ENVIRONMENTAL CHARTERS, ANNEX 1
  Annex 1 - Illustrative Paper

Topics for consideration by environment committees as components of environmental action strategies.

Note: The circumstances of each OT vary considerably from those with no resident population (eg. SGSSI), very small populations (eg. Pitcairn) to those with bigger populations and a wider range of local resources and skills. Some already have groupings that bring together a variety of stakeholders in the main local environmental issues. It is for each territory to establish/develop the most suitable framework to develop action plans that link the shared principles of the OTs Environment Charter to the needs of each territory. The headings just suggest some areas which each territory may wish to consider - some may be clearly applicable or more important in some territories than in others.
 

ISSUE SPECIFIC EXAMPLES

1.) Environment/Development Interface

  • Sustainable development strategies
  • Participatory approaches to environmental and conservation management
  • Ensuring environmental planning and management do not disadvantage the poor
  • Promotion of sustainable livelihoods
  • Rio Declaration and International Development Targets
  • Agenda 21 groups
  • Consideration of the built environment

2.) Habitat & Species Conservation/Restoration; Invasive Species

  • Establishment of baseline information
  • Documentation of local ecosystems, fauna & flora
  • Priorities -working from baseline information
  • Significance for local livelihoods, including tourism
  • Key institutions, people and external linkages
  • Action planning - implementation of plans, setting targets
  • Priorities for monitoring, reporting, disseminating and applying knowledge

3.) Pollution

  • A mechanism for monitoring pollution
  • Awareness of international (and regional) pollution agreements and standards

4.) Energy and Technology Issues

  • Sustainable energy policies - eg. transport, renewable energy sources, energy conservation
  • Appropriate new green technologies - UK help with technology transfer
5.) Natural Disasters
  • Inclusion of hazard management within development planning
  • Vulnerability assessments for habitats and species
  • Precautionary measures
  • Slow onset disasters (degradation of habitats, climate change)
 

EXAMPLES OF RESPONSE MECHANISMS

1.) Local Legislation

  • Local implementation of Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs)
  • Regional agreements/co-operation
  • Identification & examination of key items of legislation (eg. Planning permission, Designation of protected areas or species, Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs), Control of pollution, Regulation of natural resources based industries: fisheries, forestry, agriculture, tourism)
  • Effectiveness of implementation - support of local community
  • Scope for adopting ideas from other OTs, other countries/territories in the region and the UK.

2.) Environmental Impact Assessments

  • Capacity building for EIA production
  • Early identification of stakeholders
  • Environmental Assessment in planning procedures: Strategic Environmental Assessment and National Physical Plans

3.) Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs)

  • Effectiveness of implementation of those MEAs already extended
  • Costs and benefits of extending other MEAs
  • Reporting and requirements
  • Dissemination of information about MEAs & their relevance
  • Support needed from UK Departments, Government Agencies and NGOs on international MEA conferences of parties, regional meetings & new negotiations
  • Use of international secretariat, UK government and agency, & NGO websites
  • Possible contribution to global/regional benefits of MEAs - eg. sharing best practice, being host for workshops and research projects of more than purely local significance
4.) Funding for Environmental Work
  • Budgetary and staffing provisions
  • Environmental taxes
  • Identification of potential sources of funding for environmental projects
  • Identification of projects and prioritisation
  • Preparation of applications to funding sources
  • Monitoring of progress towards outcomes of funded projects
  • Reviewing programme and priorities
  • Publicising results locally and wider (in concert with funding agencies)

5.) Education and Youth Activities; Media and Public Attitudes

  • Disseminating the guiding principles contained within the charter.
  • Environmental education programmes in schools
  • Information on websites in the territory and links to regional, UK and international websites
  • Media strategies
  • Conservation volunteer schemes
  • Procedures for public inquiries on major developments

6.) Regional and International Links

  • Networking with other OTs
  • Environmental links to other small island states, territories and communities
  • Links to residents and friends of the territory in the UK and elsewhere (also as source of funds, tourists, expertise)