Strategic environmental assessment (SEA) aims to evaluate the environmental consequences of policies, plans, and programs before individual projects are proposed. This allows environmental considerations to influence higher-level decision making. SEA addresses both spatial aspects like land use planning and non-spatial policy impacts. While some jurisdictions have initiatives for SEA, it is not widely practiced and individual project environmental assessments are not addressing environmental problems. Moving to more strategic assessment guided by sustainability objectives could help improve environmental protection and decision making.
Strategic environmental assessment (SEA) aims to evaluate the environmental consequences of policies, plans, and programs before individual projects are proposed. This allows environmental considerations to influence higher-level decision making. SEA addresses both spatial aspects like land use planning and non-spatial policy impacts. While some jurisdictions have initiatives for SEA, it is not widely practiced and individual project environmental assessments are not addressing environmental problems. Moving to more strategic assessment guided by sustainability objectives could help improve environmental protection and decision making.
Strategic environmental assessment (SEA) aims to evaluate the environmental consequences of policies, plans, and programs before individual projects are proposed. This allows environmental considerations to influence higher-level decision making. SEA addresses both spatial aspects like land use planning and non-spatial policy impacts. While some jurisdictions have initiatives for SEA, it is not widely practiced and individual project environmental assessments are not addressing environmental problems. Moving to more strategic assessment guided by sustainability objectives could help improve environmental protection and decision making.
ASSESSMENT Lecture 18: STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT (SEA) Problems of Current EA • EA process has been practised more than 20 years. • Environment is still not improving. • Project EA is not working as promised. • Need to move up the decision chain. Strategic EA • Assessment of the environmental consequences of policies, plans, and programs before project EA. • Decision hierarchy: policy, plan, program. • Policy is the intention of government. • Project is the means to carry out the policy, plan, and program. Strategic EA • non-spatial aspect in which key policy decisions affect environmental quality • spatial aspect in which plans decide on water quality, air quality, and ecosystem goals Ontario Source Water Protection • Similar to watershed plan, it highlights the regional water resources that can be affected by various pollution sources. • City of Toronto has developed a source water protection plan to protect water quality near the water treatment plant outfalls from point (wastewater, industries, nuclear plant outfalls) and nonpoint water pollution sources (stormwater, CSO, spills). How EA should work? • Guided by a regional policy of ecological quality. • Moves environmental decision making to higher policy level. Ontario Initiatives in SEA • 1995, Environment Commissioner’s Office (through B of Rights), called for statement of environmental values for each ministry. • No SEA, only EA. Federal Initiatives in SEA • 1999 Federal Cabinet Directive on EA of policy, plan, and program proposals • Commitment to SEA and consideration of environmental factors for all policy and program initiatives submitted to cabinet. • E.g. DFA’s “Framework for Conducting EA of Trade Negotiations” guides negotiators, encourage early policy and program. • Not many federal agencies commit to SEA. Need to Convince Cabinet • Future perspective. • Objectives, criteria and indicators of sustainability. • Proactive approach in protecting the environment. • Multi-applications of SEA • Integrated approach to environmental protection. • Policy to guide project EA. Future of EA • Move towards SEA. • Improve access of public in EA process • Allow a transparent and open process for everyone to participate in EA. EA as a public process • Essentially a value-laden decision. • Unwilling to rely on government to protect public interest. • Trust democratic decision making.