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Working Group on EIA and SEA (Espoo Convention), 10th meeting

01 - 03 December 2021
Palais des Nations (Tempus-2 (TPS-3)) Geneva Switzerland

The tenth meeting of the Working Group will be held in a hybrid format. Due to COVID-19-related restrictions, the number of delegates in the meeting room will be limited. Others will be able to participate online. Detailed information on practical matters will be communicated to the focal points and posted on this meeting web page (under the tab “preparatory and practical”). 

 

OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS

Title
English
French
Russian
ECE/MP.EIA/WG.2/2021/1 - Annotated provisional agenda for the tenth meeting  Word
PDF
Word
PDF
Word
PDF
ECE/MP.EIA/WG.2/2021/2 - Report of the Working Group on its tenth meeting (post session)  Word
PDF
Word
PDF
Word
PDF
Item 3      
ECE/MP.EIA/WG.2/2021/3 - Proposed modifications to the questionnaire for the implementation of the Convention in 2019–2021  Word
PDF
Word
PDF
Word
PDF
ECE/MP.EIA/WG.2/2021/4 - Proposed modifications to the questionnaire for the implementation of the Protocol in 2019–2021  Word
PDF
Word
PDF
Word
PDF
Item 4 (a)      
ECE/MP.EIA/WG.2/2021/5 - Identification of synergies and possible cooperation activities in marine regions  Word
PDF
Word
PDF
Word
PDF
Item 4 (b)      
ECE/MP.EIA/WG.2/2020/7 - Draft guidance on assessing health impacts in strategic environmental assessment  Word
PDF
Word
PDF
Word
PDF
See also the following United Nations publications      
Guidance on the applicability of the Convention to the lifetime extension of nuclear power plants, (ECE/MP.EIA/31) PDF PDF PDF
Implementation of the Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context (2016–2018): Sixth Review (ECE/MP.EIA/32) PDF   PDF
Third Review of Implementation of the Protocol on Strategic Environmental Assessment (2016–2018) (ECE/MP.EIA/SEA/14) PDF    
       

