EIA as a tool for sustainable

Development.

Dr. Muhammad Ibrar Shinwari

Associate Prof.
International Islamic University Islamabad
 Definition-Sustainable development

The sustainable development paradigm demands that we

leave to future generations at least the same or better
possibilities for development as they exist today. This requires
a balanced development of economy, society and
environment, and the absence of wars
and terrorism.
“the development that meets the needs of the present without
compromising the ability of future generations to meet their
own needs” (UN, 1987) remains the most inclusive (CIDA,
2012), and has enabled politicians, decision-makers,
stakeholders, sociologists, economists, urban planners and
architects to understand environmental impacts together with
the social and economic effects of projects (Poveda and
Lipsett, 2011)
 Definition EIA

EIA is a process initiated in response to proposed

developments identifying potential adverse environmental
effects. It provides the opportunity to avoid or
mitigate these adverse effects and thereby contribute
to sustainable development. However, in practice,
decision-makers can allow adverse effects.
 EIA Brief

Furthermore, economic benefits of proposed developments

are used to justify allowing significant adverse
effects. In addition, both the significant adverse effects
of individual projects and cumulative effects of minor
adverse impacts of multiple developments can lead to
environmental limits being exceeded. Moreover, in
environments where limits have already been
exceeded, there is no capacity to accept further development
unless proactive interventions are
 Background

Environmental impact assessment (EIA) is an

internationally recognized legislative and scientific tool to
promote sustainable development (Almeida et al. 2017,
Loomis et al.2017). The US National Environmental
Policy Act (NEPA) established the concept of EIA in 1969,
and it has since been adopted by other developed and
developing countries worldwide (Ehtasham et al.2021).
EIA initiated in developing countries in mid-1970 and its
effectiveness varies significantly country to country at the
base of resources, political and administrative systems,
social and cultural systems, and the level and nature of
economic development (Saya Kamal 2003).
 Aims/objectives of EIA

The main purpose of EIA is to facilitate the systematic

consideration of environmental issues as part of development
decision-making. It does so primarily by assembling and
analyzing information on the potential environmental effects of
specific development proposals and how they can be best
prevented or mitigated. EIA takes place before major decisions
are taken and, ideally, while feasible alternatives and options
to a proposed action are still open. In this context, the
decision-making process extends from project initiation to
implementation. Thus, there are a number of key stages at
which EIA can build environmental considerations into project
planning and design.
 General and specific principles of EIA application

Nine general principles of EIA application are listed below. They

are broadly correspondent to the basic principles issued by the
effectiveness study and IAIA/IEMA (1999), but also include aspects
of what are called operational principles in these statements.
The general principles are intended to be a first step toward, rather
than the final word in EIA good practice. Also, they are best applied
as a “package”, recognizing the whole is greater than the sum of the
following parts:
1. EIA should be applied as a tool to help achieve sustainable
development;
2. EIA should be integrated into existing development planning and
approval processes so that:
 Continued…

– minimum disruption is caused to existing institutional

arrangements; and
– maximum effectiveness for EIA is achieved by identifying the
appropriate “time/locations” for EIA to be linked to decision-
making;
3. EIA should be applied as a tool to implement environmental
management, rather than as a report to gain project approvals;
4. EIA should be integrated into the project life-cycle to ensure that
environmental information is provided at the appropriate decision
points and the correct time. There must be constant interaction and
feedback between the EIA team and project designers and the
proponent to ensure that design/locational changes can be
implemented to avoid or minimize adverse impacts to the maximum
extent possible;
 Continued…

