used in the systematic examination of potential interactions Example: in a windfarm development a significant impact may be collisions with birds Mitigation This is where EIA is most useful Once section 4 is complete, it is obvious where impacts are greatest Using this information in ways to avoid negative impacts should be developed Best working with the developer with this section as they know the project best Using the windfarm example again, construction might take place outside of bird nesting seasons, or removal of hardstanding on a potentially contaminated land site might take place outside of the rainy season. Non-technical summary (EIS) The EIA is in the public domain and be used in the decision-making process It is important that the information is available to the public This section is a summary that does not include jargon or complicated diagrams It should be understood by the informed lay-person Lack of know-how/technical difficulties This section is to advise any areas of weakness in knowledge It can be used to focus areas of future research Some developers see the EIA as a starting block for poor environmental management In 2021, ESG reporting requirements changed in the EU and UK. The EU started enforcing the Sustainable Finance Disclosures Regulation (SFDR), which was created with the purpose of unifying climate risk disclosures across the private sector by 2023. It also requires businesses to report on "principal adverse impacts" for society and the environment. Annexed projects All projects are either classified as Annex 1 or Annex 2 projects. Those lying in Annex 1 are large scale developments such as motorways, chemical works, bridges, power stations, etc. These always require an EIA under the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive (85,337,EEC as amended). Annex 2 projects are smaller in scale than those referred to in Annex 1. Member States must determine whether these project shall be made subject to an assessment subject to a set of criteria set out in Annex 3 of codified Directive 2011/92/EU. The Netherlands EIA was implemented in Dutch legislation on September 1, 1987. The categories of projects which require an EIA are summarised in Dutch legislation, the Wet milieubeheer. The use of thresholds for activities makes sure that EIA is obligatory for those activities that may have considerable impacts on the environment. For projects and plans which fit these criteria, an EIA report is required. The EIA report defines a.o. the proposed initiative,