Enhancing environmental integration in strategic environmental assessment (SEA): insight from sensitivity analysis

Abstract

This paper explores the potential of sensitivity analysis to improve the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) process and enhance environmental integration. It applies the Sensitivity Model Prof. Vester® to the England SEA process, following two objectives: (1) establishing how different strategic environmental assessment (SEA) elements affect environmental integration; and (2) establishing the sensitivity of the SEA process in terms of response to change. The findings showed that no single element was critical to enhancing environmental integration. Several elements, acting as sources of uncertainty, leverage or stability in the process, were also identified, highlighting their potential as priority targets for process improvement. It is concluded that sensitivity analysis can supplement current expert-led approaches to SEA improvement by (1) identifying elements likely to influence environmental integration and (2) testing the likely performance of recommendations for process improvement.

Keywords:

• strategic environmental assessment
• environmental integration
• process improvement
• process elements
• sensitivity analysis
• cybernetics

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes

1. A complex system or process is one which behaves differently from the sum of its parts. Looking at its parts does not help predict its behaviour or performance (Vester 2007).

2. A dynamic process has energy, activity and vigour in bringing change, adjusting quickly to changing needs (internal and external conditions) of operation (Merriam-Webster Dictionary 2005).

3. These are selected for their closeness to the England SEA process. Ireland and Scotland are part of the UK as is England, and the EU level sets the overarching framework for UK SEA.

4. Although several recommendations were provided, improved environmental integration was one of the overarching goals within a more effective SEA process (SEPA 2011).

5. The SEA Pathfinder project examined early case studies in Scotland in order to distil a suite of good practice recommendations.

6. The Model has been further developed into the Malik Sensitivity Model®Prof.Vester (Malik 2014). It is elaborated in the book The Art of Interconnected Thinking; the 2002 edition is included in the prestigious list of around 40 reports to the Club of Rome.

7. The IAIA (International Association for Impact Assessment) is the leading global network on best practice in the use of impact assessment for informed decision making regarding policies, programmes, plans and projects (http://www.iaia.org/about/). It brings together researchers, practitioners and users from all parts of the world.

8. These were PhD students researching on environmental impact assessment, at the Brandenburg University of Technology, Cottbus, Germany, where the researcher was based during the study.

9. These descriptors cover details such as the nature of the elements e.g. whether energy, material, information etc.

10. The sensitivity analysis software calculates a k-value deviation that is negative when a system is unstable and positive when a system is stable. The system was stable since the k-value deviation was positive.

11. Payload refers to the marginal amount of environmental integration delivered from changing an SEA element. Since not all elements offer the same payloads, one must examine where the relative payload or justifiable trade-off lies, between tweaking one element or another.