For the third time, the two-day seminar ‘Environmentally Sustainable Development of Industrial Sites’ took place in June at RWTH Aachen University in collaboration with the Department of Geography. As part of a teaching assignment, our colleague Dr Veit Nottebaum, an environmental impact assessment consultant at our Cologne office, provided students with practical insights into the field of environmental impact assessment and the work of environmental consultants.
The seminar combined theoretical principles with interactive group work. Using realistic case studies, issues relating to environmental impact assessment (EIA) were analysed and discussed. This gave participants an insight into the technical, legal and planning aspects that need to be taken into account when developing industrial and infrastructure projects.
To conclude, the students were able to apply the knowledge they had acquired in a practical exercise. They assessed a hypothetical project from the perspective of environmental law and carried out initial expert assessments of, among other things, air pollutant and noise immissions, land use in sensitive areas, and potential climatic impacts.
The participants’ active involvement and the lively discussions during the seminar demonstrated their great interest in the topics of environmental law, environmental impact assessment and sustainable site development. This positive feedback encourages us to continue our collaboration with RWTH Aachen University. Plans are already underway for next year to include an expanded practical component at an industrial site, linked to a specific project.
Environmental compatibility