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EIA implementation and follow up has been recognized as one of the most crucial process 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 is 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).
Language: English
Duration: 2 days (29-30 April)
Min/Max: 10-25
Price: US $480
Instructor:
Behzad Raissiyan, Environmental Planning and Governance Advisor (Iran)
Behzad Raissiyan
Behzad Raissiyan is an independent Impact Assessment (IA) practitioner, HSE-MS and environmental planning advisor with 20 years of experience across various sectors, including oil and gas, petrochemicals, tourism, and industrial developments. His expertise includes Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA), Strategic Environmental Assessments (SEA), land use, and conservation planning. Behzad has been a registered lead EMS auditor and senior tutor for ISO 14001, ISO 9001, and OHSAS 18001 (now ISO 45001).
From 2010 to 2016, Behzad worked as an Environmental Advisor on a major oil development project, managing EIA implementation, HSE risk, incident investigation, and sustainability performance. He has since become a freelance environmental governance advisor, delivering IA and EMS/HSE-MS training courses to diverse audiences, including policymakers and NGO members.
Behzad has conducted research on Iranian EIA regulations and benchmarked them against international practices. A member of the International Association for Impact Assessment since 2008, he chaired the Training and Professional Development Committee (TPDC) from 2016 to 2020. Since 2023, Behzad has been an official trainer for IAIA’s Professional Development Program, receiving excellent feedback from participants.