Effect characterization in social impact assessment: a scan of current practice

Good-practice guidance for impact assessment (IA) consistently recommends that IA practitioners characterize impacts using parameters such as magnitude, likelihood and geographic extent. In practice, however, this guidance is not always followed. In order to identify the extent to which impacts are characterized for social topics, this paper reviewed of the social assessment sections of 57 environmental impact assessment (EIA) reports from 12 countries. The review found that 61% attempted to characterize impacts for social topics, while 39% did not. Of the 61% that characterized impacts, just over half (54%) provided transparent definitions for effect levels (e.g. low, medium and high). The research results shine a light on the lack of consistency in thoroughly, appropriately and transparently characterizing social effects. Advancing this discussion amongst SIA professionals is important, as it will benefit the quality of SIAs and mitigation approaches in the future. Finally, this paper puts forward a proposed model for social effect characterization parameters that can be used and adapted for future assessments.

Abbreviation: EIA: environmental impact assessment; IA: impact assessment; SIA: socio-economic impact assessment.     

Intelligent automation implementation and corporate sustainability performance: The enabling role of corporate social responsibility strategy

Although Intelligent Automation (IA) represents the future of business automation, the organizational implementation and sustainability performance of this emerging technological innovation is vastly understudied. Understanding the implications of IA for sustainability is critical since leveraging these technologies shapes operations and policies that can promote sustainable digitalization and automation practices. We study how firms' technological, organizational, environmental, and human resource contexts impact IA implementation. The study further explains how IA may associate with the firm's triple bottom line while accounting for the moderating role of corporate social responsibility strategy. The study surveyed 207 multinational firms in 2022 and used partial least square-structural equation modeling to test the hypothesized relationships. Results showed that IA implementation is mainly determined by the characteristics of the firm's internal environment, such as absorptive capacity, employee socio-behavioral concerns, and social capital competency. IA may offer valuable opportunities for boosting the firm's economic and environmental sustainability performance. Nonetheless, IA is a double-edged sword for social sustainability, harming social values in implementing firms with informal corporate social sustainability strategies. Conversely, firms with formal corporate social sustainability strategy have a significantly higher opportunity to transform the value of IA into social sustainability performance. Findings are expected to assist managers and decision-makers with streamlining an impartial and sustainable transition of organizations toward automation.     

Impact Assessment: assessing the social dimensions of fisheries research projects in the Asia-Pacific Region

Interest in understanding the social impact of publicly funded science research is growing globally. However, practical examples demonstrating how the social impacts of research for development are measured are negligible. This paper illustrates the utility of Impact Assessment (IA), Social Impact Assessment (SIA) in particular to measure and articulate the social dimensions of research for development. We employed substantive aspects of SIA to assess the social impacts of the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) funded fisheries research projects across Southeast Asia and the Pacific Island Countries. Data were collected through a survey, in-depth interviews, and case studies. Results illustrate that SIA can offer a nuanced understanding of the contribution of research for development to changes in culture, community health and wellbeing, livelihood and economy, and governance and politics, among others. We suggest that researchers, policymakers and research for development organisations consider incorporating SIA in their projects not only as a tool to assess impact but also as a process to manage and understand the social dimensions of science research.     

Human health,development legacies,and cumulative effects: environmental assessments of hydroelectric projects in the Nelson River watershed,Canada

This article examines the current practice of assessing a project’s cumulative effects to health and well-being in a region characterized by a legacy of resource development and Indigenous land use. The context is hydroelectric development in northern Manitoba, Canada. Based on a review of environmental assessment (EA) regulatory applications and panel reports, results indicate that the consideration of health in EA has improved over time, with proponents adopting a holistic definition of health, but impact analyses remained restricted to physical health conditions with social and cultural health impacts to Indigenous communities receiving only limited attention. Multiple common indicators were identified across recent EA applications that relate to health and well-being, but they were not mapped to health determinants, supported by only limited analysis of causal mechanisms, and rarely used to assess the significance of project actions in combination with past projects and the enduring impacts of a 55-year legacy of hydroelectric development. The article concludes with a discussion of the state of practice and offers suggestions for improved coordination of EA for assessing cumulative effects to health and well-being, including adoption of Indigenous health determinants, and the roles of governments and proponents regarding the consideration of legacy effects in project reviews.     

