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Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) SEA is a system of incorporating environmental considerations into

policies, plans and programs.

It is sometimes referred to as Strategic Environmental ImpactAssessment.

The specific term Strategic Environmental Assessment relates toEuropean Union.

For the most part an SEA is conducted before a corresponding EIA isundertaken. This will mean that information on the environmentalimpact of a plan will be able to cascade down through the tiers ofdecision making and be used in an EIA at a later stage. This shouldreduce the amount of work that needs to be undertaken.

The concept of Strategic Assessments originated from regional

development / land use planning in the developed world. In 1981 theU.S. Housing and Urban Development Department published the Area-wide Impact Assessment Guidebook.

Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) is a key component ofsustainable development establishing important new methods forprotecting the environment and extending opportunities for

participation in public policy decision making.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Union





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What is the difference between SEA and EIA

SEA can be defined as “the formalized, systematic andcomprehensive process of evaluating the environmentalimpacts of a policy, plan or program and its alternatives,including the preparation of written report on the findings ofthat evaluation, and using the findings in publicly accountabledecision-making” (Therivel et al., 1992).

Strategic Environmental Assessment generally applies to highlevel plans and programs, and allows the identification,comparison and adoption of feasible options or alternatives (tomitigate against potential environmental impacts).

Environmental Impact Assessment applies to individualconstruction or development projects.

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The role of SEA in policy and decision making

If SEA is to be used as a supporting tool for sustainable development,then it must include not only formal policy documents under thatname but also any instrument that gives effect to a policy.

There is growing recognition of the need for the environmentalassessment of the implications of policy, plan and program (PPP)alternatives at an early stage in the decision-making process.

The early consideration of environmental factors in governmentdecision making became an accepted part of World Bank policy in

1987.

SEA has emerged as a structured proactive process to strengthenthe role of environmental issues in decision making through theassessment of the environmental effects of policies, plans andprograms

For SEA to fulfill its purpose and be effective, it must be built intopolicy and planning decision making, adopted by policy makers,planners, sectoral bureaucratic officers and all the potential userswho, at this point in time, prefer to ignore the existence of SEA thanto risk sacrificing the incremental nature of their decision-makingprocesses to the technocratic and rationalistic commitments imposed

by the EA procedures used to date.

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Sustainable development is now a generally accepted vision for anysort of development, but there is concern over how to achieve such

a process. The concept of SEA can contribute to the sustainabledevelopment process. Over the last 10 years, SEA has becomewidely recognized by governments and development stakeholdersworldwide as a valuable component of the sustainable developmentprocess.

The role of SEA is often related to sustainability objectives, such thatSEA can assist the decision making in improving the design of moresustainable policies and strategies (Noble and Storey)

Consistent with the nature of an SEA system is its potential capacityto contribute to the achievement of sustainability aims.

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i d f i i i

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A Pre-Screening Procedure for Determining SEA Requirements

The following questions can be used to make a quick judgment about SEArequirements:

What is the actual content of the proposal?

Is it concerned only or primarily with broad general directions) ?; or Does it address or specifically include operational measures (projects,

activities, etc.)?

What policy area or sector is targeted in the proposal?

Is it one known to have or likely to cause environmental effects (e.g.

energy, transportation, housing, agriculture)?; and/or

Are there components which are likely to have cumulative or long-termconsequences for the environment (e.g. trade, industrial diversification,technology development)?

What environmental considerations are raised by the proposal? Does itappear likely to:

Initiate actions that will have direct or evident environmental impacts?;

Raise broad environmental implications and/or issues that should beaddressed ?; or

Have marginal or no environmental consequences?Source: Sadler & Verheem (1996).

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Some Principles for SEA (A) General: An SEA process should:

Fit the purpose and be customized for application at the policy level or at thelevel of plans and programs;

Have integrity, so that it is applied in accordance with the objectives andprovisions established for it; and be effective in meeting those objectives;

Be focused on delivering information necessary to the decisions to be made,and address the significant and key issues;

Be driven by sustainable development principles (taking into accountenvironmental, social and economic considerations); and therefore

Be integrated with parallel analyses of economic and social dimensions andissues, and with other planning and assessment instruments and processes;

Relate to project EIA where appropriate - perhaps through tiring mechanisms; Be transparent and open;

Be practical, easy to implement, oriented to problem-solving, and cost-effective;

Introduce new perspectives and creativity (it should “provide bonuses, not be aburden”); and

Be a learning process (thus it is essential to start „doing SEA‟ to gainexperience).

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SEA Steps : An SEA process should ensure that:

Screening: responsible agencies carry out an appropriateassessment of all strategic decisions with significant environmentalconsequences;

Timing: results of the assessment are available sufficiently earlyfor use in the preparation of the strategic decision;

·Environmental scoping: all relevant information is provided to judge whether: (i) an initiative should proceed; and (ii) objectives could be achieved in a more

environmentally friendly way (i.e. through alternative initiatives orapproaches);

Other factors: sufficient information is available on other factors,including socio-economic considerations, either parallel to or integrated in the assessment;

Review : the quality of the process and information is safeguardedby an effective review mechanism;

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Participation: sufficient information on the views of alllegitimate stakeholders (including the public affected) is

available early enough to be used effectively in the preparationof the strategic decision;

Documentation: results are identifiable, understandable andavailable to all parties affected by the decision;

Decision-making and accountability : it is clear to allstakeholders and all parties affected how the results weretaken into account in decision-making;

Post-decision: sufficient information on the actual impacts ofimplementing the decision is gained to judge whether thedecision should be amended.

( Adapted from Sadler (1998b) and Tonk & Verheem (1998).

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