EIA is a process where you identify, communicate, predict and interpret information on the potential impacts of proposed activities on the environment, including humans. It also finds measures to address and mitigate these impacts, for example by examining alternatives. In many countries, including all Arctic countries, EIA is mandatory for specific, often large-scale activities. In the Arctic many common features can be recognised in the climate, the ecosystems and the socio-cultural characteristics and these separate the Arctic from other regions of the world. The common features affect the type of investigations, the choice of methods and approaches, and the time span of an environmental impact assessment.
Overriding issues are, however, the cumulative effects and the indigenous peoples of the Arctic.
Several indigenous peoples live in the arctic region. Their culture, social system and economy depend on the renewable resources and on extensive land areas. The indigenous peoples also hold accumulated knowledge on the arctic environment, and the management of its resources for present and future generations. There is a need to take into account the indigenous peoples and their knowledge in all phases of the process. Over time we are continuously gaining experience in and improving arctic environmental impact assessments.