Question

What is the role of Cumulative Impact Assessment (CIA) in EIA?

• A. CIA assesses the environmental impacts of individual projects
• B. CIA is not a part of the EIA process
• C. CIA assesses the combined impacts of multiple projects on the environment
• D. CIA is conducted after project completion

Hint:

• Cumulative Impact Assessment (CIA) looks at the "big picture."
• It evaluates the total environmental impact resulting from the proposed project in combination with other existing and future projects/activities in the area.
• This helps to identify and manage situations where multiple individually minor impacts could collectively lead to significant environmental degradation.
• CIA is an integral part of a thorough EIA.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Cumulative Impact Assessment (CIA) is an important component of a comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process. The role of CIA is:

• To assess the combined, incremental, and synergistic impacts on the environment that result from a proposed project when its impacts are added to or interact with the impacts of other past, present, and reasonably foreseeable future projects and activities in the same geographical area or affecting the same resources.
• Individual projects might have minor impacts when assessed in isolation, but when combined with impacts from other developments, the cumulative effect can be significant.

Therefore, option (c) "CIA assesses the combined impacts of multiple projects on the environment" accurately describes its role. Let's look at other options: Option (a) CIA assesses the environmental impacts of individual projects: While it considers the impacts of the project under review, its unique contribution is to look beyond that individual project to the broader cumulative context. Standard EIA already assesses individual project impacts. Option (b) CIA is not a part of the EIA process: This is incorrect. CIA is increasingly recognized as an essential part of good EIA practice, especially for projects in areas with existing or planned development. Option (d) CIA is conducted after project completion: This is incorrect. CIA, like the rest of EIA, is a predictive tool conducted before a project is approved and implemented to inform decision-making. Post-completion assessment is typically part of monitoring or auditing. CIA helps to understand the bigger picture of environmental change and to avoid situations where numerous small, individually acceptable impacts lead to a significant overall degradation of the environment. \[ \boxed{\text{CIA assesses the combined impacts of multiple projects on the environment}} \]