Embedding Climate Change in Professional IA Practice
Theme Leaders:
Monica Fundingsland Tetlow, Senior Consultant - Planning and Assessment, Asplan Viak & Honorary Research Fellow, University of Manchester
Josh Fothergill, Senior Adviser – Environmental Assessment, IEMA & Chair of IAIA’s Ireland & UK Branch
Theme description:
The strap line for IAIA’s 2010 conference in Geneva was: The time for action is now! This is clearly the case in relation to climate change in IA where the profession will play a key role in both avoiding catastrophic climate change (by reducing GHG emissions) and defining actions required to adapt both society and the environment to the inevitable changes that will occur in the global climate system. IA professionals understand the concepts of climate change mitigation and adaptation, but understanding will not be sufficient to generate the scale of changes needed if our community is to play a significant role in helping tackle this crisis. A concerted effort of both top-down and bottom-up approaches will be needed to embed climate change considerations across all aspects of IA to influence policy, plan and project decision making.
Session 1: A view of existing mechanisms for integrating Climate Change into professional IA practice
Session Format - A presentation session with opportunities for delegates to ask questions and discuss the issues raised with presenters.
Learning Outcomes-The session will provide delegates with a view of some of the existing mechanisms and tools being used across Europe to enhance the consideration of both climate change mitigation and adaptation into all scales of decision-making.
Confirmed presentations:
- Elin Økstad (KLIF – The Norwegian Climate and Pollution Agency, Norway) - The Norwegian Climate Cure – mitigation options and instruments in a short and long term perspective.
- Neil Deasley (SEPA – Scottish Environmental Protection Agency, Scotland) – Climate Change in Scottish SEA - An overview of legislation, guidance and wider applications [Video presentation]
- Josh Fothergill (IEMA - The Institute of Environmental Management & Assessment, UK) - Over-arching Principles for considering climate change mitigation & adaptation in EIA.
- Miguel Coutinho & Margaret Pereira (IDAD – Instituto do Ambiente e Desenvolvimento, Campus Universitário, Portugal), A simple methodological framework to incorporate climate change in impact assessment.
Abstract for Presentation 4:
In order for environmental impact assessment to fulfil its objectives it is necessary to develop methodologies that enable the incorporation of climate change in impact assessment statements.
This paper presents a simple framework methodology that follows 6 steps:
- Identify climatic changes;
- Identify indirect consequences of climate change;
- Analyze the impact of climate change in the environmental baseline without the project under EIA;
- Identify effects of the project on climate change;
- Identify effects of climate change over the project;
- Integrate this information on the cumulative effects assessment.
The methodology was tested successfully in an EIA concerning the implementation of the high speed train in Portugal and can be easily adapted to any environmental jurisdictional context and to any typology of projects.
Session 2: From challenge to opportunity: Identifying what needs to be done to embed climate change in IA practice.
Session Format - Concurrent roundtable discussions allowing delegates to discuss constraints and opportunities for embedding different aspects of climate change in professional IA practice.
Learning Outcomes -This session will expect delegates to actively participate in one or more roundtable discussions. Delegates will learn from each others experiences of the challenges that constrain greater consideration of climate change in IA; share knowledge of existing tools, techniques and examples of climate change in current IA practice; and build consensus in each discussion area on 'what needs to be done to improve the integration of climate into IA practice''.
Provisional roundtable subjects:
- Are certain conditions (Policies, Mechanisms, Institutional Structures etc.) required to embed climate change considerations into IA and decision-making?
- Is there a role for IA in contributing to climate resilient policies, plans and projects?
Note:Prior to this session all delegates will have the opportunity to propose additional roundtable discussion topics based on ideas generated via other sessions they have attended on day 1 of the symposium.
Session 3: Shaping the European Commission’s forthcoming: Practical guidance and recommendations for integrating climate change and biodiversity into EIA/SEA procedures
Session Format-Presentation from representatives from the Commission (DG ENV & DG CLIMA) followed by delegate discussions on issues for inclusion within this guidance. The session may be divided into 2 groups if there is a desire from delegates to discuss specific needs from an EIA (Group 1) and SEA (Group 2) perspective .
Learning Outcomes -This session will provide delegates with the first opportunity to hear about the Commissions formal plans for their forthcoming climate change & biodiversity guidance for EIA and SEA. It will also provide delegates with an opportunity to ask the Commission questions, about the guidance, and allow them to put forward their views on what issues they believe should be included within its scope. Delegates will leave the session aware of the Commission’s aims on the content of the guidance and information on its planned timetable to launch; they will also have had an opportunity to have their say at the early stages of what is sure to become an essential piece of Impact Assessment guidance across the EU.