Workshop on Environmental Impact Assessment
27th February 2005 - Renaissance Dubai Hotel

Speakers:

• Mrs. Habiba Al Marashi, EEG Chairperson
  
• Eng. Raed Al Marzouqi, Dubai Municipality
  
• Eng. Hazem Al Qawasmeh, Environmental Research and Wildlife Development Agency (ERWDA)
  
• Mr. Miguel Ruiz-Larrea, HSE & Sustainable Development Adviser, Shell Gas & Power
  
• Mr. Graham Rae, Vice President, Health, Safety & Environment, Dolphin Energy
  
• Mr. Shawqi Sajwani, Manager, Environment, Health and Safety, Dubai Aluminium (DUBAL)

Environmental Impact Assessment is a subject, which has enormous relevance for a country developing so quickly amid an extremely fragile natural environment. It touches the very essence of a company's environmental and sustainable responsibility. This goes beyond philanthropy or volunteering and exposes the company's direct relationship with the local environment and its attitude towards it.

Today companies must adopt a joined up approach to environmental stewardship. Their commitment to the environment must be borne out in their core business activities and not just glossed over in their promotional literature.

The workshop addressed the consequences of rapid building, construction and development in the UAE. Indeed, at a time when Dubai is growing at a rate scarcely seen anywhere else in the world and new construction projects are announced on a weekly basis, environmental considerations need to be put on the table. It is said that 8% of the world's cranes are currently in Dubai. Construction and development across the country touches every industry from tourism to oil and gas, and the impacts on the environment are felt beyond our national boundaries.

The purpose of reviewing and assessing the environmental impacts of any project is to ensure that business is conducted in a sustainable and responsible way. It should be an ongoing process with checks at every stage to avoid unnecessary remediation later on. An important aspect of any such process is transparency and the inclusion of all relevant stakeholders. By keeping all affected parties informed throughout the project you will ensure that everyone's concerns are taken into account.

Fortunately companies are increasingly recognising the importance of walking the talk. Putting their words into action. This is being driven by a number of factors:

The law in most countries recognises the potential impacts business can have on the environment and regulations have been put in place to manage these. Of course, companies are driven by not only local laws, although they all must comply with the law. Many companies are assessing their environmental and social impacts as part of their own excellence and CSR strategies. They want to operate according to the highest national and international standards.

Another key driver is the pressure exerted on companies from outside, from stakeholders. Certain projects around the world that have attracted the scrutiny of the public eye in recent years because of their environmentally sensitive nature. In our increasingly globalised world companies cannot assume that a project in a far off corner of a rainforest will not provoke public outcry. Whether operating in areas of special biodiversity, or potentially disrupting human settlements and displacing people, companies need to take steps to minimize their impacts.

This is not to say that companies would have to abandon their plans. In some cases they may have no alternative but to abandon them, but in other cases, through a proper evaluation of the situation there are usually compromises that can be reached.

Failing to recognize the potential risk to a business of not giving due importance to an environmental assessment can be dangerous. Indeed, many lending organisations and banks now require environmental assessments and management plans to be submitted before they will release any funding.

The business case for EIA is an important driver. In addition to the legal requirements, which companies are required to fulfil, there are financial incentives, associated with good management and risk management driving the interest in EIA.

Case studies highlighting practical experiences were also presented. As well as hearing from guest speakers the forum allowed for plenary discussion and the exchange of ideas. Delegates valued the interactive sessions as a means of building partnerships with other organisations to further their commitment to CSR.