SEA effectiveness in Spain: insights from practice

Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) is fairly well-established in Spain, informing decision-makers on the likely environmental consequences of their plans and policies. However, limited attention has been paid to the study of SEA effectiveness in Spain, particularly with regards to practitioner and stakeholder views. This paper aims to bridge this knowledge gap by gathering and examining views on SEA’s participatory aspects, the performance of the procedural elements and the overall role of SEA in decision-making. The paper describes the legal implementation of SEA in Spain, and discusses current views on its effectiveness, grounded on the authors’ own experiences.     

Towards a better understanding of SEA effectiveness in Ireland

The first review of strategic environmental assessment (SEA) effectiveness in Ireland examined how a number of selected case studies performed procedurally. The findings pointed not only to deficiencies in the consideration of alternatives, monitoring and SEA Statements, but also in its capability to lead to more informed and sustainable decisions. Six years on from that review, this paper revisits some of the case studies and appraises non-procedural effectiveness via stakeholder interviews to obtain a more comprehensive account of SEA effectiveness across the life of the reviewed plans. The case studies illustrate a general openness to SEA. Overall, consulted experts agreed that SEA contributes significant knowledge to planning decisions. SEA iterations tend to be more efficient as a result of learning; in some cases, the process led to internal organisational restructuring, facilitating better environmental integration in subsequent plans. There is limited implementation of monitoring across the case studies, so while the review points to positive outcomes of SEA (e.g. new data and knowledge, mitigation by avoidance), it remains to be evidenced whether it ultimately prevents adverse environmental effects.     

The effectiveness of the SEA process in Slovenia

This article focuses on the analysis of strategic environmental assessment (SEA) effectiveness in Slovenia. Apart from some general information on the SEA legal framework and guidance, the article mainly explores the political context, substantive, transactive, normative, knowledge/learning and pluralist effectiveness of SEA in Slovenia. An online questionnaire was prepared to collect information and views related to the stated aspects of SEA effectiveness from key stakeholders involved in the process. The survey results indicate that SEA in Slovenia is only partially effective. The most commonly recognised problems related to the substantive effectiveness of SEA are linked to weak control over the implementation of the mitigation measures and their effectiveness. With regard to transactive effectiveness, the SEA extends the planning process and is mostly assessed to have a low cost–benefit ratio. Personnel and organisations involved in SEA processes have very diverse skills and efficiency. In relation to normative effectiveness, neglect of social and economic components occurs. SEA does not seem to be very successful in changing the way of thinking, which has a negative impact on knowledge effectiveness. Pluralist effectiveness could be also improved, especially with regard to better integration of views from the public into the planning process.     

Factors affecting SEA effectiveness in Estonia

This study addresses the key aspects of the Estonian SEA system and the main factors affecting the effectiveness of SEA. Five dimensions of SEA effectiveness (substantive, pluralist, transactive, normative and transformative) have been examined. The study is also complemented by semi-structured interviews of key actors of the SEA systems (public authorities, SEA experts and environmental NGOs), but also on the authors’ own experiences in analysing and participating in the SEA process. The paper concludes that SEA has become a relatively routine process at national government and local government levels, and effectiveness is affected by the level of assessment of cumulative effects (especially those of climate change, biodiversity loss and green area network), consideration of alternatives and extent of public participation. One of the significant impediments to the effectiveness, however, is the missing SEA follow-up.     

Towards a more effective approach to the development and maintenance of SEA guidance

Written guidance can contribute to the development of effective SEA, delivering relevant information for those involved in policy, plan and programme making processes. Generally speaking, guidance should aim at setting best practice standards. However, to date, how guidance is impacting on SEA effectiveness and how it is best developed and maintained has not been explored to any great extent. As a consequence, it has remained unclear how a key ingredient of effective SEA, namely the support of an enabling context, should be approached. In this paper, we look at the perceived relevance of written guidance for the delivery of effective SEA, based on a two-stage survey with 26 practitioners (all with over 10 years of experience) from the UK and the Republic of Ireland, conducted between 2015 and 2017. Survey participants included representatives of the regulatory, consultancy and academic sectors. Our findings indicate that guidance can promote SEA effectiveness if it: (a) aims to go beyond basic legislative requirements; (b) is able to respond to the specific situation of application; (c) can establish a minimum standard for SEA; and (d) is able to stimulate the advancement of quality standards within a tiered approach to SEA.     

