Session Description
Offshore energy development is undergoing a fundamental transformation. Traditional stand-alone oil and gas projects are increasingly giving way to integrated offshore developments that combine pipelines, subsea power and telecommunications cables, offshore wind, hydrogen production, carbon capture and storage, and other shared infrastructure within increasingly complex marine environments. As these developments expand in scale and complexity, environmental impact assessment must evolve beyond individual project assessments toward more integrated, regional, and ecosystem-based approaches. This session will examine how environmental impact assessment practice is adapting to address cumulative effects, transboundary impacts, marine spatial planning, biodiversity conservation, Indigenous and local knowledge, climate resilience, and increasing expectations from regulators, investors, and international lenders. Drawing on experience from offshore oil and gas, offshore wind, carbon storage, and other emerging marine industries, presenters will share practical case studies, lessons learned, and innovative approaches that can strengthen environmental assessment and environmental management for the next generation of interconnected offshore energy infrastructure.
Session Summary
This session will provide a forum for discussion on the necessity for the evolution of impact assessments in the offshore energy sector to address regional-scale development, transboundary effects, cumulative impacts, biodiversity conservation, Indigenous knowledge, and lender/stakeholder expectations.
Session Chair
Amy Pyle
CSA Ocean Sciences
United States