Gulana Hajiyeva WB Safeguards Training Workshop Almaty, December 2012

 Strategic Environmental (and Social) Assessment WB (as of March 2011); EU & some national laws: for policies, plans and programs; not a substitute for project-specific EA  Regional or sectoral EA: when the project is likely to have sectoral or regional impacts

 “Upstream” planning tool (input to sectoral or regional planning process)  Helps identify more vs. less sustainable development pathways  Can be OP 4.01 Instrument for programmatic investment ◦ even if Category A projects are included ◦ special emphasis on cumulative impacts  Must include SUBSTANCE, not just process (not same thing as EMF)  Relatively new instrument; limited guidance, limited capacity and experience

SEA Protocol on Espoo Convention UNECE Convention on EIA in a Transboundary Context (July 2010) Objective:  sets out the obligations of Parties to assess the environmental impact of certain activities at an early stage of planning  It lays down general obligation of States to notify and consult on all major projects that are likely to have a significant adverse environmental impact across boundaries

 the scale and timing of SEA  the rigid approach to the scoping  the timing of stakeholders engagement  limited awareness of SEA process; thus, need to clarify early the SEA benefits  the capacity and resources for implementation  identification of stakeholders/main champion  environmental data availability and quality  undertaken in parallel with the planning and preparation of a project, program, strategy or plan rather than after

 Azerbaijan Highway Projects: Regional Environmental Review identifying regional environmental and social impacts and providing framework for detailed EIAs for each road/section  Greater Baku Regional Development Plan (GBRDP): Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), identifying potential environmental issues to be considered by any future developmental activities in Bake area

What is Cumulative Impact Assessment? Project A site Project A zone of impact Important Env. Asset Important Cultural Asset Existing Facility B site Facility B zone of impact Zone of impact of planned/reasonably foreseeable development or trend Zone of Impact of directly linked or induced development

Project Level vs. Regional Level CEIA River basin with hydropower projects Existing project Planned future project (licensed approved) Proposed project Ocean

EIA and “CEIA” Minor risk Few other significant impact sources Easily understood impacts and interactions Major risk Numerous other significant impact sources Complex impacts and interactions Cumulative impacts section of EIA prepared without in- depth CEIA exercise In-depth CEIA exercise needed (should be simultaneous and interactive with rest of EIA) EIA should identify potential cumulative impact issues and associated risks:

Why Do CEIA? Because a proposed project is likely to have significant impacts on regional “Valued Ecosystem Components” which are also impacted by other actions/trends (sources) Because the impacts from different sources (stressors) can interact in additive or synergistic ways, not always easy or straightforward to predict, requiring in-depth analysis Because the most feasible and cost-effective mitigation measures might not lie within the context of the proposed project Because impacts from other stressors can undermine the project’s objectives and/or result in unexpectedly severe impacts Because looking at the broader picture might reveal new opportunities for better overall outcomes

What information is needed to determine whether EIA for Project A needs to take Facility B into account? Distance between A and B …. are there circumstances where this information might be enough? Located within same ecological system (river/lake basin, watershed, airshed, wildlife home range) ….. what information is needed to know this? what sources can provide it? Overlapping zones of impact – impact on the same VECs …. what information is needed to know this? what sources can provide it? When to do CEIA? Starting point: Project A has potential off-site impacts (e.g. air or water emissions, erosion/sedimentation, noise, etc.) which cannot be eliminated through realistic mitigation measures

How to do CEIA: Assessment Framework 1. Scoping: Identify issues/assets of concern, at a regional scale – (information sources: spatial plans, experts, public consultation) Select appropriate Valued Ecosystem Components and determine Limits of Acceptable Change for those VECs Identify spatial and temporal boundaries for the study based on VECs Identify other stressors (existing and expected future actions and trends) that may affect the same VECs Identify potential impacts of project and of other stressors – together they make up the cumulative impacts (Red text indicates how CEIA differs from EIA)

3. Potential mitigation measures: Identify potential mitigation measures – for proposed project and where possible, measures to reduce impacts of other stressors Evaluate feasibility and costs, develop realistic mitigation plan -- including costs and institutional responsibilities (some of which may be outside scope of the project) 2. Data Collection and Analysis: Collect baseline data relevant to VECs and potential impacts -- literature, consultation, data collection Assess likely effects of the project on VECs Assess likely effects of other stressors on VECs Evaluate potential cumulative (additive, synergistic) effects to assess total impact; use scenarios and modeling as appropriate

4. Evaluate residual impacts: Compare to pre-determined Limits of Acceptable Change/ objectives/thresholds 5. Follow-up (multi-stakeholder) Monitoring of VECs and mitigation measures (project and other stressors) Adaptive management – process to make changes based on monitoring

Discussion of Cumulative Impacts within EIA VECs may be general and LACs may be presented in qualitative terms Usually rely on existing data Usually use relatively simple analytical tools (e.g. impact matrix) In-depth Cumulative Impact Assessm ent VECs should be specific and LACs mostly expressed in quantitative terms Often requires collection of additional baseline and impact-related data Use more sophisticated and quantitative analytical tools (mathematical or computer modeling of alternative scenarios, dose/response curves, GIS/land use mapping, etc.)

2-matrix tool for simple CIA (example of small HEPP) Matrix 1: potential biophysical and socio-economic impacts of project components Impacts Water speed upstream Water speed downstream Water volume downstream Forest cover Slope stability Etc. Project Component/action Construction of regulator XX Diversion of water flow X Construction of access roads XX Construction of tunnels X Construction of power house X Etc. (Overlapping marks indicate potential cumulative impacts to be considered)

Matrix 2: potential effects of other activities in the area ImpactsWater speedWater volumeForest coverSlope stabilityEtc. Other activities other HEPP XXXX Agriculture X Forestry XX Mining XX Etc.

How to Use CEIA Like all EIA, an input to decision-making Fullest possible information for decision-makers and stakeholders … clarify options and trade-offs Influence siting, design and operation of projects Identify development trends which may require strategic planning Identify most effective and efficient mitigation measures (may be outside of the proposed project)