Coverage of environmental impacts in EU impact assessments

Abstract

Die Studie untersucht die Darstellung von Umweltwirkungen in EU Impact Assessments und entwickelt Empfehlungen für die Praxis der Gesetzesfolgenabschätzung in der EU und in Deutschland. Auf der Basis der Untersuchung von 12 umweltrelevanten EU Impacts Assessments sowie von Experteninterviews und einer begrenzten Literaturanalyse wurde untersucht, ob und wie Umweltwirkungen in EU Impact Assessments dargestellt, quantifiziert und monetarisiert werden. Die Studie zeigt, dass die Darstellung der Umweltwirkungen sich in den letzten 15 Jahren deutlich verbessert hat und viele Umweltwirkungen im politischen Entscheidungsprozess eine wichtige Rolle spielen. Es gibt jedoch immer noch beträchtliche Lücken in der Darstellung. So werden schwer zu modellierende Umweltwirkungen (unter anderem Biodiversität) in vielen Impact Assessments und Entscheidungsprozessen weiterhin nicht adäquat berücksichtigt. Regelmäßig werden Politikoptionen analysiert, die in Bezug auf ihre Umweltwirkungen zu ähnlich sind, als dass diese entscheidungsrelevant wären. In diesen Bereichen könnten mit Investitionen in Daten und Modelle noch erhebliche Verbesserungen erzielt werden. Quelle: Forschungsbericht

The present research analyses the coverage of environmental impacts in EU impact assessments and aims to identify potential lessons for Germany and the European Union. The main focus of the study is the analysis of the way how environmental effects - qualitatively, quantitatively and in monetary terms - are taken into account in the EU impact assessment process, especially in comparison to eco-nomic and social impacts. The study is based on an in-depth review of 12 EU impact assessments of recent regulations with relevant environmental effects. Additionally, a small literature review and four expert interviews were conducted. Overall, the formalisation of impact assessments (IAs) has improved in the last 15 years the way that environmental impacts are taken into account in the policy making process. However, significant challenges remain in the practical application of the concept that could provide important lessons. An important finding is the fact that not all environmental impacts are adequately considered in the decision making process of choosing the best option and that quantification and monetisation of some environmental impacts (eg. biodiversity) could be improved by investing in models and data to support the authors of impact assessment. Quelle: Forschungsbericht

The study analyses the coverage of environmental impacts in EU impact assessments and identifies lessons for Germany and the European Union. The focus is on how environmental effects – qualitatively, quantitatively and in monetary terms – are taken into account in the EU impact assessment process, especially in comparison to economic and social impacts. The results show that although the assessment of environmental impacts has improved significant challenges remain. First, not all environmental impacts are adequately considered in the decision making process. Second, the quantification and monetisation of environmental impacts could be improved by investing in models and data collection.

The study analyses the coverage of environmental impacts in EU impact assessments and aims to identify potential lessons for Germany and the European Union. The main focus of the study is the analysis of the way how environmental effects – qualitatively, quantitatively and in monetary terms – are taken into account in the EU impact assessment process, especially in comparison to economic and social impacts. Overall, the formalisation of impact assessments has improved in the last 15 years the way that environmental impacts are taken into account in the policy making process. However, significant challenges remain in the practical application of the concept that could provide important lessons. An important finding is the fact that not all environmental impacts are adequately considered in the decision making process of choosing the best option and that quantification and monetisation of some environmental impacts (e.g. biodiversity) could be improved by investing in models and data to support the authors of impact assessment.