Evaluating climate change consideration in the Pakistani EIA framework
Amir, Khadija (2022)
Amir, Khadija
2022
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2022112925044
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2022112925044
Tiivistelmä
Current literature suggests that climate change impacts and adaptation is neglected in environmental impact assessment (EIA). However, it is one of the areas within EIA research which is becoming increasingly important particularly in the aftermath of the Paris Agreement. Pakistan is one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change and it faces serious consequences as a result. It is critical for a country like Pakistan to consider climate change impacts and adaptation within EIA to look at development decisions with a climate-sensitive lens. This study is attempted to evaluate the consideration of climate change in the EIA process in Pakistan. This was done through a thorough examination of the existing literature both academic and non-academic. An evaluation of the legislative and policy framework for EIA for Pakistan was also conducted in addition to review of a sample of 18 EIA reports for transport development across provinces and administrative areas. The result of this quantitative research showed that climate change impacts are considered to some extent within the EIA reports however this is extremely limited to mentions of international treaties and conventions that Pakistan is a signatory to. There are no details as to how these are applicable in the context of the projects. Climate stressors such as floods have received adequate attention in most of the EIAs. Most of the reviewed EIA reports lacked detail of climate change impacts and mitigation. Whereas concrete steps to ensure mitigation and adaptation post-operation monitoring was found to be non-existent primarily due to absence of mandatory requirements. Overall, there is no political will to address climate change within EIA and it is clearly reflected in the absence of climate change requirements in the EIA framework (legal, policy and guidelines, institutional) in Pakistan. Although, climate change consideration within the EIA procedures is seeing an increasing trend globally, the overall level of consideration has still a long way to go. There is a need to improve the effectiveness climate change consideration in EIA (both impacts and adaptation). This can be achieved by streamlining climate change within the legislative and policy framework and development of extensive guidance on the matter. Behaviour changes in EIA stakeholder particularly EIA practitioners is another important factor for success. Finally, rigorous post-decision monitoring and use of climate change terminology need to be adopted more widely within the EIA system.