The effectiveness of the integration of health impact assessment (HIA) and environmental impact assessment (creating an environmental and health impact assessment’ (EHIA) process) is investigated, drawing on an example of a mandatory requirement in the power plant project sector in Thailand. The analytical framework is based on that outlined in by the authors in 2013, focusing on procedural, substantive, transactive and normative effectiveness criteria, and the evaluation served also to critique this framework in practice. Using documentary analysis and interviews, it was found that a sample of EHIAs are partially effective from the four perspectives of effectiveness. The findings suggest that integrating HIA and EIA still has a long way to go to achieve effective practice. Insufficient resources have been allocated to deliver the level of public participation expected in the regulations, or a sufficient standard of EHIA practice and monitoring. The existing analytical framework was found to be inadequate for transactive effectiveness, and a new criterion added: T5 – Availability of human resource in EHIA practice. Recommendations are provided to support the practical integration of HIA into EIA practice in Thailand
This paper investigates whether the Thai impact assessment (IA) system should develop through revolution or evolution. A timeline of the Thai IA system is mapped to show its development to date. Aspects of effectiveness (i.e. procedural, substantive, transactive, and legitimacy) are then used as the benchmark against which to evaluate past IA practice in terms of strengths, limitations and challenges. IA practice is analysed both in terms of the people within the IA system and the IA system itself, as both are considered key elements in making IA work. The findings suggest that the ongoing evolution of the IA system has continued to improve its procedural, substantive and transactive effectiveness; therefore, suggesting that continuing evolution is sufficient to deliver these dimensions of effectiveness. However, the findings also indicate that it is the people in the IA system that influence practice and arbitrate legitimacy. Developing the system over time has not significantly improved legitimacy, leading to the conclusion that gaining legitimacy in the IA process might need some elements of revolution.
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