BACKGROUND DOCUMENTS

16153 _ ECE/MP.EIA/30–ECE/MP.EIA/SEA/13 - Report of the eighth and the fourth sessions of the Meetings of the Parties to the Convention and the Protocol _ 359299 _ English _ 773 _ 333973 _ docx
16153 _ ECE/MP.EIA/30–ECE/MP.EIA/SEA/13 - Report of the eighth and the fourth sessions of the Meetings of the Parties to the Convention and the Protocol _ 359299 _ English _ 773 _ 333974 _ pdf
16153 _ ECE/MP.EIA/30–ECE/MP.EIA/SEA/13 - Report of the eighth and the fourth sessions of the Meetings of the Parties to the Convention and the Protocol _ 359299 _ French _ 780 _ 333975 _ docx
16153 _ ECE/MP.EIA/30–ECE/MP.EIA/SEA/13 - Report of the eighth and the fourth sessions of the Meetings of the Parties to the Convention and the Protocol _ 359299 _ French _ 780 _ 333976 _ pdf
16153 _ ECE/MP.EIA/30–ECE/MP.EIA/SEA/13 - Report of the eighth and the fourth sessions of the Meetings of the Parties to the Convention and the Protocol _ 359299 _ Russian _ 864 _ 333977 _ docx
16153 _ ECE/MP.EIA/30–ECE/MP.EIA/SEA/13 - Report of the eighth and the fourth sessions of the Meetings of the Parties to the Convention and the Protocol _ 359299 _ Russian _ 864 _ 333978 _ pdf
16153 _ ECE/MP.EIA/30/Add.1-ECE/MP.EIA/SEA/13/Add.1 - Decisions and the Declaration adopted jointly by the Meetings of the Parties to the Convention and the Protocol _ 359301 _ English _ 773 _ 333980 _ docx
16153 _ ECE/MP.EIA/30/Add.1-ECE/MP.EIA/SEA/13/Add.1 - Decisions and the Declaration adopted jointly by the Meetings of the Parties to the Convention and the Protocol _ 359301 _ English _ 773 _ 333981 _ pdf
16153 _ ECE/MP.EIA/30/Add.1-ECE/MP.EIA/SEA/13/Add.1 - Decisions and the Declaration adopted jointly by the Meetings of the Parties to the Convention and the Protocol _ 359301 _ French _ 780 _ 333982 _ docx
16153 _ ECE/MP.EIA/30/Add.1-ECE/MP.EIA/SEA/13/Add.1 - Decisions and the Declaration adopted jointly by the Meetings of the Parties to the Convention and the Protocol _ 359301 _ French _ 780 _ 333983 _ pdf
16153 _ ECE/MP.EIA/30/Add.1-ECE/MP.EIA/SEA/13/Add.1 - Decisions and the Declaration adopted jointly by the Meetings of the Parties to the Convention and the Protocol _ 359301 _ Russian _ 864 _ 333984 _ docx
16153 _ ECE/MP.EIA/30/Add.1-ECE/MP.EIA/SEA/13/Add.1 - Decisions and the Declaration adopted jointly by the Meetings of the Parties to the Convention and the Protocol _ 359301 _ Russian _ 864 _ 333985 _ pdf
16153 _ ECE/MP.EIA/30/Add.2-ECE/MP.EIA/SEA/13/Add.2 - Decisions by the Meeting of the Parties to the Convention _ 359302 _ English _ 773 _ 333986 _ docx
16153 _ ECE/MP.EIA/30/Add.2-ECE/MP.EIA/SEA/13/Add.2 - Decisions by the Meeting of the Parties to the Convention _ 359302 _ English _ 773 _ 333987 _ pdf
16153 _ ECE/MP.EIA/30/Add.2-ECE/MP.EIA/SEA/13/Add.2 - Decisions by the Meeting of the Parties to the Convention _ 359302 _ French _ 780 _ 333988 _ docx
16153 _ ECE/MP.EIA/30/Add.2-ECE/MP.EIA/SEA/13/Add.2 - Decisions by the Meeting of the Parties to the Convention _ 359302 _ French _ 780 _ 333989 _ pdf
16153 _ ECE/MP.EIA/30/Add.2-ECE/MP.EIA/SEA/13/Add.2 - Decisions by the Meeting of the Parties to the Convention _ 359302 _ Russian _ 864 _ 333990 _ docx
16153 _ ECE/MP.EIA/30/Add.2-ECE/MP.EIA/SEA/13/Add.2 - Decisions by the Meeting of the Parties to the Convention _ 359302 _ Russian _ 864 _ 333991 _ pdf
16153 _ ECE/MP.EIA/30/Add.3-ECE/MP.EIA/SEA/13/Add.3 - Decisions by the Meeting of the Parties to the Protocol _ 359303 _ English _ 773 _ 333992 _ docx
16153 _ ECE/MP.EIA/30/Add.3-ECE/MP.EIA/SEA/13/Add.3 - Decisions by the Meeting of the Parties to the Protocol _ 359303 _ English _ 773 _ 333993 _ pdf
16153 _ ECE/MP.EIA/30/Add.3-ECE/MP.EIA/SEA/13/Add.3 - Decisions by the Meeting of the Parties to the Protocol _ 359303 _ French _ 780 _ 333994 _ docx
16153 _ ECE/MP.EIA/30/Add.3-ECE/MP.EIA/SEA/13/Add.3 - Decisions by the Meeting of the Parties to the Protocol _ 359303 _ French _ 780 _ 333995 _ pdf
16153 _ ECE/MP.EIA/30/Add.3-ECE/MP.EIA/SEA/13/Add.3 - Decisions by the Meeting of the Parties to the Protocol _ 359303 _ Russian _ 864 _ 333996 _ docx
16153 _ ECE/MP.EIA/30/Add.3-ECE/MP.EIA/SEA/13/Add.3 - Decisions by the Meeting of the Parties to the Protocol _ 359303 _ Russian _ 864 _ 333997 _ pdf
16153 _ ECE/MP.EIA/IC/2021/4 - Report of the Implementation Committee on its fiftieth session _ 361079 _ English _ 773 _ 339070 _ pdf
16153 _ ECE/MP.EIA/IC/2021/4 - Report of the Implementation Committee on its fiftieth session _ 361079 _ French _ 780 _ 339069 _ pdf
16153 _ ECE/MP.EIA/IC/2021/4 - Report of the Implementation Committee on its fiftieth session _ 361079 _ Russian _ 864 _ 339068 _ pdf
16153 _ ECE/MP.EIA/IC/2021/4 - Report of the Implementation Committee on its fiftieth session _ 361079 _ English _ 773 _ 339076 _ docx
16153 _ ECE/MP.EIA/IC/2021/4 - Report of the Implementation Committee on its fiftieth session _ 361079 _ French _ 780 _ 339075 _ docx
16153 _ ECE/MP.EIA/IC/2021/4 - Report of the Implementation Committee on its fiftieth session _ 361079 _ Russian _ 864 _ 339074 _ docx
16153 _ ECE/MP.EIA/IC/2021/6 - Report of the Implementation Committee on its fifty-first session _ 361557 _ English _ 773 _ 346446 _ pdf
16153 _ ECE/MP.EIA/IC/2021/6 - Report of the Implementation Committee on its fifty-first session _ 361557 _ French _ 780 _ 346447 _ pdf
16153 _ ECE/MP.EIA/IC/2021/6 - Report of the Implementation Committee on its fifty-first session _ 361557 _ Russian _ 864 _ 346448 _ pdf
16153 _ ECE/MP.EIA/IC/2021/6 - Report of the Implementation Committee on its fifty-first session _ 361557 _ English _ 773 _ 346451 _ docx
16153 _ ECE/MP.EIA/IC/2021/6 - Report of the Implementation Committee on its fifty-first session _ 361557 _ French _ 780 _ 346450 _ docx
16153 _ ECE/MP.EIA/IC/2021/6 - Report of the Implementation Committee on its fifty-first session _ 361557 _ Russian _ 864 _ 346449 _ docx

