Conference Theme

IAIA18: Environmental Justice in Societies in Transition
Durban International Convention Center
Durban, South Africa
16-19 May 2018

Globally, societies are in transition
due to environmental challenges

such as climate change, shifts in political power as seen in Europe and the USA, and social changes such as mass migration. All these changes and challenges pose a threat to the sustainability of the physical and human environment, and growing inequality threatens both the social and natural environment.

Although the aim of development is to create a more sustainable environment, the reality is often that only few people benefit while others are left to bear the brunt of the impacts and greater inequality. Environmental management should serve to translate environmental costs into wellbeing benefits for all of humankind and not just the privileged few.

South Africa is a good example of a society in transition where reducing inequality is the greatest challenge the country faces. Durban experiences many such challenges. The city boasts both plush upmarket residential suburbs and impoverished informal settlements at the other end of the spec-trum. Durban also bears the legacy of apartheid planning with historical residential areas in the immediate proximity of large-scale industrial operations. In amongst this all is a rich natural environment in the form of the sea, estuaries, rivers, forests and wetlands that lie within the city limits.

This is an ideal setting to engage with the conference theme; your participation is invited.

TRAINING COURSES

14-15 May 2018

For 37 years IAIA has been holding annual conference events and training courses all over the world to promote best practices in impact assessment. IAIA pre-conference training courses are presented primarily by IAIA members and are open to all participants.

Conference Topics

  • Agriculture, forestry, and fisheries

  • Assessing and managing environmental risks in societies in transition

  • Biodiversity and ecology

  • Climate change

  • Contribution of IA to human wellbeing

  • Corporate stewardship and risk management

  • Cultural heritage

  • Disasters and conflicts

  • Ecosystem services, health, livelihoods, and environmental justice

  • Energy and societies in transition

  • Environmental justice challenges of climate change

  • Health impact assessment

  • Human rights, equality, and environmental justice

  • Indigenous peoples and environmental justice

  • Indigenous Peoples

  • Indigenous Peoples and environmental justice

  • Extractive resources

  • Mining, industrial development, and environmental justice

  • Renewable energy

  • Power generation and transmission

  • Professional development and capacity building in IA

  • Public participation

  • Public participation and environmental justice

  • Social impact assessment

Important Dates

  • 31 July 2017
    Deadline for session proposals
  • 25 August 2017
    Session chairs notifi ed of acceptance status
  • 1 September 2017
    Paper and poster abstract submission opens
  • 2 October 2017
    Preliminary program information will be posted as it becomes available. Information will be complete by 2 October.
  • 20 November 2017
    Deadline for submission of abstracts (paper and poster presenters, session chairs, all speakers)
  • 15 December 2017
    Authors notified of paper or poster acceptance status
  • 8 February 2018
    Registration and payment deadline for presenters, session chairs, and all individuals to be listed in the final program and proceedings
  • 13 March 2018
    Deadline for draft papers
  • 9 April 2018
    Paper reviews completed
  • 20 April 2018
    Registration closes
  • 26 June 2018
    Deadline for revised papers
  • 9 July 2018
    Papers posted online

Local Host and Organizer

  • IAIA South Africa

    It is with great pride that IAIAsa is the host for the 2018 IAIA conference in Durban. IAIAsa was established in 1992 and has grown over time to a membership of approximately 650 members. We hold a national conference every year as well as a number of regional branch events.

    • IAIAsa's main objective is to be a professional association that leads integrated environ-mental management (IEM) in southern Africa. IAIAsa undertakes various activities in order to: provide a platform for advancing innovation and communication of best practice in IEM; enhance professionalism in the practice; and, advocate for sustainable policies and practices.

Program & Technical Visits

In addition to conference sessions, workshops, and training courses, you will be able to choose technical visits, sightseeing tours, networking opportunities, and more. Potential technical visits around the region include:

  • iSimangaliso Wetland Park World Heritage Site: coastal conservation, tourism and indigenous peoples working together
  • Mfolozi-Hluhluwe Big 5 Game Park: conservation, mining and local development
  • Maloti-Drakensberg World Heritage Site: mountains, water sources, climate change and rock art centre
  • Pondoland, Eastern Cape: centre of endemism, local communities in transition and development choices
  • Exciting rehabilitation and carbon off set projects in and around the city of Durban
  • Nelson Mandela capture site and exhibition centre

Durban

South Africa's largest city, Durban, ripples with vibrancy and is the country's most popular leisure destination. With mild winters, hot summers, and golden beaches stretching as far as the eye can see, the city is a melting pot overflowing with cultural diversity, sunshine, and scenic beauty. Situated in the province of KwaZulu-Natal and with a population of some 4 million people, Durban is less than an hour's flying time from the country's primary gateway airport, O.R. Tambo International Airport, in Johannesburg.