OECD Environmental Performance Reviews

The reports review the environmental performance of a country about every 10 years. Each cycle of the Environmental Performance Reviews covers all OECD member countries and selected partner countries.{{cite web|title=EPR Review cycles|url=http://www.oecd.org/document/31/0,3746,en_2649_34307_46266207_1_1_1_1,00.html|work=Reviewing environmental performance|publisher=OECD|accessdate=4 May 2011}} Progress in achieving domestic objectives and international commitments provides the basis for assessing environmental performance.{{cite web|title=Environmental Country Reviews|url=http://www.oecd.org/topic/0,3699,en_2649_34307_1_1_1_1_37465,00.html|publisher=OECD|accessdate=10 August 2011}} Such objectives and commitments may be broad aims, qualitative goals, or quantitative targets.{{cite news|last=IMRA - Independent Media Review Analysis|title =OECD Delegation of Experts in Israel to Review the Country's Environmental Performance|url=http://www.imra.org.il/story.php3?id=49672|accessdate=8 August 2011|date=October 18, 2010}} A distinction is made between intentions, actions and results. Assessment of environmental performance is also placed within the context of a country's historical environmental record, present state of the environment, physical endowment in natural resources, economic conditions, and demographic trends.{{cite book|title=Environmental Performance Reviews: Portugal 2011|year=2011|publisher=OECD}}

The reports are prepared by the Environment Directorate at the OECD, with the contribution of reviewers from a number of examining countries. The Working Party on Environmental Performance discusses the reports at their twice-yearly meetings and approves the Assessment and Recommendations.{{cite web|title=OECD work on environment|url=http://www.environment.gov.au/about/international/oecd/index.html|publisher=Australian Ministry of the Environment|accessdate=8 August 2011}}

The policy recommendations aim to provide further support to a country's initiatives{{citation needed|date=December 2020}} on issues such as: greening growth;{{cite news|title=Swiss must fight to keep green image|url=http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/Home/Archive/Swiss_must_fight_to_keep_green_image.html?cid=47452|accessdate=8 August 2011|newspaper=Swiss Info|date=May 11, 2007}} implementing environmental policies;{{cite news|title=OECD REPORT SUPPORTS RUDD LABOR GOVERNMENT'S ACTION ON CLIMATE|url=http://www.mediaman.com.au/profiles/garrett.html|accessdate=8 August 2011|newspaper=Media Man Australia|date=19 March 2008}} international co-operation; climate change;{{cite news|title=NZ's water pollution record slammed in international report|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/climate-change/news/article.cfm?c_id=26&objectid=10432796|accessdate=8 August 2011|newspaper=New Zealand Herald|date=April 5, 2007}} energy and environment integration; coastal zone management; nature and biodiversity;{{cite web|title=Environment: Use of Forest Resources|url=http://www.conferenceboard.ca/hcp/details/environment/use-of-forest-resources.aspx|publisher=The Conference Board of Canada|accessdate=8 August 2011}} waste management.{{cite book|title=Environmental Performance Reviews: Norway 2011|year=2011|publisher=OECD}}

