Strategic Environmental Assessment

Strategic environmental assessment (SEA) is a system designed to ensure that aspects of environmental sustainability are taken into proper consideration in policy and planning matters. It is a rigorous and transparent process that is applied to legislative proposals and political or cabinet decision making. The structure of SEA is clearly set out and embodies the following stages: screening, to determine if the plan falls in the boundaries of the SEA; scoping, defining the boundaries of the assessment; documentation of the state of the environment; determination of likely environmental impacts; informing and consulting the public; influencing decision making based on the assessment; and monitoring the effects of the plan or policy after implementation.