Question:
Critically Evaluate the Environmental Impact assessment System in either an Australia State or Country of your choice.
Environmental impact assessment is the tool which is helpful to analyze the environmental consequences of a plan, policy, program, or actual projects prior to the decision to move ahead with the planned action. This statement is usually used when an individual applied this project (Wathern, 2013). it is considered as the exercise of gathering information out by the developer and other bodies which helps to local planning authority to make sure that the environmental effects of a progress before determining whether or not it move further. The most important thing for the environmental impact assessment is to use the best available sources of objective information and it is necessary that it should be free from any bias and permit local authority and the entire community to better understand the influence of the proposed development (British Medical Association, 2013). Environmental standards are able to lead to proficient standards of development. It has been stated by Rajaeifar, et. al., (2016), the role of environmental analysis is vital for evaluating the potential environmental impacts of a proposed action. The will describe the complete information about the environmental impact assessment on the country of Pakistan. It has been analyzed that the United States of America became the forge country to make the first inclusive environmental protection law which is known as the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) in 1969.
The national act policy act is given a baseline for Environmental Impact assessment legislation in all over the world. It has been evaluated that in the short span of time several countries introduced their own EIA for development activities. The first Environmental Protection Ordinance (PEPO) was circulated in 1983. It was replaced later into the Pakistan
Environmental Protection Act (PEPA) in 1997. As per the PEPA, EIA is explained as a study of environmental involving collection of data, comparison of alternatives, evaluation of preventive, configuration of environmental management and monitoring arrangements and providing recommendations. The history of the environmental protection movement in Pakistan is
Figure 1: History of Pakistan Environmental protection movement and regulations
Source: (Rifat and Khan, 2006).
The Environmental Impact Assessment in Pakistan was initiated in 1983. At the end it was formulated in National Environmental Action Plan 2001. The reason was donor agencies such as World Bank, various NGOs and Asian Development Bank to adapt EIA process in Pakistan. Along with that it has been implemented to control the pollution in Pakistan caused by emission of motor vehicles and industrial activities and deforestation.
The organizational chart of the Pakistan environmental institutions were made on the basis of Pakistan environmental protection act. The entry of Pakistan was entirely new in the system of EIA to defend the environment. They are in the stage of process of execution. It has been examined that the all major donors in the Pakistan are having its own EIA guidelines and they are working on them appropriately (Rikhtegar, et. al., 2014). The established model is helpful to evaluate the EIA process in Pakistan.
Figure 2: Organizational Chart of Pakistan Environmental Institutions based on judicial.
Source: (Rifat and Khan, 2006).
The EIA system of Pakistan was evaluated by taking the help of the Christopher Wood Model. As per the legal basis of EIA system, the influence of environmental assessment process in a Pakistan is based on certain legal, political situations and administrative socioeconomic. It has been stated by Wood that each component of an EIA process is consisted majorly two activities such as explanatory and analysis. In the context of explanatory, the process of EIA should be clear in the perspective of international on the other hand in the context of analysis EIA system is able to give effective perspective practices for any jurisdiction (Rifat and Khan, 2006). There are two kinds of extent of coverage in EIA process that is working that can be the reason of degradation of environmental and working that has no adverse effect on the environment. It has been stated by PEPA in the condition of where task is likely to be the reason of an adverse environmental impact. This brings the issue that which projects should be considered for public or private sponsored activity. It is important to have the alternatives in EIA process and it is considered as an important action in the EIA procedure because alternative is considered as the change in the location, procedures or materials. The no action is liable to increase the bad impact of environmental of a proposed activity. As per the guidelines for the making and review of environmental reports for Pakistan, “An accurate step towards the making of an alternative is more commonly associated with some proposals from the sector of public.” The alternatives consideration will able to enhance the importance for not only public sector but also private sector. There are various kind of alternative have been found that is demand oriented alternatives, activity oriented alternatives, process implement alternative and location alternative and input alternatives (Webler, Kastenholz and Renn, 2012).
