Decision-Making for Sustainability - Final Project
Morrissa Boerchers - 7746254
May 3, 2014
Human actions, especially resource extraction, often have unintended negative social and ecological consequences (McAllister & Fitzpatrick, 2010). In order to limit and combat these negative consequences and move towards a more sustainable lifestyle we must embrace all of the tools of good governance. Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is one such tool that effectively considers social, environmental, and economic concerns in the review of major project development (Morrison-Saunders & Arts, 2004). EIA is certainly an important instrument for sustainable development and planning but it has one major weakness: monitoring and follow-up. The consequences of decisions must also be investigated, understood, communicated, and acted upon. Monitoring and follow-up provides the necessary link between decisions made through EIA and continued project implementation, improvement, and eventually closeout.
There is a need for monitoring that begins in or before the construction phase of a project and continues after project completion (B. F. Noble, 2010). Monitoring is an integral part of a dynamic EIA process and allows stakeholders to better understand and manage changes that a project can bring in the socio-ecological system (Moyer, Fitzpatrick, Diduck, & Froese, 2008). Monitoring is understood as “a set of activities that involves observing and describing changing conditions, identifying the potential causes of those changes, and translating data into useful information” (Moyer et al., 2008 p. 641; B. F. Noble, 2010). This information is then used to fulfill the main goal of monitoring, which is “determining the effectiveness of any measures ta...
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...se stakeholders together to move towards a common goal. Aboriginal organizations have been included and empowered through independent oversight bodies in new and important ways. There sometimes seems to be a struggle between the technical and participatory mandates of these bodies. A balance still needs to be struck between the scientific and human aspects of monitoring and sustainability. Independent oversight agencies have great potential for bringing stakeholders together to generate sustainable outcomes and positive change in their communities.
Independent oversight is essential for sustainability because it empowers communities through public participation, increases social and human capital within the community, and leads to sustainable outcome through ecologically informed decision-making (Moyer et al., 2008; B. Noble & Storey, 2005; Whitelaw et al., 2003).
Moulton, Krby and Alix Peterson Zwane. 2005. “Managing environmental risks through private sector cooperation: Theory, experience, and a case study of the California code of sustainable winegrowing practices”. International Food and Agribusiness Management. Vol. 8, No. 4:77-90
In the Aboriginal Affairs Strategy, enacting the appropriate laws and policies for land, water and heritage site protection and Aboriginal integrated environmental management and decisions making are crucial to success the initiatives of balanced environment (Office of the Aboriginal Affairs Northern Territory, n.d.). The government set two objectives such as rangers and caring for country and land and natural resource management to achieve the expected goal of environmental sound and sustainable economic and social opportunities for present and future (Office of the Aboriginal Affairs Northern Territory,
The International Covenant Council on Civil and Political Rights protects the right of citizen to participate in governance of their nation (Beder, 2996). At national level, individuals have access to information concerning the environment that is held by public authorities, including information on hazardous materials (Beder, 2006). States should encourage participation by making information available to the general public.
This is important within the context of environmental sustainability because it allows for opportunities to collect and build information and data to address the issues that will be useful for creating and outlining management strategies and observing the plans of operation (SOE, 2016) (CBD). This involves collaboration with various stakeholders as they work together and support each other to achieve the goals SOE,
There has been a vast advancement in the industrial development. The development of plastic has been a boon to the modern era. The development and advancement in the modern technology has played significant role in the various stages of the modernization. Although the introduction to plastics has been a significant step in the industrialization, the excessive use of the plastic products has affected environmental sustainability. Proper planning is very essential to implement the sustainability actively. There are many steps taken by various businesses to minimize the harm the plastics can do to the environment by reduce, reuse and recycle. One of the recent examples of planning to strengthen sustainability is by Walmart Inc. It has taken initiative
As it is commonly stated, an environmentally active student from the University of Connecticut-Stamford comments, “The first step toward solving a problem is admitting there is one” (Lanslots). In the area of environmental awareness, the solution must be executed on both an individual and a corporate level. Aldo Leopold states, “A conservationist is one who is humbly aware that with each stroke he is writing his signature on the face of the land” (73). Similarly we must realize that every action we take has an intended or unintended consequence upon our earth. Each step towards the conservation effort adds a signature to the plea to save our earth. As an up and coming chemistry scholar, it is important to raise awareness of the state of our environment and to recognize the strategies that can be taken as a member of a university, a citizen of the United States, and a future member of the corporate world to ensure a better environment and maintain resources for the future generations to live in this land.
Sustainability is an issue that everyone should be concerned about. If the planet Earth is going to exist, as we know it, everyone should wake up and do their part to help achieve a greater level of sustainability. In my English 101 class we learned about the issue of sustainability. Many different topics were discussed and researched throughout the course of the semester. Overall, I think that the sustainability project has been a learning and enlightening experience for everyone in this class. Many more things can be done next semester, since the groundwork has been laid to continue this project for time to come.
The EIA Directive aims to be integrative of all interested actors and to make a wide range of projects sustainable, in order to protect the environment, enhance the quality of life and reduce any friction between planners, developers and local communities [European Union (EU), 2009]. It is a process constituted by different stages from screening to evaluating and monitoring the impacts of the project implemented (Wood, 2003).
With today’s development of society, an increasing number of people focus on natural resources and sustainable, restaurants are seeking a new way to establish a sustainable strategy. The case study describes sustainability and analyze its impact within the industry, using McDonald’s as main case study.
The development of environmental regimes involves a five-fold process. The first process is the agenda setting and issue definition stage, which identifies and brings attention to an issue to the international community. Secon...
Hughes, R. 1998. Environmental Impact Assessment and Stakeholder Involvement. International Institute for Environment And Development. Environmental Planning Issues No. 11
By refer to precaution principle in environmental management which is prudence and stewardship. Any development activities whether in infrastructures and economic activity. Peoples have to prudence in action. Must concerned about the effect of environment degradation. So, EIA is one of prudence action in avoiding neglecting environments. Depending on the type of government, an EIA administrative body can have one or more of the following functions and duties such as preparation of regulations and guidance, ensuring uniform and consistent EIA implementation, providing procedural advice and direction including on issue resolution registration of EIA reports and documentation, public notification and information related to the EIA process, issuing or approving terms of reference for EIAs, overseeing or facilitating stakeholder involvement, promoting EIA good practice, issuing an environmental approval or terms and conditions without which a project cannot proceed, supervision or inspection of EIA-derived environmental management plans for project implementation; and carrying out EIA audit and follow up
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is ‘the process of decision making by identifying the potentially significant environmental effects and risks of a project’. Environmental impact analysis is one of the stages of an EIA (Sadler and McCabe, 2002). Environmental impact analysis is a process of providing decision makers with an indication of the likely consequences of their action (Wathern, 2013).
EIA is a decision maker tool, used to identify the potential impacts on environment due to proposed projects (Tinsley, 2012). It assesses the alternative approaches along with which, designing and implementing appropiate restrictions, mitigation, and management and monitors the measures (Morgan, 2001).
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is assessment of impacts on the environment due to proposed activity and finding ways to mitigate the environmental impacts.