5. EIA should be applied to all proposed actions that are likely to

have a significant adverse effect on the environment and human
health. In a social context, particular attention should be given to
vulnerable groups, such as indigenous peoples, and local
communities who depend upon the resource base for their sustenance
or lifestyle;
6. EIA should include an analysis of feasible alternatives to the
proposed action. The process should be applied early in project
development at a stage when these alternatives are still practicable;
7. EIA should include meaningful opportunities for public
involvement. These should occur throughout the EIA process, using
mechanisms that are appropriate to stakeholders.
Key stages for involvement include:
 Continued…
8. EIA should include meaningful opportunities for public
involvement. These should occur throughout the EIA process, using
mechanisms that are appropriate to stakeholders.
9. EIA should integrate information on social, economic and
biophysical impacts to the maximum extent possible. An integrated
approach can be applied as part of an EIA study or carried out as part
of report preparation and synthesis.
• EIA should be carried out in a multi- or inter-disciplinary manner,
using best-practicable science; and
 operating principles of EIA

Furthermore, there are operating principles. These say that

EIA should be applied (IAIA, 1999, p4):
 As early as possible in decision making and throughout the
life cycle of the proposed activity;
 To all development proposals that may cause potentially
significant effects;
 To biophysical impacts and relevant socio-economic factors,
including health, culture, gender, lifestyle, age, and cumulative
effects consistent with the concept and principles of
sustainable development;
 To provide for the involvement and input of communities and
industries affected by a proposal, as well as the interested
public;
 In accordance with internationally agreed measures and
activities.
 Steps in EIA Process
Key stages for involvement include:
– screening
– scoping
– interim reports (if prepared);
– draft/final report;
– decision-making; and
– post-decision stage;
• Project screening narrows the application of EIA to those projects
that may have significant environmental impacts. Screening may be
partly determined by the EIA regulations
operating in a country at the time of assessment. Environmental
criteria can be used to assist case-by-case screening of projects that
may have potentially significant effects and may require an EIA or
further study. Some important aspects and issues to be taken into
account include:
 Continued…

• sensitivity of location (for example, proximity of a project to a

protected area, a wetland, a flood plain, or an area rich in cultural
resources);
• sensitivity of potential impact receptors (for example, valuable
crop-producing
fields, water supplies, hospitals);
• possible duration and reversibility of the impacts; and
• likelihood of associated or secondary development (such as new
access roads, aggregate extraction).

• Scoping Once screening has determined that a proposal is subject

to EIA or further study,
the main issues and impacts to be analyzed must be identified and
agreed as early as possible. This process, called scoping, is widely
acknowledged as a key to appropriate and
 Continued…
cost-effective EIA of a specific proposal. Scoping is carried out
through an open and interactive process, designed to establish the
information that is necessary for project decision-making. This stage
of the EIA process provides a critical opportunity for early and
constructive public involvement in setting the focus and boundaries
of the EIA study. Public input helps to ensure that important issues
and alternatives are not overlooked when preparing ToR’s and
initiating detailed EIA studies.
Scoping may be carried out as a formal or informal process.
Generally, internationally accepted principles of EIA good practice
call for scoping to:
• inform and involve the stakeholders who are affected by or
interested in the proposal;
• define the important issues and impacts that need to be studied
further;
• identify the alternatives to the proposed action; and
• establish ToR’s for carrying out an EIA study
 Continued…

• The consideration of alternatives seeks to ensure that the proponent

has considered other feasible approaches, including alternative
project locations, scales, processes, layouts, operating conditions and
the ‘no action’ option.

• The description of the project/development action includes a

clarification of the purpose and rationale of the project, and an
understanding of its various characteristics – including stages of
development, location and processes.

• The description of the environmental baseline includes the

establishment of both the present and future state of the environment,
in the absence of the project, taking into account changes resulting
from natural events and from other human activities.
 Continued…

• The identification of the main impacts brings together the previous

steps with the aim of ensuring that all potentially significant
environmental impacts (adverse and beneficial) are identified and
taken into account in the process.

• The prediction of impacts aims to identify the magnitude and other

dimensions of identified change in the environment with a
project/action, by comparison with the situation without that
project/action.

• The evaluation and assessment of significance assesses the relative

significance of the predicted impacts to allow a focus on the main
adverse impacts.
 Continued…

• Mitigation involves the introduction of measures to avoid, reduce,

remedy or compensate for any significant adverse impacts. In
addition enhancement involves the development of beneficial
impacts where possible.

