Environmental impact assessment systems in developing countries: A study of success and failure in Latin America and the Caribbean

The challenge of reducing poverty and increasing economic growth has often led Latin American countries to overlook environmental sustainability. Consequently, many countries of Latin America and the Caribbean, LAC, Region, are suffering from severe environmental problems, that affect the population and limit their potential for future development. This has spurred an increasing demand for environmental management tools and techniques that can help these countries to adequately diagnose their risks and suggest mitigation options.; This study argues that in the international arena the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) has proven to be an important tool to prevent environmental degradation and regulate productive activities which have significant environmental effects. Following the establishment of the U.S. National Environmental Policy Act, many developing countries adopted the EIA procedure as a legal mandate. However, the EIA has often been poorly implemented, because there are many institutional and functional factors that impede its implementation in developing countries.; This cross-country analysis of the LAC Region examines the institutional and procedural aspects of EIA practice, evaluates its impact on environmental quality and management, and assesses the requirements to strengthen institutional capacity in the public and private sectors. The results show that a diversity of methodologies in the environmental analysis, and different systematic expressions of the process in the countries, have generated a series of individualized procedures adjusted to the realities of each country. Growing regional integration makes it a priority to seek greater harmonization of the EIA systems, principles, and procedures on a regional basis.; In particular, our research reveals that the institutional foundations of EIA, its laws, principles and administrative procedures are reasonably well established in most of the countries of the LAC Region, reflecting the fact that recent steps have been taken toward strengthening many national EIA systems.; LAC EIA systems have been successful on informing stakeholders on the important actions or projects, which will significantly affect the environment, before the action is taken. EIA systems in the Region have also proven to facilitate continuity in the application of environmental protection criteria and consideration of environmental impacts in the decision-making process. Finally, there is a recognized general acceptance on the necessity to articulate the EIA process under a unique national systemic conception.; However we show that not all the EIA systems perform equally well, and certain shortcomings become more evident when they are seen in the overall context. We summarize the main problems with the current systems and use our cross country analysis to draw policy recommendations to improve them in several areas, including building necessary preconditions, institutionalization and political will, citizen participation and administrative procedures.