Session Description
At IAIA26, a session called “Shovel ready vs participation ready: IA in the age of streamlining,” asked how we can preserve meaningful participation in this age of IA streamlining for efficiency. It used a ‘scrawl on the wall’ format to generate ideas from participants on how, as governments prioritize “build baby, build” agendas, we can preserve meaningful and effective IA. That session’s co-chairs are compiling what they heard into a proposed new IAIA FASTIPS that will clarify what “efficiency” means in the context of IA public participation and how IA processes can be designed to maximize efficiency while enhancing its efficacy and fairness. This session will be a workshop on a draft FASTIPS. It will begin with an introduction to the draft FASTIPS by the chair, followed by a short presentation or presentations on the “Important Things to Know” and “Important Things to Do,” questions of clarification and then discussion.
A FASTIPS on this subject is urgently needed. Efforts to streamline IA are growing worldwide, with a 2023 survey by Fischer et al (published in IAPA) showing 19 of 26 surveyed countries pursuing such efforts, with more countries joining since then. At the same time, the literature suggests that streamlining and simplification efforts can backfire, often resulting in greater administrative burden, more formulaic and less effective IA, a reduction in IA application, and fewer and shorter opportunities for participation. If accepted by IAIA, this FASTIPS will provide useful advice on when and how states and practitioners should seek to enhance IA efficiency, and how efficiency may be gained without eroding IA’s effectiveness, fairness or credibility.
Session Summary
Interested in current trends to streamline or simplify IA but concerned about IA efficacy and fairness? Join this interactive workshop on a draft IAIA FASTIPS on how IA can be made more efficient without undermining its efficacy, credibility or opportunities for meaningful engagement.
Session Chair
Anna Johnston
West Coast Environmental Law
Canada