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Project Summary Project Description Application of Tools Opinion of Tools Decision making process Contact Details

Project description

Name of the case study
Procedure for Environmental Assessment of local regulation in Copenhagen

Description of context
The case describes the implementation of a procedure for Environmental Assessment of local regulation in the municipality of Copenhagen, and the hitherto experiences from using the procedure. The aim of the procedure is to make decision-makers (politicians) more aware of environmental implications of political decisions, which makes it a relevant study for PETUS.

Description of project - background
The city council in Copenhagen (Borgerrepræsentationen) has some years ago decided that all proposals from the departments to the politicians in the city council should be assessed for its environmental impacts. The types of proposals or recommendations typically include plans or strategies, projects, new or changed operation conditions, new collaboration agreements, and financial grants. The Copenhagen EPA has had the responsibility of implementing this procedure. A first version of the procedure was developed by the Forum for Environmental Assessment in the municipality, which includes representatives from each of the Departments in Copenhagen municipality (Economy, Education and Youth, Health, Family- and Labor, Culture and Leisure, Building and Technique, Environment and Supply).

This procedure was used from 2001 to 2002. In 2002 it was evaluated by external consultants, focusing on the different departments’ experiences with the procedure. From this evaluation, the procedure has been revised, and is now in the process of politically approval and implementation. In 2006 it will be evaluated again, this time focusing on the politicians’ views on the procedure.

Description of project - objectives/aims
The general purpose of the assessment procedure is:
1. to ensure that an environmental impact assessment is made for all relevant proposals to the City Council
2. that the politicians will be aware about the environmental impacts of the proposals, and how it relates to the environmental goals that they have defined earlier
3. that this will make politicians raise questions to the departments that forwards the projects and proposals, so that the environmental performance will become better.

The checklist to support the assessment operates with 13 environmental themes: Water/sewage, energy, waste, soil, noise, air pollution, transport, Agenda 21, embedment of environmental policy, operation of Municipal institutions, enterprises, buildings, and infrastructure provision. For each theme, the environmental goals defined in previously accepted plans and policies are summarized, with references to the documents where the goals are defined.

Description of project - time interval and stages
The process started in 2001, and is expected to become permanently integrated in the municipal administration

Description of project - financing
There is no extra financing involved.

Description of project - other sectors involved
The main actors involved are:
- The Copenhagen EPA
- The Departments in the Municipality
- Politicians in the City Council
(Borgerrepræsentationen)

As a preparation for the process, all environmental goals in the Municipality (app. 160 goals) were collected, and outlined for each sector. These goals are included in the assessment that the departments prepare for the politicians. They should remind the politicians about the goals they have decided, and make them aware how their decisions will influence these goals.

What tools were used to assess sustainability?

Procedure for Environmental Assessment of local regulation in Copenhagen

More information

Click here for a full description (pdf)