"It is not enough just to assess an installation’s impact on the environment; one must also assess the impact of a changing environment on the installation. Then, as much as possible, the impact of that change must be integrated into planning and countered."– Cleo Paskal, Columnist
and Adjunct Professor, Global Change, SCMS, Kochi, India

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This is the third of a series of impact assessment and climate change symposia held by IAIA. The conclusions and recommendations from the first two symposia (Aalborg, Denmark, October 2010 and Washington, DC, November 2010) will be brought forward to this special climate change symposium in Beijing.

Climate change is the biggest environmental challenge of our time

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International consensus has formed concerning the causes and impacts of the problem, but not the solutions. This special symposium will focus on the solutions and actions to adapt to and mitigate the impacts of climate change. It will also highlight how the impact assessment profession can contribute. This Asian special symposium will involve key actors and stakeholders from all levels and sectors to foster a fruitful dialogue and provide a bridge for the climate change and impact assessment communities. Dialogue within as well as across groups and disciplines is the key to mainstream sustainability considerations in societal decision making.

But dialogue, however important, is only part of the necessary ongoing process. The aim of this conference is to foster better understanding and sharing of knowledge among international experts in impact assessment and climate change to guide the international community, government and other stakeholders toward the commitments, specificactions, innovations and investments that are needed to meet the challenges of adapting to and mitigating climate change.

The organizers hold a strong international position in the field of sustainability, planning and impact assessment. Th is has been achieved through a critical understanding of the technicality and methodology of impact assessment and an in-depth understanding of how institution setup and decision-making process facilitate or hinder the inclusion of environmental assessment considerations.

The symposium will nurture innovative work, namely on methodological developments, institutionalization of assessment practices, innovations in regulatory frameworks, and building up of governance.