8015. Cooperation on Administration and Methodology for SEA - China

This project was a continuation of an exchange between the Netherlands and China on the topic of Strategic Environmental Assessment which was started in 2011. The project falls under a Memorandum of Understanding (Mou) between the Dutch Ministry for Infrastructure and Environment (I&M) and the Chinese Ministry for Environmental Protection (MEP). The exchange activities under this project ran from July 2014 until the end of 2015. Within that time each country hosted one delegation from the other country. The programmes of the two working-visits were designed around the themes of SEA for delta planning, SEA for urban planning and (public) participation.

Significant details

During the first exchange visit, in December 2014, a programme of exchange activities was organised in Beijing, to coincide with the visit of (then) Vice Minister of I&M Siebe Riedstra. Representatives from the Delta Commissioner staff and the NCEA, travelled to Beijing. A 2-day workshop was held in on SEA for urban planning and for water management. The workshop was attended by approximately 20 people, from MEP and ACEE, as well as the key research institutes on SEA in China.

On the 4th of December a book launch was organized to formally present the joint publication on SEA effectiveness that was developed in the previous SEA exchange project. The book is titled: “Strategic Environmental Assessment Effectiveness; Learning from Experience in China and the Netherlands”. The book was presented by Mr Siebe Riedstra, and Mr Cheng Lifeng, DG, Department of Environmental Impact Assessment, of MEP. The PDF can be viewed here.

The second exchange visit took place in September 2015 when a Chinese delegation visited the Netherlands. In keeping with the priorities in the SEA annex to the MoU, and the exchange that had taken place the December before, the programme focused on SEA for urban spatial planning and water planning. The Ministry of I&M, the NCEA, PBL, the Delta Commission staff, the Netherlands School for Public Administration, the city council of The Hague, and the European Commission all contributed to the programme.

Parties involved

Members of the working group

Technical secretary: Bobbi Schijf

Further details

Country: Asia; China

Last modified: 03 Mar 2021