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Description

Environmental Impact Assessment: Characterising Impacts and Applying the Avoid, Reduce, Offset Hierarchy

Genuinely measure a project's effects and build a mitigation sequence that holds up to scrutiny

  • 2 days — 14 h
  • In-person or virtual
  • Intermediate
  • Up to 6 participants

Impact assessment is often launched too late in a project's life. The baseline study is thin, impacts are described in general terms and the proposed measures look very much like those of the previous submission. The competent authority notes the weakness of the analysis and the project owner reopens studies when the design has already been frozen.

Two days, in person or virtual, focused on the technical substance of the assessment. You build a baseline study proportionate to the issues at stake. You characterise direct, indirect and cumulative impacts. You construct the avoid, reduce and offset sequence together with its monitoring arrangements. Permitting procedures are covered separately in the one-day module.

Learning objectives

  • Determine the level of analysis expected in view of the site and project issues
  • Build a baseline study that is proportionate and usable for comparing design options
  • Characterise the direct, indirect and cumulative impacts of a project
  • Construct the avoid, reduce and offset sequence and justify each step
  • Define monitoring arrangements for the measures and their operational translation

What makes this programme different

A baseline study built during the session and tested against the issues genuinely present
Authority opinions analysed to identify recurring weaknesses in assessment files
An impact matrix completed by participants on a live reference project

Programme

1Scoping the assessment

Matching the effort to the issues at stake

  • Defining the study perimeter and areas of influence
  • Identifying and ranking the environmental issues of the area
  • Alignment with the technical design studies
  • Early scoping and engagement with the competent authorities

2Building the baseline study

The foundation of every demonstration

  • Existing data and the additional field work required
  • Physical, natural, human and landscape environments
  • Seasonality of surveys and duration of field campaigns
  • Mapping outputs and readability for the reviewer

3Characterising impacts

Moving from description to demonstration

  • Impacts during construction and during operation
  • Direct, indirect, temporary and permanent effects
  • Analysis of cumulative effects with known projects
  • Comparison of design options and justification of the option retained

4Avoid, reduce, offset and monitor

Measures that commit the project owner

  • Hierarchy of measures and justification of avoidance
  • Sizing the reduction measures
  • Recourse to offsetting and the conditions for its acceptability
  • Monitoring arrangements, indicators and reporting of results

Who is it for

Study officers and project managers, public and private project owners, and environment managers following development and infrastructure files.

Prerequisites

Prior involvement in at least one environmental impact assessment file is expected.

Dates & locations

36 scheduled dates between November 2026 and December 2027. Seats are confirmed in the order enquiries are received.

November 2026

December 2026

January 2027

February 2027

March 2027

April 2027

May 2027

June 2027

September 2027

October 2027

November 2027

December 2027

None of these dates suit you? We open additional sessions on request, and any programme can be run privately for your team.

Practical details

Before the programme
Online positioning questionnaire. Your development objectives are shared with the trainer, who tailors the practical case studies to your context.
Teaching methods
Theoretical input, workshops and practical case studies. Digital course materials and method sheets provided.
Assessment
Multiple-choice tests and role-play exercises. Assessment of learning at the start and end of the programme, with immediate and 60-day follow-up evaluations.
After the programme
One year of access to the e-learning platform. Self-assessment of the skills acquired and a 30-day follow-up session with your trainer.
How to register
Registration online or on the basis of a quotation.
Lead time
11 working days after confirmation of registration.
Accessibility
Accessible to people of determination. Contact our accessibility coordinator to design a suitable solution: contact@mpf-academy.ae
Start dates
Rolling intake: in addition to the scheduled sessions, this programme can start on request.