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2  Environmental Technology Assessment - EnTA

Technology Assessment (TA) was developed when it became clear that new technologies had a number of undesirable social, occupational, environmental, cultural, technical and economic side effects. In an attempt to avoid these consequences, technology users are now encouraged to use TA in order to systematically consider and weigh up the positive and negative effects of a proposed use of technology to address an identified need, or to solve a given problem.

TA was designed to help people make better choices by encouraging them to assess the effects of different technological options using a broad range of criteria, rather than focusing only on short term production or other goals. By rating the performance of the range of technology options against these criteria, a more complete picture can be obtained for the comparative benefits and disadvantages of the various options.

Further information on TA can be obtained from the relevant resources listed in Annex 1.

EnTA uses the same principles and approaches as TA, but focuses primarily upon a preliminary scoping and evaluation of the environmental consequences of specified technological options. UNEP developed and promotes EnTA as a tool, to provide a straightforward method for understanding the implications of a technological choice, for use by a variety of different stakeholders with varying skills.

When undertaking an EnTA a broad interpretation of the term "environment" is appropriate. "Environment" is normally taken to include:

• ecosystems and their constituent parts, including people and communities;
• all natural and physical resources;
• intrinsic and amenity values; and
• social, economic, aesthetic and cultural conditions which affect the above, or which are affected by the above.

2.1  Characteristics of EnTA

The key and differentiating characteristics of EnTA are:

• EnTA is a largely qualitative tool that minimises the need for detailed technical data;
• EnTA is designed to facilitate multi-stakeholder dialogue leading to consensus decision making;
• EnTA is intended to be used to prevent environmental problems, rather than solving them after the have become apparent;
• EnTA is multidisciplinary - technical, economic and environmental conditions and processes can often be complex; therefore many different skills are required in assembling, combining, interpreting, and communicating information;
• EnTA involves simplifying both the relationships between the technology and its environment, and the consequences of those interactions; and
• EnTA examines the environmental effects of the entire technological system including the resources used and the wastes produced, over the full life cycle of the technology.

A summary of the principal characteristics of EnTA is provided in Table 1.

The procedures for conducting an EnTA, as described in this Manual, should not be viewed as a "recipe" that must be followed on a rigorous basis. The assessment process can be modified and supplemented. Importantly, the EnTA procedures should evolve in ways that reflect local, national and regional circumstances
.

2.2  The role of opinion and judgement in EnTA

As acknowledged in Table 1, EnTA often involves a subjective assessment in which reliance is placed on expert judgement, and on the values and opinions of the multiple stakeholders. The opinions and judgements of experts and other concerned parties involve a degree of subjectivity, especially where the required information and understanding is deficient. The use of opinions is a means of incorporating the values and views of stakeholders. Since EnTA is designed, in part, to facilitate a multi stakeholder dialogue and build a consensus, it is important that the views and judgments of both experts and interested parties are incorporated in the assessment.

Often check boxes are provided in the worksheets, in order to facilitate a more orderly approach to the assessment. As incorporation of diverse opinions is essential to the successful conclusion of an assessment, it may be appropriate to check more than one box. This might be done for two reasons, at least: i) to acknowledge that it is appropriate to reflect the differences in the opinions of stakeholders and hence in the conclusions reached by those undertaking the assessment; and ii) to acknowledge uncertainties that arise from a lack of information and/or understanding. It is important to recognize both variations in opinion and the existence of uncertainties, where they exist.

In all cases there is also an opportunity to provide descriptive responses that can elaborate and qualify the choices that have been made - and to elaborate on the differences in opinions and judgement, as well as the uncertainties. Both sets of information may well provide useful guidance to other stakeholders and to the decision makers.

2.3  The benefits of EnTA

The main objective of EnTA is to provide an evaluation of the environmental consequences of different technology options. These include the effect a technology has on the health and safety of the community, and on natural ecosystems and the sustainability of local resources. This will help allow the most appropriate choice of technology to be made at the start of the development process. Potential risks to the environment can be identified and thereby avoided, or at least reduced to acceptable levels. A list of some potential benefits to different stakeholders is presented in Table 2.

Table 2. Potential benefits associated with EnTA

Damage to the environment is normally extremely expensive (in monetary or other terms), and in many cases is irreversible. This is of particular concern for those developing nations that place heavy reliance upon their often unique but very fragile natural resources. In almost every instance, a small investment that leads to selection of the most environmentally appropriate technology can be economically justified. In other words, EnTA can be a 'win-win' process for governments, technology users, other stakeholders and for the environment.

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