinary and contextual outlook(s) Choosing the aim and objectives Feedback (good, bad and exciting) Some reflections: similarities and differences Two-EAM seminar (21-22/3/10)Bina – ICS-UL and CUHK2

3 The disciplinary & contextual outlook(s)

4 Political sciences Geography – resource management Geography - human

5 Industrialised, wealthy Developing

Space occupied by same number of people in cars, in a bus, and on bicycles Demonstration on main street of Muenster how much space cars take compared to buses or bikes to transport the same number of people (after Pucher) Source: Lex Brown

HYDRO POWER, IRRIGATION NIGER BASIN SEA courseBina-CUHK7

Source: Lex Brown 2009 TRANSPORTATION MOBILITY Bangkok SEA Course8

CONFLICT OF INTERESTS 9 Society Environment Economy

10 Man Nature

11 experts Gov.org society

12 Choosing the aim and objectives

Introduction The course on Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) provides students with the opportunity to focus on a specific instrument for environmental governance and better resource management by government agencies. SEA is one of the most important new governance mechanisms of the last decade. It is widely used across the world and is considered especially important for the future sustainability of Chinas development trajectory. The course will explore the theory, methods and practice of SEA, with reference to a range of academic and policy literature, as well as case study material and a field trip introducing SEA practice in HK. 13

Course objectives Explore in depth the tensions between environment and development through the practice of assessment by government agencies; Understand the link between data, information and the process of decision-making that leads to planning development (focus on government planning); Understand the importance of concepts and terms such as environment and sustainability in the context of good governance. Learn how to design a basic SEA process. 14

15 Course outline From EIA to SEA: sustainability and governance issues Introduction: The purpose of EA and SEA Procedures, processes and the quest for integration Methods and tools Cooperation, consultation and public participation Effectiveness SEA, Integrated assessment and SA Field trip – HK Government Examples The use of knowledge in assessment Public participation – European case and SEA Review T1 guidance docs Essay title T2 HK T3 HK NOTE 500 WORDS HK EPD T4 + Essay titles

The use of knowledge in assessment Environment and development Sustainable development (SA and SEA) Ecosystem services (and development/poverty) Conflict (values and interests) The PPP+p myth Participatory processes (knowledge and power) Integrated approach (and IA) 16

17 Feedback (good, bad and exciting)

Which aspects of the course do you like most? Understand more about the linkage between the environmental assessment and the politics. Visiting the EPD Board members helps us to realize the actual process in SEA The field trip Provoking lectures Interactions in the class Students were encouraged to voice out opinions. The uniqueness of the topic. It is the only course for SEA. It is very new for students. 18

Which aspects of the course could be improved? How exactly does an SEA happen? It seems a little too theoretical now. Better to relate more to HKs situation. 19

Students final comments Your courses have broaden my perspectives and made me realize the very multidisciplinary nature of environmental studies … …have changed the way in which I understand, view and relate to the world. More importantly, they stimulated me to think, and to think critically … I have come to realized that complexity is an undeniable reality in every aspect of life, and it is complexity that makes thing interesting … 20

READING 21

22 Some reflections: similarities and differences

23 Disciplines & Context Integration of everything into everything else Practice & Theory Wealthy & Developing Man & Nature EA-M: Assessing impacts & Promoting governance Effectiveness

World EnergyBina - GRM24 thank you!