Global megatrends and their implications for environmental assessment practice

Retief, Francois, Bond, Alan ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3809-5805, Pope, Jenny, Morrison-Saunders, Angus and King, Nicholas (2016) Global megatrends and their implications for environmental assessment practice. Environmental Impact Assessment Review, 61. pp. 52-60. ISSN 0195-9255

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Abstract

This paper addresses the future of environmental assessment (EA) practice in light of a rapidly changing world. We apply a literature review-based methodology to firstly identify key global megatrends and then reflect upon the implications for EA practice based on some known challenges. The key megatrends identified are synthesised into six categories: i) demographics, ii) urbanization, iii) technological innovation, iv) power shifts, v) resource scarcity and vi) climate change. We then discuss the implications of these megatrends for EA practice against four known EA challenges namely: dealing with i) complexity and uncertainty, ii) efficiency, iii) significance and iv) communication and participation. Our analysis suggests important implications for EA practice such as: increased difficulties with accuracy of prediction; the need for facilitative adaptation; an increase in the occurrence of unexpected events; higher expectations for procedural efficiency; challenges with information and communication management; dealing with significance judgements; and mitigation amidst resource scarcity and increasing pressures on earth systems. The megatrends underscore the need for continued evolution of EA thinking and practice, especially moving away from seeking a predictable single future or outcome towards the possibility of multiple scenarios with associated adaptability and enhanced system resilience capable of responding to rapid change.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	environmental assessment,megatrends,challenges,value,effectiveness,uncertainty,complexity,efficiency,significance,communication,participation,ea practice,future of ea,sdg 13 - climate action ,/dk/atira/pure/sustainabledevelopmentgoals/climate_action
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Science > School of Environmental Sciences
UEA Research Groups:	Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Environmental Social Sciences
Depositing User:	Pure Connector
Date Deposited:	24 Sep 2016 00:06
Last Modified:	22 Oct 2022 01:20
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/59815
DOI:	10.1016/j.eiar.2016.07.002

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