7.2 What is expected from the user of EIA findings?

The users of EIA findings and advice also should be urged to:

• understand the probabilistic nature of science and differences among sciences;

• accept uncertainty in environmental science and learn to live with it;

• manage adaptively and plan for surprise;

• avoid unnecessarily tight timetables;

• participate with scientists in the assessment process;

• find out the value and cost of better information and agree to pay and wait for it.

Since policy and decision makers have very little time to read, the title, abstract, and executive summary of the EIA should each repeat the key message for these individuals. Figure 7.1 shows, in a lighter vein, how the information from an EIA study can be communicated to decision makers.