Introduction
Throughout the 21st century, people’s interest in global environmental problems has increased due to growing awareness. People start to realize that our planet is close to a catastrophe and are willing to make efforts to save it. However, it is very challenging to improve the situation on the planet without concerning social issues. Environmental justice connects both spheres, dealing with such problems as inadequate access to food, problems of unsafe dwellings, transport air pollution, et cetera. As part of these initiatives, the environmental impact statement has been adopted by many countries, aiming to involve the population in solving environmental issues. Its effectiveness, however, is a question of discussion, and arguments for and against it will be presented in this paper.
The History of Environmental Impact Assessment
Environmental Impact Assessment was first adopted in 1960 when society’s environmental awareness started to increase. Since then, it has been adopted by many countries, such as the U.S., the Russian Federation, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, and others. Thus, it has a worldwide significance, serving as a tool for improving the process of deciding on certain environmental issues.
Caro-Gonzalez (2) notes that this tool includes a wide range of methods aimed at identifying, predicting, and mitigating the impact of projects, activities, and works on the environment.
The Effectiveness of EIA
The effectiveness of EIA can be measured in several dimensions: normative, procedural, substantive, and transactive effectiveness. In addition, legal framework and procedural analysis should also be considered during the assessment (Jenny 12). Caro-Gonzalez made a research on EIA’s impact on the example of Columbian projects aimed at impact assessment that was held in the period between 2012 and 2014. The analysis revealed the low efficiency of the tool almost in all cases. Only in one case, the effectiveness was high due to the implemented good practices. In the hydrocarbons sector, the effectiveness of EIA was higher (2). Ritter et al. also note that although the EIA aims to assess the potential impact of projects on the environment, in practice, their influence on decision-making is often limited (161). Thus, the EAI system needs further methodological development based on profound research.
The evidence shows that current environmental impact assessment systems have very general and imprecise requirements. For example, in Brazil, they are limited in their temporal and spatial scopes and need a biological characterization (Ritter et al. 166). It is important both for documenting and assessment of biodiversity and for providing a suitable baseline between altered and essentially pristine environments (Ritter et al. 166). As for the description of the species composition or the quality of soil and water, EAI often does not succeed in these fields. In addition, it does not deliver a proper description of the abiotic environment. Thus, although EAIs are considered to be a tool of environmental justice, allowing the local people to decide whether they want the project to be launched or not, the evidence shows that most of these assessments do not work properly.
Strategies for Improvement of the EAI Effectiveness
As for the improvement of the efficiency of environmental assessment impact, several strategies can be applied. The capacity of practitioners and researchers can be improved, which would make the requirements of EAI less vague. Due to the researchers, the tool should become more biologically sound and provide a new definition for the terms of reference (Ritter et al., 166). In addition, it should require a more thorough species inventory for the areas which are affected, both directly and indirectly, by the projects in the field of infrastructure.
The efficiency of the EAIs is caused not only by the vagueness of assessment requirements but also by their application in practice. The companies often consider EAI “merely as a bureaucratic step” (Ritter et al., 166). For example, in Brazil, several lobbying projects make attempts to shorten EIA’s execution and reduce its requirements. There is an example of the companies’ neglect concerning EIAs. In 2015, in Minas Gerais, the biggest natural catastrophe in the whole of Brazil’s history took place. This disaster was a rupture of a mine-tailings dam that took place in Mariana. As a result, more than 60 million m3 of iron ore tailings got into the Doce River (Ritter et al., 166). Less than a month after the incident, the government of Minas Gerais state decided to reduce the requirements of environmental impact assessment for the field of mineral exploitation. Thus, the assessment should be supported by the government, which can be done through mass environmental education.
Conclusion
Environmental impact has been developed to give the local people an opportunity to refuse some construction projects if they hurt the environment, they live in. According to the researchers’ evidence, current environmental assessment tools are ineffective. First of all, their requirements are too general and vague. In addition, the companies and local governments often take it as a mere bureaucratic procedure that can be neglected. The tool needs to be further developed and improved by specialists. Researchers should be attracted, which would make the tool more specific.
Works Cited
Ritter Camilia D., McCrate Gabriel, Nilsson R. Henrik, Fearnside Philip M., Palme Ulrika, Antonelli Alexandre, Environmental impact assessment in Brazilian Amazonia: Challenges and prospects to assess biodiversity. Biological Conservation, 206, 2017. Web.
Caro-Gonzalez Ana, Toro Javier, Zamorano Montserrat. Effectiveness of environmental impact statement methods: A Colombian case study, Journal of Environmental Management, 2021. Web.
Pope Jenny, Bond Alan, Cameron Carolyn, Retief Francois, Morrison-Saunders Angus. Are current effectiveness criteria fit for purpose? Using a controversial strategic assessment as a test case. Environmental Impact Assessment Review, 70, 2018, Web.