An Environmental Impact Assessment, or EIA, evaluates the environmental effects of a proposed project before it is approved. Governments require them for dams, highways, mines, factories, and large buildings. The process identifies risks and proposes ways to reduce them.

An EIA typically involves scoping, baseline studies, impact prediction, mitigation planning, and public consultation. Experts study air, water, soil, biodiversity, and social effects. They model how the project will change conditions over time. The public gets a chance to comment. A final report informs the decision to approve, modify, or reject the project.

The process has critics. It can be slow and expensive. Developers sometimes treat it as a formality, producing thick documents that few read. In some countries, corruption weakens enforcement. Still, the EIA is a key tool for accountability. When done well, it catches problems before they are built into concrete.

Typical steps

• Scoping
• Baseline studies
• Impact prediction
• Mitigation planning
• Public review and decision