EIA and Soft Tools: Steps, Pitfalls, and Strategies for Controlling Behavior

This article discusses the steps, pitfalls, and strategies for controlling behavior in EIA and Soft Tools. It covers the impact of human activity on the environment, reducing plastic waste, and more. The article also includes a review of an article on the decline of oil, a description of steps for project approval, and methods to overcome pitfalls in EIA. The subject is environmental impact assessment and soft tools, and the course code and college/university are not mentioned.

Running head: EIA AND SOFT TOOLS
EIA AND SOFT TOOLS
Name of the Students
Name of the University
Author Note:

1EIA and Soft Tools
Table of Contents
Introduction..........................................................................................................................2
Discussion............................................................................................................................3
Review of Article.............................................................................................................3
Description of Steps.........................................................................................................4
Methods to overcome pitfalls..........................................................................................5
Development activity.......................................................................................................7
Strategy for controlling the behavior...............................................................................8
Conclusion...........................................................................................................................9
References..........................................................................................................................11

2EIA and Soft Tools
Introduction
EIA stands for environment impact assessment can be defined as a method which can be
focus on certain number of factors like impact of human health, ecological health and related risk
(Leme et al. 2014). In the current environment, cities play a key role in understanding the
secondary sector of the current economy. In this particular environmental condition, both
manufacturing and production tend to play a key role in understanding commodities. Due to
unplanned decision, various kinds of decision are taken by economies which are needed for the
proper development of the industrial sectors. It has ultimately increased the overall cost of
environment which is beyond the total cost (Mueller et al. 2015). In other words, EIA can be
stated as method which is needed for understanding the adverse impact on environment in the
given project. On the basis of EIA, it is easy to understand the various kinds of problem along
with proper solution for the given project. At any given phase of the project, an individual can
perform Environment cost-benefit analysis with the help of Environment Assessment plan which
ultimately reduces the cost in the given project. If there is requirement of pre-curser analysis
which is needed for reducing the cost of any particular project (Vanclay et al. 2015). In certain
areas like industrial township due weak environment condition, environment can easily play a
key role in understanding the developing plan in these in areas.
In the coming pages of the report, five question has been answered with respect to the
given condition. The first question is all about the reviewing the article named limits to growth
of peak oil. The second question is all about various steps which are needed for project
approval. After that various pitfall of EIA has been discussed in details. An environment impact
assessment has been done on NWS (New South Wales). The last section of the report mainly
deals with strategy which can be used for reducing the plastic waste.

3EIA and Soft Tools
Discussion
Review of Article
In the last few years, there has been a large number of discussion in media about the
environmental impact of human activity. Must of the attention is being paid to two aspects that
are climate change and biodiversity (Levasseur et al. 2016). A minimum amount of weight is put
on diminishing the various kind of resources for human beings. The article the highlights the
issues of decline of oil which is termed as peak oil. A state has been attained where global
production has reached its value and with the passage of time, it is declining at a rapid rate. A set
of resources are being used for continuing various kinds of resources and apart from this, it can
boast the greater number of impacts. The article highlights the fact that the power of population
is much greater than power of the population is much greater than overall power in the earth for
producing subsistence for large number of people (van der Veer and Nentwig, 2015). The report
mainly highlights the fact of energy return on investment (EROI) which is needed for obtaining
both oil and gas with United States. It started in decline between 1930 to 1970. Decline of EROI
highlights the fact more amount of energy is needed for devoting in simple output. It highlights
on the idea of devoting the energy which is needed for running the energy along with which is
needed for running the economy.
At present the whole world encounters a large number of problems due to huge
population and limited resources (Schaubroeck et al. 2016). The key problem or issue is the rate
to which various fossil fuel is declining. Both the supply of natural gas and oil claim to provide
two-thirds of the energy which is provided in the world. Petroleum is considered to be as one of
vital component in today’s life. It can be estimated that both oil and gas production has reached
the maximum value. The biggest question that comes up for oil is that the amount which is left in

4EIA and Soft Tools
the ground and the amount which has been extracted. Australian government is taking a large
number of steps for tackling with the issues by implementing rooftop solar PV, alternative
vehicle. Solar energy to some extent is considered to be equal to renewable energy (Gielen and
De Wever, 2015). With the help of sufficient sunlight, the nation can easily make use of solar as
an attractive option. Both the individual and businessman has been attracted to provide
environmental benefits. Rooftop solar energy is increasing in cost-effective for various
homeowners and their communities. Reduction of technology in domain of price, innovative
pricing and development of networks have led to solar installation.
Description of Steps
A large number of steps can be easily taken for getting approval for a project which
requires EIA in Western Australia (Ingrao et al. 2015). Various aspects like speed, scope and
lastly magnitude on natural environment are easily determined by the help of level of technology
which is available to a particular community. Another factor which helps in analyzing the way in
which various communities can easily interact with the given natural environment is considered
to be the degree to which organization for natural process. It is important for various point in the
current concept which is all about design of procedure related to impact assessment. A large
number of steps reducing the plastic waste like
 Reducing the use of various plastic waste
 Bringing large number of reusable bag with individual
 Reducing the number of plastic water bottle
 A full stop to use of various plastic cutlery
 Avoiding a large number of consumer products which require microbeads
 Emphasize E-bill instead of paper bill.

