GEO Brasil - UNEP

introduction
from policies that could minimise them or even suppress them. The Integrated
Environmental Assessment revolved around three categories Pressure-State-
Response (PSR). Based on the PSR structure’s rationale, some more detailed
alternatives have been developed, such as SPIR, where the Pressure Impact on
the environment has been included.
Depending on the relationships in point, some terms may appear in more than
one of those categories. The SPIR structure can be used more as an approach for
analysis than as a rigid category.
The following descriptions may be useful:
b) PRESSURES:
These are frequently classed as
actions imposed by human beings
on the environment: activities and
processes that influence the
environment and cause changes
(usually considered as primary
causes and driving forces);
demographic growth, industrial
expansion, consumption patterns,
inequalities etc.
a) STATE:
TE:
This refers to environmental conditions, such as: air quality against air
pollution levels; deforestation rate; level of water contaminants etc. The
state of the environment affects human health as well as socio-economic
elements. For example, increased soil degradation can have impacts on:
decreased food production; expanded food importation; increased use of
chemical fertilisers; under-nourishment and so on. Being knowledgeable
about the state of the environment, as well as its indirect effects, is a critical
requirement for decision-makers and public policy makers alike.
Figure 1 - SPIR Structure
c) IMPACT of this pressur
essure
on the environment:
This refers to the health and wellbeing
or condition of the
population, economy, ecosystems
etc.: high levels of nutrients in
coastal waters (state) can lead to
higher algae levels and increased
poisoning by toxic substances
produced by sea species in coastal
communities (impact).
d) RESPONSE by the
society:
Actions taken in order to diminish
or prevent environmental impacts,
to offset environmental
degradation or to preserve natural
resources. Such actions may
include: national regulations and
laws; economic instruments;
regional/international
conventions and agreements etc.
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