ID: 516
Lead Chair: Kiichiro Hayashi
Session Format: Paper session | Accepts Submissions: Open
Conference Topic: S1. Special to IAIA
The advancement of remote sensing technology and information technology, spatial analysis with a variety of environmental, social and economic items received a big attention in AI era. This session will focus on IA examples which support the strategic decision including SEA and utilized the well-organized spatial scale analysis for achieving.
Status: approve
ID: 652
Lead Chair: Mireya Archila Serrano
Session Format: Paper session | Accepts Submissions: Open
Conference Topic: T2. Inclusive public engagement
This session examines how effective participatory environmental assessments can enhance infrastructure planning and development by integrating technical and community knowledge in Latin America. EIA can foster dialogue between developers and communities, identifying shared interests and improving project outcomes and inclusive decision-making.
Status: approve
ID: 613
Lead Chair: Sérgio Moreira
Session Format: Solution room | Accepts Submissions: Invitation Only
Conference Topic: G14. Social impact assessment
Impact assessment professionals often engage with communities “at war" with projects. In this carousel session, four experienced professionals in misinformation, conflict resolution, and trauma-informed approaches will explore how practitioners' beliefs about community-project relations can, unintentionally, contribute to these disruptions.
Status: approve
ID: 622
Lead Chair: Sean Maher
Session Format: Paper session | Accepts Submissions: Open
Conference Topic: T3. Enhancing environmental science and regulatory literacy
From data visualization to co-developed information products, this session welcomes papers showcasing how recent IA practice leans into questions of public trust and technical literacy through adaptive communication. Examples of co-developed approaches and analysis of scientific literacy-public acceptability interfaces are of particular interest.
Status: approve
ID: 550
Lead Chair: Vigya Sharma
Session Format: Paper session | Accepts Submissions: Open
Conference Topic: T1. Communication and reporting to improve transparency
This session will create space for practitioners and researchers to draw on real-world cases and share lessons on (re)building trust with communities within/ beyond the impact assessment and permitting processes. It will highlight the role of trust and transparency in social and environmental impact assessments to navigate complex energy transitions.
Status: approve
ID: 552
Lead Chair: Katherine Witt
Session Format: Paper session | Accepts Submissions: Open
Conference Topic: G14. Social impact assessment
This interactive session explores how social impact assessment (SIA) practitioners, government agencies, developers, and community leaders can uphold good practice while navigating an increasing urgency for projects amid opposition and misinformation.
Status: approve
ID: 678
Lead Chair: Dr. Ranjana Sharma
Session Format: Panel discussion | Accepts Submissions: Open
Conference Topic: T3. Enhancing environmental science and regulatory literacy
This panel session explore strategies to improve the communication and dissemination of scientific information in impact assessments. Emphasis will be placed on enhancing transparency and accessibility while ensuring that, despite growing pressure to streamline project approvals, decisions remain grounded in rigorous science.
Status: approve
ID: 725
Lead Chair: Carla Conkin
Session Format: Paper session | Accepts Submissions: Open
Conference Topic: G8. Cumulative effects
Looking squarely at the end-game, how exactly does CIA/SEIA/IA find its way into actual decision making, permitting/oversight, leading to successful projects/land use outcomes? Let’s see the successes/failures/exposure and what this means for value and system change, as time stretches farther and farther away from the impact assessment itself.
Status: approve
ID: 607
Lead Chair: Rufus Howard
Session Format: Workshop | Accepts Submissions: Closed
Conference Topic: T1. Communication and reporting to improve transparency
A creative workshop exploring how documentary film can transform IA reporting and NTS. Featuring a commissioned short film blending interviews, GIS and visuals, participants will learn how it was made, discuss lessons and costs, and reflect on broader applications. Outcomes include a practical filmmaking tip sheet for IA professionals.
Status: approve
ID: 542
Lead Chair: Roland Short
Session Format: Panel discussion | Accepts Submissions: Open
Conference Topic: T2. Inclusive public engagement
This panel addresses growing public disengagement in consultation processes, critically evaluating if we are in a "post-consultation era." Experts discuss criteria for meaningful consultation, successful project refinements driven by genuine stakeholder engagement, and alternative strategies for impactful and legitimate public participation.
Status: approve
ID: 714
Lead Chair: Felice Physioc
Session Format: Panel discussion | Accepts Submissions: Open
Conference Topic: G12. Indigenous Peoples
Our panel discusses the objectivity of information that undergirds impact assessments, with a particular eye to how project proponents make claims about “no adverse impacts” to the environment and to Indigenous rights. Rather than an issue of communication, we discuss information in terms of selective data bias and data presentation.
Status: approve
ID: 756
Lead Chair: Ross Mitchell
Session Format: Paper session | Accepts Submissions: Open
Conference Topic: G2. Agriculture, forestry, and fisheries
When a carbon project plants trees but forgets the people, integrity falters. This session explores how impact assessment can restore balance. Mapping risks, amplifying voices, and revealing truths beneath the canopy. Join us to rethink NbS design, where social insight becomes the root system of every high-quality carbon credit.
Status: approve
ID: 620
Lead Chair: Glenn Brown
Session Format: Workshop | Accepts Submissions: Closed
Conference Topic: T1. Communication and reporting to improve transparency
This workshop provides an understanding of the need for clear argument in IA, three guiding principles to create strong arguments and five strategies to carry them out.
Status: approve
ID: 699
Lead Chair: Carine Durocher
Session Format: Paper session | Accepts Submissions: Open
Conference Topic: G14. Social impact assessment
This session will present best practices for conducting surveys with land users—Indigenous or non-Indigenous—to obtain reliable data on current land use and improve information sharing. By gaining a better understanding of socio-environmental interactions, project planning can avoid or minimize potential impacts on land-based activities.
Status: approve
ID: 577
Lead Chair: Tania Alexis Cuéllar Gutiérrez
Session Format: World Café | Accepts Submissions: Closed
Conference Topic: T2. Inclusive public engagement
This workshop offers a critical analysis of public participation and communication in social impact assessment. Through open dialogue, we’ll explore how to rebuild trust, reduce asymmetries, and address misinformation by fostering ethical, legitimate, and sustainable relationships among communities, companies, and authorities.
Status: approve
ID: 653
Lead Chair: Youhai Sun
Session Format: Paper session | Accepts Submissions: Open
Conference Topic: G10. Governance and implementation systems
This session will explore how to empower BIA to transcend the tool level and shape the legal framework for legislation, law enforcement, judiciary, public participation, and international cooperation, thereby transforming BIA into an ecologically protective measure with a solid scientific basis and legal foundation.
Status: approve
ID: 736
Lead Chair: Ian Desjardins
Session Format: Panel discussion | Accepts Submissions: Invitation Only
Conference Topic: G12. Indigenous Peoples
This session explores how climate adaptation planning can be integrated into cumulative effects assessments in Impact Assessments, centring Indigenous knowledge. It offers tools, examples, and policy levers to support responsive, forward-looking, and culturally grounded IA processes that reflect the lived realities of Indigenous communities and cli
Status: approve
ID: 648
Lead Chair: Veronica Evelina Giberti
Session Format: Paper session | Accepts Submissions: Open
Conference Topic: G1. Academia
This session invites a critical discussion on how to educate professionals who can communicate environmental assessments with empathy, clarity, and strategic intent. It highlights innovative pedagogical approaches and advocates for a cross-cutting transformation in higher education, recognizing communication as a key element.
