Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
Why make an EIA?
For any large project extensive environmental assessments have to be made including a consequence assessment called Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). It is necessary from the government and investors point of view. The assessment must ensure knowledge of the specific consequences a project might have and how to avoid or minimize possible negative impacts. A well executed EIA is a requisite for a project to be approved.
The term "environment" is in this connection used in a broad sense and does not only cover nature, plants and animals but also social, health and societal relations.
It is the responsibility of the person or company that owns a project that the assessments are carried out and that relevant issues are clarified. The authorities carry the responsibility for making sure that the assessments are sufficient and that the project on that background is sensible.
Internationally there are demands that there must be an environmental impact assessment of specific projects. A number of common standards are used and furthermore special standards for assessing project in the arctic have been developed.
Therefore extensive assessments are made which have to ensure the necessary knowledge. This is on the basis of a number of international standards but also in interaction with authorities and population. It is therefore not a closed process but a process where the public is involved.
What are Environmental Impact Assessments?
In Greenland the legal framework for EIAs is being put into practice in the form of an executive order. The initiated work will be based on already acknowledged international standards and can be adjusted later on if the coming executive order is to result in the need for changes or additions.
The Greenland Self Rule has in connection with the project also completed a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) which works on a more overall level and has contributed in pointing out subject that the EIA should focus on.
An EIA must:
- Point out and assess possible environmental impacts that the project might have
- Show how possible environmental impacts might be dealt with and/or avoided
- Describe the extent and frequency of the monitoring and restoration- how is the environment left after the ending of the project
- Contribute to the adjustment of the surrounding environment
- Present its assessments to the public and the authorities
A project cannot be implemented before this has been done and there is an environmental approval. In large scale projects this will at the same time be a requisite for the finances to be provided. Lenders are also interested in a project being able to document its environmental impacts. In this way the risk of unforeseen expenses for environmental protection are minimized. Seen from an investment perspective it makes a big difference that there is certainty around the project being sustainable - also environmentally.