ESIA-Unit 1.pptx for Engineering Students

This is a power point presentatin for Environment and Social Impact Assessment

1. ENVIRONMENT AND SOCIAL IMPACT DEVELOPMENT UNIT 1-INTRODUCTION

2. Impacts of development on Environment Development had many positive impacts globally. However, the environment has suffered degradation due to increased  urbanization   and  industrialization . The four most significant environmental issues are  deforestation ,  pollution ,  desertification , and the  extinction of species . The most important environmental pressure points are  population growth ,  excessive consumption ,  the growth of capitalism( Capitalism is often thought of as an economic system in which private actors own and control property in accord with their interests, and demand and supply freely set prices in markets in a way that can serve the best interests of society) and  the growth of  industrialization .

3. Sociologists argue that development is not a new phenomenon - the industrial revolution of the 19th century also caused environmental damage, but mainly in Europe. The current environmental degradation, though, is on a  global  scale. The main contributors to environmental degradation are connected to  global development .

4. Let's look at some of the specific reasons why development has caused damage to the environment . Growing population Economic necessity Corruption. Debt and poverty Increased Western consumption e.g. large-scale use of non-degradable plastic Industrial development Higher levels of pollution Global warming and climate change

5. Deforestation Deforestation refers to the removal of great patches of woodland . It can happen for many reasons. The three most common are: Using the wood for timber. Using the land for industrial production or grazing. Using the land for human habitation. Forests are responsible for carbon dioxide (CO2) absorption and for the production of oxygen. Deforestation reduces the levels and efficacy of both processes. Processes of deforestation also mean the destruction of  the natural habitat   of many animal and plant species, which can lead to the  extinction of those species .

6. Example Huge parts of the Amazon rainforest have been removed due to deforestation. This puts more than 10,000 species of plants and animals at high risk of extinction, according to the Science Panel for the Amazon (SPA).

7. Pollution The most significant forms of pollution today are  air and water pollution . They mainly affect the  developing world . The source of the problem is the increasing number of manufacturing and production facilities in these developing countries .

8. Desertification Desertification means the process of  overusing land , which then becomes  infertile  and not suitable for agriculture anymore . Food  aid   sent from developed countries also reduces the prices of local food items in  the developing world . This means that farmers have to produce and sell more, at increasingly low prices, to make a living. This process exhausts the land which becomes infertile . Example: Africa’s  Sahel desert  was ‘created’ through desertification. It is also important to note that while in the 1970s Africa’s population was self-sufficient in terms of food, just 14 years later, in 1984, one-fourth of the people in Africa were dependent on food  aid .

9. There are three main theories that assess  global development ’s impact on the environment . Limits Theory: According to this theory, the degradation of the environment by global economic development will circle back to economics and affect it negatively. Sociologists who follow the 'limits' theory believe that economies will be forced to deal with the environmental damage they created in order to keep the economy growing . Example: If we run out of  natural resources , prices will increase, which will eventually force industries to look for alternatives to natural resources.

10. New Toxics Theory: This is a more  pessimistic( trending to see the worst aspect of things)  approach. Proponents of this perspective claim that no matter how well we solve pressing environmental issues, there will always be new and more pressing ones because that’s just how economic development is. The higher the growth rate, the more toxic the output it generates. According to this view, the problems will just pile up for future generations who will not be able to deal with them.

11. Race To Bottoms Theory The ‘race to the bottom theory’ claims that it is possible to slow down environmental degradation after the turning point; however, past mistakes can not be corrected .

12. Environmental Impact Assessment Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is  a tool used to assess the significant effects of a project or development proposal on the environment . EIAs make sure that project decision makers think about the likely effects on the environment at the earliest possible time and aim to avoid, reduce or offset those effects .

13. Objectives Identifying , predicting, and evaluating economic, environmental, and social impacts of development activities . Providing information on the environmental consequences for decision making . T he long term objectives include the following: Conservation and sustainable use of natural resources.Protection and enhancement of the quality of all life forms and Integration of environmental considerations in development planning processes The short term objectives include the following: To assess the nature, intensity and duration of impact of proposed development projects To promote local community and public participation in the EIA processes of a project To promote social and cultural considerations in project design

14. Types of EIA Strategic EIA Regional EIA Sectoral EIA Project Level EIA Life Cycle assessment

15. Sectoral EIA Sectoral EIA is an activity and study of impacts on the environment that is carried out sector wise. The reason is that the determination of the EIA (Environmental Impact Analysis) review is stipulated by the sectoral minister. For example, a toll road construction project . Sectoral environmental assessment (SEA) is a much needed complement to project-specific EAs in development planning. Where project EAs focus on the impacts of specific investments and often treat sector strategic planning as a given, SEA offers an opportunity for sector-wide environmental analysis before investment priorities have been determined. It also supports integration of environmental concerns into long-term development and investment planning.