Status: approve
ID: 750
Lead Chair: REIF JORGE CHÁVEZ-CALLUPE
Session Format: Paper session | Accepts Submissions: Open
Conference Topic: T3. Enhancing environmental science and regulatory literacy
This session explores how local governments in developing economies navigate the complexity of Environmental Impact Assessments. It addresses institutional barriers, misinformation, and limited technical capacity while proposing strategies for regulatory literacy, digital tools, and participatory models.
Status: approve
ID: 721
Lead Chair: Ken Froese
Session Format: World Café | Accepts Submissions: Invitation Only
Conference Topic: T4. Digital and interactive impact studies
Canadian legislation to fast-tracking major project approvals has come as a response to Donald Trump’s upheaval of trade and relations between our countries. In this world café setting, participants will construct causal loop diagram-based models to look at the impacts of fast-tracking approvals – e.g. Indigenous consultation, FPIC, public trust.
Status: approve
ID: 669
Lead Chair: Victoria Marquez Mees
Session Format: Panel discussion | Accepts Submissions: Invitation Only
Conference Topic: T2. Inclusive public engagement
Development finance institutions face grievances due to poor transparency and disinformation. This session explores real-life case studies highlighting the harm of misinformation. Stakeholders—including banks, communities, and civil society—share challenges and tools to improve engagement and achieve positive project outcomes
Status: approve
ID: 587
Lead Chair: David Wright
Session Format: Panel discussion | Accepts Submissions: Open
Conference Topic: G10. Governance and implementation systems
By pre-approving mega-projects and exempting them from IA and other laws, Canada’s new Building Canada Act creates a potential breeding ground for misinformation and disinformation. Transparency, robust public participation, and meaningful Indigenous engagement will be critical. This panel explores risks and opportunities in early implementation.
Status: approve
ID: 686
Lead Chair: Ahmed Sanda
Session Format: Paper session | Accepts Submissions: Open
Conference Topic: G5. Climate change
The session seeks to spark interdisciplinary dialogue among practitioners, regulators, and researchers developing new strategies for climate-inclusive IAs. It explores advances in applying climate science in IA mitigation, addressing climate risk in ways that counter misinformation and contribute to overall sound decision making.
Status: approve
ID: 606
Lead Chair: Scott Allan Orr
Session Format: Paper session | Accepts Submissions: Open
Conference Topic: G7. Cultural heritage
This session focusses on how the rapid and uncertain pace of climate change necessitates improvements in impact assessment for cultural heritage. It invites interdisciplinary perspectives to consider how communication strategies can be improved, how issues of scalability can be addressed, and how informational deficits can be overcome.
Status: approve
ID: 596
Lead Chair: Remi Moncel
Session Format: Panel discussion | Accepts Submissions: Open
Conference Topic: G5. Climate change
The World Court has spoken. States have an obligation to conduct environmental impact assessments for “particularly significant proposed individual activities contributing to GHG emissions.” What does this obligation mean for States, companies, and practitioners? Are existing ESIA system fit to address climate impacts under this new standard?
Status: approve
ID: 663
Lead Chair: Roberto Mezzalama
Session Format: Paper session | Accepts Submissions: Open
Conference Topic: G5. Climate change
Assessing climate risks is increasingly complex amid climate misinformation and polarized debates. Practitioners must balance scientific rigour with sensitive communication, engaging stakeholders and integrating risk assessment into impact assessment. This session invites experts to share experiences on effectively incorporating climate change risk
Status: approve
ID: 728
Lead Chair: Marie-Eve Martin
Session Format: Game - Gaming | Accepts Submissions: Closed
Conference Topic: T2. Inclusive public engagement
Some project proponents and their consultants are truly willing to innovate through impact assessment and succeed in creating unifying projects. But how? Join a challenging roleplay that will open your mind to new ways of co-creating projects — and spark reflection on how to meaningfully integrate them into real-world assessments.
Status: approve
ID: 594
Lead Chair: George Hegmann
Session Format: Panel discussion | Accepts Submissions: Invitation Only
Conference Topic: T1. Communication and reporting to improve transparency
Consulting practitioners drive preparation of environmental assessments but are often misleadingly viewed with enmity. Practitioners however reflect high professional standards in preparing and communicating independent, objective and meaningful outcomes. This panel explores practitioner’s opportunities to speak truths in a contested world.
Status: approve
ID: 520
Lead Chair: Charlotta Faith-Ell
Session Format: Paper session | Accepts Submissions: Open
Conference Topic: G10. Governance and implementation systems
This session aims at taking stock of the state-of-the-art of IA and transport infrastructure development that is heavily contested. Presenters and participants are invited to discuss these practices with the participants. This session is part of the developing an international handbook on IA and transport infrastructure.
Status: approve
ID: 639
Lead Chair: Jane Seaborn
Session Format: Panel discussion | Accepts Submissions: Open
Conference Topic: G14. Social impact assessment
This panel session explores how misinformation campaigns and social media can shape public narratives and influence impact assessments. It offers tools for managing distrust, elevating unheard voices and using digital insights ethically and effectively in contested project environments.
Status: approve
ID: 719
Lead Chair: Arlene Fleming
Session Format: Workshop | Accepts Submissions: Invitation Only
Conference Topic: G7. Cultural heritage
A workshop, sponsored by the IAIA Cultural Heritage Section, will convene invited practitioners to identify and discuss the optimal scope, content, dissemination and use of a forthcoming document: Best Practice Principles for Cultural Heritage in Impact Assessment, and two supporting documents.
Status: approve
ID: 654
Lead Chair: Nyoka Morris Morris
Session Format: Paper session | Accepts Submissions: Open
Conference Topic: T6. Stopping the spread of false information
This session explores the relationship between culture and communication in impact assessment, emphasizing the importance of understanding cultural differences and utilizing culturally appropriate tools to effectively communicate environmental effects thereby reducing the spread of misinformation and disinformation.
Status: approve
ID: 684
Lead Chair: Angeles Mendoza Sammet
Session Format: Workshop | Accepts Submissions: Open
Conference Topic: G8. Cumulative effects
The aim of this workshop is to discuss if cumulative effects assessment, used as a stand-alone tool, or as part of EIA or SEA, is making a difference on the ground and what are the key factors to make it effective.
Status: approve
ID: 623
Lead Chair: David Brescia
Session Format: Panel discussion | Accepts Submissions: Open
Conference Topic: G8. Cumulative effects
Should cumulative effects be the responsibility of project proponents who want their project approved, or of government, who is responsible for managing natural resources? Or some yet unidentified 3rd party? This panel will debate the merits of proponent-led cumulative effects assessment versus regional assessments and land-use planning.
Status: approve
ID: 521
Lead Chair: Imrana Jalal
Session Format: Panel discussion | Accepts Submissions: Invitation Only
Conference Topic: T1. Communication and reporting to improve transparency
Exploring how retaliation against stakeholders undermines information integrity in impact assessments, this session discusses protective mechanisms, shares case studies, and emphasizes collaborative approaches to ensure credible and effective assessments.
Status: approve
ID: 626
Lead Chair: Charles Kelly
Session Format: Paper session | Accepts Submissions: Open
Conference Topic: G9. Disasters and conflict
Disasters and conflicts are major disruptors of development, and lives. This session provides a venue to present on assessing impacts during conflicts and crises and lessons which have, or need to be, been learned.
Status: approve
ID: 595
Lead Chair: Dr. Uzodinma Adirieje
Session Format: Workshop | Accepts Submissions: Open
Conference Topic: T6. Stopping the spread of false information
This session explores how climate misinformation affects vulnerable economies and indigenous communities in West Africa. It highlights narrative power, indigenous knowledge, and inclusive impact assessments, while showcasing local strategies to counter disinformation. The session fosters dialogue on decolonizing climate communication and promoting
Status: approve
ID: 689
Lead Chair: Sylvain Leblanc
Session Format: Paper session | Accepts Submissions: Open
Conference Topic: G3. AI and emerging technology
This session will highlight advances in Earth Observation (EO) methods and products to support and monitor developments such as resource extraction and critical infrastructure. It will also explore efforts to bridge policy and practice through operationalizing EO for impact assessment processes, environmental monitoring, and reclamation purposes.
