SEA screening practice and the inclusion of environmental objectives in Swedish energy and climate planning

Figures & data

Figure 1. Arguments for conducting/not conducting an SEA in the performed screenings

Figure 2. SEA or APIE per type of policy document

Figure 3. SEAs/APIE performed for MEPs and MECSs per year

Figure 4. Inclusion of NEQOs in municipal and regional policy documents, divided per SEA/APIE

Table A1. Description of Swedish Environmental Quality Objectives and their link to energy and climate planning

Objective	Definition (Swedish Environmental Protection Agency 2018)	Relation to energy and climate planning (Compiled from Johansson (2012) unless other references are given)
Reduced Climate Impact	‘In accordance with the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere must be stabilised at a level that will prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system. This goal must be achieved in such a way and at such a pace that biological diversity is preserved, food production is assured and other goals of sustainable development are not jeopardised. Sweden, together with other countries, must assume responsibility for achieving this global objective.’	Strongly linked to energy production and use.
A Good Built Environment	‘Cities, towns and other built-up areas must provide a good, healthy living environment and contribute to a good regional and global environment. Natural and cultural assets must be protected and developed. Buildings and amenities must be located and designed in accordance with sound environmental principles and in such a way as to promote sustainable management of land, water and other resources.’	Linked to energy efficiency and waste management.
Clean Air	‘The air must be clean enough not to represent a risk to human health or to animals, plants or cultural assets.’	Impacted by energy production and use, e.g. the transport sector.
Zero Eutrophication	‘Nutrient levels in soil and water must not be such that they adversely affect human health, the conditions for biological diversity or the possibility of varied use of land and water.’	Linked to emissions from energy use and production of bioenergy
A Rich Diversity of Plant and Animal Life	‘Biological diversity must be preserved and used sustainably for the benefit of present and future generations. Species habitats and ecosystems and their functions and processes must be safeguarded. Species must be able to survive in long-term viable populations with sufficient genetic variation. Finally, people must have access to a good natural and cultural environment rich in biological diversity, as a basis for health, quality of life and well-being.’	Can be negatively affected by energy production, e.g. the production of bioenergy, hydropower and wind power.
Natural Acidification Only	‘The acidifying effects of deposition and land use must not exceed the limits that can be tolerated by soil and water. In addition, deposition of acidifying substances must not increase the rate of corrosion of technical materials located in the ground, water main systems, archaeological objects and rock carvings.’	Impacted by emissions from energy use and production.
Sustainable Forests	‘The value of forests and forest land for biological production must be protected, at the same time as biological diversity and cultural heritage and recreational assets are safeguarded.’	Linked to production of bioenergy.
A Varied Agricultural Landscape	‘The value of the farmed landscape and agricultural land for biological production and food production must be protected, at the same time as biological diversity and cultural heritage assets are preserved and strengthened.’	Linked to production of bioenergy. Potential negative impacts on the cultural landscape from wind power.
A Non-Toxic Environment	‘The occurrence of man-made or extracted substances in the environment must not represent a threat to human health or biological diversity. Concentrations of non-naturally occurring substances will be close to zero and their impacts on human health and on ecosystems will be negligible. Concentrations of naturally occurring substances will be close to background levels.’	Linked to the energy system, for example, through emissions of fossil fuels and waste incineration.
Flourishing Lakes and Streams	‘Lakes and watercourses must be ecologically sustainable and their variety of habitats must be preserved. Natural productive capacity, biological diversity, cultural heritage assets and the ecological and water-conserving function of the landscape must be preserved, at the same time as recreational assets are safeguarded.’	Impacted by production of hydropower.
A Safe Radiation Environment	‘Human health and biological diversity must be protected against the harmful effects of radiation.’	Linked to nuclear power.
A Protective Ozone Layer	‘The ozone layer must be replenished so as to provide long-term protection against harmful UV radiation.’	Impacted by emissions of nitrous oxide, for example, from fossil fuel combustion and burning of biofuels (Ravishankara et al. 2009)
A Magnificent Mountain Landscape	‘The pristine character of the mountain environment must be largely preserved, in terms of biological diversity, recreational value, and natural and cultural assets. Activities in mountain areas must respect these values and assets, with a view to promoting sustainable development. Particularly valuable areas must be protected from encroachment and other disturbance.’	Impacted by wind power and hydropower (Swedish Energy Agency 2011b).
Good-Quality Groundwater	‘Groundwater must provide a safe and sustainable supply of drinking water and contribute to viable habitats for flora and fauna in lakes and watercourses.’	Some potential indirect impacts from the transport sector, for example, salting of roads, as well as from production of bioenergy.
Thriving Wetlands	‘The ecological and water-conserving function of wetlands in the landscape must be maintained and valuable wetlands preserved for the future.’	Impacted by peat extraction.
A Balanced Marine Environment, Flourishing Coastal Areas and Archipelagos	‘The North Sea and the Baltic Sea must have a sustainable productive capacity, and biological diversity must be preserved. Coasts and archipelagos must be characterized by a high degree of biological diversity and a wealth of recreational, natural and cultural assets. Industry, recreation and other utilization of the seas, coasts and archipelagos must be compatible with the promotion of sustainable development. Particularly valuable areas must be protected against encroachment and other disturbance.’	Can be negatively affected by wind power.

