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Research article2006Peer reviewed

Decision-oriented environmental assessment: An empirical study of its theory and methods

Pischke, Frederik; Cashmore, Matthew

Abstract

The potential advantages of a decision-oriented theory of environmental assessment have long been recognised, but it is only in recent years that this topic has received concerted attention. This research advanced contemporary debate on environmental assessment through an empirically-informed evaluation of strategic theoretical and methodological issues associated with the practical application of decision-oriented theory. This was undertaken by critically analysing the decision-oriented Environmental Impact Assessment system of the German Development Cooperation (a bilateral development assistance agency) using a modified version of a recent conceptual and methodological development, Analytical Strategic Environmental Assessment. The results indicate that some aspects of decision-oriented theory offer considerable potential for environmental assessment process management, and should be employed routinely. Yet uncertainty remains about whether certain core concepts, notably the detailed a priori description of decision processes, can be achieved in practice. The analysis also indicates that there is considerably more common ground in many contemporary debates about environmental assessment than the literature, which has tended towards polarisation suggests. The significance of this research is that it recognises and highlights the contribution of decision-oriented theory to refocusing attention on the substantive intent of this globally significant policy tool. (c) 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Keywords

environmental assessment; decision-oriented; theory; ANSEA

Published in

Environmental Impact Assessment Review
2006, volume: 26, number: 7, pages: 643-662

SLU Authors

  • Cashmore, Matthew

    • University of East Anglia

UKÄ Subject classification

Environmental Management

Publication identifier

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eiar.2006.06.004

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/83847