5EIA and Soft Tools
A large number of steps can be considered to be encouraging for purchase of green
products like
 Making use of products which can easily highlight social welfare and proper
relation which is needed for green products (Boulay et al. 2015).
 Creating a value of green products amount the consumers.
 The quality of the products can be easily maintained by the help of environmental
condition and right representation of products as green one.
 Emphasizing the fact that each person can result in creating huge difference.
 Feedback should be provided in regular way so that they easily understand the
difference.
A large number of steps can be used for reducing the use of fertilizers to a minimum level
in Western Australia (Hertwich et al. 2015). Conserving soil can be considered to be the best
management practice which is needed for reducing the fertilizer waste. Conservation of tillage
can have considered being useful for reducing the soil disturbance. It helps in holding the root in
the soil in much proper way.
Methods to overcome pitfalls
Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) can be stated as a method by which an individual
can easily access the various factors like impact on environment and health and lastly associated
risk (Hellweg and I Canals, 2014). The whole EIA process can be stated like a policy of
information like the law of pollution. In the whole decision-making process, various kinds of
issues can come into place as EIA procedure which tends to have a negative impact on the given
project. There is no proper relation between the impact and effectiveness if the mitigation is

6EIA and Soft Tools
considered to be a part of EIS (van Zelm et al.., 2016). There is large number of suggestion being
made to the various project guidelines which come up with the ability to balance the impacts of
it. All the projects should be estimated at the beginning stage of the project. It has been proposed
that certain number of step should be taken for the project which goes through the various stages
(Pintér et al. 2018). There should be proper standard for understanding the fact that the given
project is needed along with its successive nature.
In the last few years’ certain numbers of steps have been taken to EIA beyond the given
limit. It is very much country specific that is whole method of decision making. Two pitfalls
which are encountered in EIA are:
Global problems: With the increased use of EIA, it has helped various people to easily
identify how the given projects which can influence the global climatic change, ozone layer
depletion, biological diversity loss and other environmental issues (Owsianiak et al. 2014). There
is large number of issues which are encountered due to identification of domestic projects which
results to various global problems. Various attempts have been made for the use of
environmental impact statement and analyzing of its impacts.
EIA and development assistance: Environment assessment is required for much of the
development assistance. The major kind of issues comes into action due to new EIA need which
is needed for analyzing both predictive and sensitive information (Nzeadibe et al. 2015). Some of
the EIA does not affect the decision but only tend to affect procedural needs. EIA can easily be
applied for development of various project. For example, world bank has failed to implement
their own EIA requirements. It highlights the fact that there the officer is getting much better
impact on environment impact which will not take place in quick way.

7EIA and Soft Tools
Development activity
Environmental impact assessment can be stated as a method of assessing the given the
impacts of a project on environmental (Warszawski et al. 2014). With the passing time, there are
more than 50% of the Australian population now aims to live in cities. In the coming years, it is
expected that the given figure will increase. EIA comes up with some of the core elements like
proposal, exclusion, assessment of environment, screening and lastly scoping and lastly draft
EIS.
Proposal: In project like EIA in NSW (New South Wales) there is requirement to easily
classify the each and every object should be directed for proper decision making (Mi et al. 2017).
But the major activity of the government object is to emphasize on high expenditure which is
needed for various public work development. For various public land there should be proper
development and management of plans.
Exclusion: In almost each and every given sector, there should be exclusion of action in
the method of action which ranges from the method of administration and legislative (Yang et al.
2014). Some of the examples of project are maintenance of roadways.
Environment assessment: Each and every project like EA in NSW and its local
environment requires a depth examination. It is mainly by reducing the impact on project.
Screening: Various decision is required by EI and no kind of consultation can be done by
this particular stage. Various developer can easily apply rules where ES is not needed.
Scoping: In many cases, it is seen that determination of initial meeting with various
stakeholders is needed by stakeholders of the project (Vanclay et al. 2015). It emphasizes on

