EHS 504 - Environmental Impact Assessment - Lecture 3.ppt

Lecture notes on EIA

1. Lecture delivered by
ABDUL MUIZZ TIKUMAH
University for Development Studies
School of Public Health
Department of Global & International Health
EHS 504 -
Environmental Impact Analysis

2. Types of EIAs

3. Introduction
•According to UNEP, Environmental Impact Assessment EIA is a
decision-making tool to identify a project’s environmental,
economic, and social implications.
•The primary purpose of EIA is to analyse environmental impacts
early in project design, identify mitigation techniques, adapt
projects to the local environment, and give projections and
options to decision-makers.
•Environmental impact assessments can benefit both the
environment and the economy by reducing the cost and duration
of project implementation and design, eliminating treatment and
clean-up costs, and minimising the consequences of laws and
regulations.
•During the Rio Earth Summit, 1992 such importance of the EIA
was discussed.

4. •When it comes to EIA, one size does not t all situations.
•That’s why there are different types of environmental impact
assessment, and each must align with the scale and nature of the
project.
•An extensive analysis of a mega development requires more than
a quick evaluation of a minor proposal.
•There is no blanket approach for EIAs.

5. •We will explore here the categories of EIA, from focused rapid
assessments to robust, comprehensive analyses.
•Grasping this range of assessment types helps determine the
appropriate approach based on the unique needs and
constraints of each project.
•The right type applied strategically can yield positive impacts
for both people and the planet.
•The future of balanced development requires environmental
impact assessments as diverse as the projects they evaluate.

6. 1. Screening-level EIA
•Screening-level environmental impact assessment, as the
name suggests, serves as an initial checkpoint in the EIA
process.
•Its primary purpose is to swiftly identify if a proposed project
might have significant environmental consequences.
•This initial assessment helps in altering projects, allowing
authorities and project developers to determine if a more
comprehensive EIA is necessary.

7. Key characteristics -SL-EIA
•One of the defining characteristics of a screening-level EIA is
its speed.
•It offers a quick, high-level view of potential environmental
impacts.
•This expedites decision-making processes, especially when it
comes to the project’s initial feasibility.
•However, the streamlined approach of a screening-level EIA
means it tends to be less detailed in its analysis compared to
other EIA types.

8. Limitations –SL-EIA
•Despite its speed and efficiency, screening-level EIAs have
their limitations.
•Since they provide only a superficial analysis, they might not
capture all potential impacts.
•This means they cannot replace the need for more
comprehensive assessments, especially for complex projects
with significant environmental considerations.

9. 2. Preliminary EIA
•A preliminary environmental impact assessment, often
referred to as “scoping”, serves as the prelude to a more
detailed and comprehensive EIA.
•Its primary purpose is to dene the scope and objectives of the
forthcoming assessment while gathering essential information
about the project and its environmental ramifications.

10. Data collection as the cornerstone
•The preliminary EIA is a cornerstone of the entire EIA process
•It entails the meticulous collection of critical project data.
•It encompasses details such as project location, scale, and
anticipated environmental implications.
•This initial data-gathering stage forms the bedrock upon which
subsequent, more extensive assessments will be constructed.
Charting the path forward
•By outlining the scope and purpose of the subsequent EIA, the
preliminary EIA serves as a roadmap that guides the direction of the
assessment.
•It helps stakeholders, our project developers, and regulatory
authorities understand the key aspects that will be explored and
evaluated in the more in-depth assessment that follows.

11. 3. Comprehensive EIA –delving
into the details
•The comprehensive environmental impact assessment
represents the meticulous and indepth examination of a
proposed project’s environmental consequences.
•Comprehensive EIAs leave no stone unturned.
•They entail a deep dive into various aspects, including
environmental baseline data, potential risks, and impacts.
•This type of EIA is indispensable for gaining a comprehensive
view of how a project might affect the environment in its
entirety.

12. •What sets comprehensive EIA
apart is its dedication to
involving stakeholders and the
public in the decision-making
process.
•This inclusive approach fosters
transparency and gives voice to
communities, environmental
experts, and other pertinent
parties.

13. 4. Cumulative EIA
•Cumulative EIA operates on a grander scale, transcending the
confines of single projects.
•It delves into the realm of long-term and indirect effects,
scrutinizing how multiple projects, actions, or policies, when
collectively analyzed, can significantly influence the
environment.
•The cumulative EIA is designed to capture the collective, often
subtle, repercussions of numerous activities or projects over
an extended period.
•Even seemingly insignificant effects, when viewed in the
aggregate, can lead to substantial and sometimes unexpected
environmental consequences.

14. 5. Social impact assessment (SIA)
•Social impact assessment is a process for understanding and
managing the social consequences of a proposed project or
policy.
•It is a vital component of environmental impact assessment as it
evaluates the effects on communities, cultures, and societies.
•SIA is essential because it helps identify potential social issues
and enables project planners to address them proactively.

15. •By taking the cumulative effects of various endeavors into
consideration, this type of assessment helps to unveil a more
comprehensive understanding of the environmental
landscape.
•It enables stakeholders to discern how actions that may
appear insignificant on their own can combine to shape a
broader ecological narrative.
•It focuses on the evaluation of policies, plans, and programs,
presenting a critical opportunity to infuse environmental
considerations into high-level decision-making processes.

16. •Strategic EIAs, distinct from their project-focused
counterparts, are tailored to policies, plans, and programs.
•Their primary objective is to exert a positive influence on
these overarching documents, aligning them with the
principles of environmental sustainability.
•By engaging with policies and plans, strategic EIA empowers
decision-makers to foresee and address environmental
challenges at an early stage.
•It’s a proactive approach aimed at steering the course of large-
scale initiatives toward harmony with ecological well-being.
•This, in turn, fosters a culture of sustainable development.

17. •Evaluation of social, cultural, and economic impacts SIA
examines a range of aspects, including social, cultural, and
economic dimensions.
•It assesses how a project might impact community well-being,
local customs and traditions, and economic activities.
•By analyzing these aspects, SIA helps ensure that
development projects benefit communities and minimize
adverse social impacts.

18. 6. Health Impact Assessment (HIA)
•Health impact assessment is a process that assesses
the potential health effects of a project or policy on a
population.
•It is closely related to both environmental and social
impacts because it considers how changes in the
environment or social conditions can affect public
health

19. Evaluation of health effects on
populations
•HIA evaluates various health effects, including physical and
mental health, of individuals or communities affected by a
project.
•It considers factors such as air and water quality, access to
healthcare, and lifestyle changes.
•HIA plays a critical role in ensuring that projects are designed
and implemented in ways that protect and enhance public
health.

20. 7. STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENTAL
ASSESSMENT (SEA)
•The purpose of the SEA-Directive is to ensure that
environmental consequences of certain plans and
programmes are identified and assessed during their
preparation and before their adoption.
•The public and environmental authorities can give their
opinion and all results are integrated and taken into account in
the course of the planning procedure.

21. •After the adoption of the plan or programme the public is
informed about the decision and the way in which it was
made.
•In the case of likely transboundary significant effects the
affected Member State and its public are informed and have
the possibility to make comments which are also integrated
into the national decision making process.
•SEA will contribute to more transparent planning by involving
the public and by integrating environmental considerations.
•This will help to achieve the goal of sustainable development.

22. Any Questions??