Environmental impact assessment (EIA) helps decision-makers understand the likely environmental consequences of a proposed project before deciding whether it should proceed. This lesson introduces the purpose, scope, and main principles of EIA.
An environmental impact assessment is a process for identifying, predicting, evaluating, and mitigating the biophysical, social, and other relevant effects of a development proposal before major decisions are made. It is a tool of environmental management and commonly forms part of project approval.
All flashcards
Environmental impact assessment (EIA)
A pre-decision process for identifying, predicting, evaluating, and mitigating the likely effects of a proposed development.
Strategic environmental assessment (SEA)
An assessment generally applied to broader policies, plans, and programmes.
Life-cycle analysis (LCA)
An examination of environmental effects across a product's life, from raw-material extraction through disposal.
EIA audit
A follow-up comparison of predicted impacts with actual outcomes, including mitigation performance.
Fuzzy logic
A method of approximate reasoning for information or categories that are not exact.
Quiz questions
What does an EIA audit primarily help assess after a project?Answer: How actual impacts compare with predictions and how well mitigation worked.
How does an environmental assessment (EA) generally differ from an environmental impact statement (EIS) in the U.S. process?Answer: An EA helps determine whether a more detailed EIS is needed.
What is fuzzy logic used for in environmental assessment?Answer: Structuring approximate reasoning when information or categories are imprecise.
Under the European Union's EIA framework, how are Annex I and Annex II projects generally treated?Answer: Annex I projects require EIA; member states screen Annex II projects.
What does the Espoo Convention provide for environmental impact assessment?Answer: An international legal framework for assessment in a transboundary context.