Implementation of the EU directive on SEA in Iceland

1
Implementation of the EU directive on SEA in
Iceland

• Halldor Thorgeirsson
• Director, Office of Sustainable Development and
  International Affairs
• Ministry for the Environment

2
The context

• New Sustainable Development National Policy
  adopted by the Government in 2002
• Evolving legal framework
• New Planning Act in preparation
• Revision of the EIA Act before Parliament in
  October
• Limited use of plans and programmes as a policy
  tool

3
The preparatory process

• Preparatory committee (ministries and
  municipalities) assisted by the Planning Agency
• Two-track approach most likely
• Incorporate the core elements of the process for
  SEA into the new Planning Act
• Incorporate the requirement to perform SEA into
  the legal basis of major plans and programmes

4
What should be covered?

• The committee has analysed the following sectors
• Energy development
• Transport
• Reforestation and revegetation
• Municipal planning
• Other (waste, aquaculture)

5
Energy development

• Iceland has significant renewable energy sources
• First phase of a programme (initiated by a
  decision by the Government) to rank potential
  power developments according to economic and
  environmental criteria just completed
• This process fulfils most of the requirements of
  the SEA directive
• Next phase under preparation

6
Transport

• New approach to an integrated transport plan
  adopted by an act of Parliament 2002
• SEA not part of the legal requirement but
  environmental considerations were addressed to
  some extent in practice
• The Act would need to be amended to incorporate
  the requirements of the SEA directive

7
Reforestation and revegetation

• Iceland has lost significant proportion of its
  vegetation cover and soil resource
• Revegetation and reforestation supported through
  Government agencies and funding
• Planning not required by law and current plans
  and programmes are not presented in a way which
  could be used directly for SEA
• One pilot project under way

8
Conclusion

• Energy development, transport and spatial
  planning most likely sectors for SEA
• Unclear if and then how revegetation and
  reforestation will be covered
• Effective public participation will be a
  challenge
• It will take time to develop the required
  planning culture