Trends, Issues, & Insights in Cumulative Effects Assessment

Cumulative Effects Assessment (CEA) plays a crucial role in understanding the combined impacts of human activities on the environment over time. This review synthesizes academic literature from 2008 to 2018, highlighting key trends, challenges, and insights in CEA within Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). It reveals that while CEA is gaining prominence, conceptual understanding, regulatory guidance, and methodological consistency remain weak across many regions.

The study identifies water resources and energy development as the most extensively researched sectors, with strong calls for regional and strategic approaches to CEA. Researchers increasingly advocate for ecosystem- and population-level assessments, emphasizing the need to aggregate stressors and prioritize management efforts for the most affected environmental components. Additionally, the review highlights a growing focus on integrating public perspectives, Indigenous knowledge, and transdisciplinary science to strengthen decision-making.

This resource is essential for EIA practitioners, policymakers, and researchers seeking to advance CEA methodologies and enhance its role in sustainable development planning.