About the Conference

Environmental Assessment (EA) and Impact Assessment (IA) practitioners are at the cornerstone of a major societal and environmental transition to address innumerable existential crises, where transformational change is needed to address challenges, be it climate change, loss of biodiversity, housing shortages, the more prolific use of and demand for electricity, or even trade relationships. This year’s conference theme recognizes the key role transformative infrastructure will play during uncertainty in the geopolitical, societal and natural world. Infrastructure enables trade, powers businesses, connects workers to their jobs, creates opportunities for communities and protects the nation and its citizens from an increasingly unpredictable natural environment. This conference is about stimulating a meaningful dialogue about supporting development for society’s important challenges while leaving a positive legacy for future generations.

Practitioners need to create efficiencies by understanding common problems and standardizing processes while equally isolating complex problems that require innovative solutions. Building the society of the future will mean maximizing outcomes and minimizing impacts on the environment and people. It will mean consulting and cooperating in good faith with Indigenous communities and peoples in order to obtain their free and informed consent prior to the approval of any project affecting their lands or territories and other resources. It will mean learning from past errors that might have negatively impacted health and socio-economic conditions, as well as the biophysical environment. Modern infrastructure projects should create partnership opportunities with Indigenous communities, build communities with vibrant and non-digital human connectivity, and involve early engagement and trusted relationships.