ENV308: Introduction to Environmental Impact Assessment 6 credits (40-10-10)

Objectives

To introduce the various tools used in examining the impact of human activities on the environment and the legal framework in which environmental degradation could be minimized.

Contents

The concept of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and different forms of assessments (risk, ecological and social) in projects and their application as a tool in sustainable development; The legal context of environmental assessments, circumstances requiring EIA and a review of the development of environmental impact assessment practices with particular emphasis on their application in the Third World; Introduction to basic concepts in applied EIA i.e. sustainability and sustainability criteria; carrying capacity, standards; uncertainty; significance;. Overview of the different stages of the EIA process and their related activities; screening; scoping; assessments; mitigation; reporting; evaluation; and activities.