The Himalayan Region needs its own EIA
Environment Programme (UNEP) as a tool to identify the environmental, social, and
economic impacts of a project before it is implemented
Key components of an Environmental Impact Assessment typically include:
-
Scoping: This is the initial phase where the scope and boundaries of the assessment are defined, and key environmental factors are identified for study.
-
Baseline Data Collection: Gathering information about the current state of the environment in the area where the project will take place. This includes air quality, water quality, flora and fauna, land use, and social and cultural aspects.
-
Impact Prediction: Identifying and predicting the potential environmental impacts of the proposed project. This involves evaluating how the project may affect the environment in both the short term and long term.
-
Mitigation and Alternatives: Developing and considering mitigation measures to reduce or eliminate adverse impacts. Additionally, assessing alternative project designs or locations that might have a lesser environmental impact.
-
Public Participation: Engaging stakeholders and the public in the assessment process to gather their opinions, concerns, and feedback. This can include public meetings, consultations, and the opportunity for public input.
-
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) or Report: Documenting the findings and recommendations of the assessment in a formal report. The EIS outlines the project, its environmental impacts, mitigation measures, and alternatives
- In India, a precursor to the EIA began in 1976-77 when the Planning Commission directed
the Department of Science and Technology to assess the river valley projects from the
environmental point of view. - It was later extended for all those projects that required approval from the Public Investment Board. Environment clearance then was just an administrative decision of the central government
- On January 27, 1994, the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change under the Environment (Protection) Act 1986 (EPA), promulgated the first EIA notification making Environmental Clearance (EC) mandatory for setting up some specified new projects and also for expansion or modernisation of some specific activities. The notification of 1994 saw 12 amendments in 11 years before it was replaced by the EIA 2006 notification
- The hallmark of the 2006 notification was the decentralisation of the process of EC. State
governments were also given powers to issue EC in certain cases - The 2006 notification has also been amended, in the name of fine-tuning the process several times. The Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change floated a draft EIA in 2020 for public comments which created quite a furore as it was perceived to be pro-industry and compromising the ecological concerns
- Despite all levels of government being acutely aware of the special needs of the Indian
Himalayan Region (IHR), the region’s vulnerabilities and fragility have not been considered
separately. - While some industries mentioned in the schedule to the notification cannot be set up in the IHR States due to the industrial policies of the respective States, other industries and projects have to meet the same threshold in the rest of the country
- The Indian regulatory system uses a graded approach, a differentiated risk management approach depending on whether a project is coming up within a protected forest, a reserved forest, a national park, or a critical tiger habitat
- The stringency of environmental conditions proposed in the terms of references at the scoping stage of the EIA process is proportionate to the value and sensitivity of the habitat being impacted by the project
- While categorising projects it is important that the impacts of all such projects and
activities are seen in the IHR in the context of this region’s fragility and vulnerability visà-vis ecology and environment - The increasing frequency with which the Himalayan States are witnessing devastation every year after extreme weather conditions shows that the region is already paying a heavy price for this indifference
- The needs of these mountains could be addressed at all four stages of the EIA screening,
scoping, public consultation, and appraisal if the yardstick for projects and activities requiring EC in mountainous regions is made commensurate with the ecological needs of
this region
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) responsible for coordinating international environmental efforts, promoting sustainable development, and addressing global environmental challenges. UNEP was established in 1972 and has its headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya.
UNEP plays a crucial role in global environmental governance and diplomacy. It serves as a forum for countries to discuss and coordinate their environmental policies and actions, provides scientific and technical expertise, and promotes international cooperation to address environmental challenges and advance sustainable development
Key aspects of UNEP:
-
Mandate: UNEP's primary mission is to provide leadership and encourage cooperation in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing, and enabling nations and people to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations. It sets global environmental policies, assesses environmental conditions and trends, and provides guidance to governments.
-
Functions: UNEP carries out various functions, including assessing the state of the environment, developing and implementing international environmental conventions and agreements, offering capacity-building and technical assistance to countries, promoting sustainable development, and raising awareness of environmental issues.
-
Environmental Conventions: UNEP plays a central role in supporting and facilitating the negotiation and implementation of numerous international environmental agreements and conventions. These include the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, the Convention on Biological Diversity, and the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, among others.
-
Global Initiatives: UNEP leads several global initiatives and campaigns aimed at addressing pressing environmental issues. Examples include the Global Environment Outlook (GEO) reports, the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, and the Sustainable Energy for All initiative.
-
Regional and National Offices: UNEP has regional and national offices worldwide to facilitate its work at different levels. These offices assist in tailoring UNEP's programs to address specific regional and national environmental challenges.
-
Partnerships: UNEP collaborates with governments, other UN bodies, international organizations, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector to address environmental issues and promote sustainable development.
-
Financing: UNEP is funded through contributions from UN member states, and it also receives funding from other sources, including grants, donations, and partnerships.
-
Key Reports and Publications: UNEP produces various reports and publications on global environmental issues, including the UNEP Emissions Gap Report, which highlights the gap between current climate action and the necessary emissions reductions to meet climate goals.
-
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): UNEP contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 13 (Climate Action), and works to integrate environmental sustainability into broader development agendas.
needs to be done for EC before a project can be started. The consequences of all these
limitations are amplified in the IHR as on top of the inherent limitations of the process,
the EIA process is not at all cognisant of the special needs of the IHR. Policymakers would
do well to explore other tools such as the strategic environmental assessment which takes
into account the cumulative impact of development in an area to address the needs of the
IHR as a fundamental policy.
|
Practice Mains Questions
1. Discuss the significance and objectives of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) in the context of sustainable development. How can EIA ensure that development projects are environmentally sustainable?
2.Evaluate the role of public participation in the Environmental Impact Assessment process. Provide examples of how public engagement has influenced project outcomes and environmental protection
3.Explain the concept of 'cumulative impact assessment' in the context of EIA. How does considering cumulative impacts differ from assessing individual project impacts, and why is it important in the EIA process?
|
