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Interim Activity Report
Reporting period: March - July 2004
The current project consists of five
modules (see for details). Interim report covers
activities that fall into the first three modules. Below key project
activities undertaken during the first part of the fellowship year are
outlined. The revised project
is provided.
- Analysis of literature, and access to and use of
specialized resources
In accordance with the project Work Plan I started collecting and
reviewing research literature on methods to assess and manage
environmental risks resulted from industrial operations with particular
focus on insurance and environmental liability policies since February
2004. In addition to resources of Internet and Moscow libraries I used
publications available at Central European University library and
on-line databases of articles and abstracts when visiting Budapest in
March 2004.
Apart from research papers, a special emphasis was put on identifying
useful on-line resources on environmental risk assessment and
management, environmental risk insurance and environmental liability,
including resources for risk assessment and management experts and
practitioners.
I became a member of three professional societies whose mission is to
promote collaboration and networking within interdisciplinary community
interested in environmental risk assessment and management issues:
- American Risk and Insurance association (ARIA)
- Society for Risk Analysis (SRA)
- International Association for Impact Assessment
(IAIA)
In addition to free access to specialized journals, affiliation with
these organizations opened me access to special membership resources
including member contact databases, discussion groups, and mailing
lists that was very helpful in planning further research on
environmental risk and insurance in international perspective.
I obtained rights to access on-line library on risk management and
insurance by Ankil Publishers (Russia). Moreover, an extensive
literature on implementing insurance into environmental protection and
nature resource management in Russia was kindly provided by Russian
experts working with Institute of Market Economy, Russian Academy of
Science.
During the course of research and after consultations with mentors it
was decided to reformulate the name of the project to strengthen the
public policy connotation of the topic.
- Participation in conferences
Owing to OSI support I participated in an annual conference of
International Association for Impact Assessment (IAIA'04) - a open
forum for advancing innovation, development and communication of best
practice in impact assessment that brings together researchers,
practitioners, and users of various types of impact assessment. The
conference was held in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. I attended
sessions relevant to topic of my research and participated in
discussions on state-of-art approaches to managing environmental risks
related to industrial operations.
I had a series of informal conversations with experts working in the
field of risk assessment to discuss technical and legal aspects of
insurability of this type of risks. Among my informants were both
consultants engaged in assessment of environmental risks and
representatives of industries.
- Analysis of legislation and regulations
I invested a great deal of efforts in reviewing current regulatory
context for applying insurance in control of adverse effects of
industrial installations both in Russia and abroad. An detailed
analysis of Russian legislation that structure the relationships among
key EI stakeholders was conducted. The findings of this analysis are
used for preparing a research paper on managing environmental risks
through insurance (see below)
- Consultations with experts, interviews and
questionnaires
While developing the current project I planned interviewing experts in
the field of environmental risk assessment and insurance with the
purpose of discussing specific aspects of environmental insurance. Due
to time constraints and extensive amount of research publications
available it was decided to substitute this interviews with on-line
consultations via 'Ask expert' services at specialized professional
websites (see, e.g. ,
and ).
Specific questions was asked to clarify particular aspects of
application insurance to secure environmental liabilities, risk
insurability, environmental liability policies. This change is project
methodology was approved by Fellow's Academic Mentor.
At the same time, the national component of the research was fairly
expanded. Firstly, during investigation of Russian situation with EI
development I decided to cover as wide range of stakeholders' opinions
on integrating insurance into state environmental policy as possible.
Therefore, it was planned to arrange interviews with insurers, the
insured (actual and/or potential), regulators, legislators, NGOs
(environmental groups and industrial associations) and other available
representatives of EI policy community.
At the end of July, the researcher established contacts with
respondents, arranged interviews and distributed questionnaires among
interested persons. Two thirds of those who expressed interest in the
current research have already participated in the survey. There is fair
delay with receiving stakeholders feedback due to summer time (many
people are on vacations and I have to adjust me research schedule to
their plans for July and August). It is expected to complete analysis
of Russian EI system by September IPF seminar.
It is worth noting that the Fellow established good contacts with a
Russian think-tank that became a key resource institution for the
current project - the Laboratory for Market Instruments in
Environmental Management, Market Economy Institute, Russian Academy of
Science. The Head of the Laboratory and his colleagues provided a great
deal of relevant publications, assisted in establishing contacts with
potential interviewees for 'national' component of the current research
project, and contributed to designing regional studies.
- Development of project methodology and design
Structured interviews was chosen as a method for data collection.
Filling specially designed questionnaires was offered to potential
respondents as an alternative for interviews.
Several case studies on EI implementation at regional level in Russia
with particular focus on the most advanced region as a 'success story'
was emphasized in project design as a subcomponent of national
research.
After consultations with Individual Mentor Vologda Region was selected
as a model region for project pilot implementation.
- Project follow-up
The Fellow has collaborated with Laboratory for Market Instruments in
Environmental Management, Market Economy Institute, Russian Academy of
Science on developing a non-profit project EI promotion for region
tentatively selected for regional pilot implementation - Vologda
region. In parallel, the search for funds to future advocacy project is
under way.
- Project papers preparation
During literature review the Fellow developed a research paper outline.
The paper aims at explaining current trends in developing environmental
insurance from international and national perspectives. The emphasis is
put on identifying factors that affects this development and the
current state of this factors in Russian Federation at national and
regional level. Therefore, the main part of the paper can be divided
into three parts. The draft paper submitted for interim reporting
refers to 'international' part of the research undertaken.
In addition, the outline of the policy paper on implementing EI into
regional environmental policy to strengthen regional environmental
safety for pilot region was developed. It is likely to be a policy
brief aimed at presenting key policy recommendations for regional
environmental authority.
- Project website development
Since late April 2004 the individual website with project-related
information has been developed and updated. One should note that a
selection of useful links on project topic was prepared.
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