umhverfismat

Umhverfismat is the Icelandic term for environmental impact assessment (EIA). It is a systematic process used to evaluate the potential environmental consequences of a proposed project or development before a decision is made to proceed. The goal of umhverfismat is to identify, predict, and assess the likely environmental, social, and economic impacts of a project, and to propose measures to mitigate or avoid any significant adverse effects.

The process typically begins with a screening phase to determine if an EIA is required for a particular project. If an EIA is deemed necessary, a scoping phase follows, where the key environmental issues to be studied are identified and the scope of the assessment is defined. The core of the umhverfismat is the preparation of an environmental impact statement (EIS), which details the project, its alternatives, the baseline environmental conditions, the predicted impacts, and proposed mitigation measures.

This EIS is then made public, and stakeholders, including the public, government agencies, and relevant organizations, are invited to review and comment on the assessment. The comments received are considered by the project proponent and the relevant authorities. Finally, a decision is made on whether to approve the project, with or without conditions, based on the findings of the umhverfismat and the feedback received. The legislation governing umhverfismat in Iceland aims to ensure that environmental considerations are integrated into the planning and decision-making processes for development projects, promoting sustainable development.