04 michael scoullos framework

8/7/2019 04 Michael Scoullos Framework

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Prof. Michael Scoullos

H2020 CB/MEP Team Leader

“ “Effective Involvement of Civil Society in the deEffective Involvement of Civil Society in the de--pollution of the Mediterranean Sea pollution of the Mediterranean Sea” ”

1616--17 December, Egypt, 201017 December, Egypt, 2010



The wider civil society sector and NGOs play an importantrole in promoting processes and activities essential forthe de-pollution of the Mediterranean area and itssystems.

This includes their active participation at local, national

management planning and implementation (design,implementation in the field, operationalization,monitoring and evaluation).

In order to ensure a meaningful, coordinated and effectiveparticipation of civil society in the above mentionedcycle, there is a need to enhance their abilities andcapacities to act throughout these processes intransboundary initiatives.



Why?

Citizen right

efficiency

Long termcommitment for

SustainableDevelopment



} Increasing public awareness of environmentalissues

} Making use of knowledge, experience, initiatives of different stakeholders and thus, improving the

quality of plans, measures, policies, etc. consensus building

} More transparent and creative decision-making

} Less misunderstandings, litigation, delays, and

more effective implementation and in the longterm, safeguarding and reinforcing of democracy.



Civil Society

In 1992, at the United Nations Conference on Environment andDevelopment (UNCED) or Earth Summit, Governments agreed onthe following definition of Major Groups: farmers, women, thescientific and technological community, children and youth,indigenous peoples and their communities, workers and tradeunions, business and industry, non-governmental organizations aswell as local authorities.

NGOs

refers to civil society organisations (CSOs) in a wider sense, includingcommunity based organisations (CBOs).

the term NGO applies to local, national, regional (Mediterranean) orinternational organisations that are non-profit and have a nonbinding affiliation to any government, political party or religiousgroup.



In various processes linked with Governance

In all tools related to it, aiming to providen orma on, see a v ce, o a n consensus

and commitment and finally lead toSustainable Development



Economy Society

Key principles of Key principles of Sustainable DevelopmentSustainable Development

Governance

Environment of stakeholders involvementof stakeholders involvement

Governance

Institutions

‘Education’

Innovation

Science & Technology



} Access to informationbase of environmentaland relevantdevelopmental issues.

} Participation in

consultation, decision-making and monitoring of Information

Access to justice

implementation of agreements.

} Full access to justice.

} Access to support funds

and credit.

ParticipationAccess to funds



0. No participatory practices at all.

1. Passive provision of unsystematic, arbitrarily selected information onenvironmental issues passed by the authorities to the public. Passive,uncoordinated environmental education projects developed ad hoc.

2. Acceptance of need for information flow on environmental issues by theauthorities.

3. Participation of stakeholders to information campaigns on conservation and

restoration issues.4. “Active” information: responding to requests by the public. Various meansfor access to selected information held by the authorities on environmentand development issues.

5. Financial support to joint information campaigns and selected stakeholdersprojects. Introduction of environmental education projects in selectedschools or groups. Systematic large scale awareness campaigns.

6. Consultations and ad hoc dialogue between citizens groups, stakeholders,local authorities and the State without secured follow-up. Environmentaleducation in curricula and/or coordinated networks and programmes.

7. Facilitation and advocacy by the authorities for access of independent civilgroups and stakeholders to international funds for projects or theiroperation, with no strings attached.



8. Facilitation mechanisms for participation of the public in theassessment of EIAs, SEAs, etc.

9. Active participation of the public through transparent mechanismsin drafting “sustainability charters”/Local Agenda 21, etc.

10. Full access of the public to the environmental and developmentinformation base of the State.

11. Participation of groups in the monitoring of implementation andmanagement of sustainability plans.

12. Institutionalisation of 7.13. Financing of projects and plans for “independent assessments”

(counter-assessments) or counter-EIAs for controversial projects.14. Institutionalisation of 10.15. Access of public groups to justice including cases of liability and

compensations for environmental damages.16. Access of public groups to supporting funds and credit foroperation and projects by national and international sources with nostrings attached.

