Poten&al, Obstacles and Next steps for Use of SEA in Thailand
Deputy Secretary General
Na&onal Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB) Session 4: SEA process and tools PACT Training Program in SEA in Energy Planning, Bangkok
26 May 2016
1. Development of SEA in Thailand SEA in Na&onal Plans and Policies
• 10th National Economic and Social Development Plan (2007-2011) Development policy based on biological diversity and building the security on natural resource and environmental basis is driven by government sector in order to create sound environment for promoting the level of quality and sustainable development; developing management efficiency on reducing pollutants and controlling activity generating impacts on quality of life by establishing the system of SEA starting at the stage of formulating policy, plan and area based development in relation to potential in carrying capacity and pollution management of the area. 2
1. Development of SEA in Thailand SEA in Na&onal Plans and Policies
• Environmental Quality Management Plan (2007-2011) the guideline in management of natural resource and environment within the next five years which will be based on Principle 3: Precautionary Principle. The Principle is a proactive management strategy with the emphasis on the prevention of any possible impacts; generates immunity system on natural resource and environment especially in the area of fragile ecosystem by providing protection including assessing the strategic environmental impacts in the planning stage. 3
1. Development of SEA in Thailand SEA in Na&onal Plans and Policies National Health Foundation (NHF) • In 2003, SEA is proposed as a tool for formulating Public Policy. • Capacity building: 3 international workshops on SEA in Thailand in 2003, 2005 and 2007. • 3 case studies of SEA in 2006: 1) Solid waste management, 2) Yom watershed management, 3) Electronic industry development.
Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE)
• During 2003-2004, office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning (ONEP) under MONRE revised the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) system. • One of the important recommendations was about the adoption of SEA for assessment system on policy and plan of both area-based and sector-based proposals.
National Environment Board (NEB) • In 2005, NEB appointed SEA subcommittee. • In 2009, SEA guideline was launched.
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1. Development of SEA in Thailand SEA SubcommiKee
President: Prof. Dr. Parinya Nutalai Composition: 8 academics, 17 government agencies, 1 state enterprise and 1 private organization Secretariat: ONEP
National Environment Duties and Responsibilities Board (NEB) • providing opinion and policy suggestion on SEA for NEB, • developing SEA Guideline and Review process. During 2005-2008, SEA subcommittee prepared and revised SEA Guideline including 3 main parts 1. SEA process 2. Lists of types of development proposals requiring SEA reports (Screening step) 3. Review process of SEA 5
1. Development of SEA in Thailand SEA SubcommiKee SEA Guideline was published in 2009 (ONEP, 2009) however only a part of SEA process was released while the other two parts (Lists of types of development proposals requiring SEA reports and Review process of SEA) were withheld.
There were 4 technical hearings on SEA Guideline during 2006-2008. 6
2. Framework of Implemen&ng SEA SEA is implemented at the stage before the development process SEA is not a substitute for, but complements, EIA and other assessment approaches and tools
Integration of environmental, social, economic and Technological dimensions
Pathway of SEA in Thailand
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Collecting Analysis Reviewing Propose Precautionary Screening Secondary Scoping Additional and Alternative Principle Baseline Data Appraisal Data Public and Community Participation
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1 8 Decision Making on Development
Follow-up and Evaluation
Improvement
Public and Community Participation
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2. Framework of Implemen&ng SEA SEA Reports available in Thailand Until now there are more than 20 SEA reports available Before SEA guideline published in 2009, there are 6 pilot SEAs (1-6) covering sectoral based and area based SEA.
SEA REPORT After 2009, there are 15 SEAs. • Most of the reports’ process, followed SEA Guideline published in 2009. Also SEAs of government agencies are carried out according to the recommendation of NEB.