16. Regional EIA EIA in the context of regional planning integrates environmental concerns into development planning for a geographic region(demarcated area on earth), normally at the sub- country level. Such an approach is referred to as the economic-cum- environmental ( EcE ) development planning .

17. Strategic EIA Strategic  environmental assessment  (SEA) is an organized procedure to assess environmental impact associated with a program, plan, or policy.  It also helps in providing a medium to explore overall impacts and address them properly along with economic and social aspects at the phase of decision making. Using SEA, environmental-related issues and challenges are appropriately addressed SEA can be effectively applied in preparation and execution of programs and plans for energy sector, industries, transportation, water and waste management, tourism, forestry, land, fisheries, agriculture, etc.

18. Phases Screening: Screening is a kind of an examination phase where a program or project is scanned under the legislation of SEA. Scoping: Scoping is related to describe the scope, assumptions, and boundaries requisite for assessment . Analysis: Here comprehensive analysis is performed, which includes documentation of environmental baseline, evaluation; and assessment of potential environmental impacts, determination of restraints(measure that keeps something under control) and opportunities related to environmental issues. 

19. Project level EIA Project level EIA  refers to the developmental activity in isolation and the impacts that it exerts on the receiving environment . Thus, it may not effectively integrate the cumulative effects of the development in a region . The EIA study then recommends appropriate mitigation measures or monitoring and management plans in the project itself. Examples of such modifications include : C hange in the alignment of a highway;·  E stablishment of oil spill emergency operations for a port; R educing the height of a dam P roviding for resettlement of affected people

20. Life Cycle Assessment Life cycle assessment (LCA), also called environmental LCA, is  a systematic, standardized approach to quantifying the potential environmental impacts of a product or process that occur from raw materials extraction to end of life .  LCA models the environmental implications of the many interacting systems that make up industrial production .

21. PHASES Product System The entirety of all activities within the system boundary that are associated with the functional unit. Functional Unit Reference unit for scaling the product system based on the function(s) provided. You carry out all assessments based on this unit. Examples include 100 pairs of paper dried (e.g., for paper towels and electric hand dryers), 1 liter of coffee brewed (e.g., for coffee machines), 1,000 pages printed (e.g., for office printers).

22. Reference Flow The amount of product needed to provide the functional unit, expressed in mass, energy, area, volume or any other physical unit. For LCAs that assess intermediate products or raw materials without a specified end use, the reference flow may act as the functional unit (e.g., 1 ton of metal A or chemical B ). Life Cycle Inventory Analysis (LCI) Collection and analysis of all data necessary to quantify the inputs (resource and energy flows) and outputs (emissions and other releases) into and out of the product system that cross the system boundary. Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA) The evaluation of potential environmental impacts based on the LCI analysis results using a comprehensive set of impact categories .

23. Interpretation Discussing and evaluating the findings of the LCI and LCIA results to arrive at a conclusion, to compare scenarios (another fundamental function of LCA analysis) and to identify existing improvement potentials. Reporting Documenting the LCA study in a comprehensive and transparent manner in accordance with ISO 14044 requirements . Critical Review Conformity assessment by one or more independent expert(s) to confirm adherence to the requirements of ISO 14044, thereby increasing the credibility and the ability to communicate the results of the LCA study. The LCA study must be externally reviewed by a panel of three independent experts if a company intends to disclose to the public claims of environmental superiority over a competing product .

24. EIA in Project Cycle Screening Scoping Prediction and mitigation M anagement and monitoring A udit

25. Screening Screening  often results in a categorization of the project and from this a decision is made on whether or not a full EIA is to be carried out . The output from the screening process is often a document called an  Initial Environmental Examination or Evaluation  (IEE). The main conclusion will be a classification of the project according to its likely environmental sensitivity. This will determine whether an EIA is needed and if so to what detail.

26. Scoping Scoping  is the process of determining which are the most critical issues to study and will involve community participation to some degree. It is at this early stage that EIA can most strongly influence the outline proposal. Scoping is important for two reasons. First, so that problems can be pinpointed early allowing mitigating design changes to be made before expensive detailed work is carried out. Second, to ensure that detailed prediction work is only carried out for important issues.  • Detailed  prediction and mitigation  studies follow scoping and are carried out in parallel with feasibility studies. • Finally, an  audit  of the EIA process is carried out some time after implementation. The audit serves a useful feedback and learning function .

27. Prediction and Mitigation Once the scoping exercise is complete and the major impacts to be studied have been identified, prediction work can start. This stage forms the central part of an EIA. Several major options are likely to have been proposed either at the scoping stage or before and each option may require separate prediction studies. Realistic and affordable mitigating measures cannot be proposed without first estimating the scope of the impacts, which should be in monetary terms wherever possible. It then becomes important to quantify the impact of the suggested improvements by further prediction work.