INFORMAL DOCUMENTS

Title
English
French
Russian
ECE/MP.EIA/WG.2/2021/INF.1 - Informal notes on the agenda Word
PDF
   
Item 2      
ECE/MP.EIA/WG.2/2021/INF.2 - Status of ratification of the Convention, its amendments and its Protocol Word
PDF
   
Items 3–7      
ECE/MP.EIA/WG.2/2021/INF.3 - Workplan implementation status Word
PDF
   
Item 3      
ECE/MP.EIA/WG.2/2021/INF.4 - Timetable for the preparation of the draft reviews of implementation Word
PDF
   
ECE/MP.EIA/WG.2/2021/INF.5 - Reporting template for the European Union for the implementation of the Convention Word
PDF
   
ECE/MP.EIA/WG.2/2021/INF.6 - Reporting template for the European Union for the implementation of the Protocol Word
PDF
   
Item 4 (a)      
ECE/MP.EIA/WG.2/2021/INF.7 - Update on the implementation of the activity on cooperation in marine regions  Word
PDF
   
Item 4 (b)      

Additional information of relevance to the draft health guidance :

Learning from practice: case studies of health in Strategic Environmental Assessment and Environmental Impact Assessment across the WHO European Region
-  Executive summary of a forthcoming WHO publication (expected for November/December 2021)

 

PDF

   
Item 5      
ECE/MP.EIA/WG.2/2021/INF.8 - Draft programme for the seminar on sustainable infrastructure Word
PDF
   
Item 6      
ECE/MP.EIA/WG.2/2021/INF.9 - Status of the Trust Fund: contributions and expenditures PDF    
ECE/MP.EIA/WG.2/2021/INF.10 - Bureau’s proposals on financial arrangements Word
PDF
   
ECE/MP.EIA/WG.2/2021/INF.11 - Consideration of in-kind contributions Word
PDF
   
Item 7      
Note on procedural matters of relevance to meetings with remote participation due to extraordinary circumstances (of 27 November 2020) Word
PDF
   

PRESENTATIONS AND STATEMENTS

PRESENTATIONS AND STATEMENTS ENG
   
   
Agenda item 3. Compliance and implementation  
Information by the Implementation Committee Chair
Joe Ducomble, Chair
PDF
Agenda item 4 (a) Subregional coorperation: Marine regions  
Statement by Christiana Mauro, on behalf of Nuclear Transparency Watch PDF
Agenda item 5. Seminar on sustainable infrastructure
Thursday, 2 December 2021 (10:00 - 17:00)
 
