ABSTRACT
Arctic environments are rapidly changing under the pressures of human development, resource extraction, and global climate change. Environmental assessment (EA) is amongst the most widely practiced environmental management tools in the world and is applied across the Arctic to assess the impacts of a diverse range of anthropogenic development activities. Environmental assessment is broadly defined as a process for identifying, predicting, evaluating, and mitigating the biophysical, social, and other relevant effects of development proposals prior to major decisions being taken and commitments made. Efficiency is a valid concern, but more attention needs to be given to understanding the influence of EA on decisions and its contribution to environmental management. Scholars, Arctic communities, and environmental organizations are seeking regional and strategic approaches to EA. The requirements for, and scope of EA varies considerably across the Arctic, but all regions are faced with the challenges of a rapidly changing climate.
