The contribution of the human activities to climate change is well understood. Yet integration of climate change considerations in tools designed to govern activities affecting the environment, such as Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), remains underdeveloped and inconsistently applied. There is no clear direction on what measure of consideration is sufficient for environmental decision-making on potential impacts on the climate for proposed policies, programs, plans and projects. This research reviews progress across a range of 16 EIA regimes and outlines the potential for integration of climate change considerations in EIA. The research used a desk review of EIA literature to identify and assess regulations and guidelines that have been established to promote the integration of climate change in EIA. A typology of levels of integration was developed to guide analysis across multiple EIA regimes. The findings identify a global and growing normative expectation for climate change considerations to be integrated into EIA and describe the range of ways this is done across the regimes selected. Climate change integration in EIA is typically concerned with climate change mitigation, specifically greenhouse gas emissions from proposed developments. Fewer regimes are concerned with climate change adaptation, and in general, an integration deficit is identified for regimes where climate change is partially considered. Several challenges to integrating climate change in EIA are identified, including lack of practice guidelines and regulatory frameworks. Reflecting on the variety of approaches, the discussion extends typologies of integration in EIA to examine and provide a better understanding of substantive consideration of climate change in EIA. Examples of high integration indicate that EIA holds potential to play a substantive role in environmental governance at project level decision making affecting climate change. However, the range of examples also cautions that many domestic obstacles can militate against integration including political, socio-technical, and economic imperatives – particularly those affecting sectoral and scope exclusions. Nevertheless, developments across some regimes indicate leverage points for greater integration, including the role of EIA review to establish new precedents for the relevance of climate change to EIA. Potential future research and practice directions are identified, including development of regulations and practice guidelines, inclusion of climate change adaptation aspects, strengthening postdecision monitoring, application to all relevant sectors and activities, alignment with SEA, and integration across all stages of the EIA process.

Compliance monitoring is a continuous process used to ensure that conditions stipulated in an environmental authorisation are adhered to. Compliance monitoring is a key component of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and EIA follow-up. The aim of this research was to critically assess EIA follow-up conditions formulated for Environmental Authorisations in Mpumalanga Province. The practicability of conditions set out in the authorisation for EIA follow-up are of particular concern. Forty-two (42) environmental authorisations (EAs) issued under the 2010 NEMA EIA regulations were reviewed and assessed to analyse information relating to follow-up practice. In order to synthesise the data effectively and create a comprehensive analysis, the EAs were divided into project type categories rather than listed activity categories. The assessment results on the strengths and weaknesses related to compliance monitoring and enforcement of the authorisation conditions revealed that the EIA follow-up conditions in Mpumalanga do make provision of EIA follow-up. The EAs fulfils the requirements of regulation 37 of the NEMA EIA regulations 2010 by promoting compliance monitoring of impacts. However, some conditions raises difficulty in monitoring due to their impracticability. Another weakness is that conditions focus mainly on the construction phase and very little attention is paid to operational and decommissioning impacts. The analyses results show that the practicability of the authorised conditions for environmental compliance monitoring had the following challenges: conditions intended to mitigate the adverse environmental impacts are generic and do not apply to specific projects or activities being authorised and there are no clearly defined timeframes for conditions requiring repetitive monitoring. Moreover, the study revealed gaps in monitoring of the authorised conditions that included poor clarity of roles of environmental control officers (ECOs) and auditors and a lack of reference to sections to be complied with pertaining to other relevant legislation. The critical assessment of the EIA follow-up conditions formulated for Environmental Authorisations in Mpumalanga Province indicate that the formulation of conditions have implications in ensuring that compliance is effectively implemented. Clearly defined conditions will ensure proper interpretation and correct implementation for compliance purposes. / M (Environmental Management), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Compliance monitoring is a continuous process used to ensure that conditions stipulated in an environmental authorisation are adhered to. Compliance monitoring is a key component of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and EIA follow-up. The aim of this research was to critically assess EIA follow-up conditions formulated for Environmental Authorisations in Mpumalanga Province. The practicability of conditions set out in the authorisation for EIA follow-up are of particular concern. Forty-two (42) environmental authorisations (EAs) issued under the 2010 NEMA EIA regulations were reviewed and assessed to analyse information relating to follow-up practice. In order to synthesise the data effectively and create a comprehensive analysis, the EAs were divided into project type categories rather than listed activity categories. The assessment results on the strengths and weaknesses related to compliance monitoring and enforcement of the authorisation conditions revealed that the EIA follow-up conditions in Mpumalanga do make provision of EIA follow-up. The EAs fulfils the requirements of regulation 37 of the NEMA EIA regulations 2010 by promoting compliance monitoring of impacts. However, some conditions raises difficulty in monitoring due to their impracticability. Another weakness is that conditions focus mainly on the construction phase and very little attention is paid to operational and decommissioning impacts. The analyses results show that the practicability of the authorised conditions for environmental compliance monitoring had the following challenges: conditions intended to mitigate the adverse environmental impacts are generic and do not apply to specific projects or activities being authorised and there are no clearly defined timeframes for conditions requiring repetitive monitoring. Moreover, the study revealed gaps in monitoring of the authorised conditions that included poor clarity of roles of environmental control officers (ECOs) and auditors and a lack of reference to sections to be complied with pertaining to other relevant legislation. The critical assessment of the EIA follow-up conditions formulated for Environmental Authorisations in Mpumalanga Province indicate that the formulation of conditions have implications in ensuring that compliance is effectively implemented. Clearly defined conditions will ensure proper interpretation and correct implementation for compliance purposes. / M (Environmental Management), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

