Consideration of environmental protection goals is an important prerequisite for industrial development, especially during the post-war recovery. Environmental impact assessment (EIA) is a procedure that determines the possible hazardous impact on the environment and public health when making decisions on business activities (construction, reconstruction, technical re-equipment, expansion, repurposing, liquidation of facilities, other interference with the environment), taking into account state, public and private interests.
EIA is designed to ensure public participation in decision-making processes that affect the environment. However, before the war, this procedure was not working properly: it allowed the construction of enterprises that reported excessive emissions of hazardous substances in their EIA reports. During the war and postwar reconstruction, EIA was restricted.
Therefore, during the post-war recovery, a non-efficient EIA can delay and complicate construction, launch projects important to the state, and increase the risks of implementing potentially environmentally hazardous activities. Ecoclub believes that Ukraine needs to reform its environmental impact assessment system.
What we do
– Fighting for the right to a clean environment in Rivne Oblast.
– Developing a public air quality monitoring network in Rivne Oblast.
– Ensuring the right to open access to environmental information for the public (submits requests to the Ministry of Environment, Regional State Administration, potentially threatening enterprises to provide and clarify information on environmental impact, analyzes and publishes it in its own communication channels).
– Helping fight for the right of the public to participate in environmental decision-making processes (examines EIA reports on potentially environmentally threatening projects, engages the public in their study, submits comments and suggestions, and publishes the results).
– Informing municipalities about opportunities to participate in environmental decision-making processes (publishes information on planned activities of enterprises, informs how to get acquainted with documentation during martial law, disseminates information in the media about ways and opportunities for public participation in EIA decision-making).
– Analyzing the legal framework in the field of EIA, studies the peculiarities of its implementation and provides recommendations for improvement to government representatives (prepares studies/materials on the effectiveness of existing EIA legislation in Ukraine and abroad, draft laws in the field of EIA, sends letters with proposals and comments on the same).
– Preparing proposals for improving the EIA instrument in Ukraine.
How to join this activity
– Help prepare information materials (posts, articles, interviews).
– Assist in organizing and conducting events and online activities.
– Analyze, submit proposals and comments to environmental impact assessment reports of enterprises.
– Participate in the development of proposals to improve the EIA. To do this, write a letter to the Ecoclub’s specialist, Yulia Kvitka, at kvitka@ecoclubribne.org.
Publications on the case:
NGO Ecoclub defended the right to criticize Kronospan in the Supreme Court
For criticizing the potential damage from the plant, Kronospan sues a local activist
The main grounds of Ecoclub’s appeal to the Supreme Court in the case of Kronospan
Ecoclub filed a cassation appeal to the Supreme Court in the case of Kronospan
Lawsuit against Ecoclub: consideration of the case on the merits has begun
Lawsuit against Ecoclub: at the initiative of Kronospan the court proceedings were postponed
The concentration of formaldehyde in Horodok will be exceeded 9 times – Ecoclub
Representatives of Kronospan have filed a lawsuit against Ecoclub
+38 (067) 363-62-26, office@ecoclubrivne.org
Timeline
LATEST NEWS
- Ecoclub’s Proposals for Improving and Implementing the Concept Note
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… Read more: Ecoclub’s Proposals for Improving and Implementing the Concept Note - Position of civil society organizations on the possible narrowing of EIA and SEA in Ukraine
UPD. UPD. On September 19, the Ministry of Environment published the final version of the Concept Note. The final document clarifies the transboundary assessment. The document also describes the principles that Ukraine should be guided by (the principle of exclusivity, controllability, reversibility). The Ministry of Environment noted that under the conditions of war, Ukraine did… Read more: Position of civil society organizations on the possible narrowing of EIA and SEA in Ukraine - Proposals оf Ecoclub on The Concept Note Defining The Scope Of Deviations From The Rules Of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA)Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) are important tools for public participation in decision-making on environmental issues. They help to prevent potential negative impacts on the environment and public health and take into account public opinion. Considering the country’s situation, the forced temporary introduction of deviations from the rules of the EIA… Read more: Proposals оf Ecoclub on The Concept Note Defining The Scope Of Deviations From The Rules Of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA)
- The Volyn Cement plant was allowed to operate despite an incomplete environmental impact report
“Volyn-Cement” in Zdolbuniv has received a positive conclusion on its environmental impact assessment (EIA). This means that the plant was allowed to operate despite the inaccuracies in the report: the company plans to burn fuels that could pollute the environment and affect human health. The positive conclusion on the EIA of Volyncement shows that the rules… Read more: The Volyn Cement plant was allowed to operate despite an incomplete environmental impact report - A draft law is under consideration, the adoption of which will lead to uncontrolled deforestation
The Verkhovna Rada is considering a draft law to cancel the environmental impact assessment (EIA) procedure for sanitary felling. It also provides for mandatory EIA for larger areas to be reforested. Its adoption may lead to uncontrolled deforestation, and foresters will not be held accountable for massive logging. It also stimulates the loss of Ukraine’s… Read more: A draft law is under consideration, the adoption of which will lead to uncontrolled deforestation - UN is considering Ecoclub’s complaint relating the shortcomings of Ukrainian legislation on environmental impact assessment
Ecoclub has filed a complaint to the Aarhus Convention. The state procedures for strategic environmental assessment (SEA) and environmental impact assessment (EIA) in Ukraine are flawed and do not ensure proper public participation. These problems result in the construction of hazardous to human health and the environment facilities and encourage cooperation with unscrupulous investors.Ukraine is… Read more: UN is considering Ecoclub’s complaint relating the shortcomings of Ukrainian legislation on environmental impact assessment