Gas flaring in the amazon of ecuador: A health impact assessment

This project will look at the effects of methane gas flaring in Ecuador’s Amazon region (Sucumbíos and Orellana), where oil extraction occurs close to Indigenous and rural communities, by conducting a Health Impact Assessment (HIA). The HIA framework used will follow the WHO’s recommended approach of screening, scoping, appraisal, recommendations, and monitoring. The tools used will include remote satellite sensing, direct air pollution measurement and quantification, and GIS mapping, combined with epidemiological studies, assessing individual exposure and health outcomes such as respiratory illnesses, cancer, and adverse birth outcomes. The HIA will combine the epidemiological studies with health risk and socioeconomic impact assessments. Multiple novel contributions of this work include the creation of detailed air pollution maps, validation of satellite data with direct pollutant measurements, health studies and impact modelling, which is currently lacking, and can be reproduced in similar settings in the future. Local organisations will co-lead creation, communication and dissemination. The project will deliver evidence-based policy recommendations and advocacy tools for local and national stakeholders. Long-term monitoring will assess uptake and impact of recommendations in line with HIA recommendations. The international and interdisciplinary team project will provide a replicable method which will be open to future research.