Performance Evaluation of Global Environmental Impact Assessment Methods through a Comparative Analysis of Legislative and Regulatory Provisions

Abstract

Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) – alternatively known as “environmental assessment” or “impact assessment” – promotes environmental awareness and supports its conservation by ensuring minimal impacts from the developmental activities at various level of jurisdictions. This chapter provides a comparative analysis of eights countries, representing different geographies and income categories. It evaluates diversified approaches followed by these countries, and identifies most valued principle considered while adopting EIA as a mainstream policy and regulatory practice. Following research questions were kept in mind when analysing the EIA operations across the selected geographies and overall:

a) Is it effective in scientifically analysing and minimising environmental impacts from a given project?

b) Does it follow nonpartisan approach to analyse feasibility of projects vis-à-vis conservation of environment?

c) Does it minimise the administrative and bureaucratic workload without an adverse impact on the quality of the followed procedure?

d) What is the objectivity level of the accounting process while granting final permits?

Each country’s regulations have been analysed using a framework with ten parameters, including enforceability, public consultation, easily identified technical criteria, etc. Our research suggests that majority of countries follows their own customised version of EIA process, which primarily depends upon respective national priorities and other governance factors. However, there is always a room for improvement, which can be learned from each other’s best practices. The conclusion part of this chapter highlights and recommends some of such best practices as an improvement of general EIA systems.