Historically, politically skewed development – focus on growth and poverty alleviation

1. SUPPORTING SOUTH AFRICA’S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THROUGH THE EVALUATION & IMPROVEMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT TOOLSBrent Johnson & Doug Trotter, CSIR South Africa

2. Historically, politically skewed development – focus on growth and poverty alleviation • Critical drivers of Sustainable Development in South Africa • Labour-absorbing economic activities; • Improved environmental conditions; • Government strategic initiatives, policy and programmes (e.g. Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative for South Africa (Asgi-SA); • Focus on increasing infrastructure development and private sector investment; • The duration it takes for environmental assessment and respective authorisation decisions is seen as a constraining variable (state of nation speech 2006); • Frustration and concern regarding the level of assessment and decision making;

3. The CSIR Mandate “The objects of the CSIR are, through directed and particularly multidisciplinary research and technological innovation, to foster, in the national interest and in fields which in its opinion should receive preference, industrial and scientific development, either by itself or in co-operation with principals from the private or public sectors and thereby to contribute to the improvement of the quality of life of the people of the Republic, and to perform any other functions that may be assigned to the CSIR by or under this Act.” (Scientific Research Council Act 46 of 1988, amended by Act 71 of 1990)

4. Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) • Multi-disciplinary research and technological innovation, to foster, in the national interest industrial and scientific development… • Since early 1990’s involved in large EIA’s in South Africa and Africa; • Building EA practice: training and professional development; • Strong involvement in IAIA (SA) and International; • Authoring best practice guidelines in collaboration with the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism; • Research into the advanced EA tools - development and testing of methods, such as Strategic Environmental Assessment, cumulative effects assessment and sustainability analysis; • Critical research role in addressing aforementioned EA concerns and perceived constraints

5. DEAT (Dept. of Environmental Affairs & Tourism) Promulgation and implementation of EIA Regulations more suitable to the SA context Building and maintaining adequate capacity in environmental authorities to ensure efficient and effective implementation/administration of the EIA system; Establishing a registration authority for EAPs (improved quality of information, accountability, code of conduct, etc.) Development of a comprehensive Environmental Impact Management strategy and action plan. IAIA (South Africa) University of the North West Existing & parallel initiatives - Synergies • Urgent / short term review of the 2006 EIA Regulations • Review of efficiency and effectiveness of the EIA system (since 1997) • Environmental Impact Management strategy and action plan

6. CSIR EA Research Programme Development • Understanding what is being called for; • Identifying the key perceived problems with EA in South Africa; • Formulation of research questions; • Development of collaborations/partnerships and initiation of research programme.

7. Understanding what is being called for (cont.) Brief History or EA development 2007 2000 1990 Global perspective of environmental assessment Equator principles Shift in thinking: resources for the people Rio summit Recognition of systemic linkages Socio-ecological resilience Global studies on complex systems and inter-connectivity Progressively higher level of planning e.g. SEA Millennium Ecosystem Assessment Environmental assessment in South Africa SA new constitution National Environmental Management Act (1998) ECA (1989) NEMA, EIA regulations (2006) EEU’s series and guidelines ECA EIA regulations (1997) World Summit on Sustainable Development Beginnings of Environmental conservation act (ECA) in early 1980’s Updated Integrated Environmental Management Series Concept of Integrated Environmental Management

8. Research needs to address the gap Desired performance gradient • Improved understanding of potential impacts • Facilitate improved efficacy and quality of decision making • Reduce the total time spent on EA Understanding of environment Increasing Scale of IEM Tools SEA Plans Current performance gradient of IEM tools Existing EIA Tool Duration of study The present status quo

9. Articulating the problem • Workshops • 2 convened • Professional opinion & experience • Information in public domain/opinion • Forums such as IAIA • Direct consultation • Circulation of draft research programme • Ongoing…

10. EIA is practiced in isolation. “Silo” thinking from all stakeholders (government / business etc). Authorities also have variable natural resource baseline information. Policy decisions made without environmental considerations. As such, EIA either follows policy blindly or unsuccessfully tries to “fix” / challenge policy. Lack of understanding of resilience (death by a thousand cuts). There are no boundaries / limits in most domains. Impact significance ratings are often weak, unsubstantiated, variable and flawed and don’t recognize different stakeholder values. Lessons lost: we are not sharing and reinforcing learning from past experience. Lack of agreed purpose of EIA leads to highly variable quality, approach, and content of EIA documents. What are the current problems in the field of environmental assessment and management in South Africa Lack of capacity and skills (quality) in all areas of the EA&M field. EIA used as the only tool. There is too much dependence on the EIA tool and not enough use of higher planning level tools. Lack of clear objectives for sustainable development that society needs or wants to attain. Too many EIA’s. Lack of high level planning frameworks which can set limits and inform the need for EIA. EIA is being done for compliance reasons (mechanistic approach). Proponents not seeing / seeking added value and has negative image of EIA. Lack of focus on key issues and questions. Over emphasis on Scientific methodology in contexts which are complex with different communication forms and different world views and values??? We don’t understand “uncertainty & complexity” and how to incorporate it into impact predictions. Current thinking is reactive not proactive.

11. Research Directions? Research needs to assist in understanding and alleviating three key constraints: • Lack of Stakeholder, Public and Authority common understanding and communication; • Over use of the EIA tool and neglect of other IEM tools to assist in reducing the number of EIAs required; • Technical improvements to the IEM tool set to move from “decision aiding” tools to “decision making”.

12. Approach to formulating relevant research questions • Reflect on Intl. perspectives (IAIA Seoul) • Identify underlying theoretical constraints; • Understand the effects and consequences; • Align questions with CSIR mandate, and national environmental management act principles; • Align questions with other national and international initiatives; • Establishment of collaborative research links;

13. Outputs • Publications; • Research needs to be conducted in close contact with stakeholders and authorities in order to ensure adoption of results; • Guideline documents are not as frequently used as one would hope; • Need to come up with innovative ways of communicating the results of research findings – website, multimedia…

14. Way forward • External involvement/input/comment • Consolidation of inputs • Further constitution of project team; collaborations • Completion of draft RP end June 2007 • Specific and focused RQ • Testing, execution • Funding cycle Jan/Feb 2008 • Continuation thereafter? Other funding sources positive • 3-5 yr plan

15. Keeping in touch/More information… Doug Trotter (primary contact) dtrotter@csir.co.za Brent Johnson bjohnson@csir.co.za