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The Role of the Tools in Environmental Policy
1. At the environmental policy development stage All the tools (EnRA, EnTA, RUEA and EP) support the process of policy determination relative to proceeding with a policy/ program/ project/ activity. RUEA and EP bear upon policy making at the local level and should guide major decisions about efforts that balance growth and development vis-Evis environmental effects. Using these tools should enable policy makers to chart sustainable pathways of growth for their localities on one hand and provide stakeholders a concrete documentary basis for monitoring these efforts on the other hand. EnTA and EnRA serve as more specific tools for examining strategic decision options, in terms of technological approaches and environmental risks involved. Results of these assessments should direct commitment to comply with existing regulations or to devise new ones, among others. 2. At the Planning stage Assessments provide the planning parameters for this stage and set the tone for developing and prioritizing more detailed options, especially for strategic or major decisions already determined at the environmental policy stage. Environmental manage- ment programmes and specific action steps become the major planning agenda. Baseline data on key environmental resources determined in detail from RUEA, and linkage of environmental data with the development as well as management setting of a locality generated from EP, guide the planning process for programmes and projects that should be developed at this stage. Results of stakeholder consultations in particular should be weighed against technical feasibility assessments to generate balanced plans. Feasibility assessments of technologies particularly in terms of various parameters of eco-efficiency can be used to generate a ranking of technology choices. EnRA, for example, aids in defining and evaluating critical environmental parameters that will bear upon decisions to proceed or not. 3. At the implementation and operation stage The baseline data generated from the preparation of the Environmental Profile and the environmental consultations undertaken through the RUEA process, should form the basis for organizing work, undertaking training activities and preparing procedural guidelines, at this stage. Products or risk management and communication plans from EnRA and technology environmental impact assessment, and corresponding mitigation and control measures derived from EnTA are to be applied at this point. [back] |
