Environmental Impact Assessment of DISASTERS

Dr. Anil Kumar GuptaAssociate Professor

National Institute of Disaster ManagementNew Delhi

Disaster???

Hazard

or

Disaster –types : Re-classified…• Environmental (natural or man-made)

– Geo-hydrological– Biological– Chemical – Fires– Epidemic….

• Technological & civil / sectorial– Rail, Industrial (Electrical, Mechanical..),

Nuclear, Road…• Security threats

– Terrorism, sabotage, bomb blast…• War• Festival related – Stempede etc.

IMPACTS OF DISASTERS

• Physical (buildings, structures, physical property, industry, roads, bridges, etc.)

• Environmental (water, land/soil, land-use, landscape, crops, lake/rivers / estuaries, aquaculture, forests, animals/livestock, wildlife, atmosphere, energy, etc.)

• Social (life, health, employment, relations, security, peace, etc.)

• Economic (assets, deposits, reserves, income, commerce, production, guarantee/insurance, etc.)

Physical

Environmental

Disaster Event

SOCIAL

Economic

Likely effects on disaster impacts on environmental components and assetsImpact

component

Likely environmental effects (tentative list) of disaster event

Air Air pollution, toxic release, local-climatic change, global warming contribution

Water Water pollution, water scarcity, chemical spillage, waste discharge, loss of aquatic life, eutrophication

Land Soil erosion, soil contamination, acidity/alkalinity/sodicity, aridity, wetland-loss, land-use conflict, debris/waste

Crops Crop damage, crop failure, pre-crop condition failures, quality loss

Wildlife Loss of habitat, animal death or illness, migration, food scarcity

Livestock Animal death, loss of fodder, illness, breeding troubles, migration

Forests Vegetation damage, structural/functional failures, produce/services loss

Waste Carcasses, Debris, Damaged goods, e-waste, hazardous/infectious waste

Aesthetic Loss of natural landscape, ecotourism, recreation, and psycho-spiritual services

Disaster-Environment Impact Matrix

Air Water Land Crops Wildlife Livestock Forests Waste

Flood S D D D D D D D

Cyclone D D D D D D D D

Drought I D D D D D D I

Earthquake S, C I, C I -- L D -- D

Landslide -- S D -- I -- D D

Chemical D D D D D, C D D, C D

Nuclear D D, S D D, S D D D, L D

Biological S D, C S C C C C D

Civil C C C, I -- -- -- -- C

Transport C C C L -- -- -- D

D=Direct, I=Indirect, S=Secondary, L=Less, C=Case specific

Disaster cycle Likely environmental impact causes, examples

Pre-disaster stage: • Environmental impacts of structural mitigation Land-use alteration Environmental impacts and wastes during mock-drills

During Disaster(Natural – Earthquake,

Landslide, Tsunami, Flood, Drought, Cyclone; Man-made – Chemical/ industrial, nuclear, biological, civil)

• Structural waste/debris/e-waste/carcasses Air pollution, contamination, toxic release Fire and/or explosion, Hazardous wastes exposure Water pollution Radiation Noise Land degradation, contamination, soil loss Vegetation – crop/ forest, biodiversity damage Wetland loss Coastal beach/ River bank erosion

Post-disaster(Relief-rehab. phase)

• Waste generation from relief operation (food, medical, shelter, packaging) Water shortage, Water pollution, loss of fisheries Air pollution due to waste/carcasses disposal, transport, etc. Land-use and landscape changes for shelters/ camps etc. Environmental impacts due to relief road/bridge making Environmental impacts due to other emergency supplies Hazardous waste recoveries Spoilages of industrial materials and goods Local climatic-setting alteration

Post-disaster (recovery and later – long term)

• Environmental impacts of changed land-use and landscape Environmental impacts of persistent chemicals release in system Biotic pressure of the altered settings of rehabilitated population Environmental impacts due to peoples increased dependence on ecosystem

resources because of losses to their crops/livelihoods Biodiversity changes and alien species invasion

Impacts of tropical cyclone land-fall and associated environmental losses

Wind

Effect of local Tides

Effect of local Coastal Configuration

Low Atmospheric Pressure in the Centre

Rain

Storm Surge

Flooding

Loss of Human Life: Injuries

Damage to structures & Continent

Flooding of Low-Lying Coastal Areas

Erosion of BeachesDamage to onshore & offshore installations

Damage to Shipping & Fishing Facilities

Loss of Communications & Power

Urban Bushfire

Loss of Soil Fertility from Saline Intrusion

Land Subsidence

Contamination of Domestic Water Supply

Destruction of Vegetation, Crops, Livestock

Effects of a chemical disaster on life and environmental factors

Environ-disaster interface

Environmental Hazards Complex

Population Growth

Losses Poverty

Low coping capacity

High Exposure

to Hazard

Locations

High Disaster Risk

Hazard / Trigger event

Major Disaster Losses

Source: 2008(5) Publication

EIA: Best Practice Framework in Emergency Response

• December 2001 Benfield Greig Hazard Research Centre, University of London

• BGHRC and Care International – REIA

• UN Economic Community for Latin American and the Caribbean (ECLAC)

