Effectiveness of environmental impact assessment: exploring potential criteria and procedures to be adopted by EIA authorities

• Grant number: 24/13082-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research
• Start date: May 01, 2025
• End date: April 30, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Applied Social Sciences - Urban and Regional Planning
• Principal Investigator: Carla Grigoletto Duarte
• Grantee: Carla Grigoletto Duarte
• Host Investigator: Angus Morrison-Saunders
• Host Institution: Instituto de Ciências Ambientais, Químicas e Farmacêuticas (ICAQF). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus Diadema. Diadema , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Edith Cowan University, Australia

Abstract

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is an essential process for supporting decision-making regarding the acceptability of new developments and the measures needed to minimize negative impacts while generating positive impacts for the environment and society. Proposals for measuring EIA effectiveness aim to determine if the EIA process is achieving its intended purposes. EIA authorities are key stakeholders in this context, as they are responsible for managing the EIA process in their respective jurisdiction. As such, they are accountable to governments and stakeholders and need to provide evidence to society about the outcomes achieved through EIA. This research aims to develop criteria and procedures for EIA authorities to evaluate EIA effectiveness. Three specific objectives will be developed: (a) to review criteria and procedures for EIA effectiveness evaluation described in scientific literature and in EIA authorities reports; (b) to explore lessons from the effectiveness evaluation adopted in the field of protected areas management applicable to EIA effectiveness, and (c) propose and discuss options of criteria and procedures for EIA effectiveness evaluation with EIA authorities in Brazil and Australia, focusing on offshore energy projects. The research will include a comprehensive literature and document review, as well as interviews with representatives from EIA authorities in selected countries. This research intends to make theoretical contributions to the literature on impact assessment effectiveness, also presenting practical contributions to EIA authorities that may improve their accountability practices.