Environmental impact assessment

Theory, practice and its implications for the mekong hydropower debate

Abstract

Hydropower development in the Lower Mekong Basin is occurring at a rapid pace. With
partial funding from international financial institutions has come pressure on the riparian
governments to ensure that the potential environmental and social impacts of hydropower projects
are properly considered. Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is one of the primary
environmental management tools being proposed to fulfill these obligations. This article highlights
some of the challenges that are inherent in applying EIA in the Mekong context through critical
analysis of both its conceptual and institutional aspects. The main argument of the article is that
while EIA application indicates a certain degree of environmental consideration, it is not necessarily
sufficient to ensure good environmental practices. Lending institutions such as the World
Bank have identified lack of implementation capacity as the biggest constraint to effective EIAs.
Focusing on Laos, we show how EIA application should be equipped with necessary institutional
arrangements and a transparent public participation process. This will ultimately require a shift
within the region to allow environmental and social issues to be given significant weight.