Elgar Advanced Introductions are stimulating and thoughtful introductions to major fields in the social sciences and law, expertly written by the world's leading scholars. Designed to be accessible yet rigorous, they offer concise and lucid surveys of the substantive and policy issues associated with discrete subject areas. The Advanced Introduction to Environmental Impact Assessment explores the unifying and universal principles at the heart of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) wherever it may be practiced worldwide. This overview of the field by Angus Morrison-Saunders emphasizes the big ideas upon which EIA was founded and which remain central to theory and practice today. In a nutshell, EIA is essentially about thinking before acting. Key Features include: * A reminder of the fundamental ideas promoted by the pioneers and early writers about EIA * Consideration of environment and development and how the two come together in EIA * A short and concise overview of international best practice EIA principles as they apply today * Reflections on the increasing need to adopt a holistic, sustainability-oriented approach to EIA. This book is relevant to all stakeholders involved in EIA including practitioners, researchers, and teachers. It will also appeal to university students studying engineering, environmental science, geography, sustainability, and policy studies.