Environment Kuznets Curve for Carbon Emissions: A Cointegration Analysis for Bangladesh

This article investigates the current status of the association between carbon emissions releases, use of energy, openness of trade and overall output of Bangladesh from its independence to 2012. The research outcomes for Bangladesh show that a robust long-run association is present there along with short-run dynamic adjustment among those variables. The research indicates that environmental degradation in Bangladesh may increase because of high economic growth in future and therefore, policies to tackle environmental pollution are imperative where the use of both market and non-market based management tools is important. Finally, this study provides some future research directions which were beyond the scope of this research. Keywords: Environment; Environmental Economics; Air Pollution. JEL Classifications: Q5; P42

Practice and performance of environmental impact assessment in Bangladesh : an ex-post evaluation of Meghnaghat power plant project

EIA (environmental impact assessment) was formally introduced in Bangladesh in 1995 to assess and manage the potential impacts of development projects. As an environmental management tool, the performance of EIA does not end up with the preparation of a good EIA report only. The proponent is required to address the potential impacts during the implementation of the project. While there is ample research on ex-ante evaluation of EIA performance, ex-post review of EIA performance is largely absent in Bangladesh. This research aims to fill this gap. Using a case study method, this empirical research indicates that the performance of EIA at the post-EIS stage is not satisfactory. Deficiencies include inadequate implementation of mitigation measures, inadequate monitoring and community participation. Also, the attitude of project proponents towards environmental issues and the role of environmental agency influence the implementation of mitigation measures. This paper suggests that the performance of EIA in Bangladesh can be improved by adequate participation of the community, a strong commitment by the proponent, and adequate oversight by the environmental agency and donor agencies. The findings of this paper will be useful to academics, policy makers and development practitioners in Bangladesh and elsewhere

The strengths and weaknesses of legal provisions and effective EIA practice in Bangladesh

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), as an environmental management tool has been formally used in Bangladesh since 1995. A strong legal set up is an important indicator of effective EIA system. However, no empirical research has been conducted to understand the adequacy of legal basis of EIA in Bangladesh. This study fills this gap. The aim of this paper is to identify the strengths and weaknesses of legal provisions of EIA in Bangladesh. This empirical qualitative study shows that despite the clear legal basis of EIA, there are still some weaknesses that may affect the quality of EIA practice. Therefore, immediate revision and modification of existing legal reform will contribute to improve the EIA practice and thereby promote sustainable development in Bangladesh

Fifteen years of Environmental Impact Assessment in Bangalesh : current practice, challenges and future directions

The aim of this article is to review the current practice of EIA system in Bangladesh. In Bangladesh, EIA has been practiced for more than fifteen years. However, there is a lack of scientific information about the current practice of EIA in Bangladesh. This article focused and reviewed three key areas of EIA system in Bangladesh : institutional arrangement, quality of EISs and implementation of mitigation measures. By using a set of good practice criteria, this article finds that still there are shortcomings in current EIA practice despite that fact that EIA practice in Bangladesh has been improving over the last fifteen years. This means Bangladesh could not harness the full benefit of EIA yet. This article suggest that in order to harness the full benefits of EIA, adequate implementation of mitigation measures is imperative while improving the capacity of proponents, regulatory agency and the quality of EIS

Evaluating environmental and social impact assessment in developing countries

Evaluating Environmental and Social Impact Assessment in Developing Countries is a valuable reference book for practitioners and researchers conducting research in and developing studies on environmental science and management and environmental and social impact assessment. The book's authors have developed and tested a new framework to evaluate environmental impact assessment (EIA) systems that may be adopted by most developing countries with EIA experience. Application of this framework will help determine if the EIA is achieving its intended goal of sustainable development in these countries. It also explains the reasons behind the strengths and weaknesses from which the development practitioners and international development partners can take lessons. This book will help the reader answer such questions as "What are the best forms of public participation?" and "How do we measure contributions to EIA procedure?" since it is based on direct experiences from a developing country that is struggling with many of these issues. Evaluating Environmental and Social Impact Assessment in Developing Countries provides further understanding of appropriate tools to evaluate environmental and social impacts of development initiatives especially in developing countries. - Demonstrates the development of an integrated holistic method that presents new research in the field - Offers a thorough analytical assessment of an EIA system in a developing country - Presents valuable insights into how developing countries are coping with the new phenomenon of public participation and involvement in environmental decision making and what methods and techniques have been successful - Includes a chapter on social impact assessment in developing countries with special focus on Bangladesh, providing valuable information applicable to developing countries.--Publishe

The quality of environmental impact statements and environmental impact assessment practice in Bangladesh

This paper investigates the quality of environmental impact statements (EISs) and gives us an understanding about the performance of environmental impact assessment (EIA) practice in Bangladesh. EIA has been formally practised in Bangladesh since 1995. However, no study has yet been conducted on the quality of EISs. This study fills this gap. This empirical study shows that the quality of EISs in Bangladesh is ‘just satisfactory’ only. A significant proportion of EISs(34%) are still unsatisfactory. Finally, possible factors affecting the quality of EISs are examined and measures to improve the quality of EISs are recommended. The findings will be useful to EIA practitioners and other stakeholders in Bangladesh. This study will also provide a general guideline for other developing countries with similar socio-economic context

