Project descriptionName of the case study Strategic Environmental Assessment in Copenhagen. Description of context The case concerns implementation of the SEA-directive (Strategic Environmental Assessment) (Directive 2001/42/EC, in the municipality. The directive must be applied within each member country by 21 July 2004. Description of project - background Since 2001 the municipality of Copenhagen has worked to implement the SEA-directive. The Copenhagen Environment Protection Agency (a department of the municipal administration) has had the responsibility of implementing SEA in the municipality. In practice this means finding a way of assessing all proposals (laws, policies, plans etc.) from the departments in the municipality, so that the environmental implications are taken into considerations when the committee discuss the proposal. A first version of the SEA procedure was developed by the Forum for Environmental Assessment in the municipality, including representatives from each of the Departments in Copenhagen municipality (Economy, Education and Youth, Health, Family- and Labour, Culture and Leisure, Building and Technique, Environment and Supply).
For approximately 1 year (2001 to 2002) this SEA-procedure was used. In 2002 it was evaluated by external consultants, focusing on the different departments experiences with the SEA-procedure. From this evaluation, the SEA-procedure has been revised, and is now in the process of obtaining political approval and implementation. When the new version of the SEA-procedure has been used for about a year, it will be re-evaluated, this time focusing on the politicians´ views on the output of the procedure.
Description of project - objectives/aims The assessments concern – in principle – all environmental aspects. In practice, 9 environmental themes have been included in the assessment: Resources, waste, air, noise, water (groundwater, sewage, surface-water), soil, green areas, traffic, risk in production, and health Description of project - time interval and stages See information on background and project objectives Description of project - financing The implementation of SEA has not required any financing Description of project - other sectors involved The policy covers all sectors What tools were used to assess sustainability? SEA (Strategic Environmental Assessment) More information
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