HomeFor UkraineStrategic environmental assessments

Strategic environmental assessments

There are various environmental assessment systems in operation around the world, including the so-called Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) (SOOS). When analysing their models, two main approaches can be distinguished. The first, which has been or will be implemented by most countries, consists of the natural evolution and development of the assessment system - from single investment projects to more general approaches to development programmes.

The concept of strategic assessments

There are various environmental assessment systems in operation around the world,

including the so-called Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) (SOOS). When

analysing their models, two main approaches can be distinguished. The first, which has

been or will be implemented by most countries, consists of the natural evolution and

development of the assessment system - from single investment projects to more general

approaches to development programmes. This approach can be described as the

implementation of sustainable development from specific to more general approaches, i.e.

building the system from the bottom up. The opposite approach is the case for the second

model. Here, strategic assessments play a key role in implementing the concept of

sustainable development. The Netherlands was the first country in the world to implement

this approach.

Benefits of SOOS

An effectively conducted strategic assessment provides an early warning instrument

for potential environmental risks of significant scale or extent and cumulative effects.

SOOS can be defined as "a formalised, systematic and comprehensive process for

assessing the environmental effects of policies, plans and programmes and their options,

including the development of a written report setting out the conclusions of that

assessment and the use of those conclusions in public decision-making". Policies, plans

and programmes (PPPs) form a hierarchical structure of policy documents with specific

environmental impacts and therefore specific methods for assessing those impacts.

 

Overall, it can be said that SOOS are important to support:

•         sustainable development,

•         decision-making processes,

•         environmental assessments of projects (EIA).

·         SOOS can result in various environmental benefits; these include:

•         Integration of economic, social and environmental objectives in the development of

·         policies, plans and programmes,

•         aligning economic viability and technical feasibility criteria with environmental criteria,

•         identifying those types of PPPs that have a significant impact on the environment (e.g.

·         extractive industries, waste management, transport),

•         options for the development of a particular economic sector,

•         changes to PPPs (e.g. changes to raw materials sector policies),

•         comprehensive monitoring of change,

•         optimising the management and consumption of environmental resources,

•         improving the public consultation process,

•         identifying a set of 'typical' mitigation measures for activities such as road and motorway construction.

Methodological aspects

The comprehensiveness of the approach in SOOS should include:

•         a step-by-step procedure,

•         treating the environment as a complex natural system,

•         taking into account all elements of the environment and focusing on the most important ones,

•         considering all potential impacts, determining their significance and selecting the

•         most relevant ones,

•         the reasons for selecting the preferred option.

A systemic approach to SOOS can be ensured through a scheme of conduct, which

should allow for a flexible approach based on the specificities of a particular assessment.

The sequence of steps given below characterises a possible approach to assessing

any PPP.

1.    Description of the draft policy, programme or plan

2.    Screening - qualification of the draft PPP document to carry out the SOOS

3.    Formulation of the PPP objective in relation to environmental objectives

4.    Scoping - establishing the scale and scope of the SOOS process including but not limited to:

-       identification of alternative solutions,

-       identification of the main environmental risks,

-       identification of the environmental information base,

-       determination of the level of detail of environmental studies and analyses,

-       Identify recommended methods that can be applied in subsequent stages of SOOS,

-       identifying and involving stakeholders (institutions, social organisations, administrations,

-       local authorities) in the SOOS process,

5.    Analysis of the state of the existing environment that may be subject to negative impacts derived from the implementation of the PPP,

6.    Forecast and assessment of the main impacts caused by the implementation of the PPP on the various elements of the environment,

7.    Comparative assessment of the PPP options in terms of the magnitude and significance of potential environmental impacts,

8.    Definition of actions i measures minimising adverse environmental impacts,

9.    Integrate the conclusions and recommendations of the SOOS into the overall evaluation of the PPP project,

10.  Drafting of SOOS report (readability, comprehensiveness), public review (representativeness of consultation). Additions to the SOOS report,

11.  Decision on the implementation of the PPP.

12.  Implementation/implementation of the PPP,

13.  Monitoring the effects of PPP implementation.

EKO-KONSULT Spółka z o.o.

ul. Narwicka 6, 80-557 Gdańsk

+ 48 58 554 31 38 (39)

Write to us:

biuro@ekokonsult.pl

ekspertyzy@ekokonsult.pl

Branch in Krakow:

32- 085 Modlnica,
ul. Częstochowska 48

+48 669 890 009

rsienko@ekokonsult.pl

+48 58 520 77 53
Privacy policyCookie Policy