From medicine to poison: how flexible strategic environmental assessment may be? Lessons from a non-regulated SEA system

Autor(es)

Malvestio, Anne Caroline ^[1] ; Montano, Marcelo ^[2]

Afiliação do(s) autor(es)

^[1] Fed Univ Uberlandia UFU, Res Cluster Environm Policy Studies, NEPA, EESC, USP, Uberlandia, MG - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Res Cluster Environm Policy Studies, Sao Carlos Sch Engn EESC, Dept Hydraul & Sanitat, NEPA, EESC, Av Trabalhador Sancarlense 400, BR-13566590 Sao Carlos, SP - Brazil

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: IMPACT ASSESSMENT AND PROJECT APPRAISAL; v. 37, n. 5, p. 437-451, SEP 3 2019.
• Citações Web of Science: 1

Resumo

Empirical research dedicated to Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) is mostly grounded on SEA systems guided by legal requirements, clearly stated procedures and systematic use of SEA to policy- and plan-making. Nevertheless, a considerable parcel of SEA practice is currently occurring in countries with no specific legislation or guidance to be followed, i.e. non-regulated SEA systems. Therefore, it is