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 practitioners' beliefs about community-project relations.
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 navigating complex energy transitions across various technology types and world regions.
Status: approve
ID: 552
Lead Chair: Naomi Devetak
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: Sonja Kosuta
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: Aaron Goldschmidt
Session Format: Paper session | Accepts Submissions: Open
Conference Topic: T2. Inclusive public engagement
This session addresses growing public disengagement in consultation processes, critically evaluating if we are in a "post-consultation era." Experts present cases studies of how meaningful consultation may be waning and where interventions have arisen to counter such conditions, including successful project refinements driven by genuine stakeholder engagement, and alternative strategies for impactful and legitimate public participation.
Status: approve
ID: 516
Lead Chair: Myungjin Kim
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: 714
Lead Chair: Jacinthe Amyot
Session Format: Panel discussion | Accepts Submissions: Open
Conference Topic: G12. Indigenous Peoples
Conflicting data interpretation, selective bias, and shifting thresholds are eroding public trust in impact assessment. This panel examines cumulative effects failures, structural barriers to Indigenous data access, rights-based and abundance thresholds, and open science approaches. Together, speakers explore how transparent, Indigenous-led methodologies can rebuild credibility and strengthen decision-making.
Status: approve
ID: 756
Lead Chair: Ross Mitchell
Session Format: Paper session | Accepts Submissions: Open
Conference Topic: G2. Agriculture, forestry, and fisheries
This session examines how impact assessment strengthens the integrity of nature-based carbon projects. Papers address human rights risk, community engagement, IFC-aligned governance systems, adaptive impact management, and alignment with emerging integrity frameworks. The focus is on practical IA tools that improve credibility, reduce governance risk, and support defensible climate outcomes.
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 introduction to the role of clear argument in IA. It identifies the three different kinds of argument that IAs include, three guiding principles to create strong and succinct arguments and two of the strategies for implementation.
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: Zishu Wang
Session Format: Paper session | Accepts Submissions: Open
Conference Topic: G10. Governance and implementation systems
This session will explore how to empower BIA to formulate the tool level and shape the decision-making framework for information disclosure, communication, public participation, and implementations, thereby transforming BIA into an ecologically protective measure with a solid scientific basis and legal foundation.
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 discuThis session invites a critical discussion on how to educate professionals who can communicate environmental assessments with clarity and strategic intent in Latin America. It brings together innovative pedagogical approaches and practice-oriented perspectives on transparency, access to environmental information, data-driven insights and positioning communication as a cross-cutting competency for better decisions.
Status: approve
ID: 721
Lead Chair: Ken Froese
Session Format: World Café | Accepts Submissions: Closed
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: 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 focuses on how 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: 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 when integrating climate risk into impact assessment. This session discusses misinformation from climate negotiations to individual projects and presents a range of approaches from indigenous people to international financial institutions.
Status: approve
ID: 728
Lead Chair: Marie-Eve Martin
Session Format: Game - Gaming | Accepts Submissions: Closed
Conference Topic: T2. Inclusive public engagement
Experience the realities of developing projects in Quebec through a hands-on, multifaceted roleplaying session. Collaborate with global experts to identify barriers and enablers in an impact assessment, and pinpoint actionable pathways for successful, collaborative project design.
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 and complex 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
How is the rise of misinformation affecting public trust and community engagement in SIA? Through case studies from around the globe, we will explore emerging communication techniques, research methods and strategies for confronting misinformation, building trust, and legitimising new forms of data collection in a changing impact assessment landscape.
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
Session Format: Paper session | Accepts Submissions: Open
Conference Topic: T6. Stopping the spread of false information
This session explores the influence of culture and social inclusion 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: Johanna Gordon
Session Format: Workshop | Accepts Submissions: Open
Conference Topic: G8. Cumulative effects
The aim of this workshop is to discuss a) if cumulative effects assessment, used as a stand-alone tool, or as part of EIA or SEA, is making a difference on the IA process and/or the decisions made, and b) what factors determine its effectiveness.
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 projects approved, of governments who manage natural resources, or of Indigenous communities who have deep connections to the land? This panel will discuss the merits of different approaches and how parties can work together to effectively manage cumulative effects.
