CEV 314 Environmental

Impact Assessment
Prof.Dr. Gülen Güllü
 First international conference on environment:
The United Nations Conference on the Human
Environment in 1972 One of the major results
of the
With the recognition that the developmental Stockholm conference
policies primarily focusing on economic was the creation of
growth increased the frequency of serious
environmental problems, the UN held a the United Nations
world summit in Stockholm, Sweden in 1972. Environment Programme
(UNEP).
The summit urged all countries in the world
to strengthen environmental management
policies while developing their economies.
Since then, institutional developments
related to environmental protection and
vigorous end-of-pipe environmental
governance have advanced. However, there
was a major global disagreement at the
summit, i.e., the northern developed
countries were more concerned with
environmental issues, while the developing
countries in the south paid more attention to
poverty issues.
Positive outcomes of Stockholm Conference
The implementation of the Stockholm Conference led to the creation of
an action plan that consisted of three pillars:
1. Earthwatch Programme to identify problems of international
significance to warn against impending environmental crises;
2. Recommendations concerning "environmental management or in
other words the application in practice of what was shown to be
desirable or necessary in regard to the environment";
3. Supporting measures such as education, training, public
information.
Sustainable development
• Key concept that has gained increasing international acceptance during the
last three decades
• Milestone in this process was the ‘Brundtland’ report, 1987.
• Sustainable development is «development that meets the needs of today’s
generation without compromising those of future generations».
• The UN Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), 1992, the
Earth Summit, established several international agreements, declarations
and commitments.
• Agenda 21, the global action plan for sustainable development, emphasizes
the importance of integrated environment and development decision-
making and promotes the use of EIA and other policy instruments for this
purpose.
 Sustainable Development Milestones

As the pressure of the human activity on the environment increased the effort for a more sustainable development gain
more and more importance, and thus in September 2015, the UN General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the ‘Transforming
our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. In the European Commission report from 2020 it is stated that
the 2030 Agenda is the new global sustainable development agenda. At the core of the 2030 Agenda is a list of 17 SDGs
and 169 related targets to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity and peace.
Perspectives on sustainable development
Sustainable development is an evolving concept, which is
continually being redefined and reinterpreted. The starting
point is the ‘Brundtland definition’.
The challenge of sustainable development may be
summarised by comparing three overriding indicators:
• First, human activity is estimated to currently consume or
pre-empt 40 per cent of net primary productivity on land.
• Second, 60 per cent of the world’s population live close to
or under the poverty line.
• Third, the world’s population is projected to double by mid-
century.
Without major policy and technology changes, UNEP and
other institutions have concluded that such trends threaten
the stability of the world community and the global
environment.
The Sustainable
Development
Goals (SDGs) aim
to transform our
world. They are a
call to action to
end poverty and
inequality,
protect the
planet, and
ensure that all
people enjoy
health, justice
and prosperity.
Why EIA is important

Reducing the burden of environmental impacts is necessary if

development is to become sustainable.
EIA role is formally recognized in Principle 17 of the Rio Declaration
on Environment and Development:
‘Environmental impact assessment, as a national instrument, shall
be undertaken for proposed activities that are likely to have
a significant adverse impact on the environment and are subject to
a decision of a competent national authority’.