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In order to illustrate the concepts and methodologies introduced in the three steps in this module, a Module
feature case study focusing on the Red River basin in North America will be used. Different aspects of
the case study will be presented as applicable to the methodology discussed in various sections. 5

Upon successful completion of this module, you will be prepared to:

? Identify priority issues influencing environmental change.

? Describe and interpret environmental change through time and space, by making use of qualitative
and quantitative information, including indicators. Abu Dhabi, UAE

? Identify direct and indirect causes of environmental change.

? Identify and characterize impacts of environmental change on environment and society.

? Identify and analyse policy mechanisms and responses that directly or indirectly contribute - in
positive or negative ways - to environmental change.

Keeping environmental state-and-trends assessment for all issues clustered helps analyze crosscutting
issues within the environmental domain and then, separately, discuss policy matters in one section

that may facilitate comparison. However, separating the analysis of policies from the description of
underlying environmental status and trends might make for a more fragmented report.

Figure 1 Key questions to be answered by State of the Environment (SoE)
Assessment and Policy Analysis in the IEA Framework

5 What actions could be taken for
a more sustainable future?

4 Where are we heading?

3 What is being done and how effective is it?

2 What are the consequences for the environment
and humanity?

1 What is happening to the environment and why?

IEA Training Manual Workshop for the National Reporting Toolkit (NRT) 9