Status: approve
ID: 521
Lead Chair: Imrana Jalal
Session Format: World Café | 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: 740
Lead Chair: Renato Urresta Salgado
Session Format: Paper session | Accepts Submissions: Open
Conference Topic: T6. Stopping the spread of false information
Misinformation in projects cannot be explained solely by the speed at which rumors circulate. Even when data and technical evidence exist, public perceptions are often shaped by narratives, emotions, and identities. This paper explores how these dynamics affect projects and what communication strategies can address them.
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: 733
Lead Chair: Andrea Repetto Vargas
Session Format: Solution room | Accepts Submissions: Closed
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
EIA litigation 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 the Complaints Mechanism of the European Investment Bank Group and the Dispute Resolution Service of the World Bank’s Accountability Mechanism, exploring tools to build legitimacy of fact-finding processes. Participants will reflect on 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: Effah Antwi
Session Format: Panel discussion | Accepts Submissions: Open
Conference Topic: T2. Inclusive public engagement
This session focuses on three interconnected themes: strengthening Indigenous leadership in impact assessment, addressing the challenges posed by misinformation and disinformation, and braiding Indigenous knowledge and cross-cultural approaches to build a more resilient impact assessment. Participants will learn best practices for engaging Indigenous Nations in co-designing, implementing, and reporting on impact assessment.
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 hypothetical scenario and World Cafe session exploring potential ethical dilemmas in Impact Assessment, through hypothetical scenarios and role-playing, to suggest tools, training, accreditation and support for IA professionals; focusing on issues likely to arise where critical mineral extraction (for renewable energy) is proposed in areas important to Indigenous communities and culture.
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 and holistic assessment examples 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: 566
Lead Chair: Pete Gabriel
Session Format: Paper session | Accepts Submissions: Open
Conference Topic: T2. Inclusive public engagement
This session highlights innovative, context‑responsive approaches to impact assessment across complex environments. Papers demonstrate how inclusive engagement, strengthened governance, and adapted methodologies improve environmental and social outcomes for large‑scale infrastructure. Together, they show how integrating technical rigour with local realities enhances impact management, accountability, and decision‑making in challenging development settings.
Status: approve
ID: 581
Lead Chair: Lone Kørnøv
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: Solution room | Accepts Submissions: Invitation Only
Conference Topic: T2. Inclusive public engagement
This session will explore evidence from Canada and globally showing that combining deliberation throughout the project lifecycle with wellbeing‑focused approaches can build trust between communities, developers and governments. These practices improve project design, reduce conflict, support fair and equitable outcomes, and help ensure that beneficial projects proceed while harmful ones 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: Alain R. Roy
Session Format: World Café | Accepts Submissions: Closed
Conference Topic: T1. Communication and reporting to improve transparency
Interactive workshop structured around discussions on informational issues in public participation. The activity aims to identify common challenges, share experiences between practitioners and co-define best practices and strategies to improve the quality and effectiveness of information during the public participation process. This session will be held in French only.
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 by the panel members. This session will be held in French.
Status: approve
ID: 764
Lead Chair: Ève Laroque
Session Format: Panel discussion | Accepts Submissions: Invitation Only
Conference Topic: T3. Enhancing environmental science and regulatory literacy
The new regulatory frameworks in Québec and Canada 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
This session explores how impact assessment informs climate mitigation and adaptation. Emphasis is on robust methods, comparable metrics, and equity-aware evidence to guide decisions under uncertainty. Speakers demonstrate pathways to quantify benefits, trade-offs, and co-benefits, translating technical analyses into actionable insights that support timely, just, and effective climate strategies.
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: Paper session | Accepts Submissions: Open
Conference Topic: G12. Indigenous Peoples
This panel will address consultation and engagement with indigenous peoples through the experiences of speakers working in 16 different countries around the world, and with different perspectives (indigenous peoples, development banks, and industry). The audience will be invited to interact and share their practices and questions on this challenging and complex topic.
Status: approve
ID: 650
Lead Chair: Janet Blackadar
Session Format: Paper session | 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: Closed
Conference Topic: T2. Inclusive public engagement
Projects needed for the energy transition increasingly stall due to unresolved legitimacy conflicts. This interactive session explores how impact assessment can move upstream in project design by diagnosing legitimacy conditions earlier, integrating community perspectives into engineering decisions, and aligning consent with regulatory pathways. Participants will test Development by Consent tools through participatory workshops.
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 NAGs, academics and consultants 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. The end of the final session will provide an opportunity for dialogue and a discussion of current draft summary resources to help improve intersectional IA practice.
