Applying the Capability Approach to Enhance the Conceptualization of Well-being in Environmental Assessment

The integration of social aspects in environmental assessment (EA) remains a contested and challenging issue. This paper outlines how and why ideas from the capability approach (CA) can be useful for the enhanced conceptualization and integration of social aspects in EA, particularly those relating to well-being. A schematic outlines how perceiving impacts on stakeholder capabilities, together with associated environmental impacts, improves conceptualization of the lived condition of affected people in environmental decision-making. This includes their values, needs and aspirations providing the opportunity to minimize harm, as well as enhance potential well-being benefits of a proposed plan, project or policy. Five South African case studies illustrate how a focus on capabilities can illuminate well-being imperatives. They explore the ranking of valued functional capabilities arranged by stakeholders involved in EAs. The aggregate ranking is analysed and compared with other capabilities lists. The findings are discussed in order to elaborate theoretical notions of capabilities and provides exemplars expounding how a focus on what people have good reason to value in their environment, their capabilities, provides an advantageous understanding of their well-being.