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Module BOX 1 What is an integrated environmental assessment?
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The world is faced with major environmental challenges, which have complex causes and
consequences. This requires a structured process of dealing with environmental issues and
9-12 December, 2013 needs to use knowledge from a wide range of scientific disciplines and stakeholders, so that
their interactions with society, including political processes and the economic system. It

integrated insights are made available to decision-makers.

An assessment is the entire social process for undertaking a critical objective evaluation and
analysis of data and information designed to meet user needs, and to support decision making.
It applies the judgment of experts to existing knowledge to provide scientifically credible
answers to policy relevant questions, quantifying where possible the level of confidence.

Integrated Environmental Assessment provides a participatory, structured approach to
linking knowledge and action. Over time, GEO has developed an increasingly integrated
approach to environmental assessment, the use of indicators and reporting in answering the
questions shown on Figure 1.

The “integrated approach” is an umbrella term for:

? Linking the analysis of environmental state and trends with the policy analysis;
? Incorporating global and sub-global perspectives;

? Incorporating historical and future perspectives;
? Covering a broad spectrum of issues and policies; and

? Integrating the consideration of environmental change and human well-being.

Discussion Questions

In groups of 3-4 persons, discuss the following questions for five minutes. Be prepared to
share your key points in plenary.

10 Integrated Analysis of Environmental Trends and Policies