Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) are designed to evaluate all reasonably foreseeable environmental consequences of human activities. Appropriate governmental scientists traditionally produced EIAs for managemen...Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) are designed to evaluate all reasonably foreseeable environmental consequences of human activities. Appropriate governmental scientists traditionally produced EIAs for management agencies in many countries. However, many EIAs are now contracted out, often to the lowest bidder without due consideration of expertise. Others suffer from limited agency resources. Consequently, many EIAs have become insufficiently researched documents that draw heavily from previous EIAs while being rushed to completion to meet legislative deadlines or avoid delaying projects. Habitual treatment of topics often ignores recent scientific literature, perpetuating previous misconceptions and analytical flaws. Common problems in EIAs discussing wildlife include: a focus on lethal takes, with little consideration of non-lethal impacts or habitat degradation;a general dismissal of the possibility that non-significant (to the resource) impacts can, when combined, become significant;and the assumption that behavioral habituation in animals represents an end of impact. Incentive to break the cycle is somewhat lacking in this now often commercially competitive environment, where contracts are increasingly awarded by industry, generating potential conflict of interest. We believe investment in thorough, impartially written, scientifically-based and up-to-date EIAs is important for appropriately representing and managing ecosystems and their resources and avoiding potentially expensive litigation.展开更多
INTRODUCTION Historical records have documented considerable changes to the global climate,with significant health,economic,and environmental consequences.Climate projections predict more intense hurricanes;increased ...INTRODUCTION Historical records have documented considerable changes to the global climate,with significant health,economic,and environmental consequences.Climate projections predict more intense hurricanes;increased sea level rise;and more frequent and more intense natural disasters such as heat waves,heavy rainfall,and drought in the future(1;2).The coast along the Gulf of Mexico is particularly vulnerable to many of these environmental hazards and at particular risk when several strike simultaneously-such as a hurricane disrupting electricity transmission during a heat wave.展开更多
This study evaluates the impact of the Pani Panchayat initiative, a community-based water management program, in the Angul and Dhenkanal districts of Odisha. Utilizing a mixed-methods approach, we gathered qualitative...This study evaluates the impact of the Pani Panchayat initiative, a community-based water management program, in the Angul and Dhenkanal districts of Odisha. Utilizing a mixed-methods approach, we gathered qualitative and quantitative data through structured interviews with diverse stakeholders, focus group discussions, and surveys. The findings indicate that the Angul district exhibited higher levels of fair elections and improved water access due to better canal maintenance, while the Dhenkanal district faced challenges from industrial water usage. The study also examines the potential of technological advancements, such as real-time water monitoring, to enhance governance. By identifying synergies and gaps with existing water policies, the research provides policy recommendations to promote sustainable water management in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals 2030.展开更多
In May 2019,the 15th anniversary of Latvia’s membership in the European Union is celebrated.Apart from purely economic results,membership in the European Union undoubtedly also affects the functioning of the state pu...In May 2019,the 15th anniversary of Latvia’s membership in the European Union is celebrated.Apart from purely economic results,membership in the European Union undoubtedly also affects the functioning of the state public administration system.The EU encourages to maximise the rational use of human resources,ensure the efficient functioning of institutions,and provide modern,high-quality,and convenient services to the population,while reducing the administrative burden and simplifying the regulatory framework.At the same time,even after 15 years,the assessment of the impact of Latvia’s membership in the EU is rather hypothetical,since the evaluation of the actual impact of integration and joining the European Union has been largely fragmented.At this paper,the author focuses on analysing the possible methodology which can be used for assessing Latvia’s integration process in the European Union.The impact assessment method has also found its way of being applied to the process of European integration.In the context of this integration,the impact assessment aims to provide with information on the political,economic,social,and environmental impact of implementing the Community policy or certain regulations and directives.The author wants to stress that the EU integration is not the only area where impact assessment method could be applied in the public governance.This method can(and actually is)widely used for evaluation of different public policy strategies and programs.This paper deals with case research using the“comparative research on public management policy”proposed by Michael Barzelay.Its purpose is to understand the changes in public administration policy by using case studies.Barzelay suggests using one of the models—the Kingdon’s model,the Baumgartner and Jones’s model,or Levitt and March’s model allowing one to analyse the public policy-making process.展开更多