Since the inception of the Environmental Performance Reviews programme in 1992, most of the OECD member countries have been reviewed twice: during the first (1992–2000) and the second (2001–09) cycle.{{cite web|title=OECD Environmental Performance Reviews, countries|url=http://www.oecd.org/document/22/0,3746,en_2649_37465_46271382_1_1_1_37465,00.html|publisher=OECD|accessdate=10 August 2011}} Some OECD non-members were reviewed, such as China{{cite web|title=OECD Environmental Performance Review of China|url=http://www.fni.no/projects/chinese_environmental_performance_review.html|publisher=Fritdjof Nansen Institute|accessdate=9 August 2011}} and Russia. The third cycle of reviews was launched in 2009, with the reviews of Japan,{{cite news|title=OECD report says Japan must do more on environment|url=http://www.edie.net/news/news_story.asp?id=18988|accessdate=10 August 2011|newspaper=Edie newsroom|date=16 November 2010}} Portugal{{cite news|title=Portugal está mais limpo mas ainda faz demasiado lixo|url=https://www.dn.pt/inicio/portugal/interior.aspx?content_id=1828757|accessdate=10 August 2011|newspaper=DN Portugal|date=12 April 2011}} and Norway.{{cite news|title=OECD Releases Review of Norway's Environmental Protection|url=http://climate-l.iisd.org/news/oecd-releases-review-of-norway%E2%80%99s-environmental-protection/|accessdate=10 August 2011|newspaper=International Institute for Sustainable Development News Service|date=19 May 2011}} In 2010, reviews of Israel{{cite news|last=Ankori|first=Merav|title=Israel lags on OECD environmental report|url=http://www.globes.co.il/serveen/globes/docview.asp?did=1000529552&fid=1725|accessdate=8 August 2011|newspaper=GLOBES - Israel Business Area|date=11 January 2010}} and the Slovak Republic were launched and were published in 2011.{{cite web|title=Programme overview|url=http://www.oecd.org/document/22/0,3746,en_2649_34307_46271382_1_1_1_1,00.html|work=OECD Environmental Performance Reviews|accessdate=4 May 2011}} The Reviews of Germany]] and Slovenia were released in 2012, with Italy and Mexico in 2013.

Environment Ministers of OECD member countries, at their meeting in January 1991, called on the OECD to start environmental performance reviews of member countries. This mandate was subsequently confirmed by the OECD Council meeting at Ministerial level in June 1991, and supported by the London G-7 economic summit in July 1991. The reviews identify good practices and make recommendations aimed at improving environmental policies and programmes.{{cite web|title=OECD's environment performance review of Australia|url=http://www.environment.gov.au/about/international/oecd/publications/oecdtabling.html|publisher=Australian Ministry of the Environment|accessdate=5 August 2011}}

Work began in 1992 under the management of the OECD Working Party on Environmental Performance.{{cite web|title=Reviewing Environmental Performance|url=http://www.oecd.org/document/31/0,3746,en_2649_37465_46266207_1_1_1_37465,00.html|publisher=OECD|accessdate=10 August 2011}} The third cycle of the EPRs, launched in 2009, aims to sharpen the focus on performance and on selected issues that are of high priority in the reviewed countries.{{cite web|title=History of the EPR Programme|url=http://www.oecd.org/document/31/0,3746,en_2649_34307_46266207_1_1_1_1,00.html|work=Reviewing Environmental Performance|accessdate=4 May 2011}}

The second cycle of Environmental Performance Reviews (2001–09) consisted of three substantive blocks of issues:

i) Environmental Management which covered air, water, nature/biodiversity and waste management which are the core tasks of Environment Ministries and related Agencies;

ii) Sustainable Development which covered economic and sectoral integration of environmental consideration and environment-social interface;{{cite news|title=Japan: improve the environment to boost economic growth|url=http://www.teatronaturale.com/article/2292.html|accessdate=8 August 2011|newspaper=Teatro Naturale International|date=8 August 2011}}

iii) International Commitments covered international (global, regional and bilateral) co-operation on environmental matters (e.g. transboundary air and water pollution, transboundary movement of waste, marine and climate change issues).

Reviews in the 3rd cycle, launched in 2009 enhance policy advice and implementation by focusing on a few selected issues in each country review, while maintaining basic comprehensive coverage and accountability for the major environmental challenges. They speed up the review cycle by increasing the number of country reviews carried out per year, reducing the period between reviews of individual countries from between eight and nine down to five-to-six years.{{cite web|title=Scope of the EPR reviews|url=http://www.oecd.org/document/31/0,3746,en_2649_34307_46266207_1_1_1_1,00.html|work=Reviewing Environmental Performance|accessdate=4 May 2011}}

The Environmental Performance Reviews are evidence- and factual accuracy-based, relying on sound national and international data. The approach of the reviews has given priority to: i) identifying national objectives (i.e. aims, goals, and targets); ii) identifying international commitments of the reviewed country; and iii) using of statistics and indicators to measure the achievement of targets.{{cite web|title=Pressure-State-Response Framework and Environmental Indicators|url=http://www.fao.org/ag/againfo/programmes/en/lead/toolbox/Refer/EnvIndi.htm|publisher=Food and Agricultural Organization|accessdate=8 August 2011}}

