In September, the Ministry of Environment released the final draft of its Concept Note. The document outlines situations where environmental impact assessments (EIA) and strategic environmental assessments (SEA) may be waived when planning projects. However, the current version contradicts the Aarhus Convention, the Espoo Convention, and Directive 2011/92/EU. Ecoclub is concerned that many reconstruction projects could proceed without analysis of their impacts on the environment and public health. This could also hinder Ukraine’s EU membership prospects. Accordingly, Ecoclub has prepared detailed recommendations for the Concept Note and its implementation.
Read the Recommendations:
Ecoclub's Proposals for Improving and Implementing the Concept Note (2 downloads )Ecoclub emphasizes that any decisions to forgo EIAs or SEAs should be considered on a case-by-case basis, and the following should be ensured:
– Conduct environmental and public health impact studies for projects that undergo partial EIAs or SEAs;
– Develop an action plan to prevent or mitigate potential risks;
– Guarantee public access to information;
– Ensure public participation in decision-making processes related to environmental issues (in line with the principles of the Aarhus Convention).