IMPLEMENTING LEAPS IN CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE: TRAINERS’ HANDBOOK Developing an Environmental Action Plan

IMPLEMENTING LEAPS IN CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE: TRAINERS’ HANDBOOK

Developing an Environmental Action Plan

PHASE 2: ASSESSING ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES ND SETTING PRIORITIES

DEVELOPING AN ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION PLAN


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Developing an Environmental Action Plan

1) Clarify environmental action planning process

2) Review community vision

3) Set environmental goals and targets, and select indicators

4) Review existing environmental management practices

5) Identify potential actions

6) Identify evaluation criteria

7) Collect information and prepare “issue summaries”

8) Analyse and select actions

9) Prepare draft EAP for public comment

10) Adopt and institutionalise plan




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• Identifies a range of actions for addressing the community’s most important environmental issues

• Defines goals and targets for environmental improvements, and indicators for measuring these improvements

• Describes the most serious environmental issues and examines a range of alternative actions for addressing top priority issues

• Reflects broad public participation to ensure that selected actions reflect community priorities

“A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in.”

What Is an Environmental Action Plan?

• Contains recommendations that can be incorporated into official municipal planning documents such as land-use plans and budgets

Greek Proverb




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1. Clarify Environmental Action Planning Process

• What is the appropriate structure and content of the environmental action plan (EAP)?

• What decision-making process will be used to set environmental targets and select actions?

• How will the EAP be linked to official planning processes?

• Who will be involved in preparing the EAP?

• Which priorities will the stakeholder group focus on?

Some issues to address at the outset include:




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2. Review Community Vision

• Will the environmental goals and targets for the next three to five years serve as sufficient guideposts to help achieve the community vision?

• How will the environmental actions you choose move the community significantly toward fulfilling the community vision?

As you reflect on the identified priority issues and begin to establish environmental goals and select actions, take a moment to review the community vision and consider:

• Where does the community see itself in 20 years?




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3. Set Environmental Goals and Targets, and Select Indicators

Environmental goals:

• Are practical, achievable and linked to the community vision

• Provide strategic direction for your long-term efforts to address community environmental issues

• Provide an opportunity to build consensus among stakeholders on what you hope to accomplish over a set period of time, e.g. three to five years

• Offer a framework for helping to ensure that a coherent and consistent set of targets and actions is formulated and implemented

• Express milestones you want to reach over a period of time




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Environmental targets:

• Are measurable commitments to be realised within a specified time

• Focus resources and guide the selection of actions

• Are used in evaluating and measuring progress in implementing the action plan

• Imply concrete actions and changes in behaviour by different stakeholders

• Are usually the products of negotiation




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Questions to ask in setting targets:

• Can the proposed target levels be achieved within a realistic time frame?

• Are targets sufficient to achieve the desired level of community improvement?

• Are there specific targets or environmental standards required under national law?

• Are there local targets in place? If so, what changes need to be made?

• Do you have the baseline information necessary to evaluate changes over time?




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Environmental indicators:

• Are used to measure the effectiveness of your actions

• Help you to understand where you are and how far you are from where you want to be

• Provide a mechanism for community members to identify what they value — drawn from the community vision

• Measure whether community goals and targets are being achieved and whether these outcomes are improving the lives of people in the community

• Provide a means for ensuring that implementing institutions achieve desired results




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Good indicators are:

• Results-oriented: Measure actual results versus efforts to address a particular problem

• Reliable: Are based upon statistically valid and quantifiable data

• Measurable: Can be quantifiably measured

• Simple: Are easy to understand, but as precise as possible

• Cost-effective: Relatively inexpensive to monitor without diminishing the effectiveness or quality of the data




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Case Study: Municipality of Sveti Nikole, FYR Macedonia

Urgent problems Goal Targets Indicators Data sources

Low quantity and quality of drinking water

Healthy and clean drinking water

• Elimination of the sources of the water contamina-tion by 2003

• Increase of the number of the village water supply systems from the present eight to 16

• 90% of the population of the settlement where the city water supply system functions use the water for drinking purposes

• Optimal use of chemicals to process the water AI2(SO4)3; 10-20 mg per litre; CI2-0.2-1 mg/litre

• Phone inquiry of the environmental association ˝Izgrev˝ — Sveti Nikole

• Institution for Health Protection — Veles

• Public communal enterprise ˝Edinstvo˝

• Communal fund of Sv. Nikole

Setting goals, targets and indicators




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Urgent problems Goal Target Indicators Data sources

Pollution of the River of Sveti Nikole

Bringing back life to ˝Svetinikolska Reka ˝

• Stop faecal substances from being dumped in the river by 2003

• Elimination of polluted industrial wastewater by 2005

• Appearance of signs of life in the river

• BPK measurement 30 mg/litre

• HPK measurement 20 mg/litre

• Dissolved oxygen higher than 50%

• Super saturation: 110-125%

• Environmental patrols of EA ˝Izgrev˝ and the anglers’ NGO ˝Mrena˝

• Institution for Health Protection — Veles

Setting goals, targets and indicators




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4. Review Existing Environmental Management Practices (SWOT Analysis)

A review and assessment of your community’s capacity toaddress key issues help to guide the action planning process.

