Session Description
Today's challenges—including greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, biodiversity loss, land and water degradation, cumulative effects, and declining trust in science—raise a critical question: how can lessons from past practice help address these issues? Aligned with IAIA27's conference theme, “Ka mua, ka muri”, this interactive workshop uses a case study to pursue two objectives: (1) return to impact assessment's roots by rediscovering the importance of alternatives in decision-making, described as the "heart" of Impact Assessment (IA); and (2) apply systems thinking across sectors and disciplines to evaluate interconnected ecological, social, and economic systems in support of a sustainable future.
Using an energy transition case study from the Filyos region of Türkiye's Black Sea coast, multidisciplinary groups of five to ten participants will develop and compare alternatives. Groups will consider GHG emissions, biodiversity, cultural heritage, cumulative impacts, stakeholder engagement, accountability mechanisms, and AI within the context of long-term regional development. The exercise demonstrates how IA must evaluate broader system interactions, including planetary recovery. Participants will identify reinforcing and balancing feedback loops, explore unintended consequences, and discuss how communication and transparency influence decision-making and public trust.
Brief introductory presentations are followed by facilitated group exercises and plenary discussion. Participants will discover practical ways to strengthen future IA practice by reconnecting with the profession's foundations and applying systems thinking to today's challenges.
Session Summary
Using a fictional coastal (Black Sea) energy transition case study, participants will rediscover alternatives as the heart of impact assessment and learn to apply holistic, systems thinking to strengthen impact assessment and improve decision-making in an increasingly interconnected world.
Additional Information
This session complements the Fit for Future Initiative and related IAIA discussions on Global Commons Alliance partner initiatives. 3F is proposing a stream called “Systems and strategic thinking for planetary recovery”. To maximise cross-participation and avoid duplication, please schedule it so it does not overlap with other sessions proposed for this stream.
Additional co-chair to co-chair listed below: Katie Fineran, finerankatie08@gmail.com Evergreen Earth Systems LLC, USA
Session Chair
Charlotte Bingham
Independent Consultat
United States
Session Co-chair
Defne Arisoy
Kalyon Enerji
Turkey