A new agenda for significance determination in EIA: promoting community-based determination processes to counterbalance technocratic approaches

Sara Bjørn Aaen, Ivar Lyhne and Helle Nedergaard Nielsen

Chapter 8 in Handbook of Environmental Impact Assessment, 2022, pp 146-162 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: Despite being a key element in environmental impact assessment (EIA) theory and practice for decades, the literature suggests a series of shortcomings in the determination of impact significance. Often a technocratic approach to significance determination is favoured for its perceived objectivity and while it may be well suited to determine the significance of impacts related to the natural sciences, it is often less suited to determine significance of social impacts, and practices related to those are therefore often less mature, and more contested by communities. This chapter explores the potential roles of communities in significance determination as a way to counterbalance the technocratic approach and overcome some of the current weaknesses. Based on the reported challenges and theories of community engagement, examples and innovative methods are presented and discussed. The aim is to inspire actors involved in significance determination in EIA processes to strengthen their work by engaging with communities.

Keywords: Economics and Finance; Environment; Politics and Public Policy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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