One commonly used technique to assess this capacity is called a SWOT analysis — an analysis of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats.

Strengths and weaknesses are generally considered to be internal to the community. Opportunities and threats are considered to be external.




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Strengths and Weaknesses

What strengths can you take advantage of and what weaknesses must you overcome related to:

• Political/cultural factors

• Communication and coordination

• Citizen attitudes

• Local expertise

• Financial resources

• Environmental facilities




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Sample Table: Environmental Management Practices— Strengths and Weaknesses

Local expertise and staff

Financial resources

Environmental facilities

Political/cultural factors

Communication and coordination

Citizen attitudes

Issue: (e.g. poor drinking water)

Strengths Weaknesses




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Opportunities and Threats

What are the outside forces or dynamics that can either help or hinder your efforts? Consider the following areas:

• Logistical issues

• Financial, regulatory, and economic factors

• Legal and regulatory framework

• Information and technology




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Sample Table: Environmental Management Practices —Opportunities and Threats

Legal and regulatory framework

Information and technology

Logistical issues

Financial, regulatory and economic factors

Issue: (poor drinking water)

Opportunities Threats




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Case Study: Municipality Of Pehcevo, FYR Macedonia — SWOT Analysis of Water Supply Issue

INTERNAL

Strengths:

• Technical expertise and documentation available for the main water supply project

• Readiness of the municipality to solve the problem

• Citizens’ support for the project

Weaknesses:

• Lack of local financial resources

• Public enterprise lacks equipment

• No plan for underground network




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EXTERNAL

Opportunities:

• National legislation supports solutions

• Priority of National Environment Action Programme

• Interest among foreign donors to support these kinds of projects

Threats:

• No loans available to finance projects

• Low level of initiative in the National Ministry of Environment

Case Study: Municipality of Pehcevo, FYR Macedonia — SWOT Analysis of Water Supply Issue




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5. Identify Potential Actions

First steps in identifying potential actions:

• Review the results of the SWOT analysis

• Brainstorm possible actions to achieve the vision and meet the goals

• Review your community vision, goals, targets and indicators




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Consider the following types ofactions:

• Technological measures: Upgrading the pollution control technology at a factory, reducing waste generation through pollution prevention

• Regulatory or legal measures: Passing a new law, ordinance, rule or regulation

• Public education and training: Media campaign, public information campaign, job training for new businesses

• Economic incentives: User fees, emission fees and pollution fines

• Community-based programmes: Community recycling programmes, tree planting efforts and distribution of low-flow showerheads




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Economicincentives

Community-based programmes

Technologicalmeasures

Regulatory or legal measures

Public education and training

Other

Sample Table: Identify Potential Actions

Issue:Goal:Target :




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Public education and training • Prepare and distribute pamphlets for residents on how to recycle

• Train municipal or solid waste utility staff on how to design and manage a community recycling programme

• Establish a waste fee system that charges individuals and businesses in direct proportion to the volume of solid waste they generate.

• Make recycling free and waste disposal expensive.

• Institute a kerbside recycling programme for all households in the community.

• Place containers throughout the community for residents to dispose of recyclable materials.

Economic incentives

Community programmes

Sample actions for reducing solid waste disposal




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Technological measures • Construct a new recycling processing facility to prepare materials in a form acceptable to recycling manufacturers.

• Send away unprocessed waste.

• Adopt an ordinance requiring all residents to separate recycling materials from their trash.

• Adopt an ordinance requiring all waste-hauling companies to offer kerbside recycling collection services.

Regulatory and legal actions

Sample actions for reducing solid waste disposal




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6. Identify Evaluation Criteria

• Criteria provide a basis for comparing different actions to determine the relative feasibility and advantages.

• What are the factors to consider in deciding which actions might work best in your community?

Evaluation criteria provide a basis for selection from a number of possible actions.




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Possible Evaluation Criteria

• Cost-effectiveness: What are the relative costs for achieving a measurable environmental improvement?

• Technical feasibility: Has the technology been successfully used elsewhere and does it have a proven record?

• Effectiveness: How well does the action achieve goals and targets?

• Implementation time: How long will it take to implement?

• Equity: How evenly distributed are the benefits and costs of the action among affected individuals and the community?




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• Flexibility: Can the action be modified after a period of time to accommodate changes in demographic, economic, environmental or legal circumstances?

• Acceptability: Is the proposed action acceptable to the public or municipal council? Do stakeholders support the action?

• Employment impacts: Will the action result in new jobs in the community? Will employment opportunities be reduced as a result of a particular action?

• Environmental impact: Are there environmental impacts from construction or operation of the action?

Possible Evaluation Criteria (continued)




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7. Collect Information and Prepare “Action Summaries”

Steps to take in preparing action summaries: An “action summary” contains

a summary of information collected to date on actions to address a particular issue and serves as a reference point to help stakeholder group members select among different actions.

• Gather available information on actions for each criterion

• Consult experts to gather data and help conduct analyses

• Research how such actions have worked or not worked in other communities




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Sample Action Summary

Problem description:Toxic and organic materials in unlined, uncovered landfills are polluting the air and ground water. This poses health hazards, while landfill space is running out and trash generation is increasing.

