Effective public participation in environmental matters is a key component of sound planning and permitting decisions and strengthens democratic participation. Digital tools can play a key role in simplifying formal participation procedures and making them more accessible. This reduces conflict and speeds up permitting. In the face of complex environmental crises, we need reliable planning decisions that minimise the environmental impact of, for example, infrastructure projects and industrial plants, and, where unavoidable, carefully weigh up negative impacts and provide for compensatory measures. Effective public participation is central to this.
This so-called formal public participation, which is required by procedural law, often takes place as part of the environmental impact assessment (EIA). An EIA is a process that identifies and assesses the environmental impacts of projects before their approval. Typical projects that may be subject to an EIA include major construction projects, infrastructure projects or industrial facilities.