Programme PDF
2. Why does sustainable infrastructure matter - and why are strategic environmental assessment and transboundary environment impact assessment key tools for promoting it?
“Greening the economy in the pan-European region: working towards sustainable infrastructure”: Thematic session at the Ninth Environment for Europe Ministerial Conference (Nicosia, 5–7 October 2022) and the possibilities to contribute to it
Zaal Lomtadze, Secretary to the Committee on Environmental Policy, UNECE
PDF
“International Good Practice Principles for Sustainable Infrastructure” 
Rowan Palmer, United Nations Environmental Programme
PDF
The role of impact assessment in inclusive infrastructure development and green recovery from COVID-19
Maria Partidario, International Association for Impact Assessment
PDF
Transparency and public participation as key elements of sustainable infrastructure: Takeaways from the latest sessions of the Meetings of the Parties to the Aarhus Convention and its Protocol on Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers 
Ella Behlyarova, Secretary to the Aarhus Convention and its Protocol, UNECE
PDF
   
3. Infrastructure development in Central Asia: Opportunities and risks for sustainability 
Greening the “Belt and Road” and other major infrastructure development plans and projects in Central and Eastern Asia
Otto Simonett, Zoi Environment Network 
PDF
Summary of progress and needs regarding SEA and transboundary EIA: Outcomes of the joint OSCE/UNECE activities 
Christian Melis, OSCE and Elena Santer UNECE
PDF
Plans to implement SEA and transboundary EIA to infrastructure development in Uzbekistan 
Anastasia Saidmakhmudova, Center of Ecological Expertise, Uzbekistan 
PDF
   
4. Assessing infrastructure plans and projects: good practice, lessons learned, expected benefits
Wind farm: transboundary EIA procedure
Mari Lise Sjong, Norwegian Environment Agency 
PDF
Baltic Pipe transboundary EIA procedure  
Marta Truszewska, General Directorate for Environmental Protection, Poland
PDF
SEA of a planned draft hydrogen strategy
Roman Shakhmatenko, Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources, Ukraine 
PDF
Assessing health impact to support sustainable infrastructure: the cases of waste and seaports
Sinaia Netanyahu, WHO Environment and Health Impact Assessment
PDF
   
5. Financial levers for sustainable infrastructure
Investing in sustainable infrastructure: key trends and challenges from the EU bank’s perspective
Zuzana Kaparova, European Investment Bank
PDF
Taxonomies of sustainable investments and EIA and SEA processes
Jiří Dusík, Integra consulting, in cooperation with Nenad Mikulić
PDF
   

COMMENTS TO DOCUMENTS

Official documents  
Draft guidance on assessing health impacts in strategic environmental assessment (ECE/MP.EIA/WG.2/2020/7)
Comments by WHO (1 Ocotber 2021)
Word

PREPARATORY AND PRACTICAL INFORMATION

REGISTRATION

Registration is open and all participants need to register online by 10 September 2021, using the following link: https://indico.un.org/event/34758/ .

      Step 1: Create an account in Indico (tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GeZuft5xQ4U) Once you have created your account, you can register for the event.

      Step 2: Register for the meeting in Indico (tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WaEj3hShn6U) Please indicate whether you intend to participate remotely or in-person.

  Participation in the meeting is subject to the approval of the registration by the Secretariat.

INFORMATION FOR IN-PERSON PARTICIPATION

Travel restriction due to COVID-19 situation

Travel restrictions put in place to address the spread of the coronavirus are subject to change, and we recommend to confirm directly with Swiss authorities for the most current information (please visit the website of the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health).

Please visit the Swiss Government Travel Check Website to verify which entry requirements apply to your entry to Switzerland: https://travelcheck.admin.ch/home.

Please do not make travel arrangements before your participation is approved.

Obtaining a visa

Participants requiring entry visas to Switzerland should initiate visa procedures at least five weeks before the meeting. The Secretariat will provide participants with an invitation letter, which should be used to apply for a visa at the nearest consular office of Switzerland. For requesting visa letters, please contact the Secretariat as early as possible (focal Point: Ms. Maricar Dela Cruz, [email protected] ).

Accommodations in Geneva

There are many hotel options nearby the Palais des Nations, and we advise delegates to book their accommodation in Geneva as soon as possible. We do not make hotel reservations for participants. Please find a list of hotels offering preferential rates here

Getting to Palais des Nations

Enter the Palais des Nations through the Visitor's entrance at Pregny Gate, on avenue de la Paix, in front of the International Committee of the Red Cross building.

Public transport:

Transports Publics Genevois

 Palais des Nations transit stops are Appia and Nations.