8EIA and Soft Tools
availability of the given data which is needed in the given research domain. It highlights the need
for research in a particular domain and its responsibility of work pressure.
Draft EIS (DEIS): A proper description of given action is needed in various document
which are primary in nature and along with alternatives(Mueller et al. 2015). Upon the given life
of the project, assessment should be done on major impacts on environment and its baselines.
Final EIS (FEIS): In this particular scenario all the issues and its response are taken into
account. In FIES an identification is needed for analyzing the things which are needed by various
cases which are not in DEIS.
Decision and its record: On idea of explaining clarification which is totally based on the
various related to legacy. It is made available to large number of resources and information
which works through the method of EIA.
Strategy for controlling the behavior
Soft tools are considered to be very much important for changing the behavior of public.
A large number of steps can be easily taken for reducing the plastic waste like:
Individual should reduce the use of single plastics: The easiest method is to reduce
plastic is all about its single-use plastic (Park, Egilmez and Kucukvar, 2016). Single-use plastic
is mainly inclusive of various aspects like plastic bags, water bottles, straws, and cups. The best
way to overcome the waste is to reuse the plastic which is not required. The second thing which
can be done is purchase and use of reusable bottles.
Recycle in proper way: It mainly goes without any kind of saying that there are many
single-use plastics which needs to be recycled on daily basis (Oldekop et al. 2016). Recycling of

9EIA and Soft Tools
plastic out of ocean is very much helpful in keep the plastic out of ocean along with reduction of
amount of plastic in overall circulation.
River cleanup: The first thing which can be done for removing the plastic from the
ocean and preventing them from getting into the first place for participation. There should be an
organized cleanup on the local beach and waterway (Levasseur et al. 2016). This particular
method can be considered to be most direct and rewarding giving methods for fighting with
plastic pollution in ocean.
Neglecting products with microbeads: Various tiny plastic comes up with micro beads
which have become the source of ocean pollution in last few years (van der Veer and Nentwig,
2015). The microbeads are easily found in body washes and toothpaste and they can easily enter
into ocean and waterways through sewer system.
Support for organization for plastic pollution: There is a large number of non-profit
organization which is needed for reducing and eliminating the ocean plastic waste (Schaubroeck
et al. 2016). It can be done by variety of methods. Some organization provides donation to
people who like to continue to work in various ways.
Conclusion
From the above pages of the report, it can be concluded that it deals with environmental
impact assessment. In the above pages of the report, five-question has been answered. The first
question is all about reviewing and summarizing the article “Revisiting the Limits to Growth
After Peak Oil”. A proper description has been provided with steps which should be taken for
reducing the plastic waste. The method of overcoming the pitfalls of EIA has been discussed in
details. Two pitfalls have been discussed which are needed for answering the given the question.

10EIA and Soft Tools
After that, an environment impact assessment has been done on New South Wales (NSW).
Various strategy has been discussed which are needed for reducing the plastic waste. Almost
each and every organization around the globe comes up with the proper ecological condition and
various economic and cultural which is needed for creating the environment concerns in large
number of sectors. It is mainly done due to changing factors and developing state of ecology.
Certain number of factors behind the environmental issues has been discussed in details. There
are some kind of measures needed for understanding the purpose of EIA approach. In some of
EIA based projects, various risk is discussed in details which are needed for dealing with large
number of concern which are needed for understanding the key finding. Most of countries work
with the common goal of minimizing the issues and obtaining better results from the given
project.

11EIA and Soft Tools
References
Boulay, A.M., Bare, J., De Camillis, C., Döll, P., Gassert, F., Gerten, D., Humbert, S., Inaba, A.,
Itsubo, N., Lemoine, Y. and Margni, M., 2015. Consensus building on the development of a
stress-based indicator for LCA-based impact assessment of water consumption: outcome of the
expert workshops. The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment, 20(5), pp.577-583.
Gielen, M. and De Wever, B., 2015. Scripting the role of assessor and assessee in peer
assessment in a wiki environment: Impact on peer feedback quality and product
improvement. Computers & Education, 88, pp.370-386.
Hellweg, S. and i Canals, L.M., 2014. Emerging approaches, challenges and opportunities in life
cycle assessment. Science, 344(6188), pp.1109-1113.
Hertwich, E.G., Gibon, T., Bouman, E.A., Arvesen, A., Suh, S., Heath, G.A., Bergesen, J.D.,
Ramirez, A., Vega, M.I. and Shi, L., 2015. Integrated life-cycle assessment of electricity-supply
scenarios confirms global environmental benefit of low-carbon technologies. Proceedings of the
National Academy of Sciences, 112(20), pp.6277-6282.
Ingrao, C., Giudice, A.L., Bacenetti, J., Khaneghah, A.M., Sant’Ana, A.S., Rana, R. and
Siracusa, V., 2015. Foamy polystyrene trays for fresh-meat packaging: Life-cycle inventory data
collection and environmental impact assessment. Food Research International, 76, pp.418-426.
Leme, M.M.V., Rocha, M.H., Lora, E.E.S., Venturini, O.J., Lopes, B.M. and Ferreira, C.H.,
2014. Techno-economic analysis and environmental impact assessment of energy recovery from
Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) in Brazil. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 87, pp.8-20.