Status: approve
ID: 733
Lead Chair: Andrea Repetto Vargas
Session Format: Solution room | Accepts Submissions: Invitation Only
Conference Topic: T2. Inclusive public engagement
This session spotlights the critical role of transparency and accountability in international development financing, especially in the face of misinformation and disinformation that can distort public understanding of infrastructure projects. Discussion includes: 1.Early Inclusion of Citizen Voices and 2.Grievance Architecture and Access to IAMs.
Status: approve
ID: 746
Lead Chair: Sara Bice
Session Format: Game - Gaming | Accepts Submissions: Closed
Conference Topic: T6. Stopping the spread of false information
At IAIA26, we're all learning about the prevalence and pitfalls of mis- and disinformation for our work. But what can we do about it?! Join this highly interactive session on mis/disinformation response to build your capacity to identify, respond to and prevent dis/misinformation.
Status: approve
ID: 539
Lead Chair: Dean Wallraff
Session Format: Panel discussion | Accepts Submissions: Open
Conference Topic: T2. Inclusive public engagement
How do EIA laws differ in the US, the EU, and the Global South? What types of litigation are available in countries that have EIA laws to enforce or challenge EIAs, what types of organizations have the legal standing to file such cases, and what remedies can they obtain?
Status: approve
ID: 570
Lead Chair: Philipp Koenig
Session Format: Workshop | Accepts Submissions: Invitation Only
Conference Topic: T2. Inclusive public engagement
An open, creative workshop co-chaired by two accountability mechanisms of multilateral development banks, exploring tools—like joint fact-finding and independent investigations—to build legitimacy of fact-finding processes. Participants will reflect on practical experiences and discuss how different approaches can foster trust in expert findings.
Status: approve
ID: 598
Lead Chair: Clara U
Session Format: Paper session | Accepts Submissions: Open
Conference Topic: T4. Digital and interactive impact studies
Traditional impact assessment communication struggles to engage communities, allowing misinformation to spread. This session covers digital storytelling, visualization, and AI tools that transform complex data into accessible narratives, helping practitioners build community trust while maintaining scientific accuracy.
Status: approve
ID: 749
Lead Chair: Akua Darko
Session Format: Panel discussion | Accepts Submissions: Open
Conference Topic: T2. Inclusive public engagement
Join this panel discussion to explore best practices for engaging Indigenous communities in the co-design and reporting of impact assessment projects.Through the discussions, participants will receive guidance to strengthen collaboration with Indigenous partners to navigate emotionally charged issues in the face of misinformation and disinformation
Status: approve
ID: 566
Lead Chair: Pete Gabriel
Session Format: Paper session | Accepts Submissions: Open
Conference Topic: T2. Inclusive public engagement
When developing infrastructure, how do we engage with affected people already made vulnerable through conflict, climate change and previous developments? Through real-world tools and stories, participants will learn how trust can be built, insights extracted, and community-backed decisions made, even in challenging circumstances.
Status: approve
ID: 642
Lead Chair: Chris Buse
Session Format: Paper session | Accepts Submissions: Open
Conference Topic: G11. Health
Climate change is already impacting human health around the world. This session explores novel approaches to health impact assessment that attend to the health risks posed by climate change and acute climate-related emergencies, with a focus on enhancing the credibility and impact of these novel assessment methods.
Status: approve
ID: 541
Lead Chair: Cheryl Wasserman
Session Format: Paper session | Accepts Submissions: Open
Conference Topic: G10. Governance and implementation systems
Participants explore reforms and streamlining of EsIA and permitting to achieve efficiency and effectiveness and address known challenges. Concerns over cost and time required for EsIA have created urgency for reforms and streamlining as officials strive to address climate change, critical infrastructure as well as needed economic investment.
Status: approve
ID: 635
Lead Chair: Alan Chenoweth
Session Format: World Café | Accepts Submissions: Closed
Conference Topic: T5. Professional recognition and certification systems
A World Cafe session exploring some typical ethical dilemmas in Impact Assessment, through hypothetical scenarios and role-playing, to suggest tools, training, accreditation and support needed by IA professionals
Status: approve
ID: 604
Lead Chair: Heather Giddens
Session Format: Paper session | Accepts Submissions: Open
Conference Topic: T1. Communication and reporting to improve transparency
Holistic impact assessment encourages a multi-dimensional perspective of direct, indirect and cumulative effects. However, guidance on this approach is limited. Potential frameworks will be shared to understand if/how holistic impact assessment can enhance understanding of effects, build trust and support sustainable decision-making.
Status: approve
ID: 581
Lead Chair: Alan Bond
Session Format: Paper session | Accepts Submissions: Open
Conference Topic: G3. AI and emerging technology
Building on IAIA25, there is a need to understand how the applications of Artificial Intelligence (AI), in all its forms, is contributing (or otherwise) to the improvement of communication in Impact Assessment and, specifically, managing and avoiding Misinformation and/or Disinformation.
Status: approve
ID: 656
Lead Chair: Julie Reid Forget
Session Format: Panel discussion | Accepts Submissions: Invitation Only
Conference Topic: T2. Inclusive public engagement
This session will explore the evidence from Canada and globally that approaches that focus both on deliberative citizen processes and wellbeing outcomes can build trust between communities, developers and governments to ensure that the right projects get built and damaging projects are avoided.
Status: approve
ID: 688
Lead Chair: Hayato Kobayashi
Session Format: Paper session | Accepts Submissions: Open
Conference Topic: G13. Public participation
This session examines managing stakeholder expectations during land acquisition and resettlement. Addressing challenges from speculation, political interference, and misinformation, speakers will share practical communication strategies, stakeholder engagement frameworks, and grievance mechanisms.
Status: approve
ID: 761
Lead Chair: Sylvie Mondor
Session Format: World Café | Accepts Submissions: Closed
Conference Topic: T1. Communication and reporting to improve transparency
Interactive workshop structured around targeted discussions on informational issues in public participation. The activity aims to identify common challenges, share experiences between practitioners and co-define good practices, with a view to producing a transferable toolbox to improve the quality and effectiveness of information to the public. This session will be held in French.
Status: approve
ID: 762
Lead Chair: Antoine Morissette
Session Format: Paper session | Accepts Submissions: Open
Conference Topic: T1. Communication and reporting to improve transparency
This session explores innovative approaches designed to counter misinformation, build public trust, and support meaningful citizen participation in environmental assessment processes. This session will be held in French.
Status: approve
ID: 763
Lead Chair: Jean Hébert
Session Format: Panel discussion | Accepts Submissions: Invitation Only
Conference Topic: T1. Communication and reporting to improve transparency
We will present and discuss the foundations, benefits, and challenges of the issue-based approach in environmental impact assessments (EIAs), highlighting its potential to improve transparency, public understanding, and government decision-making. The concrete challenges associated with this approach will be presented based on recent cases. This session will be held in French.
Status: approve
ID: 764
Lead Chair: Mireille Bélanger
Session Format: Workshop | Accepts Submissions: Invitation Only
Conference Topic: T3. Enhancing environmental science and regulatory literacy
The new regulatory frameworks in Québec (Bill 81) and Canada (Bill C-5) are redefining environmental impact assessments, transforming stakeholder roles and evaluation structures. These reforms introduce new challenges—processes and training needs—but also create opportunities for innovation, encouraging more adaptive, collaborative, and forward-thinking approaches to environmental evaluation and decision-making. This session will be held in French.
