Strengthening Environmental Decision Making through Legislation

Insights from Cognitive Science and Behavioural Economics

Bibliographic Data

ID4868596
AuthorsEva Van Der Zee (0000-0002-0146-7679, Universität Hamburg, corresponding author)
Year2023
Volume12
Issue2
Pages295-317
Publication date2023-07-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueTransnational Environmental Law (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2047-1025 • E-ISSN: 2047-1033
PublisherCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1017/s2047102523000031
OpenAlexW4368366427
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited9

The environmental assessment literature has neglected the distorting effect of cognitive and unconscious motivational biases (CUMB) in environmental assessment processes. This is problematic because CUMB are present in most, if not all, decision-making situations and can significantly distort decision-making processes. This article assesses how debiasing techniques are, or should be, incorporated in (supra)national environmental assessment legislation. The Dutch case study undertaken for this article shows that EU and Dutch legislation do not sufficiently incorporate debiasing techniques to ensure sound environmental decision making. Furthermore, the extent to which Dutch legislation incorporates debiasing techniques was found to be decreasing. Based on these findings, the article presents ways to incorporate debiasing techniques in environmental assessment legislation more generally, and in EU and Dutch legislation in particular

Debiasing · Legislation · Political science · Environmental and Social Impact Assessments · Law · Psychology · Risk Perception and Management · Social Psychology · Sustainable Building Design and Assessment

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