Policies drive environmental outcomes.  Accordingly, we need to develop ways to consider how policies create and deal with pressing environmental issues as well as mechanisms to force actions in order to improve outcomes.  This course provides students with an understanding of the theory and practice of key Environmental Assessment (EA) approaches that are the principle means of integrating environmental considerations into governmental decision making.  In the first half of the course, among other issues, students consider how EAs have evolved since the 1960s to become the primary strategies for institutionalizing environmental reform; how EAs work as policy instruments within the policy cycle; the role of science in environmental decision making; public participation in EA; evaluating Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) effectiveness in the light of the political, social and economic contexts in which EIAs operate; Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and Environmental Management Systems (EMS).  In the second half of the course, together with a leading environmental consultant, students learn to apply the basic principles of environmental assessment to critically assess development proposals, develop public consultation strategies, evaluate monitoring and mitigation in environmental management plans.

On completion of this unit students will be able to:

• Demonstrate a sound understanding of the theoretical principles and conceptual development of Environmental Assessment.
• Demonstrate an appreciation of tools and processes for, and practice of, environmental assessment and management;
• Demonstrate skills in assessing development projects, policies and program documents;
• Drawing on key social science readings, analyze and evaluate environmental problems and policy problems affecting EA practices.
• Evaluate the role, strengths and limitations of various assessment tools among a suite of policy approaches used in environmental decision making.
• Demonstrate understanding of the role and shortcomings of assessment processes and practices in policy and project cycles in complex socio-political and economic environments
• Identify, assess and articulate how social relationships and political contexts affect how assessment practices function, especially in shaping the trade-offs that occur between competing interests during assessment processes. 

The course will be assessed on the basis of student performance in three modes of assessment: Seminar presentation and facilitation 10%;  Written assignment 25%; Environmental Impact Statement outline 40% (here students are required to draft an outline of an EIS for a hypothetical development); Ministerial 25% (here students gain practical skills in drafting concise ministerial advices on a critical policy issue).

Contact hours 3 hours per week; study and assignment preparation 5 hours per week.

None.

Modak, P. K. and A. K. Biswas. 1999. Conducting Environmental Assessment for Developing Countries. Tokyo, United Nations University.

Or

Thomas, I., 2005. Environmental Impact Assessment: Theory & practice in Australia (4th edition), Federation Press, Sydney.

Offered on campus and on-line.

In the second half of the course, together with Mark Adams, a leading environmental consultant, students learn to apply the basic principles of environmental assessment to critically assess development proposals, develop public consultation strategies, and evaluate monitoring and mitigation in environmental management plans, and consider how Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) principles might be built into decision making.