Status: approve
ID: 572
Lead Chair: Yuan Xu
Session Format: Paper session | Accepts Submissions: Open
Conference Topic: G5. Climate change
Climate change raises serious climate mitigation and adaptation challenges. The Porter Hypothesis states that more stringent environmental regulations may spur innovation to potentially transform challenges into opportunities. This session welcomes presentations that examine how impact assessment facilitates climate actions to fit them for future.
Status: approve
ID: 638
Lead Chair: Andy Symington
Session Format: Panel discussion | Accepts Submissions: Invitation Only
Conference Topic: T1. Communication and reporting to improve transparency
Five years since its entry into force, the Escazú Agreement stands as a landmark regional treaty advancing environmental democracy and human rights. This robust dialogue will explore whether the Agreement is fulfilling its promise as a transformative tool and what steps remain to overcome barriers and secure meaningful change.
Status: approve
ID: 729
Lead Chair: Andrea Hafner
Session Format: Panel discussion | Accepts Submissions: Open
Conference Topic: G12. Indigenous Peoples
The timing of engaging community affects its ability to influence a project. Early involvement allows for meaningful input but it may cause uncertainty due to limited information available or known. Later engagement allows companies to share concrete data but reduces stakeholder perceived influence. In both cases, the community can still impact dec
Status: approve
ID: 588
Lead Chair: Margo Burgess-Pollet
Session Format: Panel discussion | Accepts Submissions: Open
Conference Topic: G12. Indigenous Peoples
The session explores FPIC as both a legal obligation and a powerful response to misinformation in IA. By grounding FPIC in ethical principles and participatory practice, the session demonstrates how Indigenous leadership in decision-making can foster transparency, challenge disinformation, and strengthen public trust.
Status: approve
ID: 650
Lead Chair: Kolbeinn Hilmarsson
Session Format: Workshop | Accepts Submissions: Open
Conference Topic: T4. Digital and interactive impact studies
This session explores how to turn EIA data into a valuable asset for financiers, lenders, and decision-makers by connecting it to nature-related reporting and sustainable investment. Participants will explore and share ways to bridge the gap between permitting data and strategy using real-world examples, tools, and integrated platforms.
Status: approve
ID: 574
Lead Chair: Katherine Teh
Session Format: Solution room | Accepts Submissions: Open
Conference Topic: T2. Inclusive public engagement
This interactive workshop invites participants to solve real-world dilemmas in critical minerals projects using Spektrum’s legitimacy-first model. Through breakout groups and guided tools, we co-design trust-building strategies and participatory frameworks that shift approvals from gridlock to greenlight.
Status: approve
ID: 536
Lead Chair: Asli Gurkan
Session Format: Panel discussion | Accepts Submissions: Open
Conference Topic: T1. Communication and reporting to improve transparency
This session will explore how grievance mechanisms can deter misinformation and support community engagement in protected areas management. Through case studies from three continents, panelists will demonstrate how GMs can enhance transparency, facilitate timely and effective resolution of conflicts and build trust.
Status: approve
ID: 682
Lead Chair: Hugo Costa
Session Format: Panel discussion | Accepts Submissions: Invitation Only
Conference Topic: G10. Governance and implementation systems
The session explores how mining can align with Nature Positive goals to protect biodiversity while meeting mineral demands. It brings together mining companies, CSOs, and academics to share practical strategies, identify key gaps, and discuss collaborative actions needed to ensure mining contributes to biodiversity recovery by 2030 and beyond.
Status: approve
ID: 681
Lead Chair: Patricia Fitzpatrick
Session Format: Paper session | Accepts Submissions: Open
Conference Topic: T2. Inclusive public engagement
This session provides insight into improving practices on intersectional analysis in Impact Assessment. Presentations focus on regional, national and international expertise relating to meaningful engagement with members of rights-deserving communities, including Indigenous peoples, LGBTQ2S+ and disabled populations. This is an open session.
Status: approve
ID: 600
Lead Chair: Francois Retief
Session Format: Workshop | Accepts Submissions: Closed
Conference Topic: G10. Governance and implementation systems
This workshop aims to critically reflect on the results of a global Impact Assessment (IA) effectiveness survey representing more than 60 countries across six continents. We therefore invite anybody who is interested in the effectiveness and future directions of IA to attend.
Status: approve
ID: 568
Lead Chair: Emily Charry Tissier
Session Format: Panel discussion | Accepts Submissions: Invitation Only
Conference Topic: G15. Strategic environmental assessment
Wake up to Good Morning, Impact Assessment! a high-energy, talk-show-style panel where AI meets permitting, storytelling, and ethics. Co-hosted by Emily and Ashley, this session serves up bold ideas, smart tech, and real talk with expert guests. It’s sharp, surprising, and anything but business as usual.
Status: approve
ID: 703
Lead Chair: Valentina Cavanna
Session Format: Panel discussion | Accepts Submissions: Open
Conference Topic: G11. Health
This session explores how HIA supports participation and risk communication, and so counters misinformation and disinformation. Through case studies and comparative insights, we examine HIA’s role in building trust, equity and shared understanding. This includes how AI is used and its outputs verified to enhance inclusive decision-making.
Status: approve
ID: 609
Lead Chair: Joao Costa
Session Format: Panel discussion | Accepts Submissions: Invitation Only
Conference Topic: T1. Communication and reporting to improve transparency
The session explores how the Hydropower Sustainability Standard strengthens transparency, combats misinformation, and builds trust in impact assessments. Participants will gain insights into using verified sustainability frameworks to support credible communication, informed decision-making, and responsible hydropower development.
Status: approve
ID: 518
Lead Chair: Marla Orenstein
Session Format: Pecha Kucha | Accepts Submissions: Open
Conference Topic: S1. Special to IAIA
This session presents examples of elements of IA practice from around the world that work really well, and that other practitioners / jurisdictions should know about and could consider adopting. Each presentation is limited to 5 minutes.
Status: approve
ID: 664
Lead Chair: Reece Alberts
Session Format: Paper session | Accepts Submissions: Open
Conference Topic: G1. Academia
This session calls all IA researchers and academics to share their wisdom with regard to IA teaching and research in the age if misinformation and disinformation.
Status: approve
ID: 582
Lead Chair: Rosanne Van Schie
Session Format: Panel discussion | Accepts Submissions: Open
Conference Topic: G10. Governance and implementation systems
Indigenous nations in Canada increasingly assert FPIC Protocols for Impact Assessments on resource projects. This session explores Canadian and international case studies, highlighting Canada's adoption of the United Nations Declaration Act (UNDA 2021) to integrate Indigenous law into legislation. Active nuclear and infrastructure projects impleme
Status: approve
ID: 561
Lead Chair: Richard Aisaican
Session Format: Panel discussion | Accepts Submissions: Invitation Only
Conference Topic: T2. Inclusive public engagement
Indigenous Advisory and Monitoring Committees were established for two major pipeline projects. A decade later, these committees lead in oversight, shaping policy under the UN Declaration. Their work fosters trust, reconciliation, and aims to establish Indigenous-led regulatory institutions through collaborative governance and communication.
Status: approve
ID: 710
Lead Chair: Alexandra Bridges
Session Format: Pecha Kucha | Accepts Submissions: Open
Conference Topic: G12. Indigenous Peoples
How can more inclusive, human rights-based instruments such as GBA+ and UNDRIP be applied to develop more credible, trust-building processes? This session explores how deeper socio-economic analysis and Indigenous-led engagement can add richness to the process that respond to real community needs and advance reconciliation in tangible, lasting ways.
