Bonga university

College of social science and humanities

Department of GeES

Course – environmental impact assessment

Course code : GeES 4025

Credit hour - 3

Target group 4th year regular GeES Students

 UNIT ONE

1. General Introduction to Environment

 ?????

How you understand the concept of

Environment
 1.1. Definition and Concept of Environment

• Environment can be defined as a sum total of all

the living and non-living elements and their
effects that influence human life.

• Everything that surrounds or affects an organism

during its life time is collectively known as its
environment
 1.1. Definition and Concept of Environment

• Environment refers to the sum total of all conditions which

surround at a given point in space and time’ (C.C.Park).

• The term environment is used to describe, in the aggregate, all

the external forces, influences and conditions, which affect the
life, nature behaviour and the growth, development and
maturity of living organisms’ (Douglas and Holland).

• Environment is constituted by the interacting system of physical,

biological and cultural elements, which are interlinked
individually as well as collectively in countless ways
 Types of Environments
• the environment may be divided into

1. abiotic environment - water, land, sunlight, rocks, and air.

2. Biotic environment - producer, consumer and decomposer

3. Cultural environment - religion, norm , value….

 components of the environment or geosphere

atmosphere
lithosphere
hydrosphere
biosphere
anthroposphere
 1.2. Sustainable Development

• Development and growth??????

• Economic development and indicator of economic

development ?????

• How you differentiate and relate Economic

development and Sustainable development???
economic development and sustainable development

• An economic development is based on

economic growth. ... On the other hand, the
sustainable development model is a
multidisciplinary concept and it relies on
reducing resource consumption, producing
clean alternative energy, protection of
environment
 1.2. Sustainable Development

• Sustainable development widely and defined it

as ‘Development that meets the needs of the
present without compromising the ability of
future generations to meet their own needs’.
Pillars of sustainable development

What are they?

 Pillars of sustainable development
1. Environmental sustainability
 is the ability to preserve and protect the natural environment over
time through appropriate practices and policies, meeting present
needs without compromising the availability of resources in the
future.
 The environmental pillar forms the foundation of sustainable
development, focusing on nurturing the planet’s natural resources,
conserving biodiversity, and promoting sustainable resource
management.
2. Social sustainability (justice)
 involves a focus on the well-being of people and communities. - It’s
about promoting equity, human rights, access to education and
health care, example gender equality
 Social sustainability aims to create inclusive societies, reduce
inequality, and ensure long-term well-being for all people while
preserving social cohesion and justice.
Pillars of sustainable development

3. Economic sustainability
• is the approach whereby economic activities are conducted in
such a way as to preserve and promote long-term economic
well-being. In practice, it aims to create a balance between
economic growth, resource efficiency and financial stability.

• way for a prosperous society where innovation and

responsible practices drive growth.
1.3. Environmental Mainstreaming

• Concepts of Environmental mainstreaming???

1.3. Environmental Mainstreaming
 integrating environment into national
development decisions and policies. Why?

EM can help to
Bring sustainable development
 avoid ‘development vs. environment’
arguments,
 institutional tensions, and associated costs –
1.3. Environmental Mainstreaming
• Environmental mainstreaming is defined
as integrating environment linkages into national
development planning processes and their outputs,
such as Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSPs)
and Millennium Development Goal (MDG) strategies.

• Mainstreaming refers to the process of ensuring that

environmental management, protection and
conservation are integrated into sustainable
development planning and management.
1.3. Environmental Mainstreaming
• Environmental mainstreaming is the integration of
environmental considerations into UNDP’s policies,
programming and operations to ensure the coherence
and sustainability of our mission and practices.”.

• Mainstreaming systematically takes into consideration

environmental issues as early as possible in the
decision-making process where decisions can best
benefit from environmental opportunities and avoid
negative impacts on the environment
1.3. Environmental Mainstreaming
• Environmental mainstreaming identifies how
interventions targeted at environmental and natural
resource management can play an integral part in
achieving broader development objectives, as well as
how initiatives outside the narrowly-defined
Environment Sector could be taken to support
environmentally sustainable development
 Chapter Two

2. Environmental Impact Assessment

? what you understand about definition of EIA

 2.1. Definitions of EIA

 Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) as ''A

procedure for evaluating the likely impact of
proposed activity on the environment''.

