Comparative practice - Introduction to Environmental Impact Assessment - page 331

• more closely monitored (by the courts, informed civil society bodies and government
auditors);
• more widely applied (through law at various levels, but also in land-use planning,
through voluntary corporate initiatives, and so on);
• more integrative (considering systemic effects rather than just individual impacts);
• more ambitious (overall sustainability rather than just individually “acceptable”
undertakings); and
• more humble (recognizing and addressing uncertainties, applying precaution).
However, Goodland & Mercier (1999) suggest that, worldwide, EIA is still constrained
by lack of political will, insufficient budget to implement proposed mitigation measures
and lack of institutional capacity.
Chapters 11 and 12 draw on some of the ideas discussed here, and elsewhere, to
identify possibilities for the future, focusing primarily on the UK system, but set in the
wider EU and global context.
Note
1. The EIA Commission is an independent body which carries out research on the EIA system,
and which advises on the scope and adequacy of each EIA. The core of the Commission is
composed of a chairman, who is appointed by the Council of Ministers, two vice-chairmen
and a full-time staff of about 25. In addition, about 200 members who are experts in EIA-
related fields assist on a case-by-case basis.
References
ADB (Asian Development Bank) 2003. ADB Environmental Assessment Guidelines,
http://www.adb.org/.
Angelsen, A., F. Odd-Helge, U.R.Sumaila 1994. Project appraisal and sustainability in less
developed countries, R. 1994:1. Fantoft-Bergen, Norway: Chr. Michelsen Institute.
ANZECC (Australia and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council):
1991 A National Approach to EIA in Australia
1996 Guidelines and Criteria for Determining the Need for and Level of EIA in Australia
1997 Basis for a National Agreement on EIA
Canberra: ANZECC.
Baglo, M.A. 2003 Benin's experience with national and international EIA processes,
www.ceaa.gc.ca/017/0005/0002/2b_e.htm.
Beanlands, G. 1994. Summary of country policies and procedures—coherence of environmental
assessment for international bilateral aid. Paris: OECD/DAC Working Party on Development
Assistance and Environment.
Briffett, C. 1999. Environmental impact assessment in East Asia. In Handbook of Environmental
Impact Assessment, J.Petts (ed.), vol. 2, 143-67. Oxford: Blackwell Science Ltd.
Brito, E. & I.Verocai 1999. Environmental impact assessment in South and Central America. In
Handbook of Environmental Impact Assessment, J.Petts (ed.), vol. 2, Chapter 10, 183-202.
Oxford: Blackwell Science Ltd.
CEAA (Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency) 2003. Canadian Environmental Assessment
Act: An Overview. Ottawa: CEAA. http://www.ceaa.gc.ca/.