3 In recent years, the legislation on environmental impact assessment in the Czech Republic has undergone a great number of significant changes. The existing procedures in the EIA as well as in the subsequent authorization process have been substantially modified. The thesis aims to provide an overview of the EIA system in the Czech Republic, with particular regard to the recent changes made thereto. The thesis focuses on the main features of the EIA and analyses the institutes applied therein, considering the requirements of international and EU law and the conclusions of the judicial authorities or other independent bodies established to review the compliance with these requirements. Attention is paid not only to standard forms of assessment but also to special regimes in which certain project are assessed. The thesis also deals with the specifics that characterize the EIA procedure, such as public participation or impartiality and expertise of the assessment. The thesis identifies the pros and cons of the current legislation, including de lege ferenda proposals to address shortcomings where appropriate. Attention is also paid to the topics related to EIA currently discussed in the national, European and international fields, such as the streamlining trends which aim to enhance the quality and efficiency...

Atsižvelgiant į tai, kad realus visuomenės dalyvavimas Lietuvoje atliekamose poveikio aplinkai vertinimo (PAV) procedūrose iki šiol mažai nagrinėtas, buvo atlikta Kauno regione vykdytų poveikio aplinkai vertinimo procedūrų ir visuomenės dalyvavimo jose analizė. Tyrimo metu buvo išanalizuota visi Kauno regione 2005-2009 m. pateikti poveikio aplinkai vertinimo proceso dokumentai, nustatytas visuomenės dalyvavimas juose, taip pat buvo atlikta apklausa, kurios metu buvo siekiama išsiaiškinti, pasyvaus visuomenės dalyvavimo priežastis. Atlikus Lietuvos Respublikos Poveikio aplinkai vertinimo įstatymų ir poįstatyminių teisės aktų analizę nustatyta, jog Lietuvoje yra sudarytos ES reikalavimus atitinkančios visuomenės dalyvavimo PAV procese sąlygos. Visuomenės dalyvavimo PAV procedūrose aktyvumas yra labai mažas: 2005-2009 m. visuomenė pareiškė savo nuomonę tik dėl 1,9-3,1 % vykdytų projektų atrankų dėl PAV būtinumo procedūrų; PAV programos rengimo procese, kur visuomenė gali daryti didžiausią įtaką visam PAV procesui, motyvuotų pasiūlymų iš viso nebuvo sulaukta; Supažindinimo su PAV ataskaita metu visuomenė nebuvo aktyvi ir motyvuotų pasiūlymų buvo sulaukta tik vienai 2007 m. parengtai ataskaitai dėl žvyro ir smėlio telkinio eksploatacijos. Visuomenės ir kitų PAV proceso dalyvių informavimas apie PAV eigą tik formalus, kadangi skelbimai laikraščiuose dažniausiai yra labai mažo formato, įdėti mažiausiai skaitomuose laikraščio puslapiuose, pateikta informacija ne visuomet informatyvi... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / In Kaunas region there has been made the analysis about the procedures of estimation of the effect on environment and society’s participation in it concerned with only a few cases of it having been analyzed. In this analysis there has been analyzed all the documents of the process of the effect on environment estimation that were received in 2005-2009 years in Kaunas. In the analysis there is defined the participation of society in this process, and also the testing has been made. It was tried to solve the reasons of passive participation of the society in the process of estimation of the effect on environment. The results of the analysis of Lithuania Republic Statute of Estimation of the effect on environment and the deeds of law have shown that in Lithuania there are all the conditions for the society to participate in this process, and all the conditions are defined by European Union requirements. The activity of the society’s participation in this process is very low: in 2005-2009 years the society expressed its opinion only about 1, 9- 3, 1 % of the selection of the projects that has been carried out in case to solve the necessity of the procedures. In the process of preparation of those procedures, in which the society can make the biggest influence to all the process, there has been received no motivate propositions. In the introduction of this process report to society, it was not active, there was only one motivate proposal to the report of the exploitation of sand... [to full text]

