Session Description
Rapid technological advances, climate uncertainty, changing environmental baselines, increasing stakeholder expectations and the global sustainability transition are reshaping the context for impact assessment. These emerging challenges call for a shift from traditional, compliance-driven approaches towards a next generation of impact assessment that is adaptive, inclusive, learning-oriented and focused on supporting evidence-based environmental decision-making.
This interactive World Café will provide an inclusive platform for participants to collectively reimagine the future of impact assessment and identify practical pathways for strengthening environmental decision-making in a rapidly changing world. Through structured dialogue and collaborative knowledge sharing, participants will explore innovative approaches, challenge existing practices and co-create recommendations for advancing the profession.
Participants will rotate through five themed discussion tables, each guided by a facilitator and supported by a rapporteur using a flipchart or digital collaboration board. Discussions will focus on: (1) Decision-Making Beyond Compliance; (2) Adaptive Learning and Dynamic Baselines; (3) AI-Enabled Impact Assessment; (4) Knowledge Systems, Equity and Inclusion; and (5) Future Skills and Governance. Every 15–20 minutes, participants will move to a new table, building on the ideas generated by previous groups to create a cumulative body of knowledge.
The session will produce a draft Roadmap for Next Generation Impact Assessment, accompanied by practice recommendations, competency framework, research agenda, and opportunities for collaborations and networking.
Session Summary
This interactive World Café invites participants to collectively reimagine the Next Generation of Impact Assessment and identify practical pathways for strengthening environmental decision-making in a rapidly changing world.
Session Chair
Abbas Suleiman
President; Association for Environmental Impact Assessment of Nigeria (AEIAN)
Nigeria
Session Co-chair
Chizoba Chinweze
Chemtek Associates Limited
Nigeria