Resource Manual to Support Application of the Protocol on SEA
Draft Final
A1. A brief introduction to SEA |
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Annex as printable file
Slides
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Annex A1.2: IAIA performance criteria for SEA [45]
A good-quality SEA process informs
plan and programme makers, decision-makers
and the affected public on the sustainability of strategic
decisions, facilitates the search for the best alternative,
and ensures a democratic decision-making process.
This enhances the credibility of decisions and leads
to more cost- and time-effective EIA at the project
level. For this purpose, a good-quality SEA process
is:
Integrated:
- Ensures an appropriate environmental assessment
of all strategic decisions relevant for the achievement
of sustainable development;
- Addresses the inter-relationships of biophysical,
social and economic aspects; and
- Is tiered to policies in relevant sectors and
(transboundary) regions and, where appropriate,
to project EIA and decision-making.
Sustainability-led: [46]
- Facilitates identification of development options
and alternative proposals that are more sustainable.
Focused:
- Provides sufficient, reliable and usable information
for development planning and decision-making;
- Concentrates on key issues of sustainable development;
- Is customised to the characteristics of the
decision-making process; and
- Is cost- and time-effective.
Accountable:
- Is the responsibility of the leading agencies
for the strategic decision to be taken;
- Is carried out with professionalism, rigor,
fairness, impartiality and balance;
- Is subject to independent checks and verification;
and
- Documents and justifies how sustainability
issues were taken into account in decision-making.
Participative:
- Informs and involves interested and affected
public and government bodies throughout the decision-making
process;
- Explicitly addresses their inputs and concerns
in documentation and decision-making; and
- Has clear, easily-understood information requirement
and ensures sufficient access to all relevant
information.
Is iterative:
- Ensures availability of the assessment results
early enough to influence the decision-making
process and inspire future planning; and
- Provides sufficient information on the actual
impacts of implementing a strategic decision,
to judge whether this decision should be amended
and to provide a basis for future decisions.
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Notes
[45] Source: IAIA
(2002)
[46] i.e. that contributes to the overall sustainable
development strategy as laid down in Rio 1992 [Agenda
21, Rio Declaration on Environment and Development]
and defined in the specific policies or value of
a country.
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