Use Of Strategic Environmental Assessment Research Articles

Does New Regulation Points to an Effective Use of Strategic Environmental Assessment? Lessons from Democratic Republic of Congo

Does New Regulation Points to an Effective Use of Strategic Environmental Assessment? Lessons from Democratic Republic of Congo

Strategic Environmental Assessment of the Territory as a Public Management Instruments for Technological Development. A Case of Ukraine

Abstract The study aims to substantiate theoretical and methodological aspects of the use of strategic environmental assessment as an instrument for public regulation of the ecological status of territories. The research methodology is based on using a systematic approach for conducting a strategic environmental assessment of the possibility of environmental problems and threats posed by the implementation of long-term projects and current activities. The development of ecological balance, comparison of the results of normative and exploratory forecasts of the state of the environment become the basis for the formation of goals of strategic environmental management, the appearance of a set of measures for the conservation and restoration of natural resources. Identification of factors influencing the state of the environment is a necessary condition for the prevention of pollution of territories, inefficient use of natural resources, justification of the essential measures of state regulation to ensure the achievement of goals. The practical experience of assessing the achievements in the management of the conditions of the environment is illustrated by the example of regions of Ukraine. The proposed approach to the development of the ecological balance and the methodology of complex assessment of the ecological status of the territory have scientific novelty and contribute to the assessment of the effectiveness of public administration balanced development of the territories.

Advances in Implementing Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Techniques in Central America and the Caribbean

The use of Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) systems is essential to ensure the sustainability of plans, programs and policies. This works shows, for the first time in the scientific literature, a joint vision of the current situation of SEA systems in Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Panama and the Dominican Republic. The analysis has been performed using data collected from an exhaustive review of the pre-existing literature and specific information obtained from personal interviews carried out during the SEA forum held in Bogotá in 2018. Legal mechanisms in the Central American and Caribbean region reveal that specific regulation is not necessary to apply and develop SEA systems. Little experience in SEA development in the region is evidenced in the absence of SEA methodologies adapted to the different contexts of policies, plans, programs and governance circumstances. SEA results’ dissemination procedures have been performed only in El Salvador and Costa Rica. Besides, results show that no monitoring mechanisms for the programs implemented under SEA processes have been applied to date. To ensure the future development of SEA processes in the region under sustainable criteria, it is essential to ensure the support of decision makers so that plans and policies can be properly adapted.

Bridging the divide between theory and guidance in strategic environmental assessment: A path for Italian regions

Clear and effective legislation is a requisite to bring sustainable development from theory into practice. This paper develops a methodology to investigate how Italian regional legislation disciplines the use of Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), the procedure used in the European Union (EU) to pursue sustainable development of policies, plans, and programs (PPPs). Our case study is the Italian regional level, examined to identify eventual flaws and areas for improvement for each regional legislative framework. For this purpose, this study refers to a selection of analytical criteria recurring in the international debate on sustainability assessments. Statistical multi-dimensional analysis is used to identify Italian regions with similar SEA legislation. We recognize four taxonomies, depending on the way regional legislation provides information about i) legislation and guidelines, ii) integration between SEA and PPPs, iii) sustainability goals, iv) technical organization, v) participatory organization, and vi) monitoring. The results suggest that Italian administrators should cooperate to improve legislation at the regional level. Acknowledging the institution-centred nature of SEA, this methodology could drive the EU to better support SEA development in countries with diversified traditions.

Use of strategic environmental assessment in the site selection process for a radioactive waste disposal facility in Slovenia

The benefits of strategic environmental considerations in the process of siting a repository for low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste (LILW) are presented. The benefits have been explored by analyzing differences between the two site selection processes. One is a so-called official site selection process, which is implemented by the Agency for radwaste management (ARAO); the other is an optimization process suggested by experts working in the area of environmental impact assessment (EIA) and land-use (spatial) planning. The criteria on which the comparison of the results of the two site selection processes has been based are spatial organization, environmental impact, safety in terms of potential exposure of the population to radioactivity released from the repository, and feasibility of the repository from the technical, financial/economic and social point of view (the latter relates to consent by the local community for siting the repository). The site selection processes have been compared with the support of the decision expert system named DEX. The results of the comparison indicate that the sites selected by ARAO meet fewer suitability criteria than those identified by applying strategic environmental considerations in the framework of the optimization process. This result stands when taking into account spatial, environmental, safety and technical feasibility points of view. Acceptability of a site by a local community could not have been tested, since the formal site selection process has not yet been concluded; this remains as an uncertain and open point of the comparison.

