The International Law of Environmental Impact Assessment: Process, Substance and Integration

by Neil Craik

Overview

The central idea animating environmental impact assessment (EIA) is that decisions affecting the environment should be made through a comprehensive evaluation of predicted impacts. Notwithstanding their evaluative mandate, EIA processes do not impose specific environmental standards, but rely on the creation of open, participatory and information rich decision-making settings to bring about environmentally benign outcomes. In light of this tension between process and substance, Neil Craik assesses whether EIA, as a method of implementing international environmental law, is a sound policy strategy, and how international EIA commitments structure transnational interactions in order to influence decisions affecting the international environment. Through a comprehensive description of international EIA commitments and their implementation with domestic and transnational governance structures, and drawing on specific examples of transnational EIA processes, the author examines how international EIA commitments can facilitate interest coordination, and provide opportunities for persuasion and for the internalisation of international environmental norms.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521879453
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	02/21/2008
Series:	Cambridge Studies in International and Comparative Law , #58
Pages:	358
Product dimensions:	5.98(w) x 9.02(h) x 0.94(d)

About the Author

Neil Craik is Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Law, University of New Brunswick.

Table of Contents

Part I. Introduction: 1. Introduction and overview; Part II. Background Norms: 2. Domestic origins of International EIA; 3. EIAs and general principles of international environmental law; Part III. EIA Commitments in International Law: 4. Sources of international EIA commitments; 5. The structure of international EIA commitments; Part IV. The Role of EIA Commitments in International Law: 6. EIAs as compliance mechanisms; 7. EIAs, interests and legitimacy; Part V. Conclusion: 8. EIAs and the process and substance of international environmental law; Appendices.

Editorial Reviews

'Whether interested in theory or practice, the contribution of international EIA norms to process, substance and integration is admirably documented and analysed in this book, which is a significant addition to the literature on EIA and the law at all levels.' Simon Marsden, Journal of Environmental Conservation

From the Publisher