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is recognised worldwide as a tool for identifying the potential adverse effects of a proposed development on the environment. Very little attention has been given to determining the actual environmental effects resulting from a development. The need for EIA follow–up (i.e. monitoring, auditing, evaluation, management and communication) was identified and would form the building blocks within the EIA process. Follow–up provides information about the consequences of an activity and presents opportunities to implement adequate mitigation measures. EIA follow–up is not developed to its full potential even though the need for it is acknowledged and supported in legislation, scientific journals and scientific books. EIA follow–up necessitates feedback in the EIA process to ensure lessons learnt and outcomes from past experiences can be applied in future actions. Follow–up is only a legal requirement if conditions are specified in the environmental authorisation (EA). Of particular concern to follow–up is the accuracy of prediction and secondly, the level of compliance to conditions set out in the authorization and management plans. This study will focus primarily on critically analysing predictions and compliance from the construction phase of a high profile mega shopping mall project, namely the Mooi River Mall (MRM), with an analysis to gauge the actual effect and contribution of the EIA process to decision making and implementation practices. Multiple data sources were used to determine the accuracy of predictions and legal compliance level of the Mooi River Mall. The Mooi River Mall's accuracy of predictions (66%) and legal compliance (83%) suggest that some of the impacts were unavoidable; that mitigation measures were either not implemented or identified or that EIA follow–up served its purpose in the form of implementing effective auditing programmes to monitor legal compliance. / Thesis (M.Sc (Environmental Science))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is recognised worldwide as a tool for identifying the potential adverse effects of a proposed development on the environment. Very little attention has been given to determining the actual environmental effects resulting from a development. The need for EIA follow–up (i.e. monitoring, auditing, evaluation, management and communication) was identified and would form the building blocks within the EIA process. Follow–up provides information about the consequences of an activity and presents opportunities to implement adequate mitigation measures. EIA follow–up is not developed to its full potential even though the need for it is acknowledged and supported in legislation, scientific journals and scientific books. EIA follow–up necessitates feedback in the EIA process to ensure lessons learnt and outcomes from past experiences can be applied in future actions. Follow–up is only a legal requirement if conditions are specified in the environmental authorisation (EA). Of particular concern to follow–up is the accuracy of prediction and secondly, the level of compliance to conditions set out in the authorization and management plans. This study will focus primarily on critically analysing predictions and compliance from the construction phase of a high profile mega shopping mall project, namely the Mooi River Mall (MRM), with an analysis to gauge the actual effect and contribution of the EIA process to decision making and implementation practices. Multiple data sources were used to determine the accuracy of predictions and legal compliance level of the Mooi River Mall. The Mooi River Mall's accuracy of predictions (66%) and legal compliance (83%) suggest that some of the impacts were unavoidable; that mitigation measures were either not implemented or identified or that EIA follow–up served its purpose in the form of implementing effective auditing programmes to monitor legal compliance. / Thesis (M.Sc (Environmental Science))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