17. Full partnership in a balanced governance with full support toNGOs, local authorities and the public for a participation on equal

footing.



Think local, act global

Think global, act local



} Aarhus Convention,

} acquis communautaire,

} EU directive for Public Participation,

} Water Framework Directive (WFD),

} Inte rated Water Resources

Empowerment of NGOs

O p er a t i o

n a l i s

Aarhus

EU directive forPP

Institutional frameworks

Management (IWRM),

} Integrated Coastal ZoneManagement (ICZM),

} Environmental Impact Assessments(EIAs),

} Strategic EnvironmentalAssessments (SEAs), etc.

a t i onNSSD

EIA

WFD

IWRM

ICRM

Examples



The Aarhus Convention incorporates human intoenvironmental law and vice versa and grants the publica series of rights concerning access to information,public participation, participation in the decision-

making process and access to justice in environmental" "environmental rights and human rights.

The three pillars of the Aarhus Convention are:

} Rights of access to environmental information} Rights to participate in environmental decision-

making

} Rights of access to justice in environmental matters



The EC is a Party to the Convention since May 2005.

} Directive 2003/4/EC on public access to environmentalinformation

} Directive 2003/35/EC providing for public participation inrespect of the drawing up of certain plans and programmes

relating to the environment and amending with regard to public

85/337/EEC and 96/61/EC

} EC Regulation 1367/2006 on the application of the provisionsof the Aarhus Convention on Access to Information, PublicParticipation in Decision-making and Access to Justice inEnvironmental Matters to Community institutions and bodies

} Provisions for public participation in environmental decision-making are furthermore to be found in a number of otherenvironmental directives, e.g. the Water Framework Directive



} The EU Water Framework Directive (WFD), whichwent into effect in 2000, places public participation(PP) at the center stage of water management aspart of its integrated approach to water

management.} The WFD calls for PP in water management: “the

success of the Directive relies on close cooperationand coherent action at community, Member stateand local level as well as on information,consultation and involvement of the public,including users” (European Union, 2000/60/EC).



Vision/policy

Commitment

to IWRM SituationEvaluation

Initiation

Governmentcommitment.Team formed.

Work plan

Awareness raising§Stakeholderparticipation§Political

commitment.

Problems,IWRM situation,Goals identified.

Strategychoice

Goals prioritisedStrategy selected

IWRM planDraft,

Stakeholder & political approval.

ImplementationLegal, institutional,

managementactions.

Build capacity.

Assess progress,Revise plan



Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) refers to both a decisionmaking process and a document that provides a systematic,reproducible, and interdisclipinary evaluation of the potentialphysical, biological, cultural, and socioeconomic effects of aproposed action and its practical alternatives.

Proposed actions may include projects, programs, policies, or

plans.s a ec s on ma ng process, prov es a means or ec s onmakers to better integrate environmental, social, and economicconcerns.

It provides the opportunity for all stakeholders in a proposed action,

including the public, to participate in the identification of issuesof concern, practical alternatives, and to identify opportunities toavoid or mitigate adverse impacts.



Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) is theformalised, systematic and comprehensive process of evaluating the environmental effects of a policy, plan orprogramme and its alternatives, including thepreparation of a written report on the findings of thateva ua on, an us ng e n ngs n pu c yaccountable decision-making.

SEA aims to integrate environmental and sustainabilityconsiderations in strategic decision-making.



Consultation

Identifyingvalues andview points

Compilingknowledgeand data

Identifying

unsustainable

Decisionsquality

improved(appropriate

solutions

ActiveInvolvement

Raisingawareness

Establishing ashared vision

Socialacceptance

(commitment)

as er ong termimplementation

(enhancingefficiency)

Forms of PP

Processes

Outcomes



q Legitimacy

q Representativity

q Relevance

q Acquirement of information, in house knowledge andexpertise

q Continuity of efforts/issues

q Legal coverage in actions

q Accountability to membership and donors

All the above require capacities that need to be builtsystematically and urgently



Thank you for your attention!

04 michael scoullos framework

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