Role Of Impact Assessment Research Articles

The role of impact assessment in the development of urban green infrastructure: a review of EIA and SEA practices in Thailand

ABSTRACT Impact assessment (IA) processes can potentially play important roles in driving green infrastructure (GI) planning and design, as well as establishing how GI can contribute to environmental planning objectives. In this paper, we explore how IA (strategic environmental assessment – SEA and environmental impact assessment – EIA) can support the development of GI in Thailand. A framework is designed which is used to reflect on how IA addresses and integrates GI in development at strategic and project levels. Based on a review of 18 EIAs and 4 SEAs from Thailand, it is established that whilst the consideration of GI in SEA (which is not yet compulsory in Thailand) has remained limited, consideration of green spaces for mitigating negative impacts in statutory EIA has been happening frequently. An important reason for this is that regulatory requirements imply that EIA should consider GI (referred to as ‘green spaces’). An important recommendation arising is that GI functions should be addressed in IAs, on the one hand to integrate different policies related to GI; and on the other hand to strengthen implementation of urban GI development.

Does impact assessment meet stakeholder expectation: case study of POSCO project in Odisha

ABSTRACTThe USD 12 billion steel project of POSCO in Odisha, India, conceived in 2005, was to be one of the largest investments in the country. But the project could not materialize, and in 2017 POSCO withdrew from the project after a lot of controversies. For this classic example of a lose-lose situation, the role of impact assessment (IA) has not been discussed adequately. Using a single case study method, this paper analyzes various dimensions of IA exercises conducted for the project. These IA exercises failed to notice the complex livelihood systems and potential dissent among the people of the area. Stakeholders’ consultations were weak, IA reports did not highlight the negative impacts, and the potential loss of livelihoods was not noticed. Questions have also been raised on the legitimacy and authenticity of the claims made in these IA studies. However, the role of IA was also found be to be limited and the expectation from IA was also low. This negates the role of an ideal IA that should have been a comprehensive one and should have taken note of issues that are detrimental for the society, and particularly for the project.

The promise of ‘well-being’ in Section 24 of the Constitution of South Africa

This article is premised on the understanding that a meaningful nexus exists between the environment, human health and well-being – three notions with independent meanings but all living in s 24(a) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996. The link that lies therein is that human health and well-being ‘are influenced by environmental conditions both positively and negatively, with significant economic and social consequences’.1 The flipside of this understanding is that the duties of government and others arising from the constitutional environmental right are multifaceted. Following a discussion on the meaning of well-being, this article explores some of the implications of the fact that the concept of well-being receives protection in terms of s 24(a) of South Africa’s Constitution. Particular attention is paid to why and how public authorities must pursue the total suite of outcomes envisaged in the constitutional environmental right as opposed to mere environmental compliance. This discussion incorporates the High Court’s underlying message to the executive in the recently decided matter of Earthlife Africa Johannesburg v Minister of Environmental Affairs and Others and further assesses the role of impact assessment in environmental authorisation processes.

Impact Assessment in the European Union: Lessons from a Research Project

In this article, we present some major lessons drawn from a recently completed research project. Our research dealt with ex ante evaluation, mainly impact assessment (IA).We shed new light on research questions about the control of bureaucracy, the role of IA in decisionmaking, economics and policy learning, and the narrative dimension of appraisal.We identify how our findings stand in relation to conventional arguments about these issues, and reflect on their normative implications. We finally reason on the possible extensions of our arguments to the wider field of policy evaluation, connecting IA and ex post evaluation.