The main goal of this diploma thesis, called Environmental impact assessment (EIA) in european law, is to explain the procedure of environmental impact assessment. Emphasis of this diploma thesis is placed on legislation dealing with the environmental impact assessment and its development. The diploma thesis is divided into five chapters, further it contains the introduction, the conclusion, the list of abbreviation, the list of pictures, attachement and the list of literature. Chapter one defines the environmental impact assessment itself and distinguishes the project (EIA) and strategic (SEA) assessment. Chapter two describes the international law concerning the environmental impact assessment. The most important part of this diploma thesis is chapter three, which contains the analysis of european and czech legislation regarding to the environmental impact assessment. The czech legislation is then compared to legislation of other member states of the EU. Chapter four characterizes the procedure of environmental impact assessment within the Natura 2000. Chapter five analyses the case Temelín with respect to environmental impact assessment.

The process of the environmental impact assessment is an important means of the preventive protection of environmental law. This process can be seen from two plains that are represented by the distinct means of legislation relating to the environmental impact assessment. The first plain is a strategic environmental assessment (SEA), the subject of which is constituted by the assessed documents, plans and other conceptual tools. The second plain is an assessment of projects (EIA), the subject of which are already particular plans of buildings, technology and other projects with a significant impact on the environment. The purpose of this thesis is both general and individual confrontation of peculiar process of assessment of projects with the rules of administrative procedure to determine whether it is possible to submit the EIA to the administrative proceedings, or at least certain provisions of the rules of administrative procedure. As an administrative process that is managed by public administration authority, is EIA process subjected to the legal provisions regulating the activities of public administration at the same time. The rules of administrative procedure is the basic legislation governing the administrative procedural law. This thesis deals with a relationship between the process of...

A presente pesquisa teve como objetivo compreender o processo de comunicação dos impactos socioambientais no EIA e como essas informações são repassadas para o Rima, por meio de um estudo comparativo entre entre as peças técnicas das hidrelétricas de Estreito e São Salvador. Nesse processo, foram analisadas quase 400 páginas listando 146 impactos diferentes por meio da análise de conteúdo. Para um melhor compreensão dos dados analisados, a pesquisa categorizou o material e trabalhou com duas frentes: a pesquisa qualitativa, por meio de inferências sobre o texto, e a pesquisa quantitativa, contabilização dos impactos, citações, comparações com outras hidrelétricas e/ou menções a elas e espaço destinado. Com os dados obtidos, observou-se que os estudos e os relatórios de cada uma das hidrelétricas são distintos entre si; que os dois EIAs, apesar de diferentes, possuem informações técnicas insuficientes; e que os dois Rimas não cumprem o exigido por Resolução e Constituição – a transparência total na comunicação com a população local em torno de grandes empreendimentos. / This research paper aims to understand the communication process of socioenvironmental impacts in EIA as well as how this information is passed along to RIMA, through a comparative study of communication strategies from Estreito and São Salvador hydroelectric facilities. In this process, it was analyzed around 400 pages listing 146 different impacts through a content analysis. For a better understanding of the data analyzed, this research categorized the material into two ways: a qualitative study using text inferences and a quantitative study counting the impacts, citations, comparisons and/or the hydroelectric facilities of other places and the given space of them. The collected data showed that the study and the reports of each hydroelectric facility are different; the ones EIAs, even though they are distinct, they presented errors in their communication strategies; the ones RIMAS don’t accomplish the requirements in terms of resolution and constitution – the communication transparency with the local population about big projects.