Teaching impact assessment: results of an international survey

University teachers of impact assessment (IA) at both undergraduate and graduate levels were surveyed during IAIA conferences in 2008 and 2009. A total of 32 questionnaires were returned, with respondents teaching in 18 countries. IA teaching encompasses both theory and practice. It is supported by textbooks — a sign the IA is a consolidated field — but also by case studies, government or legal guidance and guest lectures. A vast majority of lecturers (94%) also use peer-reviewed papers, indicating that knowledge obtained from research is an important input to teaching. Formal lectures, case studies and group discussions are favorite teaching approaches, and field visits are used by 38% of respondents. Environmental impact assessment is the most frequent type of IA taught, with strategic environmental assessment ranking second. Despite IA teaching being positioned within different university disciplines, there is a great similarity in course contents, suggesting the existence of core topics internationally relevant for IA education and potential for viable teacher and student exchanges.     

The new EIA Directive (2014/52/EU) and UK water impact assessment practice

This paper considers how impact assessment practice relating to all aspects of the water environment will be affected by the transposition of the amended environmental impact assessment (EIA) Directive (2014/52/EU) into UK legislation. Key elements of the new Directive are identified, such as requirements relating to monitoring, climate change (including adaptation), biodiversity, human health and coordination with Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC) (WFD) Assessment. The extent to which existing guidance and practice already meet these new requirements is assessed, through a review of relevant guidance and selected environmental statements (ESs). Key areas where water impact assessment (WIA) practice needs to be adapted to take account of the new requirements are identified. Substantial changes in practice are likely to be required to incorporate human health assessment into WIA and to demonstrate that competent experts are used to conduct WIA. New guidance will be needed relating to competent experts and improved guidance will be required for WFD Assessment.     

Evolution or revolution: where next for impact assessment?

Impact assessment (IA) has become one of the most prevalent environmental policy instruments today. Its introduction under the National Environmental Policy Act (US) in 1969 was revolutionary. Perhaps it is not surprising, then, that such a widely used tool has received its share of criticism, including that it fails to meet some of its fundamental goals. Over the last fifty years, IA has broadened in scope and application and embraced new techniques. It has followed evolved, but has not changed fundamentally.

We believe that IA must continue to change to meet the societal and environmental challenges of the 21^st century. But will it be enough for IA to progress through incremental change (evolution), or is a complete overhaul of impact assessment (revolution) needed? We provide some ideas as to what ‘evolution’ and ‘revolution’ may look like, but rather then offering a definitive way forward now, we invite stakeholders to present their thoughts and suggestions at the IAIA19 Annual Conference in Brisbane, which carries the same theme as the title of this article.     

Urban regeneration and impact assessment for social sustainability

This paper provides a working definition of social sustainability and highlights the growing array of social sustainability assessment tools (e.g. SIA, HIA, equality impact assessment, SA). Within EIA the social dimension has been very much the ‘poor relation’. However, changes in the UK planning system, the drive for sustainable communities, and for greater public involvement in decision making are raising the profile of the social dimension. This is particularly relevant for urban regeneration projects, which are often mixed use (including housing), and with the potential for development to be shaped by community involvement. The paper includes a review of recent environmental statements (ESs) for regeneration projects in the UK, which provides findings on, for example, the inclusion of social factors in the process; scope of such factors; methodological approaches and impact assessment tools; and role of community involvement. The research raises questions about the extent to which social issues shape outcomes; it also highlights some important challenges, including the key issue of ‘integration versus disintegration’ in the scope and process of impact assessment.     

Unconventional shale gas development: challenges for environmental policy and EA practice

Abstract

The growth of unconventional shale gas development has been accompanied by controversy over its environmental and social impacts. This paper reviews recent literature to clarify what is known and not known about the physical, chemical and toxicological properties of the process chemicals and wastewaters generated in hydraulic fracturing, the mechanisms and pathways by which they enter surface water and groundwater aquifers and the risks posed to human and ecosystem health. Assessing the impacts of unconventional shale gas development is clearly constrained by a lack of baseline information, complex hydrogeological histories for natural migration of hydrocarbons, lack of tracers to monitor and verify the source, timing and mechanism of contaminant migration into water resources. This is compounded by lack of transparency and accountability in policy decisions. The paper argues that managing the social and environmental risks of unconventional shale gas development calls for a new generation of impact assessment, one that marries the ideals of strategic environmental assessment, cumulative effects assessment, backcasting and deliberative and inclusive processes of community engagement towards collective risk management.     

Rationalized method to enhance the chromium uptake in tanning process: role of Gallic acid

In the present study, a greener approach to tanning process based on Gallic acid (GA: Trihydroxybenzoic acid) assisted chrome tanning has been attempted. The exhaustion, the thermal stability, mechanical strength and organoleptic properties of tanned leather as well as the evaluation of eco-friendly characteristics were investigated. The microshrinkage, differential scanning calorimetric and thermo mechanical analyses show the shrinkage temperature, denaturation temperature and % elongation, respectively, of GA-chrome-tanned leather are more than that of chrome alone. Chrome exhaustion greater than 93 % has been achieved. This high exhaust aid offers fullness and softness to leather compared to chrome alone. The environmental impact assessment reveals that the developed high exhaust chrome tanning process is beneficial as significant reduction in total solids content (TSC) such as dissolved solids and suspended solids in the effluent is achieved when compared to tanning with chrome alone. The GA could bring about the enhancement of chromium(III) uptake, significant reduction in TSC resulting in improved environmental, economic and social positive impact.     