Status: approve
ID: 700
Lead Chair: Patrick Ragaz
Session Format: Paper session | Accepts Submissions: Invitation Only
Conference Topic: G12. Indigenous Peoples
This session will present updates from three Indigenous-led/co-led RAs across Canada. Speakers will discuss early groundwork alongside governance issues, knowledge integration approaches, and roadblocks. The session will explore how Indigenous leadership is reshaping assessment practice, while highlighting challenges to address to succeed.
Status: approve
ID: 674
Lead Chair: Giuseppe Magro
Session Format: Panel discussion | Accepts Submissions: Invitation Only
Conference Topic: S1. Special to IAIA
This panel explores how AI is transforming environmental permitting and promotes transboundary collaboration between Ministries of Environment and International Institutions. Real cases and expert insights support a human-centric, responsible approach to AI, fostering transparency, participation, and sustainability in Permitting processes.
Status: approve
ID: 649
Lead Chair: Charlotte Bingham
Session Format: Paper session | Accepts Submissions: Open
Conference Topic: T1. Communication and reporting to improve transparency
The disaster of an acorn falling on Chicken Little's head is the sky is falling. Was she right? Is it falling or when will it fall? Whan can IA do to reduce consequences of transgressing safe, earth system boundaries? Does IA itself need to change and how?
Status: approve
ID: 558
Lead Chair: VIVIANA ARANGO
Session Format: Solution room | Accepts Submissions: Invitation Only
Conference Topic: T2. Inclusive public engagement
How can Human Rights reshape renewable energy? This caravan session explores how HR enhance inclusive and meaningful communication, access to information, and participation in IA. We'll discuss emerging practices and dilemmas of human rights-based engagement on the value chain of renewable energy, addressing inequality, discrimination and exclusion
Status: approve
ID: 712
Lead Chair: Mariana Sarmiento
Session Format: Paper session | Accepts Submissions: Open
Conference Topic: G10. Governance and implementation systems
In Colombia, the informal land tenure limits the implementation and financing of conservation projects, especially in rural areas. This structural barrier hinders environmental compliance, community participation, and alignment with public policies, directly affecting the sustainability and scalability of environmental initiatives.
Status: approve
ID: 695
Lead Chair: ANNA SUNDBY
Session Format: Panel discussion | Accepts Submissions: Open
Conference Topic: T1. Communication and reporting to improve transparency
Project engagement can get hung-up on high consequence, low likelihood incidents that grab headlines (e.g., oil spills, tailings dam failures). How can we support meaningful conversations about these events, without derailing the conversation? This panel will explore tools, practices, and the art and science of engaging on unplanned events.
Status: approve
ID: 565
Lead Chair: Jack Krohn
Session Format: Game - Gaming | Accepts Submissions: Invitation Only
Conference Topic: T6. Stopping the spread of false information
This game session will test your ability to detect truth and fact from the subjective views of partisan stakeholders. Who is bIAsed? Who is relIAble? Who do you trust, and how far? Can you pinpoint the LIAR, LIAR?
Status: approve
ID: 591
Lead Chair: Zoe Mullard
Session Format: Paper session | Accepts Submissions: Open
Conference Topic: T2. Inclusive public engagement
The right to privacy is a fundamental human right with broad international recognition. Review how IA processes uphold this right while advancing projects in compliance with regulatory requirements, including integration of Indigenous knowledge, gender-based analysis and health information.
Status: approve
ID: 608
Lead Chair: Urmila Jha-Thakur
Session Format: Workshop | Accepts Submissions: Closed
Conference Topic: S1. Special to IAIA
Are you considering writing an article or professional practice paper (PPP) on impact assessment but aren't sure where to start? The editorial group of IAIA's journal, Impact Assessment and Project Appraisal, will present ways to write a good article and get it published. Bring your questions and ideas for articles or issues.
Status: approve
ID: 537
Lead Chair: Izhar Mithal Jiskani
Session Format: Paper session | Accepts Submissions: Open
Conference Topic: G14. Social impact assessment
This session explores the multifaceted and emerging social impacts of mining across terrestrial, deep-sea, and outer space environments. It fosters critical reflection and interdisciplinary dialogue on misinformation, communication challenges, and evolving impact assessment practices as as mining expands into new frontiers.
Status: approve
ID: 705
Lead Chair: Chris Powell
Session Format: Paper session | Accepts Submissions: Open
Conference Topic: T1. Communication and reporting to improve transparency
Navigating uncertainty is a critical challenge for impact assessment practitioners and those involved in the impact assessment process, especially with growing pressures to expedite approvals. This session will foster dialogue across perspectives on how to identify and manage uncertainty to support informed and expedited decision-making.
Status: approve
ID: 563
Lead Chair: Grant Humphries
Session Format: Game - Gaming | Accepts Submissions: Open
Conference Topic: G4. Biodiversity and ecology
In this session, we will game our way through the ornithology section of an environmental impact assessment for offshore wind. The goal of the game is to minimize uncertainty in order to reach consent with points awarded for scientific rigor, stakeholder engagement and robust outcomes.
Status: approve
ID: 571
Lead Chair: Ramanie Kunanayagam
Session Format: Workshop | Accepts Submissions: Invitation Only
Conference Topic: T2. Inclusive public engagement
Based on complaints received, World Bank Inspection Panel and ADB Accountability Mechanism will lead a workshop on 4 overlooked areas of negative impacts related to road projects. Participants will focus on the role of inclusive public engagement in addressing negative impacts upfront and responding to unintended consequences during implementation.
Status: approve
ID: 519
Lead Chair: Juliana Siqueira-Gay
Session Format: Paper session | Accepts Submissions: Open
Conference Topic: G8. Cumulative effects
Papers are invited from both professional practice and research backgrounds on the application of cumulative impact assessment in jurisdictions where practice is emerging. The session seeks to contribute to building and sharing knowledge adapted to the Global South context on CIA at the project and regional levels, or associated with SEA.
Status: approve
ID: 730
Lead Chair: Amber Chong
Session Format: Game - Gaming | Accepts Submissions: Closed
Conference Topic: T6. Stopping the spread of false information
In this session, participants will act as members of a technical working group preparing for an open house. They will review technical data and develop plain-language communications to help address previous miscommunication. Each working group will share their results, and using virtual tools, all participants will select preferred key messages.
Status: approve
ID: 530
Lead Chair: WESTON Fisher
Session Format: Panel discussion | Accepts Submissions: Closed
Conference Topic: S1. Special to IAIA
This two-part panel examines our role as Impact Assessment practitioners in assessing, addressing and communicating science-based, tiered Planetary Boundary impacts and mitigation/regeneration SEA future-smart guidance and planning at all scales. Effective approaches to overcome disinformation/misinformation in addressing Global Commons issues are also explored.
Status: approve
ID: 665
Lead Chair: Seunghyun Jung
Session Format: Paper session | Accepts Submissions: Open
Conference Topic: T4. Digital and interactive impact studies
This session highlights innovative planning support systems that enhance environmental assessment and urban planning. It features case studies and tools—such as GIS-based platforms, digital twins, and AI systems—that support spatial analysis, scenario modeling, and climate-responsive decision-making.
Status: approve
ID: 575
Lead Chair: Bridget John
Session Format: Workshop | Accepts Submissions: Closed
Conference Topic: S1. Special to IAIA
Join us to learn more about IAIA and different ways you can get involved.
Status: approve
ID: 586
Lead Chair: Juliana da Costa Lenz Cesar
Session Format: Paper session | Accepts Submissions: Open
Conference Topic: G6. Corporate stewardship and risk management
Have you been involved in an EIA where policies and regulations changed mid-process and you had to re-route and adapt? What were the results of the strategy adopted? What lessons have you learned that are worth sharing? What were the results of your strategy?
