Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context
Encyclopedia
The Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context is a United Nations Economic Commission for Europe
(UNECE) convention signed in Espoo
, Finland
, in 1991 that entered into force in 1997. The Convention sets out the obligations of Parties -- that is States that have agreed to be bound by the Convention -- to carry out an environmental impact assessment
of certain activities at an early stage of planning. It also lays down the general obligation of States to notify and consult each other on all major projects under consideration that are likely to have a significant adverse environmental impact across boundaries.
The Convention involves a Party (or Parties) of origin (States where an activity is planned) and an affected Party (or Parties) (States whose territory may be significantly adversely affected by the activity). The Convention's main procedural steps are:
The Convention has been amended twice, though neither amendment is expected to enter into force for some time. The first amendment was adopted in Sofia
in 2001; once in force it will open the Convention to accession upon approval by United Nations
Member States that are not members of the UNECE. The second amendment was adopted in Cavtat
, Croatia
, in 2004; once in force it will: allow, as appropriate, affected Parties to participate in scoping; require reviews of compliance; revise the Convention's Appendix I (list of activities); and make other minor changes.
The Convention was also instrumental in the creation of Strategic Environmental Assessment
and has been supplemented by a Protocol on Strategic Environmental Assessment
.
United Nations Economic Commission for Europe
The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe was established in 1947 to encourage economic cooperation among its member states. It is one of five regional commissions under the administrative direction of United Nations headquarters. It has 56 member states, and reports to the UN Economic and...
(UNECE) convention signed in Espoo
Espoo
Espoo is the second largest city and municipality in Finland. The population of the city of Espoo is . It is part of the Helsinki Metropolitan Area along with the cities of Helsinki, Vantaa, and Kauniainen. Espoo shares its eastern border with Helsinki and Vantaa, while enclosing Kauniainen....
, Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
, in 1991 that entered into force in 1997. The Convention sets out the obligations of Parties -- that is States that have agreed to be bound by the Convention -- to carry out an environmental impact assessment
Environmental impact assessment
An environmental impact assessment is an assessment of the possible positive or negative impact that a proposed project may have on the environment, together consisting of the natural, social and economic aspects....
of certain activities at an early stage of planning. It also lays down the general obligation of States to notify and consult each other on all major projects under consideration that are likely to have a significant adverse environmental impact across boundaries.
The Convention involves a Party (or Parties) of origin (States where an activity is planned) and an affected Party (or Parties) (States whose territory may be significantly adversely affected by the activity). The Convention's main procedural steps are:
- application of the Convention by the Party of origin (Art. 2.2, 2.5/App. I+III)
- notification of the affected Party by the Party of origin (Art. 3.1)
- confirmation of participation by the affected Party (Art. 3.3)
- transmittal of information from the affected Party to the Party of origin (Art. 3.6)
- public participation in tha affected Party (Art. 3.8)
- preparation of EIA documentation (Art. 4/App. II)
- distribution of the EIA documentation for the purpose of participation of authorities and public of the affected Party (Art. 4.2)
- consultation between the concerned Parties (Art. 5)
- final decision by the Party of origin(Art. 6.1)
- transmittal of final decision documentation to the affected Party(Art. 6.2)
- post-project analysis (Art. 7.1/App. V)
The Convention has been amended twice, though neither amendment is expected to enter into force for some time. The first amendment was adopted in Sofia
Sofia
Sofia is the capital and largest city of Bulgaria and the 12th largest city in the European Union with a population of 1.27 million people. It is located in western Bulgaria, at the foot of Mount Vitosha and approximately at the centre of the Balkan Peninsula.Prehistoric settlements were excavated...
in 2001; once in force it will open the Convention to accession upon approval by United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
Member States that are not members of the UNECE. The second amendment was adopted in Cavtat
Cavtat
Cavtat ) is a town in the Dubrovnik-Neretva County of Croatia. It is on the Adriatic seacoast 15 km south of Dubrovnik and is the centre of the Konavle municipality.-History:...
, Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
, in 2004; once in force it will: allow, as appropriate, affected Parties to participate in scoping; require reviews of compliance; revise the Convention's Appendix I (list of activities); and make other minor changes.
The Convention was also instrumental in the creation of Strategic Environmental Assessment
Strategic Environmental Assessment
Strategic environmental assessment is a system of incorporating environmental considerations into policies, plans, and programmes. It is sometimes referred to as strategic environmental impact assessment. The specific term strategic environmental assessment relates to European Union policy...
and has been supplemented by a Protocol on Strategic Environmental Assessment
Protocol on Strategic Environmental Assessment
The Protocol on Strategic Environmental Assessment supplements the UNECE Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context. It was adopted and signed in Kiev in 2003 and entered into force on 11 July 2010. It requires its Parties to evaluate the environmental consequences of...
.