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Institutional challenges for EIA implementation in China: a case study of development versus environmental protection
1Environmental Policy and Management Group, Department of Environmental Science and Technology, South Kensington Campus, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK.
Environmental Management
|June 29, 2005
Summary
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) in China shows limited maturation despite a decade of regulatory efforts. Challenges in implementation persist, particularly concerning institutional structures and public participation in environmental protection.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Law
- Environmental Policy
- Environmental Management
Background:
- Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) implementation in China is analyzed through a historical case study.
- The study examines regulatory and institutional frameworks governing EIA over the past decade.
- Focuses on a specific case: a proposed tourist development at Dianshan Lake, a vital water resource for Shanghai.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the maturity of EIA implementation in China.
- To identify persistent challenges in EIA processes.
- To draw policy implications for improving EIA effectiveness.
Main Methods:
- A comprehensive case study analysis of EIA implementation from planning to legal challenge.
- Historical perspective on regulatory and institutional structures.
- Follow-up research to assess recent developments.
Main Results:
- EIA implementation in China has faced significant challenges over the last 10 years.
- Legal and administrative challenges arose from public initiation and court judgments.
- Persistent issues in EIA implementation include regulatory structure, institutional arrangements, procedures, practitioners, and public participation.
Conclusions:
- Relying on reorienting existing institutions is insufficient for promoting new environmental priorities.
- Lessons learned for government and developers highlight the need for structural reforms.
- The study underscores the complexities of EIA effectiveness in a developing regulatory context.