Status: approve
ID: 629
Lead Chair: Gwendolyn Wellmann
Session Format: Paper session | Accepts Submissions: Open
Conference Topic: G9. Disasters and conflict
The session examines the complexities of post-resettlement life across project-induced, disaster-related, and climate-driven contexts, focusing on housing, livelihoods, and public trust. It explores how emotions, perceptions, and power dynamics shape recovery and how practitioners can engage more effectively with communities' lived experiences.
Status: approve
ID: 524
Lead Chair: Miles Scott-Brown
Session Format: Paper session | Accepts Submissions: Open
Conference Topic: T1. Communication and reporting to improve transparency
This session explores how false, misleading, or strategically distorted information influences public understanding, policy discourse, stakeholder engagement and ultimately project acceptance in the hydropower sector.
Status: approve
ID: 647
Lead Chair: Diana Lewis
Session Format: Workshop | Accepts Submissions: Closed
Conference Topic: G12. Indigenous Peoples
This interactive workshop welcomes diverse IA practitioners and knowledge users for an honest and constructive dialogue on how to advance best practices for Indigenous Health Impact Assessment. We will explore what information resources are needed by who, and how to enhance communication and collaboration to support Indigenous leadership in HIA.
Status: approve
ID: 715
Lead Chair: Michael Ilesanmi
Session Format: Paper session | Accepts Submissions: Open
Conference Topic: T5. Professional recognition and certification systems
As public and private sector institutions are developing academic training and professional certification programs for Environmental and Social Risk Management practice, this session aims to highlight best practices in the training of students and professionals in stakeholder engagement and communication processes associated with Impact Assessment.
Status: approve
ID: 533
Lead Chair: Will Rifkin
Session Format: Workshop | Accepts Submissions: Invitation Only
Conference Topic: G14. Social impact assessment
Psycho-social impact assessment documents the effects on community mental well-being from chemical spills, natural disasters, and projects that create significant environmental changes. This session begins with a refresher on PSIA basics. Discussion groups then address case studies, facilitated by a member of IAIA’s ad hoc working group on PSIA.
Status: approve
ID: 523
Lead Chair: Jos Arts
Session Format: Panel discussion | Accepts Submissions: Open
Conference Topic: T1. Communication and reporting to improve transparency
What are the best strategies to engage communities, communicate and share information on monitoring, evaluation and management matters during IA follow-up? Papers discussing evolving practices are welcomed and discussed with participants.
Status: approve
ID: 676
Lead Chair: Michael Benson
Session Format: Panel discussion | Accepts Submissions: Open
Conference Topic: G14. Social impact assessment
Social impact assessment (SIA) is the process of analyzing, monitoring, and managing the impacts of a project on people and communities. A transparent and robust SIA that explicitly incorporates monitoring and adaptive management can go a long way in building public trust. This session identifies lessons learned from SIAs on major projects.
Status: approve
ID: 615
Lead Chair: Paris Jeffcoat
Session Format: Workshop | Accepts Submissions: Open
Conference Topic: T3. Enhancing environmental science and regulatory literacy
This session considers how public trust is maintained in regulatory systems when environmental assessment paradigms change and the status quo is disrupted. We explore how the public’s environmental science and regulatory literacy informs their perceptions and attitudes toward risks and associated environmental assessment processes and outcomes.
Status: approve
ID: 759
Lead Chair: Faiza Waheed
Session Format: Panel discussion | Accepts Submissions: Open
Conference Topic: G11. Health
Mis/disinformation negatively affect engagement with communities, a vital component in the assessment of health and social impacts of major projects. In this session, we identify the impacts of mis/disinformation in the assessment of health/social VCs, and identify solutions, with emphasis on upholding rigorous engagement with Indigenous peoples.
Status: approve
ID: 610
Lead Chair: Kristina Maud Bergeron
Session Format: Paper session | Accepts Submissions: Open
Conference Topic: T2. Inclusive public engagement
This session explores inclusive engagement strategies in impact assessment to bring out the voices of marginalized or less vocal stakeholders and rightsholders. It highlights practical tools, participatory methods, and intersectional approaches that reduce barriers to participation, ensuring diverse perspectives meaningfully influence project outcomes.
Status: approve
ID: 743
Lead Chair: Meaghan Morrish
Session Format: World Café | Accepts Submissions: Closed
Conference Topic: T6. Stopping the spread of false information
In an era of rampant misinformation, public trust in environmental assessments is undermined by fear and ideological divides. This session explores how emotional responses affect engagement with science and offers culturally grounded strategies to recognize, interrupt, and repair the harms caused by disinformation in environmental decision making
Status: approve
ID: 758
Lead Chair: Kojo Amoyaw-Osei
Session Format: Panel discussion | Accepts Submissions: Open
Conference Topic: G10. Governance and implementation systems
This session explores how misinformation, institutional distrust, and poor communication undermine IA in Africa. It offers tools, case studies, and strategies for restoring trust, addressing disinformation, and strengthening inclusive engagement in IA processes through digital innovation, local storytelling, and participatory dialogue
Status: approve
ID: 601
Lead Chair: Adele Tharani
Session Format: Panel discussion | Accepts Submissions: Invitation Only
Conference Topic: T1. Communication and reporting to improve transparency
Misinformation, social license to operate and economic issues are plaquing renewables. How might impact accounting, AI, GIS and cross-actor coalition help us reimagine how we assess and manage the natural and social impacts of renewable energy projects towards most net-value creation for people and nature?
Status: approve
ID: 625
Lead Chair: Irum Ahsan
Session Format: Solution room | Accepts Submissions: Invitation Only
Conference Topic: T1. Communication and reporting to improve transparency
This session explores strategies to rethink stakeholder engagement through an accountability lens to ensure reliable and transparent information sharing. Through real cases data and practical tools, participants will co-create actionable strategies in a Solution Room to address challenges like mistrust and misinformation.
Status: approve
ID: 584
Lead Chair: Geneviève Brisson
Session Format: Panel discussion | Accepts Submissions: Open
Conference Topic: T6. Stopping the spread of false information
In the case of impact assessments, when projects give rise to controversy, the various players mobilize a double discourse on the scientific approach as a source of objective truth on the one hand, and as knowledge with recognized limits on the other. Drawing on a variety of case studies and experiences, we aim to open up a discussion about that.
Status: approve
ID: 630
Lead Chair: Yuting Zhao
Session Format: Paper session | Accepts Submissions: Open
Conference Topic: G15. Strategic environmental assessment
This session will address how to enhance the scientific rigor and fairness of SEA for industrial zones. It will explore the latest technologies and methods for cumulative and adaptive assessments and share the latest industrial zone planning EIA practices.
Status: approve
ID: 667
Lead Chair: Peter Nelson
Session Format: Panel discussion | Accepts Submissions: Open
Conference Topic: G15. Strategic environmental assessment
A progress report on the global SEAs for 2050 initiative will be presented, based on Pilot studies in Kenya and Sierra Leone which are using SEA to create national sustainable development plans. Discussion will focus on practical issues of undertaking this work with all citizens but particularly young people using television and social media.
Status: approve
ID: 614
Lead Chair: John Sinclair
Session Format: Workshop | Accepts Submissions: Invitation Only
Conference Topic: T2. Inclusive public engagement
As governments prioritize “build baby, build” agendas, how can we preserve the public’s ability to participate meaningfully in decisions that affect them? In this session, participants will brainstorm options for improving IA efficiency without sacrificing meaningful engagement. What options exist within IA, and what options might lie outside it?
