Conceptualizing strategic environmental assessment: Principles, approaches and research directions

Increasing emphasis has been placed in recent years on transitioning strategic environmental assessment (SEA) away from its environmental impact assessment (EIA) roots. Scholars have argued the need to conceptualize SEA as a process designed to facilitate strategic thinking, thus enabling transition...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Environmental impact assessment review Vol. 62; pp. 165 - 173
Main Authors: Noble, Bram, Nwanekezie, Kelechi
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Oxford Elsevier Inc 01.01.2017
Elsevier BV
Subjects:
Assessments
Computer programs
Concept formation
DESIGN
Design analysis
Environmental assessment
Environmental impact
Environmental impact assessment
Environmental impact assessments
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
Evaluation
Governance
Impact analysis
Innovations
Multi-level perspective
Multidisciplinary practices
Policies
Policies, plans and programs
Research and development
Research methodology
Software
Strategic environmental assessment
Strategic management
Strategic thinking
Strategic transitions
Sustainability
Sustainability transitions
Sustainable development
Transition management
Policies, plans and programs
Strategic environmental assessment
Multi-level perspective
Transition management
Strategic thinking
Strategic transitions
ISSN:0195-9255, 1873-6432
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:Increasing emphasis has been placed in recent years on transitioning strategic environmental assessment (SEA) away from its environmental impact assessment (EIA) roots. Scholars have argued the need to conceptualize SEA as a process designed to facilitate strategic thinking, thus enabling transitions toward sustainability. The practice of SEA, however, remains deeply rooted in the EIA tradition and scholars and practitioners often appear divided on the nature and purpose of SEA. This paper revisits the strategic principles of SEA and conceptualizes SEA as a multi-faceted and multi-dimensional assessment process. It is suggested that SEA can be conceptualized as series of approaches operating along a spectrum from less to more strategic – from impact assessment-based to strategy-based – with each approach to SEA differentiated by the specific objectives of SEA application and the extent to which strategic principles are reflected in its design and implementation. Advancing the effectiveness of SEA requires a continued research agenda focused on improving the traditional SEA approach, as a tool to assess the impacts of policies, plans and programs (PPPs). Realizing the full potential of SEA, however, requires a new research agenda — one focused on the development and testing of a deliberative governance approach to SEA that can facilitate strategic innovations in PPP formulation and drive transitions in short-term policy and initiatives based on longer-term thinking. •SEA facilitates strategic thinking, enabling transitions toward sustainability.•SEA is conceptualized as a spectrum of approaches, from IA-based to strategy-based.•Each approach variably emphasizes strategic principles in its design and practice.•There is no one conceptualization of SEA that is best, SEA is fit for PPP purpose.•Research is needed to advance SEA to facilitate strategic PPP transformations.
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ISSN:0195-9255
1873-6432
DOI:10.1016/j.eiar.2016.03.005