ABSTRACT
The use of Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) to identify the potential environmental consequences of development projects is now widespread in Asia, and the quality of this analysis is improving steadily. Most countries of the region now have legislation requiring EIAs, and this legal authority often includes not only the right to demand the redesign or cancellation of projects if serious problems are identified, but also to insist on public participation in their review. The EIA requirements have also forced a more interdisciplinary look at project design, at least in its latter stages. After an initial emphasis placed by EIA practitioners on qualitative assessment, greater attention is now being given to quantifying the health and environmental damages associated with the construction and operation phases of development projects.
