Integrated impact assessment for sustainable development: A case study approach

The realization of sustainable development requires the use of different disciplinary approaches to the impact assessment of development proposals, which can give a balanced consideration to the multidimensional nature of sustainable development targets. This need has led to a growing interest in the integration of different methods of appraisal and evaluation into impact assessment methodology and practice. This article contributes to the development of a useable methodology for conducting integrated impact assessment (sometimes called integrated appraisal) by using case study experiences of development proposals. Three case studies, each of which has significant economic, environmental and social dimensions, are examined to see how appraisal was carried out in practice. Their primary purpose is to clarify some of the approaches to integrated appraisal currently in use as a prelude to identifying ways in which practice may be strengthened in the future. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.