 It is fundamental to any regulatory system to

prevent or minimize environmental harm and
promote sustainable development
 2.1. Definitions of EIA

 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.
 2.1. Definitions of EIA

 Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a

decision-making support instrument which aims
at identifying, predicting, evaluating and
mitigating the biophysical, social and other
relevant environmental effects of development
proposals prior to major decisions being taken
and commitments being made.

 EIA which describes the likely significant impacts

& possible mitigation in detail.
 Definition of EIA

• The need “to identify and predict the

impact on the environment and on man’s
health and well-being of legislative
proposals, policies, programs, projects
and operational procedures, and to
interpret and communicate information
about the impacts”, Munn (1979)
 Definition of EIA…

• The term ‘environment assessment’ “

describes a technique and a process by which
information about the environmental effects
of a project is collected, both by the
developer and from other sources, and taken
into account by the planning authority in
forming their judgments on whether the
development should go ahead.” (UK DOE
(1989) operational definition)
 Definition of EIA…

• A process of examining the environmental

consequences of development. (Ethiopian)

• “An assessment of the impact of a planned

activity on the environment” (UNECE, 1991)
 Definition of EIA…
- A formal process for identifying:
 likely effects of activities or projects on the
environment, and on human health and welfare.
 means and measures to mitigate & monitor
these impacts
- Environment is broadly interpreted: physical,
biological, and social.
-In EIA, the term “impacts” is used instead of
“effects of activities.”
EIA thus has three main functions:

1. To identify problems,

2. To predict problems,

3. To mitigate and enhance positive effects

Summary
• Environmental impact assessment (EIA) is a process
which can be used to improve decision-making and
ensure that development options under consideration
are environmentally, socially and economically sound
and sustainable.

• It is concerned with identifying, predicting and

evaluating the foreseeable impacts, both beneficial and
adverse, of proposed development projects and
alternatives.

• It aims to eliminate or minimize negative impacts and

optimize positive impacts through mitigation and
enhancement measures.
 2.2. Background or history of EIA

EIA originates from the introduction of the National

Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of the United States, in
1969.

 NEPA required that all development project proposals be

accompanied by an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)- a
clear description of all potential environmental impacts, a
discussion of how any adverse impacts could be avoided or
mitigated, and an evaluation of alternatives to the
proposed project.
 Evolution of EIA
I. Introduction and early development (1969-1975)
– mandate and foundations of EIA established
in the USA;
• Was then adopted by a few other countries
(Australia, Canada, New Zealand);
• The basic concept, procedure and methodology
still apply.
ii. Increasing scope and sophistication (mid ’70s to
early ’80s)

• more advanced techniques (e.g. risk

assessment);
• guidance on process implementation (e.g.
screening and scoping);
• Incorporation of social impacts;
• Incorporation of public inquiries and reviews;
• EIA still limited in few countries but some
developing countries (e.g. China, Thailand
and the Philippines) adopted it.
iii. Process strengthening and integration (early
‘80’s to early ’90s)

• review of EIA practice and experience;

• scientific and institutional frameworks of EIA updated;
• coordination of EIA with other processes, (e.g. project
appraisal, land use planning); ecosystem-level
changes and cumulative effects begin to be
addressed;
• attention given to monitoring and other follow-up
mechanisms.
• Many more countries adopted EIA; the European
Community and the World Bank (1986), established
supra-national and international lending
requirements.
 IV. Strategic and sustainability orientation (early
’90s to date)

• EIA aspects enshrined in international agreements;

• United Nations Conference on Environment and
Development (UNCED) in 1992, the Rio Declaration,
• In 1995, African environment ministers pledged to formalize
the use of EIA within legislative frameworks at the project
• Marked increase in international training, capacity
building and networking activities;
• Development of strategic environmental assessment (SEA)
of policies and plans
• Inclusion of sustainability concepts and criteria in EIA
In Africa,

• the pioneering countries included Mauritius, South Africa, and

Uganda. Kenya joined in 2000 after environmental
management and coordination act EMCA (1999). But before
then, projects funded by the World Bank required an EIS.

• The government of Ethiopia introduced the Environmental

Impact Assessment (EIA) Proclamation No. 299/2002 in 2002.
 2.3 importance of EIA

Quiz 5%

Mention the importance of EIA?

