Comparative practice - Introduction to Environmental Impact Assessment - page 303

10
Comparative practice
10.1 Introduction
Most countries in the world have EIA regulations and have had projects subject to EIA.
However the regulations vary widely, as do the details of how they are implemented in
practice. This is due to a range of political, economic and social factors.
Environmental impact assessment is also evolving rapidly worldwide. When the
second edition of this topic was being written in 1999, for instance, many African
countries and countries in transition had only recently enacted EIA regulations; by now,
some of these countries have had considerable experience with EIA, and are developing
more detailed guidelines and regulations. Four of the seven countries discussed in the
second edition—Japan, Canada, China and Poland—have gone through major changes in
their EIA systems since then
This chapter aims to illustrate the range of existing EIA systems and act as
comparisons with the UK and EC systems discussed earlier. It starts with an overview of
EIA practice in the various continents of the world, and some of the factors that influence
the development of EIA worldwide. It then discusses the EIA systems of seven countries
in six different continents, focusing in each case on specific aspects of the system:
• Benin has one of the most advanced EIA systems in Africa, with good transparency,
considerable public participation, integration of environmental concerns with national
planning and robust administrative and institutional tools.
• Peru's EIA system is typical of many South American countries in its sector-specific
orientation, relative lack of public participation and transparency, and late timing in
project planning.
• Poland resembles several other countries in transition in that its EIA system has
changed dramatically since the early post-Communist days. In 2000, Poland enacted
radical new regulations which brings its EIA system in line with EU requirements.
• China's EIA system is discussed because of the worldwide effect that any Chinese
environmental policy is likely to have in the future. China's environmental policies are
restricted by the need to harmonize them with plans for economic development.
• The Netherlands is known for its progressive and well-developed environmental
policies. The Dutch EIA system incorporates a particularly high level of public
consultation, and uses an independent EIA Commission to scope each EIA and
subsequently review its adequacy.