Abstract:

We were partners in a project aimed at regulating and promoting public participation in EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment) in China. The overall objectives of the project were to improve the quality, transparency and effectiveness of EIA by setting up clearly defined procedures for public participation in select provinces and municipalities in China. Working with numerous intersectoral project partners, our main responsibility was to identify the main gaps of public participation procedures in Chinese EIA and to provide recommendations for improvement based on best practices from EU countries.

Description:

In 2013-2014, Green Istria was a partner in a project aimed at regulating and promoting public participation in EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment) in China. The overall objectives of the project were to improve the quality, transparency and effectiveness of EIA by setting up clearly defined procedures for public participation in select provinces and municipalities in China. 

Green Istria’s main role was identifying the main gaps of public participation procedures in Chinese EIA and making recommendations for improvement. We analyzed the existing rules and practices, and built on existing mechanisms and best practices from EU countries to develop more transparent procedures for public participation the Chinese EIA process.

The lead organization in this initiative was Accademia Europea Bolzano (EURAC), Italy. Other partners were the Chinese Academy for Environmental Planning (CAEP), China; the Yunnan Institute of Environmental Science (YIES), China; and the Shandong Academy of Environmental Science (SAES), China. The project was implemented in Lincang and Xiangge Lila, Yunnan Province, Rizhao and Linyi, Shandong Province, and Beijing. Funders were the European Union and the EU-China Environmental Governance Program.