Skip to main content Skip to page footer

Strategic Environmental Assessment in Air Quality Planning in Germany

Ulrike Weiland

elni Review 2019, pp. 10-17. https://doi.org/10.46850/elni.2019.002

Despite successes in immission control, significant increases of limit value transgressions of nitrogen oxides and particulate matter have been observed in Germany in the last years. Health impacts of these pollutants range from impaired respiratory function to increased mortality due to cardiovascular diseases, with high short-term as well as lower long-term exposure both being relevant to health. Air quality planning as sectoral planning for immission control should ensure or at least contribute to improved air quality in developed areas, especially in large cities.
Under certain preconditions, strategic environmental assessments (SEAs) have to be carried out for air quality plans (AQPs). These SEAs should ensure that air quality planning pursues an integrative environmental approach, and that the intended air quality policies do not negatively impact other environmental aspects such as biodiversity, water, landscape, or sites of the NATURA 2000 network. To date, little is known about the requirements and practice of conducting SEAs in air quality planning. 
Because SEAs are integrated in the preparation and updating of AQPs, several issues of air quality planning relevant for SEAs are first presented. Then, hints regarding relevant legal aspects of SEA performance, procedures and methods are given. This contribution presents results of an empirical analysis of roughly one hundred AQPs from 2010 – 2016. Thereafter it is investigated, whether a SEA could have been necessary because of potential significant effects on a NATURA 2000 site. By means of a comparison of legal requirements for the SEA performance with SEA practice, the article appraises to what extent SEA practice in AQP meets these requirements. Finally, conclusions are drawn from the investigation results.

Access full article

References

  1. WHO – World Health Organization (ed.): Review of evidence on health aspects of air pollution – REVIHAAP project (2013).
  2. M. Kohlhuber, T. Schenk, U. Weiland: Verkehrsbezogene Luftschadstoffe und Lärm. In: Bolte et al. (eds.): Umweltgerechtigkeit: Chancengleichheit bei Umwelt und Gesundheit: Konzepte, Datenlage und Handlungsperspektiven. Bern, 87-98 (2012).
  3. Directive 2008/50/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 May 2008 on ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe, OJ 2008 L 152/1.
  4. Gesetz zum Schutz vor schädlichen Umwelteinwirkungen durch Luftverunreinigungen, Geräusche, Erschütterungen und ähnliche Vorgänge, Federal Immission Control Act (Bundes-Immissionsschutzgesetz - BImSchG).
  5. 39th Regulation for Implementing the Federal Immission Control Act (39. Verordnung zur Durchführung des BImSchG – 39. BImSchV).
  6. U. Weiland, U. (2014): Luftreinhalte- und Lärmminderungsplanung im Spiegel der Praxis. UVP-report 28 (3+4), pp. 143-154.
  7. W. Erbguth, S. Schlacke, S. Umweltrecht. (5. Ed., 2014). Baden-Baden.
  8. Environmental Impact Assessment Act, Gesetz über die Umweltverträglichkeitsprüfung – UVPG, 2001.
  9. T. Bunge, U. Nesemann: Das Gesetz zur Einführung einer strategischen Umweltprüfung und zur Umsetzung der EG-Richtlinie 2001/42/EG. In: Storm, P.-Ch.; Bunge, Th. (eds.): Handbuch der Umweltverträglichkeitsprüfung (HdUVP). Vol. 1, key fig. 0507. Berlin (2005).
  10. Court of Justice of the European Union, 2011, Judgment of the Court (Fourth Chamber) of 22 September 2011. Genovaitė Valčiukienė and Others v Pakruojo rajono savivaldybė and Others. Reference for a preliminary ruling: Vyriausiasis administracinis teismas - Lithuania. Directive 2001/42/EC - Assessment of the effects of certain plans and programmes on the environment - Plans which determine the use of small areas at local level - Article 3(3) - Documents relating to land planning at local level relating to only one subject of economic activity - Assessment under Directive 2001/42/EC precluded in national law - Member States’ discretion - Article 3(5) - Link with Directive 85/337/EEC - Article 11(1) and (2) of Directive 2001/42/EC. Case C-295/10.
  11. S. Balla, H.-J. Peters, K. Wulfert: Leitfaden zur Strategischen Umweltprüfung. Research project 206 13 100 on behalf of the Federal Environmental Agency. Dessau-Roßlau. (2010)
  12. T. Bunge: Pflicht zur Strategischen Umweltprüfung bei Luftreinhalte- und Lärmaktionsplänen. UVP-Report 21 (1/2), pp. 103-109 (2007).
  13. R. Therivel, M. Jones, B. Jenkins: Beyond current SEA practice. In: B. Sadler/J. Dusík (eds.): European and International Experiences of Strategic Environmental Assessment – Recent progress and future prospects. London, New York: Earthscan, pp. 303-324 (2016). DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315678450.
  14. Rehhausen et al.: SUP-Qualitätskriterien: Ansprüche an eine Strategische Umweltprüfung. UVP-report 29 (2): pp. 96-103 (2015).
  15. T. Fischer: Linking SEA with other assessment and planning tools. In: B. Sadler, J. Dusík (eds.): European and International Experiences of Strategic Environmental Assessment – Recent progress and future prospects. London, New York: Earthscan. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315678450.
  16. R. Aschemann, G. Baldizzone, C. Rega: Public and stakeholder engagement in strategic environmental assessment. In: Sadler, B.; Dusík, J. (eds.): European and International Experiences of Strategic Environmental Assessment – Recent progress and future prospects. London, New York: Earthscan. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315678450.
  17. Dalal-Clayton, B. Sadler: Strategic Environmental Assessment. A Sourcebook and Reference Guide to International Experience. London, Sterling, VA: Earthscan (2008).
  18. K. Arbter, 2017, Handbuch Strategische Umweltprüfung. Die Umweltprüfung von Politiken, Plänen und Programmen. Eds.: Institute for Technology Assessment of the Austrian Academy of Sciences.
  19. E. Gassner, A. Winkelbrandt, D. Bernotat, D.: UVP und strategische Umweltprüfung. Rechtliche und fachliche Anleitung für die Umweltprüfung. 4th Ed. Heidelberg.
  20. European Commission (ed.): Guidance on Integrating Climate Change and Biodiversity into Strategic Environmental Assessment. (2013).
  21. L. Kørnøv et al.: Integrating climate change in SEA practice. In: B. Sadler, J. Dusík (eds.): European and International Experiences of Strategic Environmental Assessment – Recent progress and future prospects. London, New York: Earthscan (2016). DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315678450.
  22. According to Federal Environmental Agency: List of air quality and actions plans in Germany. (18.4.2017).
  23. U. Weiland: Die strategische Umweltprüfung in der Luftreinhalteplanung. EIA Manual Edition 6/17, no. 5140, Berlin: Erich Schmidt Verlag. (2017).
  24. V. Diegmann, F. Pfäfflin, H. Wursthorn: Bestandsaufnahme und Wirksamkeit von Maßnahmen der Luftreinhaltung. (2014).
  25. Deutscher Bundestag (2017): Gesetzentwurf der Bundesregierung: Entwurf eines Gesetzes zur Modernisierung des Rechts der Umweltverträglichkeitsprüfung. BT-Drucksache 18/11499.