COORDINATING ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE AND ENFORCEMENT FUNCTIONS SUMMARY

For years, environmental impact assessment (EIA) and environmental compliance and enforcement (ECE) functions have largely occupied separate spheres within the realm of environmental governance. Although international standard-setting organizations have established policies, norms and guidelines and have played a key role in developing bodies of good practices in both disciplines, many experts have observed a lack of coherence between EIA and ECE – both in practice and at a structural level.1 The confluence of several factors has increasingly provided impetus for strengthening coordination between EIA and ECE functions. These include heightened public attention to environmental and social sustainability, demand by countries receiving development assistance for greater ownership of their development strategies, increased recognition of the right of public participation, and a growing awareness of “value and vulnerability of the global commons,”2 including transboundary issues and the need to mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change. Conditions have now matured for standard-setting bodies to build upon lessons learned thus far and to support the comprehensive strengthening of country-level EIA-ECE systems 3 that can effectively manage risks and consistently deliver desirable environmental and social outcomes