In Canada, environmental assessment (EA) is defined as “a process to predict environmental effects of proposed initiatives before they are carried out.” (CEAA, 2012). It is used to identify and recommend ways to prevent and correct any environmental effects that occur due to a project. EA processes also include a follow-up procedure where the environmental effects are revisited to ensure proper preventative methods are being taken to avert any negative impacts. An EA should be done as early as possible in the development of a project as it is used as both a planning and decision-making tool. The purpose of an EA is to lessen or completely avoid any negative environmental impacts before they occur, and leads decision-makers to include positive environmental changes into their final decisions. EAs are important as they bring to light the potential environmental impacts that may have been overlooked in the planning process. Not only do EAs

 

Health impact assessment (HIA) is defined as a “means of assessing the health impacts of policies, plans and projects in diverse economic sectors using quantitative, qualitative and participatory techniques.” (WHO). The principles of an HIA are to identify and mitigate any health impacts that may occur as a result of a proposed policy or project. Both the personal and social determinants of health are taken into account. HIAs use participatory research methods in order to gather accurate data and input from the population that will be affected. They take into account both statistical and personal needs to insure the population health rates remain where they are, or increase. The HIA process involves six (6) major steps that answer the following questions:

1. Screening

   • Does the proposal need an HIA?

   • How extensive does it need to be?

2. Scoping

   • What is the area of focus?

   • Who will be affected/who are the most vulnerable groups?

3. Identification and assessment

   • What is the current population health status and trends?

   • Prediction of future health impacts for both the general population and vulnerable groups?

4. Recommendations

   • What revisions/additions/removals should be taken into account?

   • How will the population health be monitored and evaluated in the future?

5. Reporting

   • Findings are communicated to decision makers, communities and other stakeholders by use of reports, new releases and/or presentations?

6. Evaluating and monitoring

   • How has the HIA recommendations influenced the proposal?

   • Why did or didn’t the HIA work

   • Ensuring recommendations actually occur.

   • How has the population health changed?

 

 

While environmental assessments bring to light the potential environmental risks associated with proposed projects, other risk areas but also be assessed to ensure a comprehensive, collaborative approach. Health impact assessments (HIA) are equally as necessary to create a sustainable future. HIAs aim to provide insight into potential beneficial or adverse outcomes of project proposals. The HIA process uses qualitative, quantitative and participatory research methods to gather accurate data and input from the population affected. Once a project has been screened and scoped to determine the most effective type of HIA needed, identification and assessment of the current population health levels are determined. This serves as a benchmark for future evaluation. The HIA process also provides recommendations as to what should or should not be incorporated into the policy or project being examined. The recommendations are communicated to decision makers and the public, and guidelines for expression and monitoring are put in place to ensure proper implementation of the recommendations.

There are currently no federal, provincial, or municipal laws to ensure that HIAs are used for all projects. As a result, many projects are implemented without ever taking into account how they will affect population health trends. HIAs are especially necessary for essentially all local projects. HIAs work with EAs to provide a more comprehensive perspective in order to understand how policies and projects could affect human health at a population level. Should HIAs have been done before many local projects, serious negative health impacts may have been prevented. From large-scale international trade agreements, to locally built schools and hospitals, both HIAs and EAs need to be an integral part in the conceptual phase of building.

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Sources

Basics of Environmental Assessment, Government of Canada, 2012

Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012

Mendell, A. (2010). FOUR TYPES OF IMPACT ASSESSMENT USED IN CANADA. Retrieved June 28, 2016

Health Impact Assessment. (2016). Retrieved June 28, 2016, from https://www.cdc.gov/healthyplaces/hia.htm

Health Impact Assessment. (n.d.). Retrieved June 28, 2016, from http://www.who.int/hia/en/