Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a decision support tool used by environment and sustainability professionals to ensure that relevant environmental information is available to a decision-maker (usually a local authority or government department), before they decide whether to grant consent for a future development: for example, a major road, large housing estate, industrial facility, power station, etc.
Most countries around the world have EIA requirements enshrined in legislation, generally focused on those projects likely to generate significant environmental effects.
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IEMA is the membership body for environment and sustainability professionals