There has been an increased interest in public participation for environmental decision making. Public participation around the world has been part of a wide range of environmental applications (Luyet, Schlaepfer, Parlange and Buttler, 2012). Public participation is a fundamental component of the environmental impact assessment process. EIA is not seen to be whole without public consultation and participation (Hartley and Wood, 2005). DEA & DP, 2011 states that the general objectives of integrated environmental management as described in the NEMA, calls for “adequate and appropriate opportunity for public participation in decisions that may affect the environment”. Further the National Environmental Management Principles include the principle …show more content…
2.2.2 Benefits of public participation Public participation has several benefits for environmental decision making in programmes, plans, projects etcetera. The benefits are summarised as follows: 1. Normative/ Democratic. People have a right to be informed about potential decisions that may affect them and to be afforded an opportunity to influence those decisions (DEA, 2010). Public participation contributes towards a vibrant healthy democracy. 2. Legitimacy. Legitimacy of a decision making due to a transparent public participation process can be viewed as an honest reflection of the Government’s desire to take decisions that are acceptable to a wide range of population groups (Salomons and Hoberg, 2014). 3. Influencing Decision. Public participation enable those that are affected by a decision to influence it ( Glucker, Driessen, Kolhoff and Runhaar, 2013). 4. Empowerment. Public participation is seen as a forum for skills transfer thus enabling the beneficiaries to participate meaningfully in the development process (Hofisi, …show more content…
Some of the factors that can hinder effective public participation are discussed below: Jami and Walsh (2014) argues that public participation is time consuming and if poorly managed, public participation process can result in the loss of a public official’s credibility. Those who can afford the time and resources to participate can bias decisions. Salomons and Hoberg (2014) argues that restricting public participation to directly affected stakeholders establishes a particular representative bias to the process. While Drazkiewicz et al., 2015 argues that involvement of a larger number of participants during the public participation process can render the decision-making process complex and thus hinder grounds for agreement, problem solving and implementation. Political interference where the Government of the day pushes for its agenda during public participation process leads to less credible decision making. Implementation of the project is compromised and thus not easily accepted by those affected (Jami and Walsh, 2014). Below is an overview of the public participation process from a South African
Ontario’s Environmental Bill of Rights (EBR) which was passed in 1993, and came into effect in February 1994, has been a significant addition to environmental legislature. It has recognized that people within Ontario have a common goal to protect our natural environment and feel that this needs to be represented as a right to a clean environment. It thus calls upon the provincial government to have the primary responsibility in protecting, conserving, and restoring the natural environment (ECO, 2010). It also sees the need for public participation in order to hold the government accountable for its decisions. Thus the main objectives of the EBR are ensuring environmental protection, the enhancing of governmental accountability, and the facilitation of public participation in environmental decision-making. The EBR, however, still has room for improvement. This essay will be looking at the three main objectives of the EBR in order to review; what has worked, what hasn’t worked, and how it can be improved.
Regardless of the political environment, it is the responsibility of voters to take initiative in becoming politically involved. However, the current electoral system in the United States is not one that fosters voter participation, but instead often discourages voting altogether. This is evidenced through the lackluster voter turnout in the United States, which is amongst the lowest of any democratic nation. While it is convenient to blame this lack of democratic participation on a lazy and apathetic public, the root of the problem lies elsewhere. The current system of winner-take-all elections, strategic gerrymandering, incumbency advantage and governmental unresponsiveness to constituent desires is enough to deter even the most politically consci...
"Timeline of Key Environmental Legislation - NAEM." The Premier Association for EHS Management. Naem.org, Apr. 2011. Web. 25 Feb. 2014.
...ssary for progress and public opinion can hinder this progress, it is crucial for the public to be able to limit this progress of authority in order to prevent the creation of extremely unpopular policies. With each new president, a precedence is established for how to handle the public’s opinion. Some such as Woodrow Wilson and Bill Clinton have chosen to abide by it to maintain the status quo, while others such as Ronald Reagan and Theodore Roosevelt have used public opinion to gain informal power over other branches of government to achieve their own political goals. Public opinion is by far one of the most critical and important aspects of politics today and yet it can be seen so casually in local newspapers, internet surveys, and even the local gossip on a daily basis. Not everyone realizes that their response to these might one day affect the nation’s future.
