Why a Training in Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)?
In Cambodia, foreign investment has polluted and destroyed rivers, lakes and forest resources. It has ruined livelihoods, taken away access to land and resources, often without compensation to local communities. As investment activities have grown, violent conflict has erupted between indigenous people and investment project holders, generating catastrophic losses on both sides. Although China now is the primary source of foreign direct investment in Cambodia, often policy advisors, policy makers (and even project holders in China) are not aware of governance issues, local concerns or of the violence that has occurred. China already has developed an advanced framework in EIA, which it regularly uses to stop abusive projects and to penalize companies that violate standards. The Chinese Appraisal Center for Environment and Engineering (ACEE) operates under China’s Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP) and provides training, drafts laws, and provides advisory reports on environmental
