Public Participation in Environmental Decision-Making
- 1. Public Participation in Environmental Decision-Making Local responses to global task Ashwani Kumar NMIT,Bengaluru
- 2. IMPORTANCE OF PUBLIC PARTICIPATION: Introduction to the case problem of the Ural History: military nuclear facility since,1949, three nuclear accidents
- 3. CONSEQUENCES: 50 thousands sq.meters of area were radioactively contaminated, about 100 thousands became a victims (were ill or died)
- 4. Proposal Since 1993 we have: Constitutional & Federal laws, where the right for clean and safe environment was declared But in sphere of nuclear safety we see bad trends in worsening the environment & increasing risks. Why? The answers could be obtained from political, economical situation. The approach was to observe opportunities of public participating to efficient environmental decision-making process.
- 5. Definition of public participation. Public participation can be defined as a continuous, two way communication process which involves promoting full public understanding of the processes and mechanisms through which environmental problems and needs are investigated and solved by responsible agencies; keeping the public fully informed about the progress of studies or implications of the project
- 6. What is public participation? AKA self-help, involvement, control process, in which opinion of different people and groups including into final decision continuous process of interaction between citizens and government, which have responsibility for decision power and right of citizens (Arnstain, 1969)
- 7. Role and benefits of public participating Benefits of PP: Social consensus mitigates conflicts Process of decision-making and final decisions becomes more transparent and legitimate helps prevent or and adverse environmental consequences of the decisions PP generate more solutions and opinion to solving problem, For government and business costs of possible wrong decision could reducing significantly PP trying to decide main aim of sustainable development mitigate conflict between economical growth and environment security.
- 8. DISADVANTAGES: Potential for confusion of the issues, since many new perspectives may be introduced. Possibility of erroneous information resulting from the lack of knowledge from the participant. Potential project delay and increased project costs.
- 9. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN EIA PROCESS Identification of issues and impacts. Conduction of baseline studies of environment. Prediction and evaluation of impacts. Mitigation planning Comparison of alternatives Decision making relative to the proposed action. Study documentation through preparation of environmental assessment or EIS
- 10. What is Environmental Decision- Making? Any process of decision-making where consequent significant environmental impacts are a possibility. Includes law making, policy making, spatial planning, strategic planning, resource management planning, licensing of industry e.g. IPPC, environmental assessment (EIA), budgetary decisions etc.
- 11. Levels of public participation: Arnstein Ladder 8 Citizen Control Citizen Power7 Delegated Power 6 Partnership 5 Placation Tokenism4 Consultation 3 Informing 2 Therapy Non-Participation 1 Manipulation
- 12. Levels of public participation Legislative opportunities and realized forms levels The legislation of Russian federation 8 Citizen Control referenda 7 Delegated Power Strategic Environment Assessment 6 Partnership Impact Environment Assessment 5 Placation State Environmental Expertise, Public Environmental Expertise, legislative process 4 Consultation Public control, consultation, public opinion research 3 Informing Informing - media, meetings 2 Therapy 1 Manipulation