Socio-economic assessment in environmental impact assessment: experience and challenges in Lithuania

In 2011, the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Law amendment was approved and a socio-economic assessment formally became an integrated part of EIA in Lithuania. Therefore, this study examines a socio-economic assessment in the environmental impact statements (EIS) and the perceptions of the EI...

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Main Authors: Renata Dagiliūtė, Gintarė Juozapaitienė
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Vilnius Gediminas Technical University 2015-09-01
Series:Journal of Environmental Engineering and Landscape Management
Subjects:
Online Access:http://journals.vgtu.lt/index.php/JEELM/article/view/1386
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spelling doaj-c834b884a39d473e98bb178db102cbb62021-07-02T03:28:17ZengVilnius Gediminas Technical UniversityJournal of Environmental Engineering and Landscape Management1648-68971822-41992015-09-0123310.3846/16486897.2015.1002842Socio-economic assessment in environmental impact assessment: experience and challenges in LithuaniaRenata Dagiliūtė0Gintarė Juozapaitienė1Department of Environmental Science, Vytautas Magnus University, Vileikos g. 8, LT-44404 Kaunas, LithuaniaDepartment of Environmental Science, Vytautas Magnus University, Vileikos g. 8, LT-44404 Kaunas, Lithuania In 2011, the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Law amendment was approved and a socio-economic assessment formally became an integrated part of EIA in Lithuania. Therefore, this study examines a socio-economic assessment in the environmental impact statements (EIS) and the perceptions of the EIA experts towards a socio economic assessment. Although formally a socio-economic assessment has been validated only recently, 30% of specialists claimed having conducted a socio-economic assessment in detail prior to the amendments to the law. Thus, the EIS analysis has shown a rather poor consideration of these issues as mainly creation of work places was addressed. The survey has shown that preparation of the EIA documents after the formalisation of a socio-economic assessment would change mainly nominally. The EIA experts working in the private sector were more optimistic than those from state institutions. Reluctance of changes and personal attitudes have to be addressed, especially those particular to the experts of state institutions. In addition, methodological guidance, integrative approach and public involvement into the decision-making process could change the current situation and increase the effectiveness of the EIA process and the social impact assessment in general. http://journals.vgtu.lt/index.php/JEELM/article/view/1386socio-economic assessmentsocial impact assessmentenvironmental impact assessmentLithuania
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Renata Dagiliūtė
Gintarė Juozapaitienė
spellingShingle Renata Dagiliūtė
Gintarė Juozapaitienė
Socio-economic assessment in environmental impact assessment: experience and challenges in Lithuania
Journal of Environmental Engineering and Landscape Management
socio-economic assessment
social impact assessment
environmental impact assessment
Lithuania
author_facet Renata Dagiliūtė
Gintarė Juozapaitienė
author_sort Renata Dagiliūtė
title Socio-economic assessment in environmental impact assessment: experience and challenges in Lithuania
title_short Socio-economic assessment in environmental impact assessment: experience and challenges in Lithuania
title_full Socio-economic assessment in environmental impact assessment: experience and challenges in Lithuania
title_fullStr Socio-economic assessment in environmental impact assessment: experience and challenges in Lithuania
title_full_unstemmed Socio-economic assessment in environmental impact assessment: experience and challenges in Lithuania
title_sort socio-economic assessment in environmental impact assessment: experience and challenges in lithuania
publisher Vilnius Gediminas Technical University
series Journal of Environmental Engineering and Landscape Management
issn 1648-6897
1822-4199
publishDate 2015-09-01
description In 2011, the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Law amendment was approved and a socio-economic assessment formally became an integrated part of EIA in Lithuania. Therefore, this study examines a socio-economic assessment in the environmental impact statements (EIS) and the perceptions of the EIA experts towards a socio economic assessment. Although formally a socio-economic assessment has been validated only recently, 30% of specialists claimed having conducted a socio-economic assessment in detail prior to the amendments to the law. Thus, the EIS analysis has shown a rather poor consideration of these issues as mainly creation of work places was addressed. The survey has shown that preparation of the EIA documents after the formalisation of a socio-economic assessment would change mainly nominally. The EIA experts working in the private sector were more optimistic than those from state institutions. Reluctance of changes and personal attitudes have to be addressed, especially those particular to the experts of state institutions. In addition, methodological guidance, integrative approach and public involvement into the decision-making process could change the current situation and increase the effectiveness of the EIA process and the social impact assessment in general.
topic socio-economic assessment
social impact assessment
environmental impact assessment
Lithuania
url http://journals.vgtu.lt/index.php/JEELM/article/view/1386
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