Targets :

1) To reduce groundwater and air pollution associated with solid waste disposal by 75% over the next five years

2) To reduce the volume of solid waste requiring disposal by 50% by the year 2005




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Action category: Community programmes

Community recyclingprogramme

Programmes from communities in theUnited States indicate that kerbsiderecycling has high participation levels.

Evaluation criteria: Cost effectiveness, flexibility, implementation time, job creation benefits

Actions Information on strategy




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8. Analyse and Select Actions

Two-step process:

• Develop preferred list of actions

• Select actions based on community-specific analysis

Select actions based on community-specific analysis of issues such as:

• Economics

• Engineering

• Legal implications

• Finances

• Environmental issues

Develop preliminary list of actions based on:

• Evaluation criteria

• Vigorous and open discussion

• Best available information collected to date




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Cost effectiveness

Effectiveness in achieving goals

Economic benefits

Sample evaluation criteria

Technicalfeasibility

Sample Matrix: Evaluating and Selecting Preliminary Actions

Potential Actions

Implementationtime

Total score

Issue:Goal:Target :




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Seeking Win-Win Solutions between Environment and Economy

“Win-win” solutions enhance environmental conditions and strengthen the local economy.

Examples include:

• Developing eco-tourism capacity: Cleaner local environment leads to more attractive destination for tourists.

• Improving efficiencies of existing businesses: Improving efficiency of natural resource (e.g. water, energy) reduces costs and increases profits.

• Improving municipal environmental services: This will benefit the environment while maintaining the community as an attractive place.




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• Assisting environmental service and manufacturing businesses: New environmental programmes (e.g. recycling, energy conservation) often require the creation of new businesses to implement these programmes.

• Improving human resource capacity: New environmental programmes require people with new skills and new services.

• Promoting sustainable resource use: Local economies dependent upon the use of natural resources, such as timber and fisheries, will benefit from long-term and sustainable harvest practices.




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9. Prepare Draft Environmental Action Plan (EAP) for Public Comment

The EAP provides:

• A framework document that identifies specific actions and commitments from responsible institutions

• A long-term guide for addressing the community’s environmental problems




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Suggested Outline for an Environmental Action Plan

Introductory letter: Endorsement by mayor and/or city council

Executive summary: Short summary of all major findings in the plan. Includes brief descriptions of major issues identified and summary of recommended actions for each priority issue

Background/introduction: Brief explanation of LEAP goals, project phases, history of the project and individuals involved

Issue assessment and ranking: Description of the issues considered, the results of the environmental issues analyses and ranking, and final priorities for action selected




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Issue assessment and ranking: Description of the issues considered, the results of the environmental issues analyses and ranking, and final priorities for action selected

Recommended actions: List of the recommended actions for each priority issue, evaluation criteria considered, and a brief explanation of why selected actions were chosen

Work plan: Detailed plan of actions, including specific steps, who will be responsible, when each step will be accomplished and estimates of expected costs

Appendices (e.g., charts, tables, pictures, etc.)

Suggested Outline for an Environmental Action Plan (continued)




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Case Study: Environmental Protection Action Plan for Municipality Of Elk, Poland

Objectives of the environmental protection action plan:

• Target: To reduce biological oxygen demand (BOD) loads discharged into Lake Elk by the Elk River to a level that does not increase eutrophication

• Goal: To bring Lake Elk up to Class II purity standards

• Target: To arrest the process of internal delivery as well as the threat of progressive water degradation in Lake Elk




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Execution of the targets of environmental protection action plan

Technical actions:

• Removing litter and debris from the lake embankment and the channel of the Elk River

Economic actions:

• Rational management of the fishing industry in the waters of Lake Elk

• Economic utilisation of the reed beds of Lake Elk as an element of eliminating BOD

• Stopping seepage of pollution from domestic sewage into lake

• Stopping seepage of pollution from storm sewage into the lake

• Recultivating the lake through mechanical aeration




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Legal and administrative actions:

• Increase conformance with and enforcement of the law with respect to environmental protection

• Identify and eliminate pollution sources of Lake Elk and the Elk River (other than those listed in Action No. 1)

Educational actions:

• Install household sewage treatment plants in the area of the Elk River and Lake Elk watersheds — in areas where the municipal sewage system is not an option

• Educate community about causes and effects of eutrophication, the impact of the individual on the environment

• Stop pollution from seeping into the lake and river




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10. Adopt and Institutionalise Plan

• Time should be allowed to receive, review and incorporate public comments

• Local government officials and affected stakeholders should be provided with copies of EAP and enough time to comment on it

• Plan should be adopted and approved by municipal council. Plan becomes official document of city

• Elements of plan can be incorporated into official planning documents of local government, such as budget and land-use and development plans

• Plan should be revised periodically to ensure that it reflects current conditions

• Plan should be considered a “living document” which serves as a long-term guide on environmental issues

Documents

IMPLEMENTING LEAPS IN CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE: TRAINERS’ HANDBOOK Developing an Environmental Action Plan