Framing effectiveness in impact assessment: Discourse accommodation in controversial infrastructure development

There is ongoing debate about the effectiveness of impact assessment tools, which matters both because of the threat to future practice of the tools which are frequently perceived to be ineffective, and because of the disillusionment that can ensue, and controversy generated, amongst stakeholders in a decision context where opportunities for meaningful debate have not been provided. In this article we regard debate about the meaning of effectiveness in impact assessment as an inevitable consequence of increased participation in environmental decision-making, and therefore frame effectiveness based on an inclusive democracy role to mean the extent to which impact assessment can accommodate civil society discourse. Our aim is to investigate effectiveness based on this framing by looking at one type of impact assessment – environmental impact assessment (EIA) – in two controversial project proposals: the HS2 rail network in England; and the A4DS motorway in the Netherlands. Documentary analysis and interviews held with key civil society stakeholders have been deployed to identify discourses that were mobilised in the cases. EIA was found to be able to accommodate only one out of four discourses that were identified; for the other three it did not provide the space for the arguments that characterised opposition. The conclusion in relation to debate on framings of effectiveness is that EIA will not be considered effective by the majority of stakeholders. EIA was established to support decision-making through a better understanding of impacts, so its ineffectiveness is unsurprising when its role is perceived to be broader. However, there remains a need to map discourses in different decision contexts and to analyse the extent to which the range of discourses are accommodated throughout the decision process, and the role of impact assessment in those processes, before recommendations can be made to either improve impact assessment effectiveness, or whether it is simply perceptions of effectiveness that need to be improved.

Strategic environmental assessment: one concept, multiple definitions

The literature indicates that there are numerous definitions of strategic environmental assessment (SEA), but none of which has achieved full recognition on the part of researchers and practitioners. This study aims to compile a set of definitions that represents the amplitude of the subject matter to, on this basis, assess the conceptual evolution of SEA and to characterise the vision of the scientific community on this issue. The definitions (a total of 106) show that SEA is an evolving concept. The terms ‘policies, plans and programmes’, ‘environmental’, ‘decision’ and ‘assess’ may be considered the best descriptors of SEA. It was found that SEA maintains a strong bond with its role of impact assessment, characteristic of the first phase of its conceptual evolution. The preponderant perception of the scientific community about the definition of SEA is presented, an element that could serve as a blueprint for future discussions on the subject.

Impact assessment as knowledge generation and learning: operational challenges in faith-based non-governmental organisations

This paper explores the potential role of impact assessment as a learning opportunity in faith-based development organisations. Using the case of TDO, a faith-based relief and development organisation, the dual criteria of assessment and learning are applied to TDO's evaluation culture. Information triangulation reveals the internal and external challenges confronted by transformational development organisations in their learning. Philosophical, emotional, and leadership tensions may represent a greater challenge to assessment and learning than the traditional obstacles of time, money, and data.

Sustainable development and assessment of environmental impact

Sustainable development, determined by social, economic and environmental goals, comprises a balance of social, industrial and technological development on the one hand, and preserving and improving the environment on the other. In pursuing the principles of sustainable development a fundamental role of impact assessment and strategic environmental assessment. These are specifically prescribed procedure in accordance with generally accepted standard, with the participation of competent authorities and all interested persons with the same goal which is the preservation and improvement of the environment while achieving economic development. Estimates of the impact on the environment are mainly directed in part towards finding the optimal measures to prevent, mitigation or compensate damages. This work is dedicated to the positive legal regulations pertaining to this issue in our country, their compliance with relevant international regulations with special emphasis on the effect that they achieved, how to determine the necessary measures of prevention, mitigation and compensation of damages, their advantages and disadvantages.

The Role of Regulatory Impact Assessment in Fighting Climate Change and the Economic Downturn: A EU-US Perspective

In times of low economic growth and post-Copenhagen climate talks, a number of reasons for regulatory competition and cooperation between the United States and the European Union coexist. This paper discusses the role of Impact Assessment between the US and the EU on responses to the economic downturn and climate change. It is argued that, in the future, IAs will be an instrument through which it will be possible to read the level of cooperation and competition between the US and the EU, particularly on economic trade and environmental regulation.

Is the increasing policy use of Impact Assessment in Europe likely to undermine efforts to achieve healthy public policy?

European policymakers have recently become increasingly committed to using Impact Assessment (IA) to inform policy decisions. Welcoming this development, the public health community has not yet paid sufficient attention to...

