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The Effectiveness Of Eia As An Instrument For Environmental Governance: Reflecting On 25 Years Of Eia Practice In The Netherlands And The Uk

Author

Listed:
  • JOS ARTS

    (Spatial Planning and Environment, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands)

  • HENS A. C. RUNHAAR

    (Copernicus Institute of sustainable Development, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands)

  • THOMAS B. FISCHER

    (School of Environmental Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK)

  • URMILA JHA-THAKUR

    (School of Environmental Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK)

  • FRANK VAN LAERHOVEN

    (Copernicus Institute of sustainable Development, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands)

  • PETER P. J. DRIESSEN

    (Copernicus Institute of sustainable Development, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands)

  • VINCENT ONYANGO

    (School of Environmental Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK)

Abstract

The European Union (EU) Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Directive which was introduced some 25 years ago has had a major impact on decision-making practices in EU member states. In the professional literature, this impact has mostly been discussed under the heading of "effectiveness", with an emphasis being given in particular to procedural elements. The extent to which EIA has contributed to objectives, such as raising environmental awareness and leading to an incorporation of environmental values in decision-making has only been rarely investigated. This paper reflects on these latter two aspects of EIA effectiveness in two EU member states; the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Empirical evidence was compiled mainly on the basis of a comprehensive literature review and online surveys with EIA professionals in both countries. Our results indicate that overall the instrument is about equally effective in both countries with regards to the incorporation of environmental concerns in decision-making. As both countries have different governance mechanisms, further research is needed on why perceived effectiveness does not differ more.

Suggested Citation

  • Jos Arts & Hens A. C. Runhaar & Thomas B. Fischer & Urmila Jha-Thakur & Frank Van Laerhoven & Peter P. J. Driessen & Vincent Onyango, 2012. "The Effectiveness Of Eia As An Instrument For Environmental Governance: Reflecting On 25 Years Of Eia Practice In The Netherlands And The Uk," Journal of Environmental Assessment Policy and Management (JEAPM), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 14(04), pages 1-40.
    • Handle: RePEc:wsi:jeapmx:v:14:y:2012:i:04:n:s1464333212500251
    DOI: 10.1142/S1464333212500251
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    Cited by:

    1. Schatz, Eva-Maria & Bovet, Jana & Lieder, Sebastian & Schroeter-Schlaack, Christoph & Strunz, Sebastian & Marquard, Elisabeth, 2021. "Land take in environmental assessments: Recent advances and persisting challenges in selected EU countries," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 111(C).
    2. Alexandra Jiricka-Pürrer & Martin Bösch & Ulrike Pröbstl-Haider, 2018. "Desired but Neglected: Investigating the Consideration of Alternatives in Austrian EIA and SEA Practice," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(10), pages 1-21, October.
    3. Morten Skou Nicolaisen & Patrick A. Driscoll, 2016. "An International Review of Ex-Post Project Evaluation Schemes in the Transport Sector," Journal of Environmental Assessment Policy and Management (JEAPM), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 18(01), pages 1-33, March.
    4. Walaa S. E. Ismaeel & Marwa Adel Elsayed, 2018. "The Interplay of Environmental Assessment Methods; Characterising the Institutional Background in Egypt," Journal of Environmental Assessment Policy and Management (JEAPM), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 20(01), pages 1-27, March.
    5. Fernandes, João Paulo, 2019. "Developing viable, adjustable strategies for planning and management—A methodological approach," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 82(C), pages 563-572.
    6. Wu, Jie & Guluzada, Esmira & Karimzada, Mehriban, 2024. "The sustainable use of natural resource markets: Moving toward greener horizons," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).
    7. Ayodele Omoniyi Olagunju & Jill A. E. Blakley, 2017. "Towards an Environmental Governance Agenda in Regional Environmental Assessment: A Case Study of the Crown Managers Partnership," Journal of Environmental Assessment Policy and Management (JEAPM), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 19(02), pages 1-33, June.

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