Status: approve
ID: 532
Lead Chair: Peter Moore
Session Format: Panel discussion | Accepts Submissions: Open
Conference Topic: G4. Biodiversity and ecology
Using case studies, this session will present best practices for communicating and agreeing on biodiversity management approaches that are consistent with the World Bank’s ESS6 with project affected communities, vulnerable groups, civil society, government agencies and clients.
Status: approve
ID: 668
Lead Chair: Francesca Fazio
Session Format: Workshop | Accepts Submissions: Open
Conference Topic: T2. Inclusive public engagement
Discover how deliberative impact assessment can guide inclusive dialogue to reach shared decisions on complex issues. Through global case studies and hands-on collaboration, you'll gain tools to embed deliberation in your organization. Participate to share your ideas!
Status: approve
ID: 576
Lead Chair: Juan Carlos Tejeda-González
Session Format: Panel discussion | Accepts Submissions: Open
Conference Topic: G2. Agriculture, forestry, and fisheries
Do you know how impact assessment is applied in agriculture, forestry and fisheries activities? In this session, we encourage to present your country profile to discuss what is missing and what is a good practice in the implementation of EIA in agriculture, forestry and fisheries activities, as a way to learn and improve this practice.
Status: approve
ID: 666
Lead Chair: Matt Abramson
Session Format: Paper session | Accepts Submissions: Invitation Only
Conference Topic: G15. Strategic environmental assessment
In April 2024, the Government of Canada implemented the Cabinet Directive on Strategic Environmental and Economic Assessment to assess the environmental and economic impacts of federal proposals. This session examines its challenges and successes in evaluating impacts and contrasts how unique departmental mandates shape assessment approaches.
Status: approve
ID: 529
Lead Chair: Melissa Gagnon
Session Format: Paper session | Accepts Submissions: Open
Conference Topic: G10. Governance and implementation systems
Amid growing environmental pressures, targeted sectoral or regional assessments are essential. This session will showcase concrete examples that avoid vague or overloaded analyses, integrating climate uncertainty and cumulative effects. Join us to share insights and shape more strategic, focused, and actionable assessments.
Status: approve
ID: 592
Lead Chair: Bram Noble
Session Format: Panel discussion | Accepts Submissions: Open
Conference Topic: G10. Governance and implementation systems
This session explores the opportunities and implications of streamlining impact assessment in the pursuit of major ‘nation building’ projects.
Status: approve
ID: 602
Lead Chair: Tomas Ramos
Session Format: Paper session | Accepts Submissions: Open
Conference Topic: G10. Governance and implementation systems
Synergies between impact assessment (IA) and circular economy (CE) are explored. IA tools (e.g., EIA, SEA) can assess CE initiatives, while CE strategies can help reduce the environmental effects of policies/plans/projects. Integrating both supports cross-sectoral decision-making and overcomes silo thinking in sustainability planning and assessment
Status: approve
ID: 633
Lead Chair: Larkin Mosscrop
Session Format: Workshop | Accepts Submissions: Closed
Conference Topic: T2. Inclusive public engagement
This interactive session explores how STEAM-based engagement can build public trust in nuclear energy. Participants will examine strategies to address misinformation, foster understanding, and support inclusive dialogue around nuclear technologies—highlighting how education, creativity, and collaboration can empower meaningful participation.
Status: approve
ID: 713
Lead Chair: Vanessa García
Session Format: Panel discussion | Accepts Submissions: Open
Conference Topic: T3. Enhancing environmental science and regulatory literacy
Combining technical outreach with effective storytelling is key to attracting biodiversity investment. Translating scientific knowledge into clear, relevant messages helps influence policy, mobilize resources, and connect with diverse audiences, making conservation a strategic and accessible action.
Status: approve
ID: 590
Lead Chair: Juliana Melo
Session Format: Paper session | Accepts Submissions: Open
Conference Topic: T2. Inclusive public engagement
This session explores how industrial activities affect territorial security and community resilience. It highlights inclusive assessment practices—such as participatory monitoring, Rights of Nature, multispecies justice, and free, prior, and informed consent—that address power asymmetries, counter misinformation, and re-center community voices in socio-environmental impact assessments. (Versão que coube no formulário) This session explores how industrial activities affect territorial security and community resilience. It highlights inclusive practices—such as participatory monitoring, Rights of Nature, multispecies justice, and prior informed consent—that address power asymmetries, counter misinformation, and re-center community voices in impact assessments.
Status: approve
ID: 527
Lead Chair: Javier Macera
Session Format: Paper session | Accepts Submissions: Open
Conference Topic: T1. Communication and reporting to improve transparency
Understanding impact assessments is essential for stakeholders to provide informed input. Effective communication ensures project information is culturally contextualized, promoting meaningful participation. This session explores adaptive strategies to improve understanding and support socially legitimate environmental decision-making processes.
Status: approve
ID: 662
Lead Chair: Ben Cave
Session Format: Panel discussion | Accepts Submissions: Invitation Only
Conference Topic: G11. Health
What role for Health Impact Assessment over the next 30 years? Panels, drawn from the 90 authors who contributed to the “Handbook on HIA”, will present and discuss the roles HIA, public health, impact assessment must play in addressing the challenges we face globally.
Status: approve
ID: 634
Lead Chair: Stephanie Brisson
Session Format: Solution room | Accepts Submissions: Open
Conference Topic: T5. Professional recognition and certification systems
This methodological innovation lab examines the "other side" of misinformation: how practitioners can inadvertently create bias when collecting stakeholder information. Through collaborative reflection, participants will identify and qualify the invisible competencies social practitioners employ in stakeholder engagement and data collection.
Status: approve
ID: 627
Lead Chair: Pascal Rey
Session Format: Panel discussion | Accepts Submissions: Invitation Only
Conference Topic: G14. Social impact assessment
Project developers fear local opportunism, withholding information. This paradoxically creates the opposition they dread, a self-fulfilling prophecy (Merton), common in Global South projects. Discussions will cover reasons for this fear, disinformation, tech impact, and innovations like observatories, fostering trust-based engagement frameworks.
Status: approve
ID: 593
Lead Chair: Allison Fedorkiw
Session Format: Game - Gaming | Accepts Submissions: Closed
Conference Topic: G14. Social impact assessment
Fence sitters and hardliners alike are welcome, and audience participation is a must in this interactive session! First, diverse opinions on key social performance issues will be explored in a low pressure, reflective way. Then, two real world case studies will be presented, describing critical success factors that led to positive outcomes.
Status: approve
ID: 526
Lead Chair: Sue Kaner
Session Format: Paper session | Accepts Submissions: Open
Conference Topic: T6. Stopping the spread of false information
The session examines how misinformation affects impact assessments in environmental, social, and health sectors, impacting decision-making. The session will highlight assessors' roles in communication, trust-building, addressing challenges, sharing counterstrategies and providing practical insights to boost the credibility of impact assessments.
Status: approve
ID: 745
Lead Chair: Colleen Prather
Session Format: Panel discussion | Accepts Submissions: Invitation Only
Conference Topic: T3. Enhancing environmental science and regulatory literacy
This panel discussion brings together views from a diverse group of mining professionals to explore practical reforms that can streamline the EA process while upholding transparency, scientific integrity, and meaningful engagement.
Status: approve
ID: 540
Lead Chair: Kimberley Swords
Session Format: Workshop | Accepts Submissions: Open
Conference Topic: T4. Digital and interactive impact studies
Help colleagues and clients achieve transformative impact from their projects. Based on global examples, we will unpack leadership and communication impact tools, and inspire you to aim higher in what you can change. This practical session will share examples and draw out your wisdom and that of others.