The Role of Impact Assessment in Sustainable Development

Pillars of the Industry William Veerkamp, Global Manager of Environmental and Social Performance of Shell, discusses impact assessment and sustainability.

Impact Assessment in the EU: A Tool for Better Regulation, Less Regulation or Less Bad Regulation?

Impact Assessments (IAs) were introduced at the EU level under the rhetorical facade of ‘better regulation’. The actual aim was to improve not only the quality but also the reputation of EU regulation before stakeholders. However, evidence brought forward by a number of evaluations pointed out that IAs are yet to achieve acceptable quality standards. The paper offers an overview of different disciplinary approaches for looking at IAs. It suggests that risk regulation encompasses the theoretical foundations to help understand the role of IAs in the EU decision‐making process. The analysis of 60 early days preliminary IAs provides empirical evidence regarding policy alternatives, methodology of consultation and use of quantitative techniques. Findings suggest that dawn period IAs were used mainly to provide some empirical evidence for regulatory intervention in front of stakeholders. The paper concludes with assumptions about the future role of IAs at EU level.

OPTIMISATION OF GOVERNMENTAL DECISIONS

The report discusses the role of impact assessment and evaluation of governmental decisions. The main objective of report is to develop a statistical model for optimisation of the set of policy instruments. The Draft of Rural Development Plan is used as example in order to develop and test the statistical model for optimising the allocation and use of funds. The statistical model is developed like as a small software version for policy‐makers to evaluate critical decisions. The statistical decision making theory is used in seeking solutions to optimise the choice of governmental decisions. The functions of losses or gains are defined on the basis of statistical data in two levels ‐ macroeconomic level and microeconomic level. In the statistical model the principles of the subjective probability are also applied in the case of unreliable and unavailable information.

Role of impact assessment for strategic environmental management at the firm level

ISO 14000 and country-specific initiatives have resulted in firms around the world pursuing strategic environmental management (SEM). SEM at the firm level provides a powerful set of tools for anticipating potential issues that can result in environmental impacts, incorporating other business issues relevant to the firm, and addressing them as part of the strategic plan for the firm's sustainability. By definition, anticipating potential issues that can result in environmental impacts is the process known as environmental impact assessment (EIA). In fact, without calling it by name, many of the tools currently available for SEM are based on EIA methodology. This paper clarifies this issue and demonstrates the role that EIA practitioners can play in advancing SEM for the ongoing operations of the firm, rather than just at the planning stages of a new project.

18th Annual Meeting of the IAIA: Sustainability and the Role of Impact Assessment in the Global Economy: Excellence, Innovation and Adaptability

18th Annual Meeting of the IAIA: Sustainability and the Role of Impact Assessment in the Global Economy: Excellence, Innovation and Adaptability

The role of impact assessment in environmental decision making in New England: A ten-year retrospective

Environmental impact assessment in the United States began with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq). Passed in 1969, NEPA underscored the nation's commitment to protect the environment. Adding muscle to this promise, NEPA included an action-forcing mechanism, namely that public agencies must prepare Environmental Impact Statements (EISs). NEPA also created the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) to interpret and enforce this requirement. NEPA directs federal agencies to consider the impacts of their actions early in the planning stages of large projects. Due to the emphasis on evaluation before action the adage look before you leap is used to describe the goal of impact assessment. Using an EIS an agency can consider the probable impacts associated with the alternative versions of an action and select the least environmentally damaging option. NEPA requires federal agencies to (1) forecast and assess the impacts of proposed actions; (2) apply this information in planning and decision making; and (3) protect and enhance the quality of the environment. Ideally, impact assessment at both the federal and state level is used to influence project definitions and to encourage the consideration of less environmentally damaging alternatives. At the very least, careful analysis can eliminate the most inappropriate alternatives. Not only should impact assessment lead to wise en: vironmental decisions in the individual cases, but the process of impac t assessment should lead public agencies to become increasingly more adept at defining environmentally sound projects and policies. In theory the process of impact assessment enables public agencies and various interest groups to work cooperatively to protect the quality of the environment.