Strengthening impact assessment: what problems do integration and focus fix?

Abstract

Inadequate integration and lack of focus have been identified as two main issues plaguing contemporary impact assessment. We agree but argue that these are but two of a plethora of ills that thwart environmental assessment and prevent it from becoming the go-to tool for sustainable development in Canada. We witness ongoing ineffective practice in scoping, impact prediction, significance determination, assessment of cumulative effects, and other elements. Fundamental change is needed in the environmental assessment system to turn it from a shallow adversarial process to a technically rigorous and collaborative one.