Impacts of offshore wind farms: significant for whom?

Significance determination is one of the most complex and least understood elements of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). In offshore projects, especially in sensitive coastal zones, this task becomes even more critical. This study evaluates the quality of significance determinations in Environmental Impact Statements (EISs) for offshore wind projects. A purposive sample of 11 EISs from England, Scotland, the United States, and Brazil was analyzed using criteria drawn from three recognized review protocols. The evaluation focused on three dimensions: clarity in communicating ‘what’ is considered significant, ‘how’ significance was determined, and ‘for whom’ the impact is significant. Findings reveal a consistent lack of clarity regarding for whom impacts are significant, as none of the EISs explained if or how community perspectives influenced judgments. While some aspects of what and how were addressed, other weaknesses emerged: lack of distinction between facts, assumptions, and professional judgments; limited disclosure of uncertainty; and insufficient consideration of social values. These issues were especially pronounced in Brazilian EISs, where they were compounded by conceptual and methodological gaps. Overall, practice appears to remain technically led, limiting EIA’s potential as a participatory and deliberative tool. The study highlights the need for context-sensitive, participatory approaches and clearer communication in significance determination.