Table A2. Questions in the interview guide relating to the execution of environmental assessment

If SEA had been executed
Describe the SEA process. Who executed the SEA? When in the planning process was the SEA initiated? Was the county administrative board consulted concerning the SEA screening? What did the SEA contribute? Did the SEA contribute to the consideration of National Environmental Quality Objectives?
If SEA had not been executed
Did you consider and discuss environmental assessment in your planning process? If so, how? Did you conduct an SEA screening? How was it conducted? What were the conclusions of the screening? Was the county administrative board consulted concerning the SEA screening?

Table A3. Arguments for conducting/not conducting an SEA in the performed screenings, with examples

SEA is conducted (n = 10)
Theme	Example (author’s translation)	Number	Share
Significant environmental effects	‘The Energy and Climate Plan also sets the framework for future consent … The implementation of the plan can thus bring significant environmental effects.’ (Skövde Municipality 2012, p. 6).	7	70%
SEA should always be conducted for Municipal Energy Plans	‘An SEA should, according to the Environmental Code, always be conducted when a municipality develops an Energy Plan.’ (Partille Municipality 2013, p. 6).	2	20%
Voluntarily conducted	‘The proposed measures are assessed as not bringing significant environmental effects … the regulatory requirements can therefore be interpreted as meaning that Vallentuna Municipality has chosen to conduct an assessment as a way of showing commitment and forward thinking’ (Vallentuna Municipality 2013, p. 7).	1	10%
SEA is not conducted (n = 41)
Theme	Example (author’s translation)	Number	Share
No significant environmental effects	‘The Energy Plan for Flen Municipality is assessed as not bringing significant environmental effects’ (Flen Municipality 2007, p. 37).	26	63%
An EIA will be conducted for any subsequent projects/actions if needed	‘For concrete measures that are a consequence of the targets in this document, an EIA in accordance with the Environmental Code will be conducted when required’ (Municipality and Municipality 2010, p. 8).	19	46%
The environmental effects are positive	‘There are few plans that are associated with so many positive elements as an Energy Plan … An Impact Assessment of the traditional kind – describing any negative effects – is difficult to handle in the climate issue. There is an inherent urgency in the matter that greatly outweighs any negative side effects’ (Eksjö Municipality 2008, p. 24).	13	32%
Environmental aspects have already been considered	‘The work on Helsingborg’s Energy Plan with regard to its process and content has, to a large extent, met the stipulated [SEA] requirements and hence no separate SEA of the Energy Plan has been conducted’ (Municipality 2014a, p. 4).	6	15%
No standard practice exists	‘New regulations state that an SEA should be carried out for certain plans, e.g. Municipal Energy Plans, but no standard practice exists that shows the meaning of this requirement.’ (Mora Municipality 2011, p. 4).	5	12%
The significant environmental effects are assessed in SEAs relating to other plans	‘Important strategic energy issues for the municipality include energy efficiency and renewable energy sources. However, these are not put into practice in the Energy Plan but in other plans and will be environmentally assessed in such plans’ (Flen Municipality 2007, p. 36).	3	7%
Non-statutory policy document	‘According to the Environmental Code, an SEA should be conducted when developing a plan which, through its implementation, can bring significant environmental effects … This Energy and Climate Programme is not a plan in this sense but rather a proposal for an action programme based on overarching targets and sub-targets in energy and climate issues’ (Municipality 2014b, p. 64).	3	7%
The planning process was initiated before legislative requirements were implemented	‘Because Nybro Municipality initiated the work on the Energy Plan prior to the legislation entering into force on 21 July 2004 and because the Energy Plan will be adopted before 21 July 2006, we do not need to make an environmental report’ (Nybro Municipality 2006, p. 4).	1	2%

Table B1. Contingency table for SEAs/APIEs performed for MEPs and MECSs, which was used as input for the chi-squared test

	MEPs	MECSs	Total
SEA or APIE performed	66	6	72
No SEA/APIE	110	44	154
Total	176	50	226

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