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: 530
Lead Chair: Weston Fisher
Session Format: Workshop | Accepts Submissions: Invitation Only
Conference Topic: S1. Special to IAIA
Join us to explore IAIA and Global Commons Alliance collaborative actions to address Planetary Boundary impacts and support science-based mitigation/regeneration planning at global, regional and local scales. How can we overcome disinformation in addressing Planetary Boundary issues with systems-based methodologies? Day 1 attendance is required in order to attend Day 2.
Status: approve
ID: 664
Lead Chair: Emilia Ravn Boess
Session Format: Paper session | Accepts Submissions: Open
Conference Topic: G1. Academia
This session calls IA researchers and academics to share their wisdom with regard to IA teaching and research in the age of 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 assert FPIC Protocols for Impact Assessments on resource projects. This session, co-chaired by Dr. Shery Lightfoot of the UN expert mechanism, explores Canadian and international case studies, emphasizing Canada's adoption of the United Nations Declaration Act (UNDA 2021) to integrate Indigenous law into environmental legislation.
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: Paper session | Accepts Submissions: Open
Conference Topic: G12. Indigenous Peoples
This session explores instruments and practices that can add credibility to Impact Assessment process that is Indigenous-led and centered, responding to real community needs while advancing 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: 649
Lead Chair: Charlotte Bingham
Session Format: Workshop | Accepts Submissions: Closed
Conference Topic: T1. Communication and reporting to improve transparency
1In this workshop, participants will experience how looking at a project as part of a larger, interconnected system can change how impacts are understood and communicated, in situations involving growth, electrification, and environmental concerns, using the Black Sea coast of Turkey as a case study.
Status: approve
ID: 558
Lead Chair: VIVIANA ARANGO
Session Format: Caravan | 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: 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 good practice 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
This session examines impact assessment and data privacy considering the responsible management of sensitive, cultural, and Indigenous knowledge. Speakers will explore data sovereignty, risks of traditional knowledge sharing, ethical integration of AI, and emerging approaches from global jurisdictions that allow assessments to respect rights, diversity, and community‑controlled information.
Status: approve
ID: 608
Lead Chair: Angus Morrison-Saunders
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: 766
Lead Chair: Alicia Newbury
Session Format: Paper session | Accepts Submissions: Open
Conference Topic: G15. Strategic environmental assessment
This session highlights practical ways to improve environmental assessments worldwide. Presenters share human‑centered sustainability ideas, smarter approaches to building in sensitive habitats, methods to protect wildlife, and ways to strengthen regulations and reporting. Together, these talks show how better planning and decision‑making can support healthier ecosystems and communities.
Status: approve
ID: 537
Lead Chair: Izhar Mithal Jiskani
Session Format: Paper session | Accepts Submissions: Open
Conference Topic: G14. Social impact assessment
This session examines the social impacts of mining as it expands across terrestrial and deep-sea frontiers. It advances interdisciplinary dialogue on evolving impact assessment practices, stakeholder engagement processes, and communication challenges across the project lifecycle, from exploration through mine closure obligations.
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: 588
Lead Chair: Margo Burgess-Pollet
Session Format: Panel discussion | Accepts Submissions: Open
Conference Topic: G12. Indigenous Peoples
As UNDRIP sets a new global standard, the question is no longer whether to respect FPIC, but how to implement it. Drawing on experiences from the Wendat and Tahltan Nations in Canada and communities in Brazil, this panel shares practical tools and governance innovations to advance Indigenous-led, consent-based decision-making in impact assessment.
Status: approve
ID: 571
Lead Chair: Ibrahim Pam
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 four 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 presented will be 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: 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
EIA and sustainability reporting are affected by changes in policies and regulations that require re-routing and adaptation, whether they mean increasing or decreasing requirements or oversight. What are good strategies to deal with the challenges that this situation poses? How can we contribute to increasing public trust in EIA systems in such complex and dynamic context?
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. We would also host some novel practices and emerging tools from practitioners in the field.
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 effects on community mental well-being from chemical spills, natural disasters, and other significant environmental changes or threats. This session begins with a refresher on PSIA basics. Small groups then address case examples, with expert feedback from members 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: Matt Hammond
Session Format: Paper session | Accepts Submissions: Open
Conference Topic: T3. Enhancing environmental science and regulatory literacy
This session considers how public trust is maintained in regulatory systems and environmental assessment. We explore the relationships between governance, public trust and environmental assessment 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: 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 adaptive assessments and share the latest industrial zone planning EIA practices.
