Comparative practice - Introduction to Environmental Impact Assessment - page 330

findings; and supervision and evaluation during project implementation (World Bank
1999). Between 1989 and 1995, the Bank screened over a thousand projects for their
potential environmental impacts: of these 10 per cent were in Category A (primarily
energy, agriculture and transport projects), 41 per cent in Category B, and 49 per cent in
Category C (World Bank 1997). Category A projects are those expected to have “adverse
impacts that may be sensitive, irreversible and diverse” (World Bank 1999), and they
require a full EIA. For Category B projects, where impacts are “less significant—not as
sensitive, numerous, major or diverse”, a full EIA is not required, but some
environmental analysis is necessary. Category C projects have negligible or minimal
direct disturbance on the physical setting, and neither EIA nor environmental analysis is
required. Typical category C projects focus on education, family planning, health and
human resource development.
Notable features of the World Bank process include a holistic environment definition,
including physical, biological and socioeconomic aspects, a high profile for public
consultation and considerable focus on project implementation. A report (World Bank
1995) identified five main challenges ahead: moving EIA “upstream” (into project design
stages and at sectoral and regional levels); more effective public consultation; better
integration of EIA into the project work programme (including mitigation, monitoring
and management plans); learning from implementation (the “feedback loop”); and
engaging the private sector (especially financiers and project sponsors) to ensure that
projects are subject to EIA of acceptable quality. Mercier (2003) reinforces the emphasis
now placed on implementation of the mitigation, prevention and compensation measures
contained in the EIA. Also, because many of the client countries now have their own EIA
requirements and their own EIA staff and review mechanisms, the Bank is increasingly
involved in enhancing that capacity upfront during project preparation.
The African Development Bank and European Investment Bank (EIB 2002) have less
comprehensive EIA guidance, but both require EIA to be carried out, promote public
participation in the EIA process, and take account of these when deciding on whether to
fund a project. Social issues are considered as part of the EIA where appropriate.
Other organizations have also published EIA guidance. For instance UNEP's very
useful Environmental Impact Assessment Training Resources Manual, now in its second
edition (UNEP 2002), includes case studies (primarily from developing countries),
transparencies and detailed chapters on various stages of EIA. The UK Department for
International Development has produced a similar Environmental Guide (DFID 1999).
10.11 Summary
Gibson (2002) suggests that EIA worldwide has been moving, over the last 30 years,
towards being:
• earlier in planning (beginning with purposes and broad alternatives);
• more open and participative (not just proponents, government officials and technical
experts);
• more comprehensive (not just biophysical environment, local effects, capital projects,
single undertakings);
• more mandatory (gradual conversion of policy-based to law-based processes);