Strategic environmental analysis (SEAN): a framework to support analysis and planning of sustainable development

Abstract

Strategic Environmental Analysis (SEAN) is a structured, participatory process to analyse environmental problems and opportunities for development, to identify main actors, and to define strategic goals at early stages. Diverse applications in developing countries have refined its framework, guidelines, tools and checklists. It has an integrative focus on linkages of environmental and socio-economic issues of sustainability. Its analytical framework has four clusters: environmental context analysis, problem analysis, opportunity analysis and strategic planning. It has succeeded in putting concrete sustainability goals and environmental issues on policy-makers' agendas and initiating participatory and interactive planning.

Keywords:

• sustainable development
• strategic environmental assessment
• policy making