 Access from Cornavin railway station:

- Bus lines : 8, F, V, Z (“Appia” stop)
- Tramway 15 (“Nations” stop), then a 5 minutes’ walk to Pregny Gate

 Access from Cointrin airport:
- Bus lines: 28 (“Appia” stop) or 5 (“Nations” stop) then a 5 minutes’ walk to Pregny Gate.

- Other bus lines with stop at “Nations”: 11 and 22.

A free ticket for Geneva public transportation (train & bus) is available for all arriving passengers and can be obtained at the baggage area of the International Airport (before exiting customs). The ticket is valid on any bus or train in Geneva for 80 minutes for all passengers carrying a valid plane ticket.

Taxis

 A taxi stand is located on Route de Pregny, approximately 25 meters from the Pregny Gate, in the direction of Place des Nations. Taxis are usually available around the clock. The direct telephone number is: +41 22 331 41 33.

Security Pass and Identification Office hours

In order to collect the accreditation badge and enter the Palais des Nations, please go to Palais des Nations - Pregny Gate and provide a copy of the registration confirmation (printed or on mobile device) and a valid ID (passport or ID card). Please allow approximately 40 minutes to obtain your UN Entrance Badge and reach the meeting room.

Pass and Identification Unit

Operating hours: Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.

Pregny Gate, Building F

8 - 14 avenue de la Paix
1211 Geneva 10

Tel: +41 (0) 22 917 50 02
Fax: + 41 (0) 22 917 04 94
Email: [email protected]

Meeting room

The meeting will be held at the Palais des Nations (Avenue de la Paix 14, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland) in room "Tempus 2" (TPS 2) (Temporary infrastructure for conferences, located next to the flags by the Place des Nations entrance gate). First time access via Pregny Gate (subject to change please check the website closer to the date of the meeting). A map of the Palais des Nations is available here: https://www.ungeneva.org/en/about/map

COVID-19 restrictions in the conference room

The number of participants will be limited in the conference room, ensuring 1.5m distance between participants. Participants are required to wear a mask in conference rooms and in all common areas e.g. meeting rooms, hallways, and shared facilities. Exception to mask wearing applies to the main speakers/ panellists at the event, while addressing the audience. Measures are subject to change.

Public WIFI

Public WIFI is available on the premise of the Palais des Nations.

Restaurants and Bars inside the Palais opening hours

Serpent Bar
E building Level 1
Open M-F / 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Pasta Corner
E building Level 1
Open M-F / 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Grab ‘N’ Go
H Building Level 1
Open M-F / 24 hours

Press Bar / Salon Suisse / Bar/Snack Palette / Cafeteria / Delegates Restaurant

Currently closed

INFORMATION FOR VIRTUAL PARTICIPATION

Connection 

If you wish to participate virtually, please register using the registration link https://indico.un.org/event/34758/.

The connection details and further guidance on how to use the virtual platform will be shared a few days ahead of the meeting.

Online platform “INTERPREFY”: Guidance & instructions

To avoid/minimize technical problems during the meeting, please familiarize yourself with the below Interprefy user guidance ahead of the meeting and test your equipment.

Interprefy user guide:  ENG FRE RUS

Interprefy Connect Pro (Classroom): ENG

1.  You will need a PC/Mac connected to the Internet with a Google Chrome/Edge/Mozilla Firefox browser installed and a HEADSET with a microphone connected to it.
(Mobile phones/i-pads will NOT work. Please do NOT use your computer’s built in microphone)

2.   The Internet should be not less than 4-6 mbps up/down (you may check here http://interprefy.speedtestcustom.com /).

In case of any issues, please conduct the following test: https://interpret.world/test   

If you see in test results that your browser cannot get access to the audio device and the camera, please check the following guide: https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/2693767?hl=en

3.    Copy the meeting link that the secretariat will send you in your Chrome (or Firefox) browser

4.     Log in by entering first the name of YOUR COUNTRY_followed by your full name and press Submit. (Please do NOT check the “I am the host” box.) 
        
Participants are strongly encouraged to log in at least 30 minutes before the start of each session for test calls.

5.     When logged in, in the pop-up window, please choose:   

        (a).  Your preferred interpretation language (English, French or Russian – To hear the floor language select “none”)

        (b).  The audio and video device that you will be using.

Technical requirements 

A strong and stable Internet connection, e.g. via Ethernet (LAN) cable, is necessary to attend the meeting remotely. Audio and video connections as well as any equipment should be tested in advance of the meeting, and a USB headset with microphone is strongly recommended.