Many of the contributions at the conference dealt with the effectiveness of impact assessment (IA) i.e. the impact and value added that impact assessment has on the design and decision-making of projects, plans, programmes and policies in order to improve e.g. the environmental considerations. The results are however in many cases discouraging, though we also find clear cases where the implementa-tion of IA does make a difference. The Nordic countries in general seem to have the same problems with implementing IA as those in other parts of the world. This was a conclusion made by the invited
speaker Barry Sadler (Canada) at the Nordic Day that preceded the IAIA-conference. A positive difference here is the high level of integration of impact assessment with planning that takes place in the Nordic countries. On the negative side, Sadler pointed to the mechanisms for the selection of actions that need to undergo full IA. The Nordic IA Day, organized by Nordregio in co-operation with a Nordic planning group, gathered around 80 participants from different parts of the globe.
At the same time as we are re-evaluating the possible and actual impact of IA, tremendous developments have occurred in the spread of IA into new fields and into new forms such as Health Impact Assessment and Sustainability Impact Assessment. Expectations over the power of IA to promote environmental considerations in decision-making moreover remain high, though reports of its short-comings are increasing. Improve-ments in the mechanics of IA is not an interesting subject of discussion in itself, but in relation to how it can improve the environmental, social and equity considerations in
projects, plans, programmes and policies, both in the Nordic countries and in other parts of the world, it is vital.
The conference theme, 'Power, poverty, and sustainability – the role of impact assessment' attracted around 800 participants from 92 countries. Plenary presentations and 16 thematic forums (larger parallel sessions) and 109 parallel sessions, 430 papers and 60 posters provided the format of the conference.
The Norwegian Ministry of the Environment hosted the conference. The broad programme committee was led by Terje Lind and Arne Dalfeldt and sponsored by a number of actors including Statoil, Statkraft, SIDA, the Nordic Council of Ministers, and Nordregio (see www.iaia.org for more information).
Tuija Hilding-Rydevik, previous at Nordregio, Hólmfridur Bjarnadóttir, previous at Nordregio
Continuity or Transformation?
Perspectives on Rural Development in the Nordic Countries - A 2 day Workshop hosted by Nordregio. October 10th and 11th 2006.
Rural development policy in the Nordic countries is currently facing a period of profound and far-reaching change. EU rural development policy (CAP Pillar 2) is in the throes of revision, and "repositioning" in relation to Structural Policy. At the same time, recent or proposed local government reforms are providing the opportunity in several Nordic countries for a radical review of the delivery of a range of national, regional, and local interventions addressing the wider socio-economic situation in rural areas.
This Nordregio workshop will provide a comprehensive comparative overview of Nordic rural development policies. It will offer an overview of recent developments and likely future changes with respect to both EU-funded and national/local interventions, in Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Iceland, and Norway. It will also consider the implications of recent and proposed local government restructuring.
Insights will be provided by senior policy practitioners and independent commentators from each of the Nordic countries. Keynote speech will be delivered by Professor John Bryden, (University of the Highlands and Islands, Scotland). Ample opportunity for contributions to be made from the audience will be provided. The workshop proceedings will be published early in 2007.
Attendance at the workshop is free. Full programme and registration details will be published on the Nordregio website early July.
If you have any queries, please contact: Andrew Copus, Riikka Ikonen.