This is despite its potential to overcome some of the shortcomings associated with project-level assessment by

intervening at higher levels of energy system planning. a review is presented of the extent to which SEA has
been adopted and otherwise promoted in strategic energy planning processes in a wide range of countries
throughout the world. The case of the Belgian transmission system is described, illustrating a proactive
approach to SEA. But the difficulties inherent in introducing SEA to an increasingly fragmented and liberalised
sector are also drawn out, leading to suggestions by which these difficulties may be
addressed.http://www.sciencedirect.com.ezlibproxy.unisa.edu.au/science/article/pii/S0301421510001035
Strategic environmental assessment is the EIA of policies, plans and programmes. SEA is
often considered to be a tiered or nested process, in which the EIAs of individual projects are
carried out within the framework established by the SEA of the programme ( a group of
similar projects), which in turn takes place within the framework of an SEA of a plan (co-
ordinated and timed objectives), and before that of a policy (guidance for action).

SEA is still quite new. SEA systems have been establishedi n the USA (particulary in
California), the Netherlands, New Zealand, and to a lesser extend some other countries, but
these are generally limited to plans and programmes (not policies) and are not yet well
developed. The EC is working towards developing a directive on SEA. The UK Department
of the Environment is encouraging the SEA of both national and local government PPPS
through a range of guidance, and good practice examples of SEA are emerging.

However, SEA can do more than merely expand EIA to the more strategic levels of decision-
making. Objectives-led, integrated approaches to SEA are becoming seen as best practicce.
As shown in particular by the Ductch National Environmental Policy Plan of 1989, SEA can
be crucial step towards achieving sustainable development. SEA is the link between the EIA
of projects, as it is presently being carried out, and the achievement of a level of human
activities that maintains the quality of the environment (Environmental Appraisal of
Development Plans in Practice)

Weakness of projec EIA

SEA is also needd to strengthen project EIA, and address cumulative and large-scale
developments. EIA is applied relatively late in the decision-making process, when decision
such as need and alternative may already have been determined; SEA is better able to decide
on need in particular, or what is known as the 'do nothing' alternative. Cumulative impacts are
not always dealt with well by EIA, especially when the focus is primarily on the individual
project. Collections of projects may be better dealth with by SEA, because a broader
consideration may be given to all the related issues.
Buckley (1997) points out that a large number of issues are taken account of in SEA,
which may not be obvious from simple reference to the terms PPPs. As well as policy EA,
these include issue-based SEA, geographical SEA, temporal SEA, technological SEA, sctoral
SEA, and generic-project SEA. Other issues that may be assessed are legislation, as described
by Marsden (1998), privatisation, structural adjustment, environmental sustainability, and
global issues in general may also be assessed as Goodland as shown (1998). This range of
issues is not adequately addressed under project EIA. http://books.google.com.au/books?
id=JjyY3VqRNdgC&pg=PA140&lpg=PA140&dq=strategic+environmental+assessment+of+
development+plans+in+south+australia&source=bl&ots=cqjEooeuKW&sig=ord-
_UzrJI9EyJeQJ09hXsHvy3Q&hl=en&sa=X&ei=DIJYVNaYG6O7mQXs4YLoBw&ved=0C
D0Q6AEwBQ#v=onepage&q=strategic%20environmental%20assessment%20of
%20development%20plans%20in%20south%20australia&f=false

Effective SEA is:

Undertaken as an integral part of plan development, allowing feedback fromthe

SEA process into the design of the plan. As for project-EIA, SEA
should,t h e r e f o r e , b e u n d e r t a k e n b y t h e p l a n - p r o p o n e n t o r b y a c o n s u l t a n t
ontheirbehalf.

Carried out in participation with interested people, parties and organisations.

Exposed to independent and objective scrutiny.

A mechanism for ensuring that necessary biodiversity information is availablefor subsequent

project-EIAs within the plan area.
http://www.academia.edu/2449788/Principles_for_the_use_of_Strategic_Environmental_Ass
essment_as_a_tool_for_promoting_the_conservation_and_sustainable_use_of_biodiversity

SEA remains the poor relation to project-related EIA with the result that project-related EIA
still commonly takes place in a vacuum of strategic and cumulative environmental
assessment.

Despite this apparently negative trend, much effort is dedicated to

improving environmental performances, to increasing environmental
awareness across development sectors, in public, governmental, or private
decision-making, in inviting and guiding change in decisional attitudes
and its supporting values. Significant environmental policy evolution is
occurring not only in the developed world but also in the developing and
transitional economies.
Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) has been emerging in this
context. May be not surprisingly. There is an increasing complexity
behind and around current development and decision-making processes
derived from the explosion of electronic communications, the speedness
of information production and outdateness, the emerging societal values
of equity and fairness, the urgence of rational decisions supported by
 scarce or defective information and conflictual priorities, all development
vectors that call for new forms of proactive intervention in more strategic
contexts. http://www.commdev.org/files/1725_file_SEAManual.pdf

a. In countries where screening is based on expert judgement, experience has

shown that professionals make screening decisions, often using "mini environmental
impact assessment" to come to this decision. These guidelines, its appendices and other
guidelines help provide these professionals with the means to come to a motivated,
transparent and consistent screening decision. Furthermore, the expert teams should
include professionals with biodiversity expertise;

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