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Activity 3

- Definition of sustainable development

- Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)

- Is EIA always reliable?

Activity 4

- City forum

- Summary

Disneyland development: Benefit or lossDisneyland development: Benefit or loss

Activities 3 and 4

Click the links below to access the slides:

Activity 3:Sustainable development and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)

Sustainable development is a concept adopted for the development of an area in which the needs of environment, social and economic development are carefully balanced, so as to enable both the present and future generations to enjoy a vibrant economy, social progress, as well as a high quality environment.

Does the building of Disneyland abide by

this definition?

What is Environmental

Impact Assessment (EIA)?

Every Development has Environmental Impact

Air quality Noise Water quality Waste management Land contamination Ecology Fishery Visual appearance Cultural heritage Hazards to life

EIA – Helping to Minimize Environmental Impact

Environmental Environmental ImpactImpact

Environmental Environmental ImpactImpact

Important for sustainable development

EIAEIA

predicts or measures the environmental impact identifies ways to minimize impact (e.g. alternative site selection and strategic planning)

In HK, EIA is required by Law

• The Law: Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance (EIAO)

• Designated developmental projects listed in Schedule 2 and 3 of the EIAO should set up an EIA in order to be granted permission to do the project

How does EIA work in Hong Kong?

Environmental Permit

Environmental Permit

No Adverse Impact

Project Profile

Project Profile

PermissionPermission

EIA StudyBrief

EIA StudyBrief

EIA Report

EIA Report

EIA Report

Approved

EIA Report

Approved

Comments from Public &The Advisory Council on the Environment (ACE)

Comments from Public & ACE

EPD EPD EPD

We are involved!!

Ecological knowledge is used in advising society’s decision-making

Ecological knowledge is used in advising society’s decision-making

How can the public find out what developments are

planned?• Media

• EPD website http://www.epd.gov.hk/eia/english/register/index.html

It’s our right and responsibility to It’s our right and responsibility to contribute comments about future contribute comments about future

developments in Hong Kongdevelopments in Hong Kong

Is EIA always reliable?

Extract from the EIA Report (executive summary):

Relative to impacts upon fish culture enterprises, the Ma Wan Fish Culture Zone (FCZ) will probably not be affected by any rise in suspended solids, reductions in dissolved oxygen concentration or raised nutrient levels caused by either construction or operation of the theme park. Projected hydrodynamic changes will not affect the FCZ water quality, since water current speeds will be little affected. Waste water discharges will comply with Water Pollution Control Ordinance standards. Ways to reduce possible effects from the Penney's Bay reclamation have been recommended. These measures, together with monitoring will protect the Ma Wan FCZ.

Homework:Homework:

• Refer to the Ma Wan case • Prepare a group report!

• Topic: Is EIA always reliable?

• You should discuss possible limitations of the EIA to predict environmental impact arising from the development.

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Activity 4:Activity 4:

Discuss with your colleagues and Discuss with your colleagues and prepare well for the City Forum !!!prepare well for the City Forum !!!

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Is Disneyland’s construction the start of a journey to a magic kingdom?

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Summary

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Reflections

How do they interrelate?– Science– Technology– Society– Environment

You can use the issue of the theme park and dioxin to illustrate

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Science(eg. predicting the impact, the study of dioxi

n)

Technology(eg. computer modeling in EIA, machines used to remove dio

xin)

Society(eg. economic benefit of the theme park, health problems due to dioxin)

Environment(eg. prevent pollution caused by the building of the theme park a

nd the leakage of dioxin)

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Science is affected by Science is affected by societysociety

Scientific investigations are affected

by political, commercial and

social pressures.

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Society is affected by Society is affected by sciencescience

The public is influenced by

scientific investigations.

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Our society relies on balanced ecosystems for survival.

We have responsibility for the present and future generations.

Commitment from

to the environment.

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AcknowledgementsChao Yeuk Lan, Crystal

Chow Chi-yui, Shirley