Sectoral variation in the quality of environmental impact statements and factors influencing the quality

This paper assesses the overall quality of the EISs of four major sectors and the variation in quality of the EISs among the four sectors in Bangladesh. While there are ample studies on the overall quality of EISs irrespective of sectors, there is a lack of research focus in Bangladesh or elsewhere on how the quality of EISs varies by sectors. This study reviews 40 EISs of four major sectors in Bangladesh by using the Lee-Colley method. The review findings indicate that, in general, the quality of EISs in Bangladesh is satisfactory. However, there is a variation in the quality of EISs by sectors where EISs for two sectors are found to be below the satisfactory level. The reasons behind the variation in the quality of EISs by sector are analysed. Furthermore, this paper analyses the factors influencing the overall quality of EISs in Bangladesh as 35% of EISs are still poorly prepared. The factors responsible for the poor performance of EISs include inadequate study time, the lack of baseline data, weak EIA teams, the lack of EIA experts, inadequate funds and weak Terms of Reference

Predicting impacts of major projects on housing prices in resource based towns with a case study application to Gladstone, Australia

Akbar, DH ORCiD: 0000-0002-2269-5056; Rolfe, JC ORCiD: 0000-0001-7659-7040The resources sector in Australia makes a major contribution to the national economy, and underpins employment and population in the mining and mineral processing towns. For those towns, rapid growth in employment can generate particular pressures in local housing markets because of the relatively large size of the industry and the small housing stocks involved. Through a case study of Gladstone, the study provides a dynamic five-step population and housing model, to estimate short to medium term mining impacts of major resource developments. The model includes both the direct and indirect labour force generated by new resource sector developments and their flow-on effects on population increases. Sensitivity testing has allowed for different levels of resource development, employment multipliers and labour inflows. Three different approaches have then been applied to predict the housing price impacts of the expected population growth.The results of the study show that the model can efficiently predict population and housing market dynamics where there is a resource boom and bust cycle, and can potentially be applied to other resource regions in Australia and elsewhere

‘DRIVE’: A tool to help implement the Central Queensland Regional Roadmap

Akbar, DH ORCiD: 0000-0002-2269-5056; Kinnear, SH ORCiD: 0000-0002-2734-8547This report describes a decision-making tool that has been developed for the purposes of guiding resource allocation by RDAFCW and should be read in conjunction with the Central Queensland Regional Roadmap. Successful and sustainable regional development is complex, particularly in regions such as Central Queensland, which is at once geographically large, demographically diverse, and experiencing a range of multi-disciplinary and cumulative impacts. RDAFCW’s Regional Roadmap already provides for strong direction in terms of regional development activities for Central Queensland. However, what is still lacking in the RDAFCW ‘toolbox’ is a method by which the committee (and the executive officer) can determine the overall merit of offering support to one project over another, given the matrix of RDAFCW’s roles, capabilities, resources and strategic relationships. Following a review of the operations of RDAFCW and the policy environment across the three tiers of government, a new methodology for decision-making on regional projects has been developed. This model was informed by a range of existing approaches already used for regional development and decision-making (as summarised in Appendix A). The “DRIVE” tool is based on 5x3 model, with 5 key criteria each having a triplet of three evaluation questions to answer. The key criteria are: •Delivery of the Regional Roadmap •Reflecting on policy cohesion •Investing for regional benefit •Varying activities achieve equity and •Evaluating uncertainties. The DRIVE model is simple; can be applied to any nature of project; and it does not require particularly detailed information from proponents. It places no particular emphasis on any given economic sector; nor does treat economic, social, or environmental benefits differently. However, the model is constrained by a high degree of subjectivity; its relatively simplistic design; and the particular challenge of evaluating policy-based criteria when the policy landscape remains quite fluid. Further refinements may be made to the model following pilot testing with RDAFCW, and circulation amongst the wider regional development and academic communities. Finally, it is very important to note that, in its current architecture, the DRIVE tool is very closely linked with Regional Roadmap. If the DRIVE tool is to be successful in supporting Central Queensland’s transition to a ‘liveable and sustainable’ region, then the Roadmap itself must be a robust document, prepared via strong engagement and collaboration with the wider regional stakeholder set

Is there an environmental Kuznets curve for Bangladesh?

This article investigates the current status of the relationship between CO2 emissions, energy consumption, final output and trade openness for Bangladesh over a period of time (1972-2008). The empirical results for the case of Bangladesh suggest that there is an existence of a robust long-run relationship along with the short-run dynamic adjustment between the variables. The study indicates that high economic growth may increase environmental degradation in future and therefore, policies to tackle environmental pollution are imperative where the use of both market and non-market based management tools are important. Finally, this study provides some future research directions which are beyond the scope of current research