Class Environmental Assessment of Plans and Projects

This curricular unit will provide students with knowledge and tools to participate in processes related to the most relevant instruments of the preventive environmental policy: the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and other environmental assessment instruments, allowing them to acquire the following skills: Understand the differences between EIA and SEA. Understand and analyze the impacts and effects of human activities and the need to minimize them. Understand the importance of multidisciplinarity in EIA, SEA and other environmental assessment instruments' teams. Acquire knowledge and master tools to propose measures to minimize risks or maximize project (EIA) or policies, plans and programs (SEA) opportunities. Understand the relevance of stakeholder's participation. Fostering entrepreneurship in EIA, SEA and other environmental assessment instruments' processes. Understand the importance of professional ethics.

Not applicable

Presentation, Assessment Method and Introduction to the Curricular Unit Introduction to Environmental Assessment Tools for Environmental Management and Assessment: Use of Indicators and Indices Historic evolution Principles and objectives Fundamental concepts Legal and institutional framework Procedures and Methods in Environmental Assessment Procedural Aspects Methodological Approaches  Public Participation Principles and objectives Participation methods and techniques Data processing and results Case studies Innovation and Evolution Potential in Environmental Assessment Ethics and professional ethics Legal and / or procedural shortcomings Cases of success and failure Challenges for the future

In this CU, whenever possible (also depending on the size and characteristics of the class), some active methodologies (including innovative ones) will be used to promote a more integrated learning and a greater involvement of students in teaching / learning activities - namely, Project Based Learning (PBL), flipped classroom, gamification, digital forum, peer assessment and self-assessment and formative assessment with feedback. These methodologies will be used in the practical components of the CU, carried out mainly in a collaborative environment (in working groups), which will consolidate the theoretical contents, involvement and interpersonal relationship skills. In terms of digital technologies, the following will be used: Moodle (communication, sharing of documents and information, carrying out surveys, handing in assignments, carrying out written tests, publishing results), YouTube (content search and sharing) Kahoot! (gamification)

Agência Portuguesa do Ambiente (2012). Guia de melhores práticas para Avaliação Ambiental Estratégica. Morris, P., Therivel, R. (2009). Methods of Environmental Impact Assessment, 3rd Ed., Rouledge. Smith, M., et al. (2005). Implementing Strategic Environmental Assessment, Springer, Berlim. Environmental Agency (2005). Good Practice Guidelines for Strategic Environmental Assessment. Environmental Agency, United Kingdom. Abaza, H., Bisset, R., Sadler, B. (2004). Environmental Impact Assessment and Strategic Environmental Assessment: Towards an Integrated Approach, UNEP. Therivel, R. (2004). Strategic Environmental Assessment in Action, Earthscan. European Comission (2001). Guidance on EIA Scoping; Screening; EIS Review. European Comission (1999). Guidelines for the Assessment of Indirect and Cumulative Impact as well as Impact Interactions. Agência Portuguesa do Ambiente. Guias Metodológicos para a Elaboração de Estudos de Impacte Ambiental.