A framework to evaluate assessment tools for environmental policy

Environmental policy analysis often requires the use of assessment tools to gather information on the potential impacts, effects, costs, and benefits of policies, plans, and decisions. Therefore, it is important to use assessment tools that gather the most appropriate and useful information for the task. Before a tool is used and its results are incorporated into environmental policy, a tool should be evaluated according to its usefulness, acceptability, and practicality. This report develops an original analytical framework that attempts to identify the issues associated with the use of assessment tools such as environmental impact assessment, social impact assessment, and nonmarket valuation. Because there are so many tools available to meet various information requirements, and one or more may be used for one issue, the framework was developed generically. Non-market valuation was used as a case study to illustrate the type of research required in the framework in order for an informed decision to be made regarding its suitability in a given ecological, social, political, legal, and cultural context. Many questions and issues were raised regarding the use of non-market valuation in the New Zealand context, hence a research agenda was developed. The legality of non-market valuation was focused on to provide an example of the depth of research required for all the issues if time and space permitted. This report provides a catalyst for further research into the use of decision making frameworks and the use of non-market valuation in New Zealand