Policy SEA: lessons from development co-operation

This professional practice report reflects upon lessons learned from piloting and evaluating an innovative approach to policy strategic environmental assessment (SEA) in developing countries. The primary analytical focuses of the approach are institutions and governance characteristics, plus it places strong emphasis on learning. The piloting provides valuable insights about the conduct of SEA at the policy level and in socio-political where there is limited experience with SEA. From our observations we reflect upon the importance of appropriate ownership of an SEA; the practical implications of working in contested political environments; the challenges in using SEA as a tool to promote good governance; and the centrality of a long-term perspective to environmental and social mainstreaming.     

Reflecting on the preparation of guidelines for strategic environmental assessment (SEA) of nuclear power programmes

In this paper, the ‘guidelines for strategic environmental assessment (SEA) of nuclear power programmes’ by the International Atomic Energy Agency are introduced. This includes a reflection on their preparation process and contents as well as consultation feedback. The preparation process started with two meetings of international nuclear and SEA experts and the creation of a writing team which prepared an initial set of draft guidelines. This was followed by various consultation exercises. The guidelines are organised along an allocation of tasks within a tiered system of energy related policies, plans, programmes and projects. Whilst consultation showed that there was agreement on the approach to most issues, no consensus was present on the extent to which economic and social issues should be fully integrated with environmental considerations. Strong support was given to the way quality review is designed, going beyond focusing on the main SEA reports to cover procedural and participatory aspects next to elements of a comprehensively tiered decision making framework, the ability to influence decisions as well as the quality (expertise and experience) of those involved in conducting the SEA.

Abbreviation: SEA: Strategic Environmental Assessment; EIA: Environmental Impact Assessment; IAEA: International Atomic Energy Agency     

Effectiveness of strategic environmental assessment in Poland

The paper presents the results of an evaluation of the effectiveness of SEA obtained as a result of a survey with the participation of stakeholders. In Poland, several hundred SEAs are conducted annually at the local and regional levels and several at the national level. Although the survey demonstrated that SEA is evaluated as effective or quite effective, the respondents pointed to several irregularities in the non-procedural dimension of effectiveness. The main ones in terms of substantive effectiveness are that SEA is rarely used to help develop plans/programmes and procedures are highly politicised. Moreover, low effectiveness in terms of variant assessment and cumulative impacts and nearly non-existent monitoring of the actual effects of implementing plans/programmes influence substantive effectiveness significantly. The respondents pointed to the problem resulting from the fact that plan-makers are unwilling to take into account the SEA recommended changes. They also emphasised that there are certain attempts to put pressure on SEA consultants to make the conclusions less stringent. Respondents indicate that in Poland the costs associated with conducting SEA often outweigh the profits. The research shows that the society is properly informed about SEA, but public involvement is still low.     

Decisional environment values as the object of analysis for strategic environmental assessment

Strategic environmental assessment (SEA) is intended to go beyond the assessment of the likely environmental consequences of specific projects. However, SEA relies formally on a conceptual and methodological background that is centred on the analysis of likely environmental impacts of decisions related to policies, plans and programmes. This paper attempts to find a common theoretical denominator for the different demands placed on SEA when it is imposed on a case study. The concept of decisional environment values (DEVs) is the suggested approach: DEV is defined here as an objective entity that could constitute the study object of environmental assessment.     