• Public consultation and participation aim to ensure the quality,

comprehensiveness and effectiveness of the EIA, and that the
public’s views are adequately taken into consideration
in the decision-making process.

• EIS presentation is a vital step in the process. If done badly, much

good work in the EIA may be negated.
 Continued…
• Review involves a systematic appraisal of the quality of the EIS, as
a contribution to the decision-making process.

• Decision-making on the project involves a consideration by the

relevant authority of the EIS (including consultation responses)
together with other material considerations.

• Post-decision monitoring involves the recording of outcomes

associated with development impacts, after a decision to proceed. It
can contribute to effective project management.

• Auditing follows from monitoring. It can involve comparing actual

outcomes with predicted outcomes, and can be used to assess the
quality of predictions and the effective ness of mitigation. It provides a
vital step in the EIA learning process.
• Project screening (is an EIA needed?)

• Scoping (which impacts and issues Figure: Important steps in the EIA process.

should be considered?) Note that EIA should be a cyclical process, with

considerable interaction between the various
• Description of the project/development steps. For example, public participation can be
useful at most stages of the process;
action and alternatives monitoring systems should relate to
parameters established in the initial project
• Description of the environmental and baseline descriptions.

baseline

• Identification of key impacts

• Prediction of impacts
• Evaluation and assessment of Public consultation
significance of impacts and participation
• Identification of mitigating measures

• Presentation of findings in the EIS

(including a non-technical summary)
• Review of the EIS
• Decision-making

Post-decision monitoring
Audit of predictions and mitigation
measures
 long-term planning as a tool for achieving
sustainable development

The World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) held

in Johannesburg in August –September 2002 represented an
effort by the international community to foster the
implementation of the sustainable development objectives set
out in the 1992 Rio Earth Summit’s Agenda 21. After lengthy
negotiations on issues ranging from health, poverty, water, to
energy, the State participants at the WSSD adopted a Plan of
Implementation to promote Agenda 21; however, many non-
governmental organizations were disappointed by the
relatively small number of strict timetables and deadlines in the
Plan. There appeared to be a lack of political will on the part of
delegates to commit to strict obligations furthering the
objectives of sustainable development
 Main Goals to achieve sustainable development

. For sustainable development to occur, social values must

evolve through discourse to the point where the public accepts
and recognizes the importance of long-term planning as
opposed to short-term thinking. The mechanisms of
accountability, transparency and public participation in EIA
provide it with the means to foster discourse and
social learning that can push social values toward a more
long-term focus. Thus, through discourse (and the changing
values that it can produce), EIA may legitimize sustainable
development.
 Continued…
The opportunities for subjectivity in EIA may allow proponents,
assessors and public authorities to lose sight of long-term
environmental considerations and concentrate more on cost–
benefit analysis and the practical considerations relating to
short time frames and financial limitations. However, public
participation within the EIA process allows other perspectives
—those of stakeholders and non-governmental organizations
—to be expressed and exchanged to counter this
trend and inspire the development of discourse. Seen as a
source for discourse,
 Continiued

subjectivity in EIA becomes an important tool for achieving

sustainable development by securing the integration of the
views of various stakeholders into the debate and by
invigorating the development of values. If EIA is a process to
bring community planning in line with changing public values,
then it is a valuable and legitimate tool in itself.
 Conclusion

To achieve the long-term objectives of sustainable

development, social values must change toward a long-term
focus. As a forum for discourse, EIA provides the tools by
which changes in social values may evolve. Thus, the value of
EIA may not solely lie in its predictive capacities (or lack
thereof), but in its role as a mechanism for promoting
sustainable development and social learning. the legitimacy of
the process is not in its assessment results, but in its abilities
to promote public participation, transparency, discourse and
sustainable development. The legitimacy of EIA, therefore,
partly lies in the subjective basis upon which it is rooted.