Environmental assessment supports better decision-making by considering how a project’s design could be optimized to minimize or outright avoid negative effects on the environment. An assessment identifies a project’s potential effects. It also identifies a scope of factors to be considered, including mitigation measures. Thinking of these things early on in the project planning cycle gives proponents a chance to improve or revise plans.

Other benefits include:

• creating opportunities for meaningful public participation and engagement with Indigenous peoples
• advancing and addressing any potential impacts to Indigenous rights
• increasing protections for human health
• reducing project costs and delays
• reducing risks of environmental harm or disasters
  lessening the probability that environmental effects transcend national, provincial or territorial boundaries
• contributing to the responsible development of natural resources.

An environmental assessment supports planning and decision-making. Through the environmental assessment process, the potential adverse environmental effects of a project are identified. Examples of “adverse effects” are:

• the loss or decline of fish, migratory birds, or marine plants
• changes across a border between provinces
  the contamination of foods relied upon by Indigenous peoples

If a project is likely to produce adverse environmental effects, the environmental assessment identifies mitigation measures. Mitigation measures are actions or project design features that help to reduce, eliminate or control a project’s adverse effects. The environmental assessment also predicts if a project might cause significant harm to the environment even after mitigation measures are implemented. Where mitigation is not feasible, restitution measures (such as replacement, restoration or compensation) may be identified.

A follow-up program happens after the environmental assessment process. It verifies the accuracy of the assessment, and assesses the effectiveness of the mitigation measures.