Abstract
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) has evolved and become part of major project requirements in many countries. However, its contribution to sustainable development and reduction in poverty levels of people affected by projects has not been assessed in developing countries. The study examined environmental laws and institutions in selected African countries, compared EIA laws, procedures and practices. Their effects on sustainable development and reduction in poverty are discussed. What is found lacking is the full integration of environmental assessments into planning and decision-making processes of these countries. At present EIA is applied mainly at the project level in these countries. It concluded that Africa is on the right footing towards sound environmental protection and resource management, but increasing poverty and lack of direct investment in project communities, illiteracy and corruption remains the greatest threat to the success of EIA. It recommends that corporate social responsibility with a fixed percentage of profit be made part of EIAs. It enjoins that a critical mass of a project’s community be empowered to actively participate in the early phases of the EIA process to improve benefits to communities and society at large. Sustainable development could thus be achieved on the project level when businesses and communities cooperate for their mutual benefits.Key words: Environmental Impact Assessment, sustainable development, poverty alleviation, corporate social responsibility, institutions
Highlights
The quest to safeguard the environment from further degradation has been of global concern for many years
The study revealed that successful integration of environmental impact assessments into planning and decision-making processes in these countries has not yet been realised, for its application is mostly limited to the project level
Africa appears to be on the right footing towards sound environmental protection and resource management, butlack of strong institutions and human resource capacity, rapid population growth, lack of direct investment in project communities, illiteracy and corruption remain the greatest threats to the success of Environmental impact assessment (EIA)
Summary
The quest to safeguard the environment from further degradation has been of global concern for many years now. Many countries have had long histories of environmental protection through indigenous local institutions, taboos, norms and cultural values (Appiah-Opoku, 2001; Appiah-Opoku & Mulamoottil, 1997). It is worth noting that environmental management is not achieved only through environmental laws and through the application of various formal and informal administrative mechanisms (Appiah-Opoku, 1999). In January 1970, the US National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) introduced the first formal requirements and procedure for EIA. Governments in more than 100 countries (El-Fadl & El-Fadel, 2004) have adopted provisions for the implementation of EIA. Provisions related to EIA began appearing in developing countries’ legislation during the 1970s, shortly after the United States enacted NEPA in 1969. References to EIA were made in the environmental legislation of Malaysia, Ecuador and the Philippines
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