What are some innovative environmental impact assessment criteria used in recent projects?

Environmental impact assessment (EIA) is a process of evaluating the potential effects of a proposed project or activity on the environment and society. EIA criteria are the standards or indicators that are used to measure and compare these effects. In recent years, some innovative EIA criteria have been developed and applied in various projects, reflecting the growing awareness and demand for sustainability, resilience, and social justice. In this article, we will explore some of these criteria and how they can enhance the quality and effectiveness of EIA.

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1 Life cycle assessment

Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a method of assessing the environmental impacts of a product, service, or system throughout its entire life cycle, from raw material extraction to disposal or recycling. LCA can help identify the most critical stages and aspects of a project that contribute to environmental problems, such as greenhouse gas emissions, resource depletion, or toxicity. LCA can also help compare different alternatives and scenarios and optimize the design and operation of a project. LCA has been used in EIA for various sectors, such as energy, transport, waste management, and agriculture.

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Tulio Cezar de Aguiar Oliveira

Melhorias Contínuas | SGI |Qualidade | Engenheiro Ambiental | QSMS |
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A Avaliação de Ciclo de Vida (ACV) é uma metodologia usada para avaliar os impactos ambientais de um produto, processo ou atividade ao longo de todo o seu ciclo de vida, desde a extração de matérias-primas até o seu descarte final. Ela é uma ferramenta poderosa para entender e quantificar os impactos ambientais associados a um produto ou processo, permitindo a identificação de oportunidades para reduzir esses impactos ao longo do ciclo de vida. A ACV é uma ferramenta flexível e adaptável que pode ser aplicada a uma ampla gama de produtos, processos e atividades.

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2 Ecosystem services valuation

Ecosystem services are the benefits that people obtain from nature, such as food, water, climate regulation, recreation, and cultural values. Ecosystem services valuation (ESV) is a method of estimating the economic value of these benefits, based on how much people are willing to pay or accept for them. ESV can help incorporate the environmental and social costs and benefits of a project into the decision-making process, and highlight the trade-offs and synergies between different objectives and stakeholders. ESV has been used in EIA for various projects, such as hydropower, mining, tourism, and urban development.

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Tulio Cezar de Aguiar Oliveira

Melhorias Contínuas | SGI |Qualidade | Engenheiro Ambiental | QSMS |
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A Avaliação de Serviços Ecossistêmicos (ASE) é uma abordagem que visa avaliar os benefícios que os ecossistemas fornecem aos seres humanos. Esses benefícios, conhecidos como serviços ecossistêmicos, incluem uma ampla gama de serviços que os ecossistemas prestam, como purificação de água, polinização de culturas, regulação do clima, fornecimento de alimentos e materiais, entre outros. A ASE reconhece que os ecossistemas desempenham um papel fundamental no suporte à vida na Terra e na provisão de bens e serviços essenciais para o bem-estar humano. No entanto, muitas vezes esses serviços são subestimados ou negligenciados nas tomadas de decisão, o que pode levar a impactos negativos sobre os ecossistemas e a sociedade.

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3 Resilience assessment

Resilience is the ability of a system or a community to cope with and adapt to disturbances, shocks, and changes, such as natural disasters, climate change, or social conflicts. Resilience assessment (RA) is a method of evaluating the resilience of a system or a community in relation to a project, and identifying the factors and actions that can enhance or reduce it. RA can help design and implement projects that are more robust, flexible, and responsive to uncertainties and risks, and that can support the well-being and livelihoods of the affected people. RA has been used in EIA for various projects, such as coastal management, water supply, disaster risk reduction, and peacebuilding.

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Tulio Cezar de Aguiar Oliveira

Melhorias Contínuas | SGI |Qualidade | Engenheiro Ambiental | QSMS |
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A Avaliação de Resiliência é uma abordagem que visa avaliar a capacidade de sistemas naturais e sociais de resistir a perturbações e se recuperar delas. Essas perturbações podem incluir eventos naturais, como furacões, incêndios florestais, inundações, bem como perturbações causadas pelo homem, como desmatamento, poluição e mudanças climáticas. A avaliação de resiliência é uma ferramenta importante para ajudar a promover a sustentabilidade e a adaptabilidade dos sistemas naturais e sociais em face das mudanças ambientais e sociais.

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4 Human rights impact assessment

Human rights impact assessment (HRIA) is a method of assessing the potential impacts of a project or an activity on the human rights of the affected people, such as the right to health, education, participation, or non-discrimination. HRIA can help ensure that a project respects and promotes the human rights of all stakeholders, and that it does not cause or contribute to human rights violations or abuses. HRIA can also help identify and address the root causes and structural factors that affect the enjoyment of human rights, such as poverty, inequality, or corruption. HRIA has been used in EIA for various projects, such as extractive industries, infrastructure, trade, and development cooperation.

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5 Stakeholder engagement

Stakeholder engagement is the process of involving and communicating with the people who have an interest or a stake in a project or an activity, such as the affected communities, the proponents, the regulators, the experts, or the civil society. Stakeholder engagement can help improve the quality and credibility of EIA, by providing relevant information, perspectives, and feedback, and by facilitating dialogue, consultation, and participation. Stakeholder engagement can also help build trust, legitimacy, and ownership of a project, and prevent or resolve conflicts and grievances. Stakeholder engagement has been an integral part of EIA for a long time, but it has become more innovative and inclusive in recent years, by using new tools and methods, such as social media, online platforms, participatory mapping, or deliberative forums.

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6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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What are some innovative environmental impact assessment criteria used in recent projects?

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2

3

4

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1 Life cycle assessment

2 Ecosystem services valuation

3 Resilience assessment

4 Human rights impact assessment

5 Stakeholder engagement

6 Here’s what else to consider

Environmental Engineering

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What are some innovative environmental impact assessment criteria used in recent projects?

1

2

3

4

5

6

1 Life cycle assessment

2 Ecosystem services valuation

3 Resilience assessment

4 Human rights impact assessment

5 Stakeholder engagement

6 Here’s what else to consider

Environmental Engineering

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