28. Management and Monitoring The main output report is called an  Environmental Impact Statement , and contains a detailed plan for  managing and monitoring  environmental impacts both during and after implementation The purpose of monitoring is to compare predicted and actual impacts, particularly if the impacts are either very important or the scale of the impact cannot be very accurately predicted The Environmental Management Plan needs to not only include clear recommendations for action and the procedures for their implementation but must also define a programme and costs.

29. Auditing In order to capitalise on the experience and knowledge gained, the last stage of an EIA is to carry out an  Environmental Audit  some time after completion of the project or implementation of a programme . It will therefore usually be done by a separate team of specialists to that working on the bulk of the EIA. The audit should include an analysis of the technical, procedural and decision-making aspects of the EIA. Technical aspects include: the adequacy of the baseline studies, the accuracy of predictions and the suitability of mitigation measures. Procedural aspects include: the efficiency of the procedure, the fairness of the public involvement measures and the degree of coordination of roles and responsibilities

30. Legal Framework MAJOR ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS IN INDIA 1. The Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 2. The Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Cess , Act, 1974 as amended in 1991. 3. The Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 4. The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 5. The Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991 6. The National Environment Tribunal Act, 1995 7. The National Green Tribunal Act, 2010

31. The Hazardous Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2016 The Manufacture, Storage and Import of Hazardous Chemicals Rule, 1989 • The Bio-Medical Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2016 • The Chemical Accidents (Emergency Planning, Preparedness and Response) Rules, 1996 • The Recycled Plastics Manufacture and Usage Rules, 2016

32. The Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000 • The Solid Wastes (Management and Handling) Rules, 2016 The Ozone Depleting Substances (Regulation) Rules, 2000 • The Batteries (Management and Handling) Rules, 2001

33. Stakeholders and their Role in EIA There are three principle stakeholder groups involved in any project undergoing EIA:  T he proponent; T he regulators; and The community. Each of these may provide the incentive for under- taking follow-up programmes and examples of each were presented during the workshop.

34. Project Proponent If not the most important of all stakeholders, they are definitely the reason EIAs exist. If not for their shameless pursuit of money and disregard for everything else, there would be no need for EIA and I’d still be scratching my head thinking of blog ideas. The project proponents are any company/entity that want to start a major project. They can be established MNCs or start-ups or even individuals (in case of building a house, etc ).

35. Government authorities They are the monitors of the EIA class, so to speak . They oversee the entire process of EIA, step in and alter anything they feel is not up to the mark, check the EIA report and finally decide whether to accept or reject the project proposed . Without an Environmental Clearance issued by the govt. no project can proceed from the blueprint stage . The level of govt. active in a particular project depends on the scale of the project. Major infrastructure of industrial projects need approval from the Central Govt., while smaller projects need to get permission from the State Govt. authorities.

36. The state and the central govt. has a branch to deal with EIA and EC specifically. They come under the Ministry for Environment, Forest and Climate Change . Expert Appraisal Committee This committee comprises of 15 members who are experts in various scientific and social fields, and they are the backbone of the EIA study. They conduct the study, and determine all possible impacts of the project, it’s extent and how to mitigate them. They compile the final EIA report, which is submitted to the govt. for approval. The project proponents can further include an EIA consultant from their side to oversee the work of the appraisal committee and ensure that it is impartial and accurate.

37. Affected people Often the most ignored stakeholder, the people living in the project area, or people whose livelihoods are directly affected because of a proposed project are the largest stakeholder in terms of numbers. They are generally rural people who lead simple lives and live off the natural resources that surround them. Unfortunately, due to their lack of knowledge and lack of exposure to the world, they are easily exploited by the project proponents to ensure they do not pose any roadblocks in the EIA process

38. Social activist groups These groups are important because most times, they represent the affected people during the EIA process, and ensure that the EIA is done in the right way and there is no foul play . Often, they are opposed to the project entirely, and campaign tirelessly to ensure the project never gets off the ground. The most famous example is a group called Narmada Bachao Andolan (Save Narmada Campaign) that opposed the building of a dam on Narmada River in Central India.

39. Interested public Generally nonexistent, they sometimes appear in good numbers if the project is large and is gaining media attention. They are passive observers of the process, unless the situation is extreme and warrants their active participation.

40. In an ideal world, all of the stakeholders together work in the EIA study and come up with the most suitable plan to ensure the project is successful and the environment is minimally affected . But as I mentioned in  Environmental Impact Assessment-Challenges , all of the stakeholders don’t have an equal say in the process. roject proponents are the ones with the most to lose if a project is rejected, and they use their deep pockets to try and wrestle out a favorable decision wherever possible. On the other end, the affected people and social groups, despite large numbers are ignored in the name of “economic development” and are dealt with short term promises.