SEA for strategic assessment - the critical factors approach Maria do Rosário Partidário

1. IAIA’07, Seoul, June 2007 SEA for strategic assessment - the critical factors approach Maria do Rosário Partidário IST- Portugal mrp@civil.ist.utl.pt Maria do Rosário Partidário, SEA for strategic assessment

2. How to resolve the problems and achieve objectives in a more environmental and sustainable way? Problems Objectives Resources Manag What are impacts of policy, plan, programme proposals? Do proposed policy, plan, programme strategies address identified problems and objectives? Strategic SEA SEA methodological approaches EIA-based SEA Maria do Rosário Partidário, SEA for strategic assessment

3. What is SEA for? • Integrate environmental and sustainability issues into strategic options • Help find ways for sustainability Maria do Rosário Partidário, SEA for strategic assessment

4. Strategic assessment approach - key assumptions It needs: • short and fast-track steps, • a comprehensive understanding and • a flexible intervention Maria do Rosário Partidário, SEA for strategic assessment

5. Strategic methodology for SEA - key elements - Maria do Rosário Partidário, SEA for strategic assessment

6. Strategic methodology for SEA - key elements Strategic Reference Framework (SRF) establishes an assessment referential based on relevant environmental, sectoral and sustainable development objectives Maria do Rosário Partidário, SEA for strategic assessment

7. Strategic methodology for SEA - key elements Environmental factors (EF) Express the relevant environmental scope May be defined based on Directive 2001/42/CE Maria do Rosário Partidário, SEA for strategic assessment

8. Strategic methodology for SEA - key elements Strategic Issues or Drivers Express the intended strategy which the plan, policy or programme shapes Maria do Rosário Partidário, SEA for strategic assessment

9. Strategic methodology for SEA - key elements Critical factors (CF) for decision-making Integrated factors - result from the integration of the strategic reference framework (SRF), the environmental factors and the strategic issues of the initiative Establish the decision analysis framework Ensure strategic focus (3 < X < 8) Assessment factors that can take a positive (opportunity) or negative (risk) direction Maria do Rosário Partidário, SEA for strategic assessment

10. Strategic methodology for SEA - key elements Critical factors (CF) Critical factors are focal issues and links, that may take different directions depending on the strategy - express critical uncertainties Decision analysis framework - What you need to focus on to strategically understand the context, identify and analyze the problems, and establish the relevant scales that will enable an adequate assessment Maria do Rosário Partidário, SEA for strategic assessment

11. SEA of the strategy - the rational for a transports logistic network (Portugal) (Partidário, 2007) Maria do Rosário Partidário, SEA for strategic assessment

12. Strategic methodology for SEA - key elements Perspective SEA must ensure a wide, holistic and integrated perspective in the long-term Maria do Rosário Partidário, SEA for strategic assessment

13. Strategic methodology for SEA - key elements Decision facilitator SEA must encourage sustainable decisions Motivation: the strategy, not the results Works with processes, not with products Uses decision windows Maria do Rosário Partidário, SEA for strategic assessment

14. Strategic methodology for SEA - key elements Communication strategies Recognizes different perpsectives Uses dialogue, persuasion and negotitation techniques Establishes governance context for institutional arrangements and participation Maria do Rosário Partidário, SEA for strategic assessment

15. Strategic methodology for SEA - key elements Follow-up Strongly based on monitoring and performance assessment SEA cycle is short and frequent and is driven by the strategy dynamics Maria do Rosário Partidário, SEA for strategic assessment

16. SEA - Methodology for strategic assessment I Context for SEA and critical factors • Identify object of assessment • Identify critical factors for SEA • State SEA objectives • Establish an appropriate forum of stakeholders and a communication strategy for active engagement • Establish process integration and identify decision windows Maria do Rosário Partidário, SEA for strategic assessment

17. SEA - Methodology for strategic assessment II Analysis and assessment • Analysis of main trends associated to the critical factors • Use of scenarios and consider options to meet intended objectives • Assessment and comparison of options that enable choices • Assessment of opportunities and risks, and establish management measures III Follow-up • Programme for planning, monitoring and management and necessary institutional arrangements for good governance Maria do Rosário Partidário, SEA for strategic assessment

18. Key messageSEA can be a tool for strategic integrated action if it operates strategicallyFor that it needs to move far beyond EIA! Maria do Rosário Partidário, SEA for strategic assessment

19. Thank you!Maria do Rosário Partidáriomrp@civil.ist.utl.pt Maria do Rosário Partidário, SEA for strategic assessment