The Environmental Performance Review programme emphasises the use of economic analysis. The polluter pays principle, the user pays principle, economic efficiency, integration of environmental and financial-fiscal policies,{{cite news|title=OECD review calls for more green taxes in Greece|url=http://www.athensnews.gr/issue/13382/21482|accessdate=8 August 2011|newspaper=Athen News|date=21 Mar 2010}} as well as integration of environmental and sector policies (e.g. energy, transport, agriculture) are constant features of the reports.{{cite web|title=Review methodology|url=http://www.oecd.org/document/31/0,3746,en_2649_34307_46266207_1_1_1_1,00.html|work=Reviewing Environmental Performance|publisher=OECD|accessdate=8 August 2011}}

The preparation of an Environmental Performance Review begins with a preliminary mission by the Secretariat to the country under review to agree on the scope of topics to be examined. Some topics are standard for all countries to ensure consistency in a given cycle, while there are specific topics for each country review.

The Secretariat then assembles a review team (8-10 members), which typically includes experts from three reviewing countries, Secretariat staff and consultants. Non-member countries engaged in the policy dialogue with the OECD are encouraged to participate in review missions, as observers.{{cite web|title=How are the country reviews prepared?|url=http://www.oecd.org/document/63/0,3746,en_2649_37465_46379647_1_1_1_37465,00.html|publisher=OECD|accessdate=10 August 2011}}

Preparations also include data and information gathering by the Secretariat, in co-operation with the reviewed country, as well as consultation with country desks within the OECD. The OECD Working Party on Environmental Information supports the process by providing internationally harmonised environmental data. National sources of information are also made available to team members.{{cite web|title=How are the country reviews prepared?|url=http://www.oecd.org/document/31/0,3746,en_2649_34307_46266207_1_1_1_1,00.html|work=Preparation of a report|publisher=OECD|accessdate=8 August 2011}}

During the review mission the team meets with government and non-government representatives of the country under review, including environment and other ministry officials, representatives of industry, trade unions, NGOs, independent experts and local governments.{{cite news|last=Golab|first=Mario|title=OECD Delegation to Review Israel's Environmental Performance|url=http://todaynewsline.com/oecd-delegation-to-review-israels-environmental-performance/224532/|accessdate=8 August 2011|newspaper=Today News Line|date=20 Oct 2010}} Discussions focus on the evaluation of environmental performance and policy responses.{{cite web|title=How are country reviews prepared|url=http://www.oecd.org/document/63/0,3746,en_2649_34307_46379647_1_1_1_1,00.html|work=Review missions|publisher=OECD|accessdate=8 August 2011}}

A draft report, prepared by the Secretariat is presented and discussed at the twice-yearly meetings of the OECD Working Party on Environmental Performance, usually held at the OECD headquarters in Paris.{{cite web|title=Environmental Enforcement Indicators|url=http://www.inece.org/enforcement_documents/oecd.html|work=Environmental Performance Reviews - A Practical Introduction|publisher=International Network for Environmental Compliance and Enforcement|accessdate=8 August 2011}}

A full day is allocated to the "peer" examination of a given country. The reviewed country delegation is headed by a high level government official, usually the Minister or the Secretary of State, and consists of several members representing the Environment Ministry and other relevant government agencies. The reviewing countries take the lead in opening the discussion.{{cite book|title=OECD ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE REVIEWS: A PRACTICAL INTRODUCTION|year=1997|publisher=OECD|pages=60|url=http://www.oecd.org/officialdocuments/publicdisplaydocumentpdf/?cote=OCDE/GD(97)35&docLanguage=En|accessdate=8 August 2011}} All countries participate in the debate. At the end of the meeting the Working Party approves the "Assessment and Recommendations".{{cite news|title=France must tighten up environmental legislation|url=http://www.edie.net/news/news_story.asp?id=9620|accessdate=8 August 2011|newspaper=Edie newsroom|date=4 March 2005}}

