Eia in a transboundary context: Principles and challenges for a coordinated nordic application of the espoo convention

• Published in: Environmental impact assessment review Vol. 19; no. 1; pp. 57 - 84
• Main Authors: Tesli, Arne, Husby, Stig Roar
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Inc 1999
• Subjects: Environmental impact studies; Environmental protection; International agreements; International cooperation; Scandinavia
• ISSN: 0195-9255; 1873-6432
• DOI: 10.1016/S0195-9255(98)00032-8

The 1991 Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context, also called the Espoo Convention, is aimed at preventing or reducing adverse transboundary impacts of proposed projects and activities. When environmental impacts are anticipated, environmental impact assessment (EIA) is required. The application of the Espoo Convention will require extensive cooperation between the involved parties. Based on the EIA regulations in the Nordic countries, the handling of activities according to the Convention is addressed by assessing important principles and challenges related to efficient implementation. The assessment is based on a number of case studies, based on their implied contact related to the Espoo Convention, and their treatment according to national EIA regulations. The evaluation reveals the importance of avoiding formal institutional arrangements that generate perceptional and practical barriers against applying the procedures suggested in the Convention. The greatest challenge appears to be clarification of the distribution of responsibilities between the countries.