Agenda 21

Agenda 21 sets out a plan of action to guarantee that life in the next millennium will change substantially for the better. It was endorsed by the world's governments at the UN Conference on Environment and Development, in Rio de Janeiro (June 1992).

Alternative

A possible course of action, in place of another that would meet the same purpose and need of the proposal.

Biodiversity

Biological diversity: the variety of life forms, the different plants, animals and micro-organisms, the genes they contain and the eco-systems they form. It is usually considered at three levels: genetic diversity, species diversity and ecosystem diversity.

Biophysical

That part of the environment that does not originate with human activities (e.g. biological, physical and chemical processes).

Consulting

Two way flow of information between the proponent and the stakeholders with opportunities for the stakeholders to express views on the proposals.

Country strategy paper

In order to realise the objectives of sustainable human development for each partner country of the Belgian direct bilateral co-operation, a strategy note is drawn up for each country .

Decision-making

To approve or reject the proposal and to establish the terms and conditions for its implementation.

Decision-maker

The person(s) entrusted with responsibility for allocating resources or granting approval to a proposal.

Environment

Environment means the surroundings within which humans exist and that are made up of –

i. The land, water and atmosphere of the earth;

ii. Micro-organisms, plant and animal life;

iii. Any part or combination of (i) and (ii) and the inter-relationships among and between them; and

iv. The physical, chemical, aesthetic and cultural properties and conditions of the foregoing that influence human health and well-being

Environmental Assessment

The systematic, reproducible and interdisciplinary identification, predication and evaluation, mitigation, management and public debate of a proposed development and its reasonable alternatives.

Environmental Impact

The outcome of an action whether considered desirable or undesirable for the physical environment from the point of view of the protection of human beings, animals, plants, goods, water, soil, air and the relationships among and between them, as well as the conservation of aesthetic, physical and cultural-historic values.

Environmental Impact Assessment

A detailed study and public debate of the environmental consequences of a proposed course of action. An environmental assessment or evaluation is a study of the environmental effects of a decision, project, undertaking or activity.

Impact prediction

Assessment of relevant baseline conditions and trends, some type of systems description of each alternative, and prediction of impacts in the resulting systems based on tools such as checklists, risk assessments, and other means: identification of environmental enhancement and mitigation measures.

Indicator

A parameter, or a value derived from parameters, which points to, provides information about, and describes the state of a phenomenon/environment/area, with a significance extending beyond that directly associated with a parameter value.

Informing

One-way flow of information from the proponent to the stakeholders.

Involvement

A range of techniques that can be used to inform, consult or interact with stakeholders affected by a proposal.

Millennium Development Goals

The Millennium Development Goals are an ambitious agenda for reducing poverty and improving lives that world leaders agreed on at the Millennium Summit in September 2000. For each goal one or more targets have been set, most for 2015, using 1990 as a benchmark.

Monitoring

Activity involving repeated observation, according to a pre-determined schedule, of one or more elements of the environment to detect their characteristics (status and trends).

Multilateral Environmental Agreements

Legally binding instrument the aims of which include environmental protection and which are open to all countries concerned. etc.

Objective

Establishment of environmental (and sustainability) goal, based on national and international policy objectives, that should guide the decision

Parameter

A property that is measured or observed.

Participation

Interactive exchange between the proponent and the public encompassing shared analysis and agenda setting and the development of understood and agreed positions on the proposal and its impact.

Plan

A purposeful, forward-looking strategy or design, often with co-ordinated priorities, options and measures, that elaborates and implements policy.

Policy

A general course of action or proposed overall direction that a government is, or will be, pursuing and which guides ongoing decision-making.

Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers

Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSPs) describe a country's macroeconomic, structural and social policies and programs to promote growth and reduce poverty, as well as associated external financing needs. Governments through a participatory process involving civil society and development partners, including the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, prepare PRSPs.

Programme

A coherent, organised agenda or schedule of commitments, proposals, instruments and/or activities that elaborates and implements policy.

Scenario

Forecasted evolution and trends given certain conditions.

Scoping

To identify the issues and impacts that are likely to be important and to establish terms of reference for SEA.

Screening

To determine whether or not a proposal should be subject to SEA and, if so, at what level of detail.

Stakeholders

Those who may be potentially affected by a proposal, e.g. local people, the proponent, government agencies, NGOs, donors and others.

Strategic Environmental Assessment

A (formal) process of systematic analysis of the environmental and other effects of development policies, plans and programmes and other proposed strategic actions. This process extends the aims and principles of EIA beyond the project level and when major alternatives are still open.

Strategy Paper

In order to realise the objectives of sustainable human development, a strategy paper is drawn up for the five sectors of the Belgian bilateral aid (public health, education and training, agriculture and food security, basic infrastructures, controlling conflicts and peace reconstruction), three transboundary themes (environment, gender en social economy) and each partner country.

Sustainable Development

Development that meets the needs of the present, without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Sustainable development requires the effective integration of the economic, social and environmental dimensions (the three pillars) of development.

Terms of Reference

Written requirements governing (S)EA implementation, how and when involvement will take place, data to be produced and form and content of the (S)EA report. Often produced as an output from scoping. Here resulting in an information notice.

ACP

African Caribbean and Pacific

BOD

Biological Oxygen Demand

BTC

Belgian Technical Co-operation

CFC

Chlorofluorocarbon

DAC

Development Assistance Committee (OECD)

DfID

Department for International Development, United Kingdom

DGDC

Belgian Directorate-General for Development Co-operation

DO

Dissolved Oxygen

EDGAR

Emission database for global atmospheric research

EEA

European Environment Agency

EIA

Environmental Impact Assessment

ESE

Environmental, Social and Economic

EU

European Union

FOD

Federale Overheidsdienst (Federal Public Service)

GDP

Gross Domestic Product

GIS

Geographical Information Systems

IEA

International Energy Agency

IUCN

The World Conservation Union (International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources)

MDG

Millennium Development Goals

MEA

Multilateral Environmental Agreement

N

Nitrogen

NGO

Nongovernmental Organisations

NO_x

Nitrogen Oxides

OECD

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development

P

Phosphor

PRSP

Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper

SADC

Southern African Development Community

SEA

Strategic Environmental Assessment

SEACAM

Secretariat For Eastern African Coastal Area Management

SIDA

Swedish International Development Co-operation Agency

SO_x

Sulphur Oxides

SWOT

Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats

UA

Universiteit Antwerpen (Antwerp University)

UN

United Nations (Organisation)

UNECE

United Nations Economic Commission for Europe

UN-CCD

United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification

UNDP

United Nations Development Programme

UNEP

United Nations Environment Programme

UNFCCC

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

USAID

The United States Agency for International Development

VLIR

Vlaamse Interuniversitaire Raad (Flemish Interuniversity Council)

VOC

Volatile Organic Compound

VUB

Vrije Universiteit Brussel (Free University Brussels)

WCED

World Commission on Environment and Development (Brundtland Commission)

WRI

World Resources Institute

WSSD

World Summit of Sustainable Development (Johannesburg, South Africa 2002)

WWF

World Wide Fund