The exchange of views helps countries better understand the issues at stake in the reviewed country and critically assess policy responses with a view to identifying good practices and challenges ahead.{{cite journal|last=Vig|first=Norman J.|title=Making the Grade? OECD Environmental Performance Review of the United States|journal=Environment: Science and Policy for Sustainable Development|year=2006|volume= 48|issue= 7|pages=40–43|doi=10.3200/ENVT.48.7.40-43|s2cid=218496537}} An important benefit of serving as reviewer is to draw first-hand experience from the reviewed country developments, draw lessons and bring ideas back home.{{cite web|title=How are country reviews prepared|url=http://www.oecd.org/document/63/0,3746,en_2649_34307_46379647_1_1_1_1,00.html|work=Peer review meetings|publisher=OECD|accessdate=8 August 2011}}

Following the peer review meetings country reports are published under the authority of the OECD Secretary-General. They are primarily targeted at decision-makers.{{cite journal|last=Lehtonen|first=Markku|title=Deliberative Democracy, Participation, and OECD Peer Reviews of Environmental Policies|journal=American Journal of Evaluation|year=2006|volume=27|issue=185|pages=185–200|doi=10.1177/0198214006288283|s2cid=154637800}} The active role of the reviewed country in circulating the report and ensuring wide dissemination of its findings is critical to the implementation of the recommendations.

The reports are also aimed at a wider audience (general public, NGOs, industry, government at different levels) in the country under review, and therefore help to achieve the third specific aim of the programme, i.e. to stimulate greater accountability of governments towards public opinion.{{cite web|title=OECD delegation of experts in Israel to review environmental performance|url=http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Government/Communiques/2010/OECD_experts_Israel_review_environmental_performance_26-Oct-2010|publisher=Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs|accessdate=8 August 2011}}

Release of the reports in the public domain is associated with a press conference in the reviewed country with the participation of the Environment Minister and OECD high-level officials, often the Secretary-General. The press event is sometimes followed by a seminar (e.g. with Parliamentarians). The "Highlights" document is released to present the key findings of the review.{{cite web|title=Publications|url=http://www.oecd.org/document/63/0,3746,en_2649_34307_46379647_1_1_1_1,00.html|work=How are country reviews prepared|publisher=OECD|accessdate=8 August 2011}}

Countries are encouraged to prepare progress reports on the implementation of the recommendations at mid-term{{cite web|title=OECD's work on the environment|url=http://www.regeringen.se/sb/d/2953/a/25845|publisher=Regeringen - Government Offices of Sweden|accessdate=8 August 2011}} between two cycles. The reports are presented and discussed at the Working Party meetings.

Co-operation with the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) on the EPR methodology has contributed to the establishment of a "daughter" programme for non-OECD member countries within the UNECE area. The UNECE Secretariat has participated in several OECD review missions (Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Switzerland). The first cycle of EPRs has reviewed some non member countries of the UNECE, such as Belarus, Bulgaria and Russia, in close co-operation with the UNECE Secretariat.

Similar co-operation has developed with the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (UNECLAC) with the participation of the UNECLAC Secretariat in the reviews of Canada, Spain and Chile.{{cite web|last=La Comisión Económica para América Latina (CEPAL)|title=OECD Environmental Performance Reviews|url=http://www.eclac.org/cgi-bin/getProd.asp?xml=/dmaah/noticias/noticias/5/12525/P12525.xml&xsl=/dmaah/tpl-i/p1f.xsl&base=/dmaah/tpl/top-bottom.xslt|work=News and Activities|accessdate=8 August 2011}} The OECD review of Chile was conducted in close co-operation with UNECLAC.

Co-operation has been extended to the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for the Chinese province of Yunnan in the Greater Mekong region. This paved the way for the OECD review of China, which was carried out as part of the second cycle of reviews. Chinese observers participated in the review missions of Norway and Japan and in the Working Party meetings of Norway, Japan and Korea.{{cite web|title=Co-operation with partners|url=http://www.oecd.org/document/63/0,3746,en_2649_34307_46379647_1_1_1_1,00.html|work=How are the country reviews prepared|accessdate=8 August 2011}}

{{Reflist}}

• [https://www.oecd.org OECD Website]

Category:OECD