EIANZ 2024 Impact Assessment Symposium | Prepare for the challenges of transitioning to a nature positive, clean economy

Nature Positive and Clean Economy goals are in conflict. It is imperative that practitioners maintain a nuanced understanding and stay ahead of the curve. This symposium provides a crucial platform for impact assessment professionals to equip themselves with the knowledge and skills to navigate this complex and evolving landscape.

Governments across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand are broadly supportive of two key environmental and social objectives:

• Nature Positive: Halting and reversing the loss of nature
• Transitioning to a clean, low-carbon economy.

Meeting the second objective requires a significant investment in infrastructure, from new transmission lines to wind and solar farms, pumped hydro, and battery energy storage. We will also need new and expanded mines to source the minerals required to support the energy transition.

While this investment will provide positive social and economic benefit and contribute in the long term to protecting our environment against damaging climate change, such developments will also have their own impacts on the natural and human worlds. Potential negative socio-economic impacts include disruption of agriculture practices and impacts on viewscapes. This has the potential to undermine the nature positive goals and policies currently being developed and implemented by governments.

This two-day symposium presented by the EIANZ Impact Assessment Special Interest Section will explore the role of impact assessment in progressing the transition to a nature positive, clean energy economy while also promoting positive social and economic outcomes to facilitate a just transition.

Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of the solution.

This two day symposium, presented by the EIANZ Impact Assessment Special Interest Section, will explore the role of impact assessment in progressing the transition to a nature positive clean economy in a way that also addresses socio-economic concerns.

Who should attend?

The EIANZ 2024 Impact Assessment Symposium brings together practitioners, regulators and researchers to explore these critical issues within the context of a changing world, to discuss and propose solutions. The symposium will enable discussion and collaboration about how impact assessment professionals can lead the conversation and appropriately respond to these emerging trends. The symposium is open to EIANZ members and non-members. Please distribute this announcement to anyone in your organisation or professional circle who may be interested in attending or presenting.

Registrations are now open!

The EIANZ 2024 Impact Assessment Symposium will include two days of technical content including plenary sessions, panel sessions and abstract presentations. Delegates are invited to attend the networking event at the end of day one which is included in the registration fee. Register via the blue box at the bottom of the page.

Registration rates

* This is an all inclusive registration fee charged in AUD including GST. Registrations are via credit card. If you are unable to register via credit card please contact us at office@eianz.org
** NZAIA members please contact office@eianz.org to obtain the member rate.
The Sofitel is offering delegates a discount off the standard room rates at their property. Details on how to access the discount is provided in your registration confirmation email.

Submit an abstract

Abstracts from both EIANZ members and non-members are invited on the following sub-themes across two days.

Day 1 sub-themes

• What are the key impacts that will need to be managed in the transition to a clean economy?
• Are we clear as to what Nature Positive means?
• Do the twin goals of nature positive and a clean economy require trade-offs? What form do the conflicts between biodiversity protection and energy transition take? Are they avoidable or inevitable? Are we willing to sacrifice one for the sake of the other?
• In seeking to address these conflicts, are we expanding impact assessment beyond its intention or ability?
• How adequate are our current project-based impact assessment processes for dealing with these challenges? What improvements can we make?
• What is the role for strategic environmental assessment and regional planning?
• How can we ensure a nature positive transition to a clean economy is also socially positive?
• What are some good and bad case studies and what can we learn from them?
• Do we have adequate systems and structures in place to enable or manage the transition to a clean, low carbon economy in a nature and socially positive way? If not, where are the barriers?

Day 2 sub-themes

• Social impact assessment | This stream will explore differing perspectives on the energy transition and Australia’s goal to achieve net zero.
• Strategic environmental assessment and regional planning | This stream will explore how regional/landscape scale perspectives can influence our perspectives on balancing energy transition with the nation’s goal to achieve net zero
• Regulation of impact assessment | This stream will focus on leading practice in regulating impact assessment. This could be specifically in relation to the transition to a clean economy or focus more broadly on examples of leading practice.

The call for abstracts closes on Friday 21 June 2024.

Not an EIANZ member?

Consider joining as a student, associate or full member today! Join prior to registering for the symposium to take advantage of the discounted member rates.
Join here →

Sponsorship opportunities

Sponsorship of the EIANZ 2024 Impact Assessment Symposium provides an outstanding opportunity to secure high profile brand recognition with delegates and speakers who are leading experts in impact assessment, policy and practice in Australia. Gold, Silver and Bronze packages are available and we can tailor a package to suit your organisation.

Thanks to our event sponsor

CPD points

Cancellation Policy

Should you need to cancel your registration the following conditions apply:

• 50% refund up to 4 weeks before the event
• 25% refund up to 2 weeks before
• Accept an alternative person in lieu of someone who can’t attend who meets the criteria of the ticket
• Notification of cancellation must be provided to EIANZ Central Office by email office@eianz.org