- "Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is the assessment of the environmental consequences of a plan, policy, program, or actual projects prior to the decision to move forward with the proposed action."
A process that evaluates the potential impact of development projects on the environment, including the air, water, and soil.
Environmental impact assessment (EIA): An introduction to Environmental impact assessment (EIA) as a tool to identify potential environmental and social impacts of a project or development.
Environmental laws and regulations: An overview of the legal framework that regulates environmental protection including but not limited to federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations.
EIA Process: Understand is the stages of the EIA process including scoping study, baseline study, impact assessment, and evaluation of alternatives.
Identification of environmental and social impacts: Different types of environmental and social impacts that may occur as a result of the development, including air pollution, water pollution, soil degradation, habitat loss, noise pollution, social displacement, and loss of cultural heritage.
Mitigation measures: Strategies that can be implemented to reduce and/or eliminate the identified environmental and social impacts.
Stakeholder engagement: How key stakeholders can be identified, engaged and involved throughout the EIA process.
Environmental monitoring and management plan: An understanding of how the EIA process is integrated with the operational phase of a development and how environmental monitoring and management plan should be established.
Risk assessment: Analyzing the potential environmental and social risks and hazards associated with the development or project.
Sustainability: The concept of sustainable development and how EIA can contribute to sustainable development.
Case studies: Examining real-life examples of EIA processes and assessments, case studies in different industries such as mining, oil and gas, and construction.
Tools and techniques: Understanding the different tools and techniques that can be implemented, such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), and environmental modelling, to support EIA.
Social Impact Assessment: Understanding the complementary tool to EIA to assess the social impacts of a project or development.
Environmental justice: Understanding the principles of environmental justice and how it can be integrated into EIA.
Capacity building and training: Understanding the training and capacity building required for professionals engaging in EIA.
Environmental management systems: Understanding how environmental management systems, such as ISO 14001, can be used to promote effective EIA practices.
Spatial EIA: This type of assessment focuses on the impact of projects on the surrounding regional or urban environment.
Strategic EIA: Strategic assessment looks at policies, plans, and programs to determine the potential environmental impacts of proposed projects.
Cumulative EIA: Cumulative assessment takes into account the long-term effects of projects over periods ranging from several decades to centuries or even millennia.
Sectoral EIA: Sectoral assessment considers the effects of specific sectors such as agriculture, forestry, fisheries, mining, energy, and transportation.
Rapid EIA: This type of assessment, also known as a screening report, provides a quick overview of the potential environmental impact of a project and is typically used for smaller, less complex projects.
Project-based EIA: This type of EIA focuses on individual construction projects and the potential environmental impacts they may cause.
Social Impact Assessment (SIA): SIA looks at the potential impact of a project or initiative on a community or society as a whole, including potential social, economic, and cultural factors.
Health Impact Assessment (HIA): HIA analyzes the potential impact of a project on the health of people and their communities.
Climate Change Impact Assessment (CCIA): CCIA looks at the impact of a project or initiative on climate change, including factors such as greenhouse gas emissions, temperature changes, and sea-level rise.
Biodiversity Impact Assessment (BIA): BIA analyzes the potential impact of a project on wildlife and biodiversity, including plant and animal species as well as ecosystems.
- "The term 'environmental impact assessment' is usually used when applied to actual projects by individuals or companies."
- "The term 'strategic environmental assessment' (SEA) applies to policies, plans and programs most often proposed by organs of state."
- "It is a tool of environmental management forming a part of project approval and decision-making."
- "Environmental assessments may be governed by rules of administrative procedure regarding public participation and documentation of decision making, and may be subject to judicial review."
- "The purpose of the assessment is to ensure that decision-makers consider the environmental impacts when deciding whether or not to proceed with a project."
- "The International Association for Impact Assessment (IAIA) defines an environmental impact assessment as 'the process of identifying, predicting, evaluating and mitigating the biophysical, social, and other relevant effects of development proposals prior to major decisions being taken and commitments made'."
- "EIAs are unique in that they do not require adherence to a predetermined environmental outcome."
- "Decision-makers need to account for environmental values in their decisions and to justify those decisions in light of detailed environmental studies and public comments on the potential environmental impacts."
- "The assessment of the environmental consequences of a plan, policy, program, or actual projects."
- "Policies, plans and programs most often proposed by organs of state."
- "It is a tool of environmental management forming a part of project approval and decision-making."
- "Environmental assessments may be governed by rules of administrative procedure regarding public participation and documentation of decision making, and may be subject to judicial review."
- "The purpose of the assessment is to ensure that decision-makers consider the environmental impacts when deciding whether or not to proceed with a project."
- "The process of identifying, predicting, evaluating and mitigating the biophysical, social, and other relevant effects of development proposals."
- "EIAs are unique in that they do not require adherence to a predetermined environmental outcome."
- "Decision-makers need to justify those decisions in light of detailed environmental studies and public comments on the potential environmental impacts."
- "The International Association for Impact Assessment (IAIA) defines an environmental impact assessment."
- "The process of identifying, predicting, evaluating and mitigating the biophysical, social, and other relevant effects of development proposals prior to major decisions being taken and commitments made."
- "Decision-makers are required to account for environmental values in their decisions."