El sistema español de evaluación de impacto ambiental: nuestra posición en el mundo

Abstract

This paper presents the results of an evaluation of certain aspects of the performance of the Spanish Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) system. For this purpose, parallels between the EIA system in Spain and in other countries have been established. The study is based on a comparative review of the EIA systems currently in force in 55 countries. A set of performance indicators was developed and applied to the assessment of these EIA systems. The results reveal that the Spanish EIA system is in a peculiar situation in the international arena, which is explained by the combination of major shortcomings and some advantages in EIA practice. Spain is one of the World’s largest “producers” of EIAs, and one of the industrialized countries that least legislative ammendments has introduced to remedy deficiencies in EIA practice. Many of these deficiencies still remain.