Using rapid SEA to influence national planning in Namibia

This article describes a rapid strategic environmental assessment (SEA) of Namibia's Fourth National Development Plan (NDP4) (2012–2013 to 2016–2017). The authors believe this to be the first application of such an approach to a national development plan that typically charts a country's key over-arching development objectives and targets. It was undertaken over four weeks and involved a preparatory desk review of the objectives and implementation strategies of NDP4, Vision-2030 and key sector policies, as well as several other policies. The results were analysed during half-day, facilitated, multi-stakeholder focus sessions convened for each of five policy clusters that drive development in Namibia: land and agriculture, water, conservation and tourism, mining and industry, and fisheries. Policy performance and synergies/antagonisms within and between policies were assessed, and how policy elements might be improved to enhance synergies/reduce antagonisms and improve their contribution to sustainable development and achieve the goals of NDP4 and Vision-2030. This rapid approach to SEA offers a cost-effective alternative to conventional SEA requiring many months, a team of experts and an extensive process.     

双层圆柱壳噪声预报及统计能量参数灵敏度分析

采用统计能量分析方法，建立水下有限长双层圆柱壳体结构机械噪声预报模型。在已知内层壳体振动速度的情况下，计算出流场中距外层壳体一定距离处的声压级。利用统计能量分析软件AutoSEA2进行建模仿真，通过对统计能量分析重要参数的敏感性分析，得到了一些有价值的结论，对水下结构声学设计具有重要意义。     

洗碗机SEA噪声预测模型的探讨

洗碗机基本属于线性、保守和弱耦合的双壳型声振耦合系统.水流激励是使其产生噪声的主要激励源,具有宽频不相干的特点.根据统计能量分析理论建立的洗碗机250Hz和500Hz倍频带声功率级(Lwf)统计能量分析(Statistical Energy Analysis,SEA)噪声预测模型的精度分别为4dB和2dB.根据该模型制...     

Strategic environmental assessment in Romania: between benefits and constraints

This paper offers an overall picture of the importance of Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) in Romania and its opportunities and constraints. The role, scope and effectiveness of SEA in Romania are presented in two good practice examples and examined in order to highlight the strengths and weaknesses of the procedure at national and local scale. In practice, the number of SEA procedures is very high due to the legislation in force, and it is increasingly effective in decision-making about programmes and plans. SEA can be viewed as a great opportunity for the implementation of sustainable development in practice. It also continues to be an important procedural and decisional instrument for management and monitoring of socioeconomic development, spatial planning and environmental protection in Romania.     

Recognising ‘learning’ as an uncertain source of SEA effectiveness

Strategic environmental assessment’s (SEA’s) capacity to profile significant environmental effects is thought to help make public-sector decision-making more sustainable. Acknowledgement is growing that ‘learning’, that links to but transcends individual assessments, is a key source of SEA effectiveness. Such learning is largely positioned as wholesome, moral, as ‘good’. The Scottish Parliament went further than the European Commission to require all public bodies to engage with SEA. More than 14 years of evidence – including from the Scottish Government SEA Database (an online registry), a survey and interviews – provides a unique opportunity to study the role of learning in SEA. The paper argues that application of SEA requires systematic reinforcement and maintenance of learning. But the learning fostered by SEA is not guaranteed to prioritise or protect ‘environment’ – for that to happen SEA must also be embraced as disruptor of the prioritisation of economic goals.     

基于统计能量法的单双层玻璃窗隔声量分析

根据统计能量法（SEA）的基本原理,给出相关参数、运动方程以及功率平衡方程的表达式。进而在等厚度的单、双层玻璃窗隔声模型中,采用SEA对其隔声性能进行分析。结果表明：在125 Hz～4 000 Hz频率范围内,单、双层玻璃窗模型的预报隔声量与实测数据的误差分别在3 dB和7 dB以内（临界频率除外）,边框有吸声处理的双层玻璃窗较单层玻璃窗的平均隔声量高13 dB左右;在500 Hz～4 000 Hz范围内,空气层的厚度每增加50 mm,双层玻璃的隔声量相应提高1 dB。     

