NCEA news  
 

Netherlands Commission for Environmental Assessment

 

Newsletter nr. 9, November 2014

 
  November 2014 - Adjarala

Better safety measures for transboundary dam Adjarala

The NCEA reviewed the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) for a hydro-electric dam that is planned at Adjarala, at the border between Benin and Togo. The development of this dam is highly controversial. An earlier dam in the same river had considerable impacts on livelihoods and safety of thousands of people. The NCEA working group concluded that the ESIA did not clearly describe prevention of or compensation for similar impacts of the new Adjarala dam. The environmental ministers of Benin and Togo postponed the construction permit for the dam until this information will be provided.

More information...

 
  Bujumbura - november 2014

Review of ESIA for waste project Burundi

In the framework of its capacity building programme in Burundi, the NCEA was asked to review an ESIA for the project Clean and Waste Free Bujumbura. The review was conducted by an NCEA working group together with a review team of the environmental ministry (MEEATU). This facilitated on-the-job learning by ministry staff. The joint team inspected the existing landfill and waste collection system as well as four proposed sites for composting, recycling, transfer, and landfilling.

More information...

 
  November 2014 - Zanzibar

Three EIA workshops in Zanzibar

The NCEA supports Zanzibar agencies with EIA and SEA implementation in a two-year cooperation programme. During a second visit in October 2014, the NCEA organised three workshops:

  • Streamlining EIA and other project approvals: based on a mapping of approval processes, participants assessed where EIA fits in and where coordination between authorities and assessments can improve;
  • EIA regulatory framework: articles on EIA in the new Environmental Management Act (June 2014) and draft EIA regulations (2012) were discussed with Department of Environment staff;
  • EIA review: an EIA report was reviewed as a pilot during a 3-day workshop with the Zanzibar multi-stakeholder review team.

More information...

 
  november 2014 - cambodia sea forum

NCEA contributions to Mekong 'SEA Knowledge Sharing Forum'

The Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Environmental Operations Center of the Asian Development Bank organised a knowledge sharing forum on SEA. This forum took place on 30 and 31 October 2014 in Cambodia. Director Rob Verheem of the NCEA gave a key note presentation on the state of the art of SEA worldwide and moderated two sessions. This included the final session in which a message was formulated on the importance of SEA in the region, for the GMS Environment Ministers’ Meeting in January 2015.

More information...

 
  Delta conference September 2014 (2)

NCEA contributions to conference 'Deltas in Times of Climate Change'

The conference ‘Deltas in Times of Climate Change’ took place in Rotterdam from 24 to 26 September 2014. Arend Kolhoff (NCEA and chair of IAIA Climate Change section) delivered two presentations. He presented experiences and cases on the added value of SEA in developing climate-proof regional/land use plans in deltas. This presentation also includes a number of case studies (Vietnam, Georgia and Kenya). Since most of the participants were not yet familiar with SEA and how it facilitates the science–policy dialogue, the NCEA’s contribution was highly appreciated.

More information...