A model for sustainable development: integrating environmental impact assessment and project planning

Some shortcomings of the methodology of environmental impact assessment (EIA) and their practical consequences in developing countries are highlighted. The available methods are useful guides to decision-making at individual project level, but are insufficient for assessing cumulative and large-scale impacts. The promotion of sustainability should be clearly distinguished from EIA of individual projects, and should be conducted at a more aggregate planning level. A project planning model that takes into account the cumulative impacts and assimilative capacity of the environment is proposed and a solution procedure developed, which helps in structuring and focusing the environmental analysis of key environmental benefits and costs of possible combinations of projects. Alternative options are compared in an integrated way along with other objectives.