IAIA climate change and impact assessment symposium - USA
The symposium will emphasize practical examples and guidance useful for project design and operational management of hydroelectric and other energy facilities, irrigation projects, water supply and waste water treatment projects, roads and other transport, coastal projects, tourism facilities and other infrastructure likely to be affected by changes in water availability or extreme weather events as a result of climate change. The symposium will also explore the application of strategic environmental assessment (SEA) and cumulative effects assessment (CEA).
Adaptation and mitigation measures need to be addressed at the level of policies, programs and projects, locally, regionally and globally, because climate change is expected to:
- Affect the productivity of biological resourcesand ecosystems.
- Alter the emergence and distribution of infectious diseases in plants, animals, and humans.
- Increase the costs of extreme weather for transportation, trade, tourism, and other infrastructure–especially in developing nations.
Key questions for sector experts and decision makers
- What effects will climate change have on the feasibility, viability and long-term sustainability of policies, plans, programs or projects?
- Will climate change exacerbate the impacts of a project?
- To what degree does a project, program or policy or intervention promote reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions?
- How can flexibility in responding to the impacts of climate change be assured through impact assessment?
- How can impact assessment apply climate change projections to site-specific projects?
- What tools does impact assessment offer for understanding, assessing risk and responding to climate change?
Organization of the symposium
- In-depth presentations by experts on key topics
- Concurrent forums with interactive table-topic Q&A components
- Facilitated dialogue sessions among keynote speakers and delegates
- Use of impact assessment tools and methods working groups