UBC - Commissions / Commission on Environment

Baltic Cities' Municipal Environmental Audit (MEA) is a model of environmental auditing especially tailored for the Baltic cities by UBC Commission on Environment. The intention with the development work was to create a model that would be more suitable for Baltic cities and for city administration than the rather heavy and formal ISO and EMAS systems. MEA is a more flexible tool and it can be adjusted to the specific needs of each city when they start assessing their environmental situation and prioritise improvements. It is also cheaper to start with than the other models.

So far, 15 cities have been involved in the MEA activities. City of Tallinn was the first one, followed by Pärnu, Panevezys, Klaipeda, Pori, Turku, Marijampole, Ingalina, Kotka, Trakai, ECAT Lithuania, Helsinki, Nacka and Kalmar....

The purpose of the MEA is primarily to offer a tool for city management and environmental experts to: 1. analyse and describe current state of local environment
2. identify and assess the strengths and weaknesses of environment within the municipality, 3. assess the performance of the city to care of environmental issues and purposes based on its environmental policy
4. help to develop a broad based environmental strategy in accordance with the principles of sustainable development
5. identify and prepare the basis for future investments and development projects
6. ensure full public participation in the development of the environmental strategy
7. increase institutional capacity of the beneficiary cities, and
8. disseminate the results to other cities and countries.

MEA in practise
MEAs are carried out in co-operation by local and external experts trained in environmental auditing. Auditors collect data and make audit findings both on the current state of the environment (Initial Environmental Review) and in regard to the ability of a city to address its environmental issues and goals as based on its environmental policy (Environmental Performance). Key findings and proposals for improvements of each MEA are summarised in the Evaluation Report written by the external experts. The MEA activities are also utilising twin city co-operation - so twin cities have usually provided the external experts.

Preparotory work; targeting the audit, collecting the audit team, sharing resonsibilities, making time schedules.
Collecting data; interviews and discussions with city representatives, documented data reports, use of the MEA Workbook.
Analysis of data; analysis of collected data and information from interviews.
Audit reporting; conclusions, recommendations and statements, publishing.
Audit follow-up; audit cycle (preparation for next audit).

All the necessary manuals, formulas and other tools are translated into English, Polish, Lithuanian, Latvian, Estonian and Russian, and they are available from the EnvCom Secretariat. The Commission on Environment co-ordinates the audits and also helps the member cities to find funding.

The pilot MEA in Tallinn 1997-1998 was co-funded by the EU LIFE Program, and since 1998, co-funding has been provided by the Nordic Council of Ministers towards further MEAs. This funding enabled the Commission to start several new MEAs. Lately especially Lithuanian and Latvian cities have been active in this work. ECAT-Lithuania has been a partner in the work with Lithuanian cities.

All interested cities are warmly welcomed to contact the UBC Commission on Environment Secretariat. MEA Workbooks are available in English, Estonian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Polish and Russian at the EnvCom Secretariat.

A new project building on the MEA experiences, EMAS Peer Review, will most likely be started before the end of 2002.

We would like to extend our warmest gratitude to all co-funders and supporters as well as to all cities and experts who have participated in the work so far!

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