Safety,health or the environment--which comes first?

This paper describes the development and application of two integrated models which can be used for assessing the life cycle risk (to life) and environmental impact of a number of possible concept options for new offshore oil and gas developments. The two models can also be used for ranking the designs in terms of lowest human risk and environmental impact. The paper also gives values/criteria for both risks to safety, health and the environment by which the total safety, health and environmental assessment/impact may be balanced as a whole. The paper illustrates the use of the models and shows that the pragmatic or cosmetic improvement to safety, health or the environment may not be advantageous to the overall safety, health and environmental objectives. While the models were developed originally for offshore installations, the basic framework can be readily adapted for use on onshore petrochemical processes.     

Can social impact assessment contribute to social development outcomes in an emerging economy?

Social impact assessment (SIA) addresses the ‘people aspect’ of development-induced change by empowering communities with a voice in the environmental impact assessment process. Globally, poverty and inequality is growing. Countries with emerging economies are especially affected, and SIA conducted within this context necessitates mitigation of both the direct impacts of particular developments as well as the social legacies that entrench poverty and inequality. Social development is an approach that can be used to reduce poverty and inequality. This paper analyses the practice of SIA and its potential to contribute to social development outcomes in emerging economies. SIA, as practised in South Africa, was analysed from the theoretical framework of social development using an exploratory sequential mixed methods design. The findings indicate that weak implementation of mitigation, monitoring and management measures dilute the potential for SIA to achieve social development outcomes. Through minor evolution of SIA practice, the process can lay a firm foundation to facilitate social development outcomes, especially considering its potential contribution to poverty reduction through the social protection floor, skills development and job creation.     

Evaluation of onsite wastewater treatment technologies using sustainable development criteria

The typical domestic wastewater treatment system is a centralized municipal-sized facility that treats wastewater to specified discharge limits, to protect human health and the environment. Yet 10% of wastewater generated in the U.S. is not treated in a centralized system, but rather in small systems receiving wastewater from single and multiple dwellings and small commercial establishments. Most of these small systems do not have discharge limits. Far from disappearing into the annals of history, onsite treatment is a steadfast – and growing – part of the wastewater sector. Some see this as a blessing, others as a curse. Historically, and in the majority of cases today, onsite treatment employs technologies that represent a "lowest common denominator" approach. Frequently, the absolutely simplest, least cost, and least monitored systems are the only ones allowed. The effect of this approach is recurring incidents of inadequate protection of human health and the environment, sometimes widespread, sometimes for extended periods. With so many recent technological advances in onsite treatment, it is appropriate to reassess the role of onsite treatment, but how should this assessment be conducted? One way is to use a sustainable development context to define its value, and from there its role and the barriers to success. A sustainability assessment uses a broad range of criteria that accommodate changing demographics, values, and environmental resources. A framework of sustainability is developed to identify a reasonable set of social, economic, and environmental criteria for wastewater treatment. These criteria were applied to the conventional approach to onsite wastewater management, i.e. traditional septic systems permitted through health authorities, but without a monitoring or maintenance program. This evaluation produced defined social, economic, and environmental benefits and shortcomings. How shortcomings could be reduced or eliminated through technological advancements and changes to management of the systems was examined next. One of the readily available advanced onsite systems, the textile filter pressure dosed dispersal system, was examined applying the same criteria. In the final step, alternative management approaches were evaluated, including remote monitoring, contract monitoring, and maintenance. Costs and risks are discussed. The evaluation resulted in defining the key values, role, and barriers to achieving the full benefit of onsite wastewater. Methods for removing the barriers are suggested.     

The doing and un-doing of public participation during environmental impact assessments in Kenya

Mechanisms that restrict public participation during environmental decision-making in Kenya still exist almost a decade after the inception of the Environmental Management and Co-ordination Act (EMCA) of 1999. This paper analyses the current situation concerning public participation during environmental impact assessment (EIA) and strategic environmental assessment (SEA). It presents the barriers that may impede effective public participation in environmental decision-making in Kenya and draws attention to possible solutions, including the potential of SEA as a bridge to better public participation.     

Simulations of EIA screening across jurisdictions: exposing the case for harmonic criteria?