Status: approve
ID: 690
Lead Chair: Kathia Lavoie
Session Format: Paper session | Accepts Submissions: Invitation Only
Conference Topic: T1. Communication and reporting to improve transparency
This panel explores how inclusive dialogue, media strategies, and early-stage public participation—combined with ongoing communication—can counter misinformation and strengthen the social acceptability of energy projects. It offers practical insights for professionals in impact assessment, communication, and policy in a rapidly evolving energy land
Status: approve
ID: 675
Lead Chair: Sonja Kosuta
Session Format: Paper session | Accepts Submissions: Open
Conference Topic: T1. Communication and reporting to improve transparency
This session explores the role of science communication in IA, highlighting strategies to foster transparency, credibility and accountability and to build public trust. Presenters will share tools and case studies from industry, Indigenous communities, government, and civil society to make science communication in IA more effective and resilient.
Status: approve
ID: 567
Lead Chair: Anjala Puvananathan
Session Format: Paper session | Accepts Submissions: Open
Conference Topic: T1. Communication and reporting to improve transparency
o To address climate change, national security concerns, and trends towards increased energy independence, governments are looking to maximize robustness of impact assessments while maximizing transparency and trust. This session will examine ways in which data-driven innovation could manage mis- and dis-information and create efficient and robust
Status: approve
ID: 679
Lead Chair: Chi Napoleon Forpah
Session Format: Panel discussion | Accepts Submissions: Invitation Only
Conference Topic: T1. Communication and reporting to improve transparency
This 90-minute panel explores how WTG counters misinformation in Cameroon through mangrove restoration, clean-cooking transitions, and community mapping. Using local data, storytelling, and traditional communication tools, WTG builds trust, dispels myths, and empowers communities to lead sustainable change in conservation and clean energy efforts.
Status: approve
ID: 747
Lead Chair: Michelle Petigny
Session Format: Workshop | Accepts Submissions: Invitation Only
Conference Topic: T1. Communication and reporting to improve transparency
Data verification across technological divides through real-world cases: remote communities, transitional mobile markets, and AI-saturated environments. Test detection tools matched to context—from offline community protocols to blockchain verification. Hands-on practice with tools ensures everyone is equipped to spot fakes and protect assessments
Status: approve
ID: 637
Lead Chair: Dyanna Jolly
Session Format: Workshop | Accepts Submissions: Closed
Conference Topic: G12. Indigenous Peoples
The Indigenous Peoples’ section is updating the best practice principles on Engaging with Indigenous Peoples. In this section, the section co-chairs will report on progress since IAIA25, and lead a workshop to review and refine draft principles. Everyone welcome!
Status: approve
ID: 709
Lead Chair: Erika J. Clesceri, Ph.D.
Session Format: Panel discussion | Accepts Submissions: Invitation Only
Conference Topic: G9. Disasters and conflict
With the dramatic changes in the U.S. Federal Government’s Foreign Assistance in 2025, notably the dismantling of the United States International Agency for International Development (USAID), ESIA professionals representing over 100 years of collective USAID experience will share perspectives on this critical ESIA legacy and lessons for the future.
Status: approve
ID: 711
Lead Chair: Elisa Perry
Session Format: Solution room | Accepts Submissions: Invitation Only
Conference Topic: G9. Disasters and conflict
This ESIA Legacy and Looking Forward Panel Solution Room Session will discuss a.) lessons learned from USAID’s application of ESIA principles and practices and their applications; b.) ways to move forward with ESIA in development projects given USAID lessons learned; and c.) small group presentations on lessons learned and applications.
Status: approve
ID: 660
Lead Chair: David Robbins
Session Format: Paper session | Accepts Submissions: Open
Conference Topic: T4. Digital and interactive impact studies
Digital systems within Impact Assessment can be a way to improve aspects of the process, including: • Increased transparency • Increased Stakeholder participation and trust • Overall, IA efficiency This session discusses how digital platforms can influence impact assessments, and potential barriers to adoption and how to overcome them.
Status: approve
ID: 643
Lead Chair: Nicholas King
Session Format: Workshop | Accepts Submissions: Closed
Conference Topic: S1. Special to IAIA
Futures-thinking incorporates a diversity of approaches beyond linear projections of present contexts to improve understanding of complex future contexts, new trends, and their interactions and compounding effects. Incorporating science-based futures-thinking tools in IA can greatly improve confidence in the ’future-proofing’ of IA-enabled decision-making, and help counter misinformation and disinformation.
Status: approve
ID: 603
Lead Chair: Chloe Dawson
Session Format: Paper session | Accepts Submissions: Open
Conference Topic: G4. Biodiversity and ecology
Reliable and accurate global data is essential for policy-makers, companies, and financial institutions to address the biodiversity crisis. This session highlights the potential benefits and pitfalls of this data, from the perspective of researchers and practitioners, exploring how it can be used responsibly and effectively for impact assessment.
Status: approve
ID: 683
Lead Chair: Namrata Shrestha
Session Format: Paper session | Accepts Submissions: Invitation Only
Conference Topic: G4. Biodiversity and ecology
This session explores the importance of watershed intelligence that integrates policies, science, data, and engagement to strengthen impact assessments, build trust, and promote collaborative decision-making. Improved understanding of current and future impacts combined with inclusive engagement lead to better planning and environmental outcomes.
Status: approve
ID: 757
Lead Chair: Melike Egilmezler
Session Format: Panel discussion | Accepts Submissions: Invitation Only
Conference Topic: T2. Inclusive public engagement
This session explores how the World Bank teams counters misinformation in development projects through strategic communication, local engagement, and transparency. Panelists will share tools and case studies, emphasizing ESF and collaboration with communities, media, and NGOs to protect project credibility and improve stakeholder trust.
Status: approve
ID: 632
Lead Chair: Michael Smith
Session Format: Paper session | Accepts Submissions: Invitation Only
Conference Topic: G10. Governance and implementation systems
The past five years have seen dramatic changes in the administration and practice of impact assessment under the U.S. National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). This session will explore the implications of these changes for EIA practice both in the U.S. and globally.
Status: approve
ID: 522
Lead Chair: Palash Sanyal
Session Format: World Café | Accepts Submissions: Open
Conference Topic: G10. Governance and implementation systems
What makes a decision effective, and who makes choices in impact assessments? This World Café will begin with brief reflections, followed by small-group discussions on power, values, uncertainty, and complexity in decision-making. It's a reflective, story-driven session for practitioners interested in these topics.
Status: approve
ID: 740
Lead Chair: Renato Urresta Salgado
Session Format: Panel discussion | Accepts Submissions: Open
Conference Topic: T6. Stopping the spread of false information
This session opens a space for peer exchange on how to tackle misinformation in LATAM territories. Through case examples and practical tools, participants will reflect on translating data into context-sensitive narratives that strengthen legitimacy, build trust, and support inclusive communication in socially and politically complex environments
Status: approve
ID: 720
Lead Chair: Andres Amaya
Session Format: Solution room | Accepts Submissions: Closed
Conference Topic: T6. Stopping the spread of false information
We explore how myths shape reality in Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIAs) in Latin America. The session proposes a dual approach: applying maximum technical rigor in the environmental assessment, combined with educational and empathetic communication strategies that validate legitimate community concerns and counter disinformation.
Status: approve
ID: 585
Lead Chair: Valerie Masterman
Session Format: World Café | Accepts Submissions: Closed
Conference Topic: G8. Cumulative effects
Join the discussion: if we look at project impacts from the time the project starts until it ends are we doing enough to assess generational, cumulative and legacy impacts? Let’s work together to determine a meaningful temporal boundary that builds Indigenous Peoples' trust and public trust.
Status: approve