Menu
EIA implementation and follow up has been recognized as one of the most critical processes of impact assessment in achieving its outcomes. In general terms ‘follow-up’ refers to ‘post-decision processes’ a crucial part of which is ensuring that recommendations and commitments made through the EIA process are actually implemented. There are many tools that can support this implementation process, including environmental management systems (EMS) and many other related sustainability management tools such as HSE-MS, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), and Sustainability Reporting in accordance with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), to name just a few. Dozens of national, sectoral and international standards, guidelines etc. have been developed to inform such processes and these are widely used. While considerable efforts and investments are made in both EIA and EMS, a lack of integration of these activities contributes to suboptimal environmental outcomes and a failure to realize the potential of these well-established environmental management tools.
This intermediate two-day training course focuses on strengthening the linkage between EIA and EMS throughout the life cycle of projects by improving communication, interaction and partnership between its multiple role players. In the first module, a quick review of the pre-decision tools (conventional EIA) and post-decision tools (such as EMS/HSE-MS, the relevant international standards such as ISO 14001:2015 and ISO 45001:2018 etc.) will be provided. The second module will focus on how pre-decision EIA should be linked to such post decision management tools. Improving communication, interaction and partnership are the focus of the third module, in which the participants will practice identifying the role of other parties and when, how and on what key issues they should communicate with them. In the fourth and final module the well-known “HSE cultural maturity theory” and its relationship with the EIA implementation will be discussed. Participants themselves will try to develop ways of making the entire EIA/EMS a seamless, flexible process in a way that challenges the very notions of ‘pre-decision’ and ‘post-decision’.
Level: Intermediate
Prerequisites: Participants are expected to have an understanding of EIA/SIA processes and terminology, and some awareness about environmental management systems (EMS). Hence, it would be beneficial if they had previously attended an introductory IAIA training course (e.g. ‘Understanding Impact Assessment’) or otherwise have had at least a year of work experience as a consultant, proponent, or regulator within an EIA system, or be in the position of implementing an EMS or health, safety, and environmental (HSE) management system in an active industry or an ongoing project. Alternatively, be a student with at least 6 months of taught or research experience of some aspect of EIA/HSE-MS. A particular interest in EIA implementation and follow-up, as well as implementing EMS/HSE-MS, is obviously desirable.
Language: English
Duration: 2 days (22-23 April)
Min/Max: 10-30
Price: US$480
Instructor: Behzad Raissiyan, Environmental Planning and Governance Advisor (Iran)
Behzad Raissiyan
Behzad Raissiyan is an independent Impact Assessment practitioner and instructor, HSE-MS and environmental planning and governance advisor with 20 years of extensive experience working for various clients from different sectors and industries. His work experience includes EIA and SEA for oil and gas and petrochemical development plans and projects, industrial and tourism developments, regional development plans etc. He has also fulfilled numerous land use and conservation planning projects. For a long time Behzad has been a registered third-party lead EMS auditor and senior tutor for ISO 14001, ISO 9001 and OHSAS 18001 (and recently OH&S MS ISO 45001).
He worked as Environmental Advisor for a major oil development project for 6 years (2010 – 2016) with specific responsibility for the implementation and follow-up of the EIA commitments and establishment of an EMS. During this period, he also had other responsibilities including incident investigation and follow up, HSE and sustainability performance monitoring, evaluation and reporting, and overall HSE risk management of the project. During this period as a former EIA/SEA practitioner, he had the chance to confront challenges of implementing EIA outcomes in the real world, where communication, leadership and forming partnerships with multiple role players is crucial.
In the past 8 years as Behzad has been working as a freelance environmental governance advisor, he has offered several training courses on IA and EMS/HSE-MS with an excellent track record for various range of audiences at different levels and from a broad range of sectors, such as government policy makers and top managers, industries, and even NGO members and activists. He also fulfilled some special research projects such as ‘Regulation Impact Assessment for Iranian EIA regulations’ and ‘Benchmarking Iran’s EIA requirements for oil and gas sector vs. best international practices.’
Behzad is a member of the International Association for Impact Assessment since 2008; he serves as a member the IAIA’s Training and Professional Development Committee (TPDC) since 2014 and was the chair of the committee from 2016-2020.