Norman Lee

Integrated Impact Assessment for Sustainable Development: A Case Study Approach

Abstract The realization of sustainable development requires the use of different disciplinary approaches to the impact assessment of development proposals, which can give a balanced consideration to the multidimensional nature of sustainable development targets. This need has led to a growing interest in the integration of different methods of appraisal and evaluation into impact assessment methodology and practice. This article contributes to the development of a useable methodology for conducting integrated impact assessment (sometimes called integrated appraisal) by using case study experiences of development proposals. Three case studies, each of which has significant economic, environmental and social dimensions, are examined to see how appraisal was carried out in practice. Their primary purpose is to clarify some of the approaches to integrated appraisal currently in use as a prelude to identifying ways in which practice may be strengthened in the future.

Environmental assessment in developing and transitional countries : principles, methods, and practice

Introduction (N. Lee & C. George).EA PRINCIPLES, PROCESSES AND PRACTICE.Environmental Assessment in its Developmental and Regulatory Context (N. Lee).Comparative Review of Environmental Assessment Procedures and Practice (C. George).Screening and Scoping (C. Wood).Environmental Impact Prediction and Evaluation (C. George).Economic Valuation of Environmental Impacts (C. Kirkpatrick).Social Impact Assessment (F. Vanclay).Reviewing the Quality of Environmental Assessments (N. Lee).Methods of Consultation and Public Participation (R. Bisset).Integrating Appraisals and Decision-making (N. Lee).Environmental Monitoring, Management and Auditing (C. George).COUNTRY AND INSTITUTIONAL STUDIES OF EA PROCEDURES AND PRACTICE.Country Studies of EA in Chile, Indonesia and the Russian Federation (L. Contreras, et al.).Country Studies of EA in Nepal, Jordan and Zimbabwe (R. Khadka, et al.).Environmental Assessment in Development Banks and Aid Agencies (C. Rees, et al.).Strengthening Future Environmental Assessment Practice: An International Perspective (H. Abaza).Index.

Assessing the performance of the EA process

The focus of the article is on evaluating ‘how well’ the environmental assesssment (EA) process is working in practice, particularly within the UK planning system. Two approaches to performance measurement are proposed and the methods for developing performance indicators within each of these are analysed. Initial results from using these two approaches are presented which are helpful in providing some preliminary evidence on the performance of the process as a whole, and of its constituent stages, in the UK situation. Recommendations are made on the further development and refinement of performance indicators for the EA process and for their use, as part of a quality control system, to improve future performance.

Quality control in environmental assessment

Following the introduction of EEC regulations on Environmental Impact Assessment 200–250 Environmental Statements are produced each year in the UK. The quality of these ESs is discussed and is found to have improved since 1988. It still remains to eliminate the sizeable proportion that are unsatisfactory and improve the marginally satisfactory so that they fall in the good categories.

Evidence-based policy-making in Europe: an evaluation of European Commission integrated impact assessments

Since 2001, the European Commission has been committed to undertaking an evidence-based impact assessment of all major legislative proposals, covering the potential economic, social and environmental benefits and costs of the proposed policy both inside and outside the European Union. This paper provides as assessment of the quality of a sample of the Commissions extended impact assessment reports, and of the process by which these reports have been prepared. It also considers what lessons might be drawn from this experience and the measures that might be taken to strengthen future assessment practice.

The quality of environmental impact statements in Ireland and the United Kingdom: a comparative analysis

The quality of EISs produced in Ireland and the United Kingdom is assessed and compared, using the same Environmental Statement Review Package. In both countries, high percentages of EISs were unsatisfactory in the late 1980s but, subsequently, considerable improvements have been achieved. The sources of unsatisfactory quality are investigated and proposals to achieve further improvements are made.

Environmental assessment in the European Union: a tenth anniversary

The tenth anniversary of the adoption of Directive 85/337/EEC is a suitable occasion to review the main developments in environmental assessment (EA) within the European Union since 1985 and to explore ways of further strengthening EA practice in the future. Although considerable progress has been made, a number of important deficiencies remain. The measures proposed to remedy these include regulatory improvements and a variety of initiatives to strengthen E A practice, including proposals for more effective quality controls, assessment guidance, training, research and institution strengthening. In conclusion two issues relating to the future role of environmental assessment within environmental policy are explored: the boundary limits for future EA activities; and linkages between EA and other appraisal, planning and policy instruments.

The role of environmental assessment in the planning and authorisation of extractive industry projects

The relationships between environmental assessment (EA) and project planning and authorisation are analysed, as two interacting processes, within the context of the UK extractive industry. The initial findings support the view that the quality of the environmental statements (ESs), which are produced at one stage of the process, is related to certain characteristics of the pre-ES submission stages of the process. They also show that the quality of ESs has a favourable influence on certain practices and outcomes during the post-ES submission stages. However, in some cases, these relationships are found to be relatively weak or even perverse, and they require further investigation. Overall, the study highlights the importance of analysing the performance of the EA process as a whole, rather than confining the analysis to the quality of the ESs produced at one stage of the process.

Evolution of SER and OVOS in the Soviet Union and Russia (1985–1996)

The environmental impact assessment (EIA) process has been used in a number of countries since the early 1970s as an instrument of environmental regulation at the planning stage of economic activity. Since the mid-1980s, some of the principle of EIA have been introduced in the USSRs environmental legislation and regulations which has resulted in the development of two distinctive regulatory concepts. The concepts are: State Environmental Review (SER) which indicates that the review is conducted through an expert system; and the Assessment of Environmental Impacts. The roots and subsequent evolution of these two concepts, their distinctive characteristics and recommendations for the future improvement of the Russian EIA system is also presented.

Data sources and estimates of charitable giving in Britain

This paper describes how estimates of individual charitable giving are derived from two major continuous surveys: the Family Expenditure Survey and the Individual Giving Survey. It explores the reasons for and the significance of the differences between the two estimates. Conclusions are drawn on the relative merits and demerits of the two survey datasets, and the circumstances in which it might be appropriate to use each of them.