Applying strategic environmental assessment to land-use and resource-management plans in Scotland and New Zealand: a comparison

Case studies are used to compare the use of strategic environmental assessment (SEA) Scotland and New Zealand by applying the Glasson-Gosling typology of SEA practice. The results suggest SEA's effectiveness in promoting sustain-ability is determined by its capacity to shape the decision-making processes governing all aspects of spatial development. New Zealand's Resource Management Act confines SEA to evaluating environmental aspects of territorial land-use and resource-management plans. Without efforts to integrate SEA into new community planning powers under the 2002 Local Government Act, this will limit its use in supporting broader sus-tainability objectives. Scotland's recent Environmental Assessment Act embraces all public-sector policies, plans and programmes, offering SEA more scope for influencing policy formulation and the delivery of sustainable development.

Strategic environmental assessment in post-modern times

The increasing awareness of the findings of policy and decision making theory in the environmental assessment community has recently led to an intensifying debate on the theoretical foundations and the appropriate practical use of strategic environmental assessment (SEA). In this context, most of the recent suggestions on how to improve practice have been influenced—consciously or sub-consciously—by the post-modernist paradigm, focusing particularly on a better integration of SEA into ‘real’ decision making and procedural flexibility. There have also been suggestions that traditional project environmental impact assessment (EIA)-based SEA approaches are generally inadequate. Reacting to the latter criticism, this paper aims at defending ‘traditional’ systematically structured and normative approaches to SEA. While it is acknowledged that a purely professional and technological paradigm to SEA is something of the past, it is proposed that leaving the design of ‘flexible’ SEA to the will of proponents and stakeholders might ultimately render it incapable of protecting the environment.

Environmental integration through strategic environmental assessment: Prospects in Europe

Governments across Europe recognize that integrating environmental concerns into other areas of policy is a key to achieving sustainable development. The use of Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) enables the consideration of the environmental impact of proposals to be an integral part of decision making. It is an essential tool in helping governments nationally, and locally, achieve greater environmental integration. This paper describes the benefits SEA can provide and outlines the context for the European Commission's involvement in this field. The requirements of a European draft Directive on SEA are summarized and an assessment made of its effectiveness. A number of shortcomings are highlighted, which should be remedied. Finally, the progress of the draft Directive through the European institutions is tracked and conclusions made on the potential contribution of SEA to future environmental policy. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.

Strategic environmental assessment: the potential for development in South Australia

There is potential to develop the use of strategic environmental assessment (SEA) in South Australia. A survey addressed the current attitudes towards the need for SEA and the preferred methods of implementation at the local and state government level and the extent of informal practice. It was found that: the principles were supported by the majority of agencies; most agencies preferred a degree of formality in an SEA framework, although almost half suggested that a combination of formal and informal elements was most appropriate; the public should be involved; most agencies are practising informal SEA; and the majority lacked broad environmental goals as a framework for assessment There needs to be further research into the actual role of SEA.

Strategic environmental assessment and the water environment

Current legislation in the United Kingdom provides for environmental assessments of individual developments. This article examines the case for its extension to include the use of strategic environmental assessment (SEA) in planning and decision-making relevant to the water environment. The potential benefits are illustrated by reference to a number of flood alleviation studies. It is argued that the adoption of SEA as a process would be helpful in the preparation of both catchment management plans and land-use plans. From a longer-term perspective SEA is viewed as an important instrument in promoting sustainable development.

Linking policy or program impacts to decisions through value systems

The increasing awareness of the findings of policy and decision making theory in the environmental assessment community has recently led to an intensifying debate on the theoretical foundations and the appropriate practical use of strategic environmental assessment (SEA). In this context, most of the recent suggestions on how to improve practice have been influenced—consciously or sub-consciously—by the post-modernist paradigm, focusing particularly on a better integration of SEA into ‘real’ decision making and procedural flexibility. There have also been suggestions that traditional project environmental impact assessment (EIA)-based SEA approaches are generally inadequate. Reacting to the latter criticism, this paper aims at defending ‘traditional’ systematically structured and normative approaches to SEA. While it is acknowledged that a purely professional and technological paradigm to SEA is something of the past, it is proposed that leaving the design of ‘flexible’ SEA to the will of proponents and stakeholders might ultimately render it incapable of protecting the environment.