Introduction

The 1st International Conference on Environmental Impact and Development originated from the need to provide an inter-disciplinary forum where the most serious problems affecting sustainable development can be discussed. The basic premise is that development projects need to consider the most pressing issues related to environmental impacts in order to provide complete solutions.

The current emphasis on sustainable development is a consequence of the general awareness of the need to solve numerous environmental problems resulting from our modern society. This has resulted in the need to assess the impact of economic investments on the environment. The topic of investment assessment and environmental economics needs to be discussed in an integrated way, in accordance with the principles of sustainability, considering the social and environmental aspects of new investments, as well as possible environmental damage.

The roots of financial development are financial growth, which in conventional terms requires an increase in production and the use of more resources. Their overuse can result in the destruction of natural resources and larger releases of waste and pollution into the environment. The conference will address issues related to environmental toxicology and hazardous waste. With large numbers of new chemicals entering the market each year, it has become necessary to assess their effects on ecosystems as well as minimise their impact on the environment. There is a growing need for techniques and practices to minimize the environmental effects of chemicals, and for the implementation of the corresponding principles in the planning of environmental policy and decisionmaking. It is also necessary to understand the economic impact of toxic products on the environment.

The conference will also examine issues related to whether development enterprises are compatible with environmental protection, dealing in particular with cases of possible severe contamination and toxicity. The problem of what to do with the existing contaminated sites or brownfields is dealt with in detail, drawing from existing experience. The most important motivation for the conference is to learn from past failures, to not repeat the same mistakes while attempting to prevent emerging threats to the environment and ecological systems.

The demand for development land has led to the reuse of properties that have been abandoned for a variety of reasons. Many of them are brownfields, sites which have deteriorated in different ways, including by contamination. These sites are usually a burden in terms of economic losses and contribute to the deterioration of the quality of life of entire neighbourhoods. They create enormous social problems in addition to severe land, soil and habitat degradation. The main objective for these sites is to find appropriate new uses and activities, taking into account their economic and social acceptability.

Rehabilitation of brownfields, particularly those which are contaminated, can be an expensive undertaking and requires not only technical solutions, including toxicology studies, but also the involvement of financial, regulatory and community stakeholders. Fundamental to this process is the analysis of the risks involved and the development of appropriate strategies. These need to be weighted against the economic and social benefits of brownfield development, to assess the general viability of the redevelopment.

The conference will address problems of primary importance to society, discussing and proposing a more constructive and progressive approach to ensure sustainability. The meeting will provide a common forum for a wide range of researchers and practitioners specialising in a range of subjects related to the conference themes.