National Experience with CEA
Moderator: Leslie Wildesen
Presentations
Policy and Practice Variability for Cumulative Effects Assessment in Western Australia
Presenter(s): Angus Morrison-Saunders
Although environmental impact assessment (EIA) procedures in Western Australia have been internationally acclaimed, the policy and practice of cumulative effects assessment (CEA) is highly variable. All EIAs are meant to consider CEA but practice is patchy. Quantified cumulative loss thresholds in recent EIA guidance documents along with offset requirements offer promise for great improvement in CEA. Drawing on policy and practice examples this paper will attempt to understand the situation with reference to experience elsewhere in the world.
Assessment of Cumulative Effects in Mexico
Presenter(s): Angeles Mendoza Sammet
Cumulative Effects (CE) are evaluated in Mexico only for projects or activities belonging to the regional modality. Reports submitted for approval to the Secretariat of the Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT) are examined to determine whether the review process is effective to evaluate CE and the adequacy of mitigation measures. Changes to the environmental legislation and the review process are recommended to improve the effectiveness of the EIA process and practice in Mexico.
Beyond Cumulative Effects: The Future of the Future
Presenter(s): George Hegmann, Tony Yarranton
The certainty of substantial future hydrocarbon development in Canada’s west and arctic is contrasted against uncertainty in details of what and where those developments, and their environmental response, may be. The future of a meaningful cumulative assessment of these changes is found within an understanding of how science, the will of government, perception of risk and global energy demand collectively shape the future, creating a context within which energy development may continue but with management effective and compromises clear.
Assessment of Cumulative Impacts in Sweden: Could There Be Light at the End of the Tunnel?
Presenter(s): Charlotta Faith-Ell, Bengt Eriksson
Previous studies have shown that the practice of assessing cumulative impacts in Swedish EIA has been almost non-existent. However, recent court rulings regarding tunneling projects indicate clearer guidance from government. This paper builds on a study of the City Tunnel project and the City Line project. The aim is to give an introduction to the current situation, an analysis of the court rulings and a discussion of the potential implications on the future practice in Sweden.