• 6 SEA reports - water management. • 4 SEA reports - area based. • 4 SEA reports - supported by international organizations. 8
2. Framework of Implemen&ng SEA SEA Reports available in Thailand
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SEA in the energy sector-Strategic environmental assessments for power sector integration in the Mekong (6 countries including Thailand) (2005) : Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI)
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Solid waste management (2007): NHF
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Yom watershed management (2007): NHF
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Electronic industry development (2007) : NHF case study: Special border SEA economic zone, Chiengrai province (2008): ONEP
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SEA case study: Spatial assessment of 5 Southern coastal provinces (Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Krabi, Phangnga Phuket (2008): ONEP
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Mae Wong dam (2009): Royal Irrigation Department (RID)
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Strategic environmental assessment of the North-South economic corridor strategy and action plan (2009) : ADB
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SEA of hydroelectric dam in the Mekong mainstream (2010): MRC
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SEA of Mekong-Loei-Chi-Mun rivers (2010): RID
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Yom river basin management (2011): RID
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2. Framework of Implemen&ng SEA SEA Reports in Thailand (cont.)
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SEA of potash mine development (2011): Department of Primary Industries and Mines (DPIM)
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Strategic environmental assessment on shrimp farms in the southeast of Thailand (2011): Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA)
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Strategic environmental assessment: case study in development plan in Chanthaburi (2011): SEI-Asia of Thachin river basin for SEA sustainable development of water resource (2012): ONEP SEA of Amphoe Mueang and vicinity of Rayong province (2012): Department of Industrial Works
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SEA of Kong, Chi, Mun watersheds (2013): Department of Water Resources (DWR)
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SEA of special economic zone: Case study Kanchanaburi province (2015): Thesis
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SEA of the vicinity of Suvarnabhum airport (2015); Airports of Thailand Public Company Limited (AOT)
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SEA of management of Andaman coastal area ecosystem (2015): ONEP
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SEA of southern coastal area development (2016): Office of Transport and Traffic policy and Planning (OTP)
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3. Poten&al SEA helps indicate the suitable policy, plan, programme for area based and sectoral based proposals and mega project by analyzing capacity and assessing alternatives. Moreover SEA will facilitate the involvement of the stakeholders generating systematic working environment and decision making process aiming for sustainable development.
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4. Obstacles 1
Lack of data base system and integrated access/networking to available economic, social and environmental data from related agencies
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No screening step of proposals requiring SEA: at present SEA carried out as the recommendation or requirement of NEB or government agencies.
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Correctness of SEA report is doubtful: Consulting companies and academic institutes do not fully understand SEA process.
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No review process: therefore no further actions (of government agencies) after SEA reports are completed. (Some are submitted to NEB for comments only). The results from SEA that should be implemented are not acknowledged.
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No legal framework on SEA has been enforced resulting no responsible government agencies for SEA. 12
5. Next Steps of SEA in Thailand
SEA Study
The Study of SEA (on-going) by NESDB covering; • Case study of SEA of river basin development plan • SEA guideline for river basin development plan • Capacity building for central and local government agencies, state enterprise, civil society, academic institute, NGOs and local people.
National Plan 12th National economic and social development plan (2017-2021) requires SEA as a management tool for sustainable development. 13
5. Next Steps of SEA in Thailand Environment Reform Steering Sub-Commission under National Reform Steering Assembly is working on short-term of Road Map (2016) of SEA system formulation which includes; Identify level and types of development proposals
1 requiring SEA (Screening step).
2 Develop draft of Regulation of the Office of the Prime Minister on SEA and time frame for implementing SEA.
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Organize meetings and hearings of government agencies for implementing SEA. 14
5. Next Steps of SEA in Thailand Even though SEA has started in Thailand since 2003, its implementation needs to be achieved seriously.
SEA Near future – tremendous investment projects in Thailand Ø some are going to affect social, economic, environmental significantly.
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Poten&al, Obstacles and Next steps for Use of SEA in Thailand
Deputy Secretary General
Na&onal Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB) Session 4: SEA process and tools PACT Training Program in SEA in Energy Planning, Bangkok
26 May 2016
