Outlook Journal 15 covers key topics

In February, IEMA’s Impact Assessment Network published Volume 15 of the Outlook Journal, covering public participation, stakeholder engagement and impact assessment (bit.ly/3Z7qnpv).

Public participation is fundamental to environmental impact assessment (EIA). However, compliance with the basic legislative requirements for consultation is not enough. To be effective, engagement must be carefully planned, tailored to each proposal and IA process, and follow some well-established principles.

The current review of the environmental assessment regimes in England and Northern Ireland, and the potential introduction of Environmental Outcome Reports, gives an opportunity for reflection on the state of practice.

This volume sets out some of these principles, from the ‘why we engage’ question to the how and with whom, and what makes for better good practice engagement on the ground, including use of a wide range of techniques to meet various engagement objectives.

In this edition, guest editor Tanya Burdett draws together eight articles by authors with rich experience in various sectors, including EIA, SEA and many other areas of practice. It provides insights into new and interesting approaches, specific techniques and the current state of engagement practice in the UK and further afield.

Public participation and stakeholder engagement in impact assessment is more important now than ever before as we seek to tackle the climate and nature emergency amid global social and economic upheaval.