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The Methods and Techniques of Strategic Environmental Assessment. Comparative Evaluation of Greek and International Experience

Author

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  • Antonios Souloutzoglou

    (Postgraduate Programme “The Technologies of Environmental Legislation”, Department of Environmental Engineering, Democritus University of Thrace, 67100 Xanthi, Greece)

  • Anastasia Tasopoulou

    (Postgraduate Programme “The Technologies of Environmental Legislation”, Department of Environmental Engineering, Democritus University of Thrace, 67100 Xanthi, Greece)

Abstract

Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) is a process used for the evaluation of environmental impacts at a higher level of decision-making than that of each individual project, i.e., during the preparation and implementation of policies, programs, and plans, with the objective of incorporating the aspect of sustainable development in the early stages of planning. However, the “strategic” nature of SEA is the cause of frequent confusion among the responsible competent institutions and professionals regarding the selection of the most appropriate methods and techniques for each individual situation. At the international level, current research indicates a certain ambiguity in the use of methods and techniques in every step of SEA processes. In Greece, despite the implementation of SEA procedures in the preparation of a number of plans and programs after the transposal of the SEA Directive, to date, no attempt has been made to systematize the current experience and practice from the utilization of methods and techniques. The objective of the present study is to analyze and provide a comparative evaluation of the Greek and international experience, on the one hand with the systematic examination of Strategic Environmental Impact Assessments, and on the other with primary research, through questionnaires addressed to Greek practitioners. An important observation is that, both in Greece and abroad, there are inadequacies in the existence and/or the use of guidance manuals for the selection of the most appropriate methods and techniques, and only a limited range of methods and techniques are used in comparison with those catalogued in international literature.

Suggested Citation

  • Antonios Souloutzoglou & Anastasia Tasopoulou, 2020. "The Methods and Techniques of Strategic Environmental Assessment. Comparative Evaluation of Greek and International Experience," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-29, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:8:p:3310-:d:347492
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Felix Rauschmayer & Nathalie Risse, 2005. "A framework for the selection of participatory approaches for SEA," ULB Institutional Repository 2013/171039, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles.
    2. Ross Marshall & Thomas Fischer, 2006. "Regional electricity transmission planning and SEA: The case of the electricity company ScottishPower," Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 49(2), pages 279-299.
    3. Kaja Peterson & Mati Kose & Meelis Uustal, 2010. "Screening Decisions Concerning The Likely Impacts Of Plans And Projects On Natura 2000 Sites," Journal of Environmental Assessment Policy and Management (JEAPM), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 12(02), pages 185-214.
    4. Chiara Bragagnolo & Davide Geneletti, 2014. "Dealing with land use decisions in uncertain contexts: a method to support Strategic Environmental Assessment of spatial plans," Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 57(1), pages 50-77, January.
    5. Carlo Rega & Alessandro Bonifazi, 2014. "Strategic Environmental Assessment and spatial planning in Italy: sustainability, integration and democracy," Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 57(9), pages 1333-1358, September.
    6. Michele Campagna & Elisabetta Anna Di Cesare & Andrea Matta & Matteo Serra, 2018. "Bridging the Gap Between Strategic Environmental Assessment and Planning: A Geodesign Perspective," International Journal of E-Planning Research (IJEPR), IGI Global, vol. 7(1), pages 34-52, January.
    7. Bram F. Noble, 2000. "Strategic Environmental Assessment: What Is It? & What Makes It Strategic?," Journal of Environmental Assessment Policy and Management (JEAPM), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 2(02), pages 203-224.
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