IAIA12 Energy Future: The Role of Impact Assessment

Porto, Portugal 27 May – 1 June 2012

 

houses

UPDATE : IAIA’s statement to Rio+20
http://www.iaia.org/publicdocuments/Rio20.pdf

An environmental impact assessment is an assessment of the possible positive or negative impact that a proposed project may have on the environment, together consisting of the environmental, social and economic aspects. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_impact_assessment

The Equator Principles (EPs) are a voluntary set of standards for determining, assessing and managing social and environmental risk in project financing.

Project financing, a method of funding in which the lender looks primarily to the revenues generated by a single project both as the source of repayment and as security for the exposure, plays an important role in financing development throughout the world (See http://www.bis.org/publ/bcbs118.pdf). Project financiers may encounter social and environmental issues that are both complex and challenging, particularly with respect to projects in the emerging markets.

The Equator Principles in full can be found at:

http://www.equator-principles.com/resources/equator-principles.pdf.

Equator Principles Financial Institutions (EPFIs) commit to not providing loans to projects where the borrower will not or is unable to comply with their respective social and environmental policies and procedures that implement the EPs. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equator_principles

The 32nd annual conference of the International Association For Impact Assessement, Energy Future: The Role of Impact Assessment will take place in Porto, Portugal from 27 May – 1 June 2012.

A defining issue throughout human history has been how societies have pursued the supply and management of energy. Our view of the world and the world economy over the last 3-4 human generations has been shaped by assumptions of infinite energy supplied primarily by fossil fuels. Impact assessments have scrutinized thousands of energy projects, but few have considered the long-term future supply and sources of non-renewable and renewable energy as critical to decision-making. Now, however, the basic principle of limitless energy is under challenge.

Impact assessment has proven to be a powerful evolving tool able to incorporate environmental, social and health concerns, among others, in decision-making processes. More integrated approaches are being tested for biodiversity and climate change. Understanding the future of energy must also be one of the highest priorities for impact assessment professionals.

What is the role of impact assessment on future global, national and local energy decisions and choices? How can we tackle the environmental and social risks that will appear as a result of our quest for the development, production and management of new energy sources?

IAIA is a forum for advancing innovation, development, and communication of best practice in impact assessment. For more information about what we do, visit http://www.iaia.org .

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Winners and honorable mentions from IAIA’s Inspired by Nature contest, including artwork and photos http://www.facebook.com/iaia.impact.assessment