Scoping process is considered as the procedure to judge a range of dilemmas of unease to be evaluated in EIA process. This practice is connected with deciding the Terms of Reference (TOR) for the assessment. While processing of screening, preliminary environmental organization is not properly satisfied and it is vital to have the study material for further requirements that is why the EIA process is essential (Glasson, Therivel and Chadwick, 2013). Scoping is the initial stage for the process of EIA. It requires proper information and efficient judgment about the impact regarding issues along with the critical evaluation of the dilemmas to number of stakeholders apart from the decision holders. Environmental impact assessment task is generally performed by with the help of experts and planners who know with the regulations in proper manner to environmental assessment. The main aim of their review is to determine whether the report of environmental is helped to provide the assessment in adequate manner of the effects of environmental and that is why it is keeping sufficient importance in making decisions. It can also be utilized to attain the judgment of impartial of the particular and included group conflicts. While making process of decision, the consideration of environmental should be given weight in comparison of other factors. The three approaches are an important for making decision that is dictatorial approach, consultative approach and professional approach. As per the Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency it has been evaluated that the review of the EIA is based on the qualitative and quantitative assessments of the document.
In the EIA system of Pakistan, the responsibility of proponent is to pay and undertake for the expenses of monitoring. An environment monitoring committee is settled for approving projects. These committees are covering of the supporter, relevant authorities of municipal, key government agencies and representatives of NGOs. These committees are liable to advise the supporter for evaluating the actions, meet the requirements of the approval of environmental and the approval of operating as explained in the plan of Environmental Management. It is also liable to provide advice for the further public consultation when it is attractive. Mitigation is also considered in the process of EIA of Pakistan, mitigation is referred as techniques that are utilized to reduce the damages that can occur and bring the situation of imperfection.
As per Alshuwaikhat, (2005), The EIA methods of every country are different. The method of Australia is to decide the issues to be investigated in the EIS. It is the process which is able to recognize the involvement of the factors and in which element attention is required in the EIA of Australia. The major consideration of the scope method to identify the vital elements to be involved in the EIS and it analyze that which environment affects significantly influenced other materials (Appiah-Opoku, 2001). On the other hand the method of Pakistan EIA process is making alternatives in EIA process which is considered as the most important step in the procedure of EIA (Nadeem and Hameed, 2008). Alternatives in the process to develop and examine the various methods present for gaining objectives of project while reducing the impact of environmental. The methods are significant to utilize the present resources more capably instead of providing access creating ability for those resources (Bryson, Quick, Slotterback and Crosby, 2013). The steps of Australian EIA process are systematic and established in adequate manner while the Performa of Pakistan EIA process is not systematic and the changes are required for it time to time. The procedural steps of Australia towards EIA process is in sequential manner that is explanation of the project, explanation of the environment, recognition of the impact of environmental, evaluation of the environmental impact, control over the adverse impacts, presentation of the study, public participation and judgment by the authorities in sophisticated manner (Umair, Björklund and Petersen, 2015). along with that the forecast method is accepted by the Australia EPI process which helps to determine that what changer are required in future and amendment are being done as per the requirement (Pope, Bond, Morrison-Saunders and Retief, 2013). The major issue with Pakistan EIA process that it is taking a lot of time due to lack of applying efficient methods.
It has been concluded that the legal and procedural background of EIA is more complex but the public can be influenced in efficient manner in involving in the process if they ignore the essential requirements to keep the environment healthy within the country. The essay has been made on the Environmental Impact Assessment of the country of Pakistan. The comparison has been discussed between the methods of EIA process of Australia and Pakistan. It has been analyzed that the process of EIA of Pakistan is not that much attractive and stable as Australia so it is required to Pakistan to make its EIA process in stable manner and plan should be done in prior basis. The way of providing services of committee in Pakistan of EIA process is not that much attractive in comparison of Australia. It has been recommended that training program should be considered by Pakistan to improve the EIA process within the country in efficient manner. It is necessary because this process is capable to provide information about the environment so that the country can make change to improve the condition of the environment of the country (Shahab, et. al., 2016). The public nature of the EIA process defines that interested groups have a chance to raise concerns and see them addressed.