Status: approve
ID: 667
Lead Chair: Peter Nelson
Session Format: Solution room | Accepts Submissions: Open
Conference Topic: G15. Strategic environmental assessment
The global SEAs for 2050 initiative will be presented, highlighting case studies in Sierra Leone and Kenya, which are using SEA to create national sustainable development plans for 2050. Discussion will focus on the application of AI for scenario building ,and social media for engaging citizens ( especially the youth) as stakeholders .
Status: approve
ID: 674
Lead Chair: Giuseppe Magro
Session Format: Workshop | Accepts Submissions: Closed
Conference Topic: S1. Special to IAIA
This workshop introduces the cloud-based IAIA Environmental Governance Platform project to enhance efficiency and effectiveness of IA, permitting, compliance monitoring, and enforcement through advances in IT, GIS and AI, adaptable for all countries, preserving the sovereignty and integrity of each country’s data and policies with opportunities to contribute.
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: 634
Lead Chair: Stephanie Brisson
Session Format: Solution room | Accepts Submissions: Open
Conference Topic: T5. Professional recognition and certification systems
This solution room examines the "other side" of misinformation: how practitioners can inadvertently create bias when collecting stakeholder information. Through peer dialogue, participants will unpack the hidden skills, emotional burden, and ethical pressures practitioners navigate — and identify the competencies and support structures needed for effective stakeholder engagement and data collection.
Status: approve
ID: 668
Lead Chair: Francesca Fazio
Session Format: Workshop | Accepts Submissions: Open
Conference Topic: T2. Inclusive public engagement
Adopting a deliberative approach in impact assessment and decision-making is often desirable, but rarely easy. Through global case studies and hands-on discussion, this workshop offers a chance to delve into common challenges and focus on strategies to overcome them, with the aim of spreading deliberative approaches across sectors and organizations.
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 presents five papers combining academic insights and government practice, mainly from Canada, with one European case offering relevant parallels. Through concrete examples, it highlights approaches that avoid vague or overloaded analyses while integrating climate uncertainty and cumulative effects to support more strategic 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: Tokunbo Olorundami
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.
Status: approve
ID: 527
Lead Chair: José Zegarra
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: 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, real world case studies from the global south 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
This session challenges the view of misinformation as an external threat to impact assessment. It explores how inaccessible assessments, poor listening, weak science communication, and oversimplified uncertainty undermine trust and distort decisions. Through case studies and practitioner insights, it shows how clear, credible, and accessible communication—grounded in sound science and meaningful engagement—is essential to restoring confidence in impact assessment.
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 impact assessment practice. Based on global examples, we will unpack leadership and communication impact tools, and inspire you to aim higher in how you can transform systems. This practical workshop session will share examples and draw out the wisdom of the room, allowing you to meet and be inspired by new colleagues.
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 brings together five perspectives on a shared challenge in impact and cumulative effects assessment: how we communicate science, earn trust, and make information meaningful for the people who rely on it. Across regions as different as Northern Canada, the Solomon Islands, and our marine waterways, we see the same pattern emerging. The volume of information is growing; expectations for openness are rising; and evidence – based decision-making is paramount.
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 IAIA Best Practice Principles on Indigenous Peoples and Impact Assessment (SP9, 2012). In this session, we will report on progress since IAIA25 and lead a participatory workshop to review and refine a draft document. 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: Workshop | Accepts Submissions: Closed
Conference Topic: G9. Disasters and conflict
This ESIA Legacy and Looking Forward workshop 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: 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 scientific, local, and traditional knowledge with policies, plans, programs, and partners to build trust, promote collaborative decision-making, and ultimately strengthening impact assessments. Improved understanding of current and future impacts combined with inclusive engagement lead to better planning and environmental outcomes.
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: 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: Jonathan Ward
Session Format: World Café | Accepts Submissions: Closed
Conference Topic: G8. Cumulative effects
Impact assessments typically define temporal boundaries around project lifecycles, but are these sufficient to capture generational, cumulative, and legacy effects? This interactive World Café explores how far back and forward assessments should extend to build Indigenous and public trust, and to strengthen the technical defensibility of impact assessment practice.
Status: approve