ID: 1850
Presenting Author: Consuelo Garcia Zavala
Session: 541 - EsIA and Permitting Improvements for Efficiency and Effectiveness: Lessons Learned
Status: pending
This framework evaluates the procedural effectiveness of EIA systems using comprehensive criteria based on good practices, scholarly literature, and adaptive governance principles.
This framework was developed to evaluate the procedural effectiveness of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) systems. It integrates updated good practices, a comprehensive set of assessment criteria, and a focus on adaptive governance, offering a holistic and targeted approach to understanding procedural performance of EIA systems within specific jurisdictions. The framework comprises multiple criteria and indicators related to system-level performance and core EIA functions, to be evaluated using a five-level scoring scale. Its development was informed by a review of international guidelines, widely cited scholarly literature, and examples of good practice from Canada and Queensland, Australia. While adaptable across jurisdictions, the framework is designed to assess the overall performance of EIA systems rather than individual stages or components. Its main contribution lies in offering regulators, policymakers, and researchers a structured tool to identify procedural strengths and weaknesses, undertake comparative assessments, and inform targeted improvements for more effective environmental governance and permitting.
PhD candidate in Environmental Governance, University of Queensland. With a Master’s in Environmental Management, a Bachelor’s in Engineering, and professional experience in EIA practice
Coauthor 1: Sandy Worden
Coauthor 2: Claire Cote
Coauthor 3: Louisa Rochford