Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Renewable Energy Projects
Environment & Ecology
- PYQs3
- Articles1
Background
Understanding the regulatory framework for environmental protection, the role and limitations of EIA, the challenges in balancing renewable energy development with environmental conservation, and policy gaps in sustainable development.
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a process of evaluating the likely environmental impacts of a proposed project or development, taking into account inter-related socio-economic, cultural and human-health impacts, both beneficial and adverse. In India, certain categories of projects are exempt or have relaxed EIA requirements, which can lead to conflicts, especially in ecologically sensitive zones.
Facts & tables
- EIA exemption for solar parks
- Solar parks are not required to undergo environmental impact assessments prior to commissioning, as per a 2017 Union Environment Ministry memorandum.
- Policy gaps in state policies
- State policies (e.g., Gujarat's Solar Power Policy) focus on land allocation and incentives, often lacking provisions for compensation, rehabilitation, or livelihood safeguards for communities.
- Ecological and social impacts
- Lack of EIA can lead to projects being sited in ecologically sensitive areas (like Ramsar sites), causing habitat destruction, bird mortality, and disruption of local ecosystems and livelihoods.
| Type | Reference |
|---|---|
| Conceptual area | Environmental Governance |
| Conceptual area | Sustainable Development |
| Body | Role |
|---|---|
| Union Environment Ministry | Issues guidelines |
| NTPC Renewable Energy Limited | Implements |
Prelims angle
Prelims angle: Multi-statement analysis
Prelims angle: Conceptual understanding
- EIA: Tool to assess environmental and social impacts of projects.
- Solar parks: Exempted from mandatory EIA since 2017.
- Consequence: Projects in sensitive areas without proper scrutiny.
- Impacts: Habitat loss, bird mortality, ecosystem disruption.
- Policy gap: State policies lack community safeguards.
| Year | Framing tags |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall |
| 2020 | Definition-based questions, Conceptual understanding |
| 2017 | Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding |
Timeline
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Environmental Governance
Conceptual area
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Sustainable Development
Conceptual area
-
Prelims 2017
Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding
-
Prelims 2020
Definition-based questions, Conceptual understanding
-
Prelims 2025
Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall
-
Gujarat’s Banni grasslands: A heap of broken images, where the sun beats
EIA is a crucial tool for assessing project impacts, but exemptions for renewable energy projects like solar parks can lead to significant environmental and social conflicts, especially in sensitive ecosystems.
See also
No related topics linked yet.
Past papers
2017–2025 · 2 questions
In the news
Gujarat’s Banni grasslands: A heap of broken images, where the sun beats
EIA is a crucial tool for assessing project impacts, but exemptions for renewable energy projects like solar parks can lead to significant environmental and social conflicts, especially in sensitive ecosystems.
Try these PYQs
It is possible to produce algae-based biofuels, but what is/are the likely limitation(s) of developing countries in promoting this industry?
1. Production of algae-based biofuels is possible in seas only and not on continents.
2. Setting up and engineering the algae-based biofuel production requires a high level of expertise/technology until the construction is completed.
3. Economically viable production necessitates the setting up of large scale facilities which may raise ecological and social concerns.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Statement 1 is incorrect. The production of algae-based biofuels is not limited to seas only. It can be done on land, saline water, or wastewater. Statement 2 is correct. Setting up and engineering the algae-based biofuel production does require a high level of expertise/technology, which might be a limitation for developing countries. Statement 3 is also correct. Economically viable production of algae-based biofuels does necessitate the setting up of large-scale facilities, which may raise ecological and social concerns.
Consider the following statements:
Statement I:
Article 6 of the Paris Agreement on climate change is frequently discussed in global discussions on sustainable development and climate change.
Statement II:
Article 6 of the Paris Agreement on climate change sets out the principles of carbon markets.
Statement III:
Article 6 of the Paris Agreement on climate change intends to promote inter-country non-market strategies to reach their climate targets.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
Article 6 of the Paris Agreement is crucial as it outlines international cooperation through both carbon markets and non-market approaches to help countries meet climate goals. ✅ Statement I is correct:
* Article 6 is widely discussed because it enables cooperation through market and non-market means to fight climate change. ✅ Statement II is correct:
* It defines rules for carbon markets, including carbon trading and credit mechanisms. ✅ Statement III is correct:
* It also promotes non-market tools like technology transfer and capacity building to reach climate targets. So, the correct answer is: A
Which one of the following statements best describes the term ‘Social Cost of Carbon’?
The term 'Social Cost of Carbon' is a measure of the economic damages, in dollars, that would result from emitting one additional ton of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. It is used to value the climate impacts of rulemakings and helps policymakers understand the economic impacts of decisions that would increase or decrease emissions. Therefore, it is best described as the long-term damage done by a tonne of carbon dioxide emissions in a given year.