HES4809 ASSIGNMENT 1 2025 (854300) – Answer Guide, Due 30 May 2025

HES4809 ASSIGNMENT 1 2025 (854300) – Answer Guide, Due 30 May 2025 Question 1: Defining IEM and Its Principles 1.1. Define Integrated Environmental Management (IEM) and explain its primary goal in managing environmental impacts. Integrated Environmental Management (IEM) is a systematic and interdisciplinary approach that seeks to incorporate environmental considerations into all stages of decision-making, from policy formulation to project implementation (Kelly, Ellis & Flannery, 2015). Unlike traditional environmental management, which often addresses impacts reactively, IEM adopts a proactive stance by integrating ecological, social, and economic dimensions into planning processes. The primary goal of IEM is to achieve sustainable development by minimizing adverse environmental effects while optimizing resource efficiency and ensuring long-term ecological resilience (Carvalho et al., 2015). For example, in infrastructure projects, IEM ensures that environmental impact assessments (EIAs) are conducted early to identify potential risks and incorporate mitigation strategies before irreversible damage occ