ID: 1784
Presenting Author: Jake Barndon
Session: 592 - Streamlining IA in an era of global uncertainty
Status: pending
A comparative analysis of global impact assessments identifying best practices and lessons to enhance Canada’s IA process, focusing on efficiency, engagement, and transparency in project delivery.
As Canada advances new nuclear projects as part of its net-zero transition, a streamlined and effective Impact Assessment (IA) process will be critical to project success and public confidence. The following provides a comparative analysis of environmental and impact assessment (EA/IA) processes for international nuclear projects. The analysis focusses on nuclear case studies from Canada, United States, United Kingdom, Romania, and Australia to examine how each jurisdiction approaches assessment for new nuclear developments. A comparison of the various EA/IA processes will aim to identify the procedural strengths and weaknesses of each system, investigating how the regulatory structure, timing of engagement, and transparency influence the overall project efficiency. Transparency remains a critical factor in building public trust and ensuring regulatory confidence, and this paper will explore projects where public perception and legal challenges have emphasized the importance of transparent communication throughout the assessment process. The analysis will describe Canada’s IA process to highlight its strengths and propose opportunities for improvement informed by global best practices.
Jake works for Calian Nuclear, supporting Impact Assessment projects for new nuclear development in Canada, with experience in regulatory support and environmental assessment processes.