Environmental    Impact    Assessment

An EIA is necessary to inform decision-makers about the potential environmental consequences of projects (e.g., mining, infrastructure) early in the planning process. It covers impacts on biodiversity, climate, air, water, soil, landscape, and human health and typically involves seven key steps: screening, scoping, baseline data collection, impact prediction, mitigation planning, public consultation, and monitoring.

GDRC Research Output

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA): A Contemporary Framework Explainer Series C-118 Frameworks for Effective Impact Assessment: Tools, Methodologies, Techniques Sourcebook Series C- 078 ISO 14040:2006 - Life Cycle Assessment - Principles and Framework GDRC Briefs

Why EIAs? EIAs have two roles - legal and educational. The legal one is quite straight forward: to ensure that development projects such as a housing estate, a road/bridge or some such construction project has a minimal impact on the environment in its entire 'lifecycle' - i.e. during design, construction, use, maintenance, and demolition. Many countries now have laws stipulating that unless an EIA study is carried out (particularly for large infrastructure projects), permission for construction will not be granted by the local authority. The educational one is equally important and probably a forerunner to the legal role - to educate everyone involved - professionals and users included, of the potential environmental impacts of anything we do. We need to look at all our daily actions as eventually and cumulatively affecting the environment. This includes our daily choices, where a delicate balance between financial and environmental considerations need to be made. Documents and Information Repositories on Impact Assessment Quick and Dirty Guide to EIA Impact assessment and Environmental Auditing Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context (1991) International Study of the Effectiveness of Environmental Assessment Abbreviated Contents of an Environmental Impact Assessment Journal: Environmental Impact Assessment Review Policies for Creating Environmentally Sound Industries - John Zetter Lecture notes on Environmental Impact Assessment - Glen Paoletto Making Good Decisions - Peter Montague Tools, Methodologies, Techniques for Impact Assessment Types of Impact Assessment Please hover your mouse over a title to see a brief description of the assessment type. Climate Impact Assessment Demographic Impact Assessment Development Impact Assessment Ecological Impact Assessment Economic and Fiscal Impact Assessment Environmental Auditing Environmental Impact Assessment Environmental Management Systems Health Impact Assessment Project Evaluation Public Consultation Public Participation Risk Assessment Social Impact Assessment Strategic Impact Assessment Technology Assessment A detailed GDRC publication on the above set of management tools can be accessed at: Frameworks for Effective Impact Assessment: Tools, Methodologies, Techniques Sourcebook Series C- 078 Environmental Management Tools UNEP: EIA Training Resource Manual Conducting Environmental Impact Assessment in Developing Countries EIAxpert: rule-based screening-level EIA Environmental Impact Assessment and Strategic Environmental Assessment: Towards an Integrated Approach Japan: Yokohama's Environmental Assessment Procedure International Institutions and Organizations IAIA: International Association for Impact Assessment Institute of Environmental Assessment Risk Assessment and Management Introduction: Risk Assessment RiskWorld: Risk Assessment and Management Notes on Risk Management

FEATURE: Life Cycle Assessment Understanding the LCA Concept Life Cycle Assessment is an objective process to evaluate the environmental burdens associated with a product, process, or activity by identifying energy and materials used and wastes released to the environment, and to evaluate and implement opportunities to affect environmental improvements. (SETAC, 1990) Defining Life Cycle Assessment Introduction: Life Cycle Assessment InfoSheet: Life cycle analysis and assessment Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) �EComplete Beginner's Guide LCA in Japan - an Online Inventory LCA methodology Guidelines for the Design for Environment (DfE) Documents and Reports Sustainability Guide: Life Cycle Assessment SETAC newsletter and publications on LCA Workshop report: Life Cycle Assessment and Design for Environment The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment Life Cycle Assessment: Past, Present, and Future�E/a> - Jeroen B. Guin�e et. al The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment Journal of Life Cycle Assessment ISO 14040:2006 The ISO 14040 standard covers issues related to lifecycle asasessment ISO 14040: Life cycle assessment - Principles and Framework GDRC Brief on ISO 14040 Organizations, Networks and Initiatives Life Cycle Initiative LCANET: European Network for Strategic Life Cycle Assessment Research & Development SETAC: Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry UNEP: The Life Cycle Initiative US-EPA: Life Cycle Assessment website

Do you have any suggestions or additions to make on the above information? Please send an email to Hari Srinivas at [email protected]

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