One of the problems today is that America’s distrust for their leaders because they view them as ineffectual and removed. There is a need in America to democratize the public planning process and decision-making process. Many times projects, developments, and policy decisions are made without significant public input and participation. This often leads to m...
Environmental impact assessment (EIA) entails a multifaceted appraisement of the possible aftermath caused by a project or action on the surrounding man-made and natural environment (Wood, 2003). This systematic process requires the involvement of all interested stakeholders in the process and the public, in order to achieve a widespread consent on the planned project and mitigation strategies proposed [European Commission (EC), 2014].
...ronment and decisions are made collectively through consultations with various interest groups (not only one person in charge), thus limiting the potential of corruption. A democratic nation has freedom of speech, high human rights, a vibrant civil society and its people are fully involved in decision making.
More specific arguments originate from the participatory theory of democracy and the critique of a lack of responsiveness and legitimacy of representative (party) democracy. The two sets of democratic institutions are distinguished by basic features of direct participation: (1) direct democracy focuses on specific issues, in contrast to voting on candidates and general programs for long terms of office, and (2) citizens themselves act as decision makers rather than delegating these powers. Like electoral systems, a variety of procedural forms, designs, and regulations are likely to influence processes and outcome. One must also keep in mind that direct-democratic processes cannot operate in isolation but are always linked to the structures of an overall political system that includes major representative institutions. Thus, interactions between the two types of institutions will be an important challenge for analysis. For instance, as George Tsebelis notes, referendum voters can be seen as an additional veto player. Some authors contend that direct democracy may undermine representative democracy, while others focus on the deliberative functions for a democratic public sphere and the capacity for integrating citizens in the democratic process. One can also assume that basic
The development of environmental regimes involves a five-fold process. The first process is the agenda setting and issue definition stage, which identifies and brings attention to an issue to the international community. Secon...
Valentine, I., Hurley, E., Reid, J., & Allen, W. (2007). Principles and processes for effecting change in environmnental managment in New Zealand. Journal of Environmental Managment, 311-318.
...r all the decision. Reconciliation of interest, resolving personal conflicts, mutual support and information sharing will require the development of transparent and inclusive process. The agreement among all the stakeholders will help in building the proper policies and regulation with the interest of social and environmental issues.
...f of the CZMU. Although the CZMU’s mandate is to address coastal management with an integrated approach, it is worth questioning whether all interests are accounted for equitably? Barbados’ urban planning strategies employ the top-down approach and the department is reputed for pursuing economically profitable projects. To have both the CZMU and the Town and Country Planning department engaging in public participation consultation would be favourable to pursuing environmental policy in tandem with socio-economic equity.
In true democracy, there is no doubt that voices will rise against the ideas for public participation. Over the past years, certain visible feature relating to public participation and the increase and there had been a rise on the decision making process where citizens get involved. The public participation in the policy process, to truly implement the principles of democracy of the public process should aim to be rational and fair to achieve effectiveness.
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is assessment of impacts on the environment due to proposed activity and finding ways to mitigate the environmental impacts.
By refer to precaution principle in environmental management which is prudence and stewardship. Any development activities whether in infrastructures and economic activity. Peoples have to prudence in action. Must concerned about the effect of environment degradation. So, EIA is one of prudence action in avoiding neglecting environments. Depending on the type of government, an EIA administrative body can have one or more of the following functions and duties such as preparation of regulations and guidance, ensuring uniform and consistent EIA implementation, providing procedural advice and direction including on issue resolution registration of EIA reports and documentation, public notification and information related to the EIA process, issuing or approving terms of reference for EIAs, overseeing or facilitating stakeholder involvement, promoting EIA good practice, issuing an environmental approval or terms and conditions without which a project cannot proceed, supervision or inspection of EIA-derived environmental management plans for project implementation; and carrying out EIA audit and follow up