The Committee of the Verkhovna Rada on Environmental policy, Nature Use and Liquidation of Consequences of Chornobyl disaster issued a positive conclusion on the draft law 2009a “On Environmental Impact Assessment” that introduces an European model of preliminary assessment of environmental impact of various types of activities that cause adverse environmental impact.This draft law was already considered by deputies in the first reading and this time the Committee recommended to adopt it. Importantly, Ukraine has been waiting for this law for over 10 years.
The main idea behind environmental impact assessment is transparent approval by the state of certain types of activities that may have adverse impact on the environment. The authority in charge collects full information on possible impact and has a possibility to take into consideration environmental interests together with economic and social ones.
Thus, the state adopts a balanced and responsible decision with account taken of interests of all stakeholders.
The law creates possibilities for investors to invest funds into various projects without concerns and doubts because the state corrects such projects at the stage of approval and therefore the corruption component is eliminated, which in its turn improves international image of Ukraine and as a consequence investment climate is also improved. Companies entering international markets know about necessity to perform environmental impact assessment. It will significantly simplify the procedure of getting funds for them when such a procedure is launched in Ukraine.
Adoption of the draft law will enable creation of mechanisms for supporting environmental democracy in Ukraine. It will mean that not only developers and officials but also the public will be able to participate in adoption of strategic decisions.
Just to remind, environmental impact assessment (EIA) is a well-known in the world and effective process of assessing impact of future planned activities on the environment, assessment of risks of planned activities. Lack in Ukraine of the institute of environmental impact assessment causes catastrophic, often irreversible, consequences for human lives when investment projects bring profit to narrow circle of businessmen while thousands of Ukrainians suffer. Today the situation in Ukraine can be characterized as life without control when it is not clear what kind of factory is being constructed next to your house, why children get sick, why the level of cancer is the highest in Europe, why the level of mortality is so high while average life expectancy is so short in comparison with Western countries.
The decision of the Committee of the Verkhovna Rada on Environmental policy, Nature Use and Liquidation of Consequences of Chornobyl Disaster regarding the draft law on environmental impact assessment (registration number 2009a) can be reached here:
http://w1.c1.rada.gov.ua/pls/zweb2/webproc4_1?pf3511=55438
Details of the procedure of environmental impact assessment can be received from experts, RPR-Environment group, Bureau of Environmental Investigations, EPL.
Email: office@epl.org.ua
Tel.: +38 (032) 225-76-82, (067) 648 – 07 – 21
www.rpr.org.ua
www.epl.org.ua