文摘Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) are designed to evaluate all reasonably foreseeable environmental consequences of human activities. Appropriate governmental scientists traditionally produced EIAs for management agencies in many countries. However, many EIAs are now contracted out, often to the lowest bidder without due consideration of expertise. Others suffer from limited agency resources. Consequently, many EIAs have become insufficiently researched documents that draw heavily from previous EIAs while being rushed to completion to meet legislative deadlines or avoid delaying projects. Habitual treatment of topics often ignores recent scientific literature, perpetuating previous misconceptions and analytical flaws. Common problems in EIAs discussing wildlife include: a focus on lethal takes, with little consideration of non-lethal impacts or habitat degradation;a general dismissal of the possibility that non-significant (to the resource) impacts can, when combined, become significant;and the assumption that behavioral habituation in animals represents an end of impact. Incentive to break the cycle is somewhat lacking in this now often commercially competitive environment, where contracts are increasingly awarded by industry, generating potential conflict of interest. We believe investment in thorough, impartially written, scientifically-based and up-to-date EIAs is important for appropriately representing and managing ecosystems and their resources and avoiding potentially expensive litigation.
文摘INTRODUCTION Historical records have documented considerable changes to the global climate,with significant health,economic,and environmental consequences.Climate projections predict more intense hurricanes;increased sea level rise;and more frequent and more intense natural disasters such as heat waves,heavy rainfall,and drought in the future(1;2).The coast along the Gulf of Mexico is particularly vulnerable to many of these environmental hazards and at particular risk when several strike simultaneously-such as a hurricane disrupting electricity transmission during a heat wave.
文摘This study evaluates the impact of the Pani Panchayat initiative, a community-based water management program, in the Angul and Dhenkanal districts of Odisha. Utilizing a mixed-methods approach, we gathered qualitative and quantitative data through structured interviews with diverse stakeholders, focus group discussions, and surveys. The findings indicate that the Angul district exhibited higher levels of fair elections and improved water access due to better canal maintenance, while the Dhenkanal district faced challenges from industrial water usage. The study also examines the potential of technological advancements, such as real-time water monitoring, to enhance governance. By identifying synergies and gaps with existing water policies, the research provides policy recommendations to promote sustainable water management in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals 2030.
文摘In May 2019,the 15th anniversary of Latvia’s membership in the European Union is celebrated.Apart from purely economic results,membership in the European Union undoubtedly also affects the functioning of the state public administration system.The EU encourages to maximise the rational use of human resources,ensure the efficient functioning of institutions,and provide modern,high-quality,and convenient services to the population,while reducing the administrative burden and simplifying the regulatory framework.At the same time,even after 15 years,the assessment of the impact of Latvia’s membership in the EU is rather hypothetical,since the evaluation of the actual impact of integration and joining the European Union has been largely fragmented.At this paper,the author focuses on analysing the possible methodology which can be used for assessing Latvia’s integration process in the European Union.The impact assessment method has also found its way of being applied to the process of European integration.In the context of this integration,the impact assessment aims to provide with information on the political,economic,social,and environmental impact of implementing the Community policy or certain regulations and directives.The author wants to stress that the EU integration is not the only area where impact assessment method could be applied in the public governance.This method can(and actually is)widely used for evaluation of different public policy strategies and programs.This paper deals with case research using the“comparative research on public management policy”proposed by Michael Barzelay.Its purpose is to understand the changes in public administration policy by using case studies.Barzelay suggests using one of the models—the Kingdon’s model,the Baumgartner and Jones’s model,or Levitt and March’s model allowing one to analyse the public policy-making process.