 Major one is
 To disclose significant environmental effects of proposed
projects to decision-makers and the public.

 To identify ways to avoid or reduce environmental damage.

 To prevent adverse environmental impacts by requiring

implementation of feasible alternatives or mitigation
measures

 environmental protection tools - By involving authorities

and citizens and incorporating environmental reports, the
potential environmental impacts of a planned project can
be identified at an early stage and taken into consideration
during the decision-making process.
i) As aid to decision-making
• It provides a systematic examination of the
environmental implications of a proposed action, and
sometimes alternatives, before a decision is taken.
• It is not a substitute for decision-making.
• It has the potential to be a basis for negotiation
between the developer, public interest groups and
the planning regulator.
• EIA can lead to an outcome that balances the
interests of the development action and the
environment.
ii) As aid to the formulation of development actions
• Many developers consider EIA as:
– a set of hurdles to jump before they can proceed with their
various activities;
– a costly and time-consuming activity in the permission
process.
• However, EIA can be of great benefit to developers
since:
– It can provide a framework for considering location and
design issues and environmental issues in parallel.
– It can be an aid to the formulation of development
actions,
indicating areas where a project can be modified to minimize
or eliminate altogether its adverse impacts on the
environment.
– It can reduce local opposition and avoid costly public
inquiries.
– Ensuring compliance with environmental standards.
– Savings in capital and operating costs.
ii) As aid to …
• The consideration of environmental impacts
early in the planning life of a development can
lead to:
– environmentally sensitive development;
– improved relations between the developer, the
planning authority and the local communities;
– a smoother planning permission process; and
– a worthwhile financial return on the extra
expenditure incurred
ii) As aid to …
• The emergence of a growing demand by
consumers for goods that do no
environmental damage, plus a growing market
for clean technologies, is generating a
response from developers.

• It is also a mechanism for addressing

cross- sectoral and cross-boundary issues.
 iii) As instrument for sustainable development

• What is sustainable development?

– Sustainable development means handing down to
future generations not only “man-made capital”, such as
roads, schools and historic buildings, and “human capital”,
such as knowledge and skills, but also
“natural/environmental capital”, such as clean air, fresh water,
rain forests, the ozone layer and biological diversity.

– It means living on the Earth’s income rather than

eroding its capital (DOE 1990).
iii) As instrument for …
• What is sustainable development?
• The Brundtland Report (1987) identified the
following chief characteristics of sustainable
development:
– it maintains the quality of life,
– it maintains continuing access to natural
resources, and
– It avoids lasting environmental damage
• The report also emphasizes participation and
equity, thus highlighting both inter- and intra-
generational equity.
iii) As instrument for …
• A “strong sustainability” position would argue that it is not
acceptable to run down environmental assets, for several
reasons:
– uncertainty (we do not know the full consequences for human
beings),
– irreversibility (lost species cannot be replaced),
– life-support (some ecological assets serve life-support functions),
and
– loss aversion (people are highly averse to environmental losses).
• It is now considered that the impact of human activities on
the biosphere is reaching critical thresholds, with the
consequent threat of ecological breakdown and social
conflict.
What is happening currently?
– Increased inputs demand more resources.
– Increased output brings with it not only goods
and services but also more waste products.
– The natural environment is the “sink” for the
wastes and the “source” for the resources.
– The economic goal of increased GNP, using
more inputs to produce more goods and
services, contains the seeds of its own
destruction
• 2.3. Key Values and Guiding Principles of EIA
• The EIA process should be:
– Purposive – meeting its aims and objectives
– Focused – concentrating on the effects that matter
– Adaptive – responding to issues and realities
– Participative – fully involving the public
– Transparent – clear and easily understood
– Rigorous – employing ‘best practicable’ methodology
– Practical – establishing mitigation measures that work
– Credible – carried out with objectivity and professionalism
– Efficient – imposing least cost burden on proponents
2.4. environmental impacts

1. Direct,
2. Indirect
3. Cumulative and
4. Induced Impact
2.4. environmental impacts

 All activities carried out by humans have an

impact on ecosystems.
 Some cause irreversible effects on the
environment, such as environmental
pollution (air and land and water) ,
extinction of species, depletion of resources
and habitat destruction. Moreover, as the
human population grows, natural resources
are being depleted, global warming and
climate change and deforestation