12EIA and Soft Tools
Levasseur, A., Cavalett, O., Fuglestvedt, J.S., Gasser, T., Johansson, D.J., Jørgensen, S.V.,
Raugei, M., Reisinger, A., Schivley, G., Strømman, A. and Tanaka, K., 2016. Enhancing life
cycle impact assessment from climate science: Review of recent findings and recommendations
for application to LCA. Ecological indicators, 71, pp.163-174.
Mi, Z., Wei, Y.M., Wang, B., Meng, J., Liu, Z., Shan, Y., Liu, J. and Guan, D., 2017.
Socioeconomic impact assessment of China's CO2 emissions peak prior to 2030. Journal of
cleaner production, 142, pp.2227-2236.
Mueller, N., Rojas-Rueda, D., Cole-Hunter, T., de Nazelle, A., Dons, E., Gerike, R., Goetschi,
T., Panis, L.I., Kahlmeier, S. and Nieuwenhuijsen, M., 2015. Health impact assessment of active
transportation: a systematic review. Preventive medicine, 76, pp.103-114.
Nzeadibe, T.C., Ajaero, C.K., Okonkwo, E.E., Okpoko, P.U., Akukwe, T.I. and Njoku-Tony,
R.F., 2015. Integrating community perceptions and cultural diversity in social impact assessment
in Nigeria. Environmental Impact Assessment Review, 55, pp.74-83.
Oldekop, J.A., Holmes, G., Harris, W.E. and Evans, K.L., 2016. A global assessment of the
social and conservation outcomes of protected areas. Conservation Biology, 30(1), pp.133-141.
Owsianiak, M., Laurent, A., Bjørn, A. and Hauschild, M.Z., 2014. IMPACT 2002+, ReCiPe
2008 and ILCD’s recommended practice for characterization modelling in life cycle impact
assessment: a case study-based comparison. The International Journal of Life Cycle
Assessment, 19(5), pp.1007-1021.

13EIA and Soft Tools
Park, Y.S., Egilmez, G. and Kucukvar, M., 2016. Emergy and end-point impact assessment of
agricultural and food production in the United States: A supply chain-linked Ecologically-based
Life Cycle Assessment. Ecological indicators, 62, pp.117-137.
Pintér, L., Hardi, P., Martinuzzi, A. and Hall, J., 2018. Bellagio STAMP: Principles for
sustainability assessment and measurement. In Routledge Handbook of Sustainability
Indicators (pp. 51-71). Routledge.
Schaubroeck, T., Deckmyn, G., Giot, O., Campioli, M., Vanpoucke, C., Verheyen, K., Rugani,
B., Achten, W., Verbeeck, H., Dewulf, J. and Muys, B., 2016. Environmental impact assessment
and monetary ecosystem service valuation of an ecosystem under different future environmental
change and management scenarios; a case study of a Scots pine forest. Journal of environmental
management, 173, pp.79-94.
van der Veer, G. and Nentwig, W., 2015. Environmental and economic impact assessment of
alien and invasive fish species in Europe using the generic impact scoring system. Ecology of
Freshwater Fish, 24(4), pp.646-656.
van Zelm, R., Preiss, P., van Goethem, T., Van Dingenen, R. and Huijbregts, M., 2016.
Regionalized life cycle impact assessment of air pollution on the global scale: damage to human
health and vegetation. Atmospheric Environment, 134, pp.129-137.
Vanclay, F., Esteves, A.M., Aucamp, I. and Franks, D.M., 2015. Social Impact Assessment:
Guidance for assessing and managing the social impacts of projects.

14EIA and Soft Tools
Warszawski, L., Frieler, K., Huber, V., Piontek, F., Serdeczny, O. and Schewe, J., 2014. The
inter-sectoral impact model intercomparison project (ISI–MIP): project framework. Proceedings
of the National Academy of Sciences, 111(9), pp.3228-3232.
Yang, N., Damgaard, A., Lü, F., Shao, L.M., Brogaard, L.K.S. and He, P.J., 2014.
Environmental impact assessment on the construction and operation of municipal solid waste
sanitary landfills in developing countries: China case study. Waste management, 34(5), pp.929-
937.