STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT: WHAT IS IT? & WHAT MAKES IT STRATEGIC?

Bram F. Noble ()
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Bram F. Noble: Department of Geography, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland, A1B 3X9, Canada

Journal of Environmental Assessment Policy and Management (JEAPM), 2000, vol. 02, issue 02, 203-224

Abstract: This paper highlights perhaps one of the most fundamental issues constraining strategic environmental assessment (SEA) practice — its definition. Current reviews fail to explain why certain assessments are referred to asstrategicwhile others are not. Furthermore, there appears to be very little attention given to the basic characteristics ofstrategyin the environmental assessment of proposed or existing policies, plans and programmes. This paper attempts to identify the characteristics of SEA that make itstrategicand therefore different from other forms of impact assessment. A review of selected case studies is undertaken with the purpose of identifying those assessments that actually conform to the characteristics of a "strategic assessment". It is argued here that if SEA methodology and practice is to advance, then a common understanding of its definition and characteristics must first be achieved.

Keywords: strategic environmental assessment; policy; plan; and programme assessment; tiered process; assessment of alternatives (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2000
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (8)

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DOI: 10.1142/S146433320000014X

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