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Module Major environmental issues assessed
1 The range of environmental issues for assessment in the AEO-2 process was far more than could be

comprehensively addressed in the report. Therefore, stakeholders had to select the most important
early in the process. Important issues differ at different levels of analysis (regional, sub-regional, national,

sub-national, and community level). For example, a detailed analysis of the coastal marine environment
9-12 December, 2013 of great importance to Mauritius but not to Botswana which is a landlocked country. The selection
may be a critical issue for Southern Africa as a sub-region. At the national level, however, it may be

of the issues, therefore, had to be common across most of the countries in a sub-region and also of
importance to Africa, as a region, in the context of the NEPAD environmental action plan.

In the development of issues important for AEO-2, a consultative group on data and issues was formed
which identified a long list of broad potential issues. This list was then sent to national level stakeholders
who either added or eliminated thematic areas proposed depending on their importance to the
national environment, and they gave details of variables they wanted addressed in each broad theme.
The assessment analyses environmental change in the context of atmosphere, land, freshwater, forests
and woodlands, coastal and marine environments, and biodiversity. It discusses the main human drivers
of environmental change and considers how these impacts on human wellbeing and development. It
covers demographic change, poverty, social change, including gender and the division of labour, health
and education. The integrated and multidimensional discussion of livelihoods and environment sets the

basis for evaluating and determining policy. The report also highlights emerging issues such as invasive
alien species, chemicals, genetically modified crops and the environment as a key factor for peace and
regional cooperation.

Conclusions

The AEO-2 assessment provides a comprehensive assessment of environmental state-and-trends, and
the implications of this for human well-being and development. It includes an analysis of policy responses

and the opportunities available to policymakers to maximize the benefits offered by the environment.
It addresses five consecutive and inter-related questions:

? How and why is the environment important from a human perspective?
? How is the environment changing, and why, and what opportunities does it hold?

? Are there special issues, which affect the environment and development that require immediate
attention and new approaches?

? How will different policy choices affect the future?
? What can be done to ensure that environmental value is retained and the lives of people are
improved?

30 The GEO Approach to Integrated Environmental Assessment