References
Alshuwaikhat, H.M., 2005. Strategic environmental assessment can help solve environmental impact assessment failures in developing countries. Environmental impact assessment review, 25(4), pp.307-317.
Appiah-Opoku, S., 2001. Environmental impact assessment in developing countries: the case of Ghana. Environmental Impact Assessment Review, 21(1), pp.59-71.
British Medical Association, 2013. Health and environmental impact assessment: an integrated approach. Routledge.
Bryson, J.M., Quick, K.S., Slotterback, C.S. and Crosby, B.C., 2013. Designing public participation processes. Public administration review, 73(1), pp.23-34.
Glasson, J., Therivel, R. and Chadwick, A., 2013. Introduction to environmental impact assessment. Routledge.
Nadeem, O. and Hameed, R., 2008. Evaluation of environmental impact assessment system in Pakistan. Environmental Impact Assessment Review, 28(8), pp.562-571.
Pope, J., Bond, A., Morrison-Saunders, A. and Retief, F., 2013. Advancing the theory and practice of impact assessment: Setting the research agenda. Environmental Impact Assessment Review, 41, pp.1-9.
Rajaeifar, M.A., Akram, A., Ghobadian, B., Rafiee, S., Heijungs, R. and Tabatabaei, M., 2016. Environmental impact assessment of olive pomace oil biodiesel production and consumption: a comparative lifecycle assessment. Energy, 106, pp.87-102.
Rifat, R. and Khan, D., 2006. A Review and Evaluation of the Environmental Impact Assessment Process in Pakistan. Journal of Applied Sciences in Environmental Sanitation, 1: 17-29.
Rikhtegar, N., Mansouri, N., Ahadi Oroumieh, A., Yazdani-Chamzini, A., Kazimieras Zavadskas, E. and Kildien?, S., 2014. Environmental impact assessment based on group decision-making methods in mining projects. Economic Research-Ekonomska Istraživanja, 27(1), pp.378-392.
Shahab, B., Bashir, E., Kaleem, M., Naseem, S. and Rafique, T., 2016. Assessment of barite of Lasbela, Balochistan, Pakistan, as drilling mud and environmental impact of associated Pb, As, Hg, Cd and Sr. Environmental Earth Sciences, 75(14), p.1115.
Umair, S., Björklund, A. and Petersen, E.E., 2015. Social impact assessment of informal recycling of electronic ICT waste in Pakistan using UNEP SETAC guidelines. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 95, pp.46-57.
Wathern, P. ed., 2013. Environmental impact assessment: theory and practice. Routledge.
Webler, T., Kastenholz, H. and Renn, O., 2012. Public participation in impact assessment: a social learning perspective. Environmental impact assessment review, 15(5), pp.443-463.
Zvijáková, L., Zele?áková, M. and Purcz, P., 2014. Evaluation of environmental impact assessment effectiveness in Slovakia. Impact assessment and project appraisal, 32(2), pp.150-161.
Essay Writing Service Features
Our Experience
No matter how complex your assignment is, we can find the right professional for your specific task. Contact Essay is an essay writing company that hires only the smartest minds to help you with your projects. Our expertise allows us to provide students with high-quality academic writing, editing & proofreading services.
Free Features
Free revision policy
$10Free bibliography & reference
$8Free title page
$8Free formatting
$8How Our Essay Writing Service Works
First, you will need to complete an order form. It's not difficult but, in case there is anything you find not to be clear, you may always call us so that we can guide you through it. On the order form, you will need to include some basic information concerning your order: subject, topic, number of pages, etc. We also encourage our clients to upload any relevant information or sources that will help.
Complete the order form
Once we have all the information and instructions that we need, we select the most suitable writer for your assignment. While everything seems to be clear, the writer, who has complete knowledge of the subject, may need clarification from you. It is at that point that you would receive a call or email from us.
Writer’s assignment
As soon as the writer has finished, it will be delivered both to the website and to your email address so that you will not miss it. If your deadline is close at hand, we will place a call to you to make sure that you receive the paper on time.
Completing the order and download