Cumulative Impact Assessment
Cumulative effects assessment (CEA) has been a key element of good-practice impact assessment for more than 40 years in countries such as the United States and Canada. It is now implemented widely in many countries in a variety of project-based, regional, and strategic contexts. Cumulative effects are typically the result of incremental changes to the environment caused by multiple human activities and natural processes.
Ecological and socio-economic systems can be remarkably effective at absorbing or adapting to change—but not indefinitely. The increased pace and intensity of resource development in many regions of the world, combined with increased concern for environmental protection, has elevated the importance of CEA in recent years.
Ecological and socio-economic systems can be remarkably effective at absorbing or adapting to change—but not indefinitely. The increased pace and intensity of resource development in many regions of the world, combined with increased concern for environmental protection, has elevated the importance of CEA in recent years.