Conclusions

As mentioned in Chapter 1, several developments in EIA have taken place as experience with its use has grown. These may be summarised as:

increasing emphasis on the relationship of EIA to its broader decision-making and environmental management context and recognition of its subjective and political nature;

increasing codification of EIA requirements;

increasing refinement of EIA requirements;

increasing concern with the quality of EIA;

increasing emphasis on maximising the benefits and minimising the costs of EIA;

increasing recognition of the need to link EIA and ongoing environmental management;

increasing recognition that some form of strategic environmental assessment is necessary.