An Integrated Approach to Impact Assessment

Abstract

Abstract Impact Assessment is continuously developing both in process and in application. Increasingly society expects that business should make a broader contribution to it. This has translated in impact assessment to spending more effort on enhancing benefits as well as mitigating the negative impact of our activities. Society is also expecting more openness and transparency, with greater communication and engagement on issues throughout the impact assessment process. New developments in impact assessment include increasing attention to social, health and biodiversity impacts, and integrating environmental, social and health aspects. Increasingly attention is being given to integrating impact assessment within the project/business processes and integrating the results of the impact assessment into project/business execution. Furthermore, impact assessments are being applied to an increasing range of projects, as well as to earlier phases of decision-making such as country entry. Also, Strategic Environmental Assessment is emerging as a new regulatory requirement in some areas of the world. The paper will outline the recent developments within and key challenges faced by Shell EP, and the key features of its new integrated impact assessment approach. Of particular note will be how biodiversity and health are addressed in the impact assessment process.