Deriving best practice principles and evaluation criteria for EIA follow-up governance

Robust governance structures are crucial for effective Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) follow-up, a critical component of best practice. EIA follow-up, with its five elements of monitoring, evaluation, management, participation and governance involves understanding project outcomes to inform ongoing management, enhance decision-making, and improve future EIA applications. EIA follow-up governance incorporates all the processes, mechanisms and arrangements required to enable the implementation of EIA follow-up. Despite its importance, implementation of EIA follow-up is still overlooked. The paper proposes best practice principles and evaluation criteria for EIA follow-up governance with a jurisdictional (macro) level focus, building upon existing EIA follow-up best practice literature. It outlines 10 core principles derived from key texts, covering: (1) legislative provisions, (2) clear identification of responsibilities, (3) compliance and enforcement provisions, (4) reporting of EIA follow-up outcomes for adaptive management and continuous learning, (5) establishment of performance criteria, (6) understanding the purpose and importance of EIA follow-up, (7) adequate resource allocation, (8) efficient and effective governance arrangements, (9) transparency and accessibility, and (10) legitimacy. Each principle is accompanied by detailed criteria, allowing for in-depth evaluation within EIA follow-up procedures. This evaluative framework provides a comprehensive guide for implementing and improving EIA follow-up practices and enhancing capacity building.