Screening is one of the most critical stages in environmental impact assessment (EIA). However, there is no consensus about best approaches to screen development proposals, particularly in large territories with multiple jurisdictions. This study explored the challenges of harmonizing EIA screening criteria across jurisdictions, using Brazilian states as the empirical context. It set out to answer the following question: what would be the screening decisions of approved development projects if they had been licensed in different states? This study selected four cases of projects that had obtained environmental licenses in the state of Minas Gerais, and, based on their data, simulated license applications in other three states in south-eastern Brazil. Interviews helped to determine likely screening decisions. Screening approaches, while similar, varied significantly in terms of choices of threshold criteria across the four states. With the exception of one project type, the projects would face very different EIA requirements in the other jurisdictions. Such differences seem to stem more from political choices than from geographical idiosyncrasies. Implications for policy-making regarding harmonization are discussed.     

Books

The environmental impact assessment (EIA) system in Uzbekistan was inherited from the USSR and is centred on state environmental review, a procedure for reviewing the impacts of proposed activities by environmental authorities. This is proving to be a less effective tool of environmental protection in the new political and economic conditions. Since the collapse of the USSR, the Uzbekistani EIA system has undergone gradual reform but the national EIA system remains almost identical to the ‘socialist’ system. At the same time, some elements are similar to those of EIA systems used in developed countries. The shortcomings of the system include unclear screening provisions and lack of public participation. The paper analyses strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats for the development of EIA in Uzbekistan, taking into account various political and economic factors.     

Owl meets beehive: how impact assessment and governance relate

This article analyses the complex relationship between impact assessments (IAs) of all types (such as comprehensive, regulatory, economic, social or environmental IAs) and their governance environment, using an analytical framework based on the concepts of governance styles and metagovernance. It is argued that each governance system builds on specific values, traditions and history and produces specific mixtures of hierarchical, network and market styles of governance (with or without an explicit metagovernance approach). Although governance can be considered as a non-normative perspective on polity and politics, the normative dimension of governance practice results in, for example, conflicting convictions about which type of knowledge or ‘evidence’ is valid for IA processes. This is particularly relevant because IAs have an important role in improving the knowledge base of governance. The concrete governance system in a specific country or other administrative entity influences the design and governance of IA systems positively or negatively, which leads to a variety of challenges. The conclusion is drawn that understanding the governance context and its dynamics can help improving IA governance.     

Linking environmental assessment and rapid urbanization in Kampala City

Linking environmental assessment (EA) and infrastructure development projects as a result of rapid urbanization reveals serious environmental problems in Kampala City, Uganda. Of the many infrastructure development projects implemented to meet the growing demands of rural–urban influx, few are subjected to EA as part of the project approval process. This paper investigates the environmental impacts of infrastructure development projects that are implemented and seeks to understand the nature of these impacts. The study results suggest that ecological infrastructure is as vital as physical infrastructure for the functioning of the economy – a path that can meet both long-term economic and environmental imperatives. A mechanism for integrating EA into planning and development processes is proposed and the need to look into environmental fiscal reform (EFR), compliance with environmental legislation, integrated urban development policy, and strategic environmental assessment among others is examined.     

HIA practices in Nigeria

Health impact assessment (HIA) provides useful information on existing health services, their capabilities and the health status of the local communities, which is otherwise often unavailable. In Nigeria, HIA is usually applied to projects and, by exposing existing health inequities in project communities, provides the necessary tool for development proponents to act to provide or improve health services and to implement health promotion activities. Based on HIA experience in Nigeria, this paper highlights the deficiencies in national legislation with regards to HIA/EIA (environmental impact assessment) integration and a number of learning points are discussed. First, a complete health baseline is critical to the understanding of project impacts; analysis must be broad-based, considering existing health determinants. Second, community stakeholders and proponents may modify the implementation of health mitigation measures and should be seen as collaborators in the assessment process. Third, strong HIA recommendations can influence project design. A greater participation of the health sector in EIA is required to enhance HIA utilization.     

Spatial analysis of environmental impacts of highway projects with special emphasis on mountainous area: an overview

Abstract

Mountains are progressively being invaded by highways for development and defence purposes. Environmental impact assessment (EIA) of highway projects in mountainous areas creates a challenging environment for data collection and impact prediction. Geographic information systems (GIS)-based EIA, using appropriate spatial analysis methods can sufficiently reduce the challenges created by mountain environments. The present study includes a review of articles, including research papers, government reports and EIA reports cutting across the inter-disciplinary nature of the topic. The paper identifies the spatial analysis methods, models and salient features of conducting GIS-based EIA of highway projects in mountainous areas. It is observed that spatial analysis of impacts of highway projects on the environmental attributes, especially air, noise, water and socio-economy in mountainous areas are largely unexplored.