Strategic Environmental Assessment and Sustainable Development: Climate Change Perspective

Abstract

Climate change is global and of tremendous significance because the face of our planet is changing due to climate change. It affects population groups, all sectors, and countries. It engages complex risks and requires specific solutions. The satisfactory reflection of climate change within strategic environmental assessment (SEA) is therefore seen as a great challenge. We need the acceptable solutions which can face the changing climate and this effort in this area mainly focused to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, to mitigate climate change. So, the integration of adaptation of climate change concerns into the planning process with the execution of SEA becomes more and more important. Sustainable development is a recognized vision for any kind of development but the truth is that how to reach the sustainable development process. SEA process is well-positioned to thoroughly help strengthen action of climate change adaptation and mitigation in planning as well as sustainable development. The purpose of the study is to describe the SEA may be an important tool to facilitate decision-making in respect of climate change and the role of SEA towards sustainable development by adaptation and mitigation of climate change. The implementation of SEA is a challenging job in developing as well in developed countries. It needs continuous effort to recognize the obstacles and opportunities and to act for addressing them. The findings reveal that the appropriate application of SEA in the polices, plans, and programs (PPPs) can create a way for sustainable development by global climate protection and climate adaptation. In all cases, SEA should consider definite institutional settings with the aim of capably adapt decisionmaking procedures and to ensure that it is not seen as a costly external instrument which make difficult development actions. Further research and possible ways ahead in creating a more climate change-enabled SEA.