Effectiveness of strategic environmental assessment in Canada under directive-based and informal practice

This article explores the diversity of strategic environmental assessment (SEA) practice in Canada and lessons for improving the effectiveness of SEA. There are multiple dimensions to effectiveness, but core to SEA effectiveness is its strategic nature. SEA under the Canadian federal Cabinet directive is approached largely as an impact assessment tool, and effectiveness evaluated based on compliance. Practice is entrenched in project-based assessment principles, but with no mandatory provision for public engagement, which limits the potential effectiveness of SEA. External to the Cabinet directive, across Canada’s provinces and territories, SEA and SEA-like practices are occurring in diverse forms and represent the more advanced and exemplary cases. A common challenge to SEA effectiveness, however, is that applications are often limited by their ad hoc nature and disconnected from any larger and formal system of participatory and integrated policy, planning and development decision making.     

Effectiveness of strategic environmental assessment in the Czech Republic

The widespread application of SEA over the last 15 years in the Czech Republic has allowed for a gradual accommodation of SEA procedural steps into the standard bureaucratic routine of public authorities. In this paper, we discuss results of a small-scale survey among Czech SEA practitioners focusing on issues related to the effectiveness and efficiency of the SEA. The results suggest a moderate progress driven primarily by the accumulation of practical experience among both SEA consultants and the planners, and there is certainly no shortage of examples where SEA positively affected a plan. On the other hand, continuation of many negative general environmental trends (e.g. excessive conversion of virgin land for development, continuation of environmentally harmful agriculture and forestry policies, etc.) seem to conform the notion that the SEA, as currently practiced, in the Czech Republic fails to deliver to its full potential.     

Systems thinking and SEA

Abstract

Systems thinking seeks ‘how things work’ in an explicit way, considering not only the elements of systems (or processes) but most importantly the relationships between them. Its suggested contribution to SEA is that practitioners and researchers who are either (a) not entirely satisfied by reductionistic approaches based on behaviour or statistics (e.g. ‘black boxes’ or ‘composite points’), or (b) pro-active enough to seek understanding about the SEA process, SEA systems (e.g. per country), as well as the ‘object systems’ of SEA (physical and social structures) will be able to fulfil their curiosity or need for unequivocal and transparent documentation in what respects structure and function.     

From medicine to poison: how flexible strategic environmental assessment may be? Lessons from a non-regulated SEA system

Empirical research dedicated to Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) is mostly grounded on SEA systems guided by legal requirements, clearly stated procedures and systematic use of SEA to policy- and plan-making. Nevertheless, a considerable parcel of SEA practice is currently occurring in countries with no specific legislation or guidance to be followed, i.e. non-regulated SEA systems. Therefore, it is important to understand how SEA is performing in these countries and to establish whether related SEA systems are subject to the same premises and perspectives of effectiveness that have been reported in literature so far. The paper provides a comprehensive analysis of the state-of-practice in Brazil, based on best practice analysis of SEA reports and interviews, reporting empirical evidence regarding the use of SEA and its related timing, procedural performance and key players involved. Main findings reveal an isolated instrument, embroidered in a disperse and unclear framework, poorly coordinated and highly sensitive to circumstances. Provision of a structured system, indicating clear purposes of SEA, systematic procedures and stakeholder’s responsibilities are suggested as potentially relevant measures to balance current system’s flexibility, thus fostering SEA effectiveness.     

统计能量分析参数的综合确定方法及应用

根据统计能量分析(SEA)法，对某卫星声振环境和某返回舱噪声环境进行了计算分析。提出了仅通过一次试验获取SEA参数的综合确定方法，根据这种方法对SEA模型参数进行修正，利用修正过的参数计算的卫星结构响应结果与试验结果更加接近。另外，还针对SEA模型参数的灵敏度问题进行了分析。在返回舱的应用中，将SEA法预示结果与曲线拟合方法预示结果及试验结果相比较，结果说明三者一致。