Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Lecture 21 May 2024 PDF

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Introduction By Dr. Enas Ahmed Shaqraa 21 of May 2024  Why Environmental Impact Assessment? “ It is necessary to understand the links between Environment and development in order to make Development choice t...

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Introduction By Dr. Enas Ahmed Shaqraa 21 of May 2024  Why Environmental Impact Assessment? “ It is necessary to understand the links between Environment and development in order to make Development choice that will be economically efficient, socially equitable and responsible, and ecologically sound. - Palewas, 1994 The Concept of Environmental Impact Assessment evolved in this period as: A result of a fundamental change in the way of thinking about environment and development Attempts were made to replace the economic growth approach by the concept of sustainable development “ that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” (Brundtland Report 1987, in: Palewas, 1994) In environmental policy, various options are considered: - Insurance of environmentally sound growth. - Abatement of environmental pollution. - Prevention of environmental deterioration. - Prediction of consequences of changes in lifestyle. - Emphasis of environmental considerations in decision making. - Alleviation or mitigation of harmful environmental effects. So, the increased awareness of the need of sustainable development has also broadened the range of issues that need to be examined in the assessment of potential impacts of proposed projects and programmes. 1 Integrity: The EIA process should be fair, objective, unbiased and balanced 2 Utility: The EIA process should provide balanced, credible information for decision making 3 Sustainability: The EIA process should result in environmental safeguards EIA – Three Core Values… Definition of EIA Environmental Impact Assessment or EIA can be defined as: The study to predict the effect of a proposed activity/project on the environment. A decision-making tool, EIA compares various alternatives for a project and seeks to identify the one which represents the best combination of economic and environmental costs and benefits. An assessment of the possible positive or negative impact that a proposed project. A process which ensures that all environmental matters are taken into account quite early in the project at planning process itself. It takes into consideration not only technical and economic considerations but also, traditional aspects like impact on local people, biodiversity etc. EIA is used according to two principal functions (Kennedy, 1988; in: Wathern, 1992) As a planning tool to minimize adverse impacts caused by a development activity, emphasis is on the methodologies and techniques for identifying, predicting and evaluating the environmental impacts of a proposed project or programme. Increasingly, EIA is also being viewed as a key mechanism for involving the public in the planning process through a stakeholder analysis. As a decision – making instrument to decide upon the acceptability of a project based on its environmental cost. Principles of EIA… A review of current environmental practices found the major benefits of the EA process for project sponsors to be (ESSA Technologies 1994: 16): ▪ Reduced cost and time of project implementation. ▪ Cost-saving modifications in project design. ▪ Increased project acceptance. ▪ Avoided impacts and violations of laws and regulations. ▪ Improved project performance. The benefits to local communities from taking part in environmental assessments include: ▪ A healthier local environment (forests, water sources, agricultural potential, recreational potential, aesthetic values, and clean living in urban areas). ▪ Improved human health. ▪ Maintenance of biodiversity. ▪ Decreased resource use. ▪ Fewer conflicts over natural resource use. ▪ Increased community skills, knowledge and pride. The Main Benefits of EIA …… The EIA directive requires projects likely to have significant effects on the Environment by virtue of their nature, size or location to undergo an environmental assessment before the competent authority in question grants consent. The EIA Directive defines a project as the execution of construction works or of other installations or schemes, other interventions in the natural surroundings and landscape including those involving the extraction of mineral resources. EIA Directive…. The EIA Should identify, describe and assess the direct and indirect effects of a project on the following factors: ▪ Human beings ▪ Fauna and flora ▪ Soil, Water & Air ▪ Climate and the landscape ▪ Material Assets ▪ Cultural Heritage ▪ Interaction between all above factors EIA therefore should have a very strong social dimension The Factors that Effects on the Project…. THANK YOU! For your attention …