• Handbook for Estimating the Socio-economic and Environmental Effects of Disasters3, updated in 2003

Disaster Focused EIA Tools

• Natural Hazard Environmental Impact Assessment (Pre-disaster) (90 days)

• Fast Environmental Assessment Tool (Hours) (Hours to 3 days)

• Rapid Environmental Impact Assessment in Disasters (REA, 2-10 days) Guidelines at http://www.benfieldhrc.org/disaster studies/rea/rea index.htm

• Framework for Assessing, Monitoring and Evaluating the Environment in Refugee-related Operations (FRAME) (Days to weeks, Months)

• Guide to Identifying Critical Environmental Considerations in Emergency Shelter (Hours to weeks)

• Post Disaster Environmental Impact Assessments (Months / 90 days)

Environmental needs….(relief)

• Water– Consumption– Sanitation

• Energy– Protection from climate– Heating/cooling– Clothing– Food– Processing food– Processing water– Lighting

• Shelter

• Evacuation of waste

• Disposal of waste

• Water (quality)

• Vector control

• Environmental sanitation

Disaster-Environment Complex: Emergency Response and Development Needs…..

Disaster Debris: Katrina Case The primary types of disaster debris being

removed in the wake of Hurricane Katrina fall into the following categories:

• Municipal solid waste — general household trash and personal belongings.

• Construction and demolition (C&D) debris — building materials (which may include asbestos-containing materials), drywall, lumber, carpet, furniture, mattresses, plumbing.

• Vegetative debris — trees, branches, shrubs, and logs.

• Household hazardous waste — oil, pesticides, paints, cleaning agents.

• White goods — refrigerators, freezers, washers, dryers, stoves, water heaters, dishwashers, air conditioners.

• Electronic waste — computers, televisions, printers, stereos, DVD players, telephones.

REIARapid Environmental Impact Assessment in

Disasters? • The REA is a tool to identify, define, characterize and

prioritize potential environmental impacts in disaster situations which threaten human life and welfare.

• The REA is a simple, qualitative assessment process. It uses easy to understand descriptions, rating tables and lists to identify and rank environmental issues and appropriate follow-up actions during a disaster.

• The REA is used from shortly before a disaster strikes, up to 120 days after a disaster, or for any major stage-change in an emergency situation. The REA can also be used as an environmental impact check list in relief project design and review.

Who undertakes a REA?• Primary REA users are non-specialists directly involved in

disaster response operations, with a basic knowledge of the disaster management process but no background in environmental issues. It can be used by disaster victims with appropriate support

The Joint United Nations Environment Program/ Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Office, Geneva, Royal Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance, USAID

Pro-Active Approach• Environmental Risk Assessment

– Disaster Risk– Impact Risk

• Environmental Auditing • Natural Resource Accounting• Ecological Footprints of

Disasters• Economic Evaluation of

Environmental Impacts• Environmental Health

Preparedness• Environmental Response in

Emergencies

Context Differences EIANormal and Disaster Assessments

Normal• Lead Time• Legal Requirement• Deliberate and pro-

active• Will be

comprehensive• “No project” an option• Location known• Duration planned• Beneficiary

populations known and static

• Environmental goals can be made compatible with economic ones

Disaster• Sudden onset• Rarely a legal

requirement• Reactive• May need to be partial

in coverage• “No project” not an

option• Unpredictable

location• Uncertain duration• Population dynamic

and heterogeneous• Saving lives given

priority• Activities sometimes

hard to reconcile with environmental goals.

EIA Exercise 001/NIDM

• Participants divided in 4 groups• Each group will analyze 2 cases

out of given 08 cases• Each group will identify:

– 02 environmental aspects not related to development/livelihood /economic development

– 03 environmental aspects related to development/livelihood / economic development

EIA Exercise 002

• Each group will be given Tsunami Case Environmental Aspects

• Pre-disaster• During Emergency• Post-disaster relief• Rehabilitation• Recovery phase• Social-Environmental Impact

Linkages– Identify 02 aspects which are not

related– Identify 02 aspects which are related

environment

a charityOR

Our need?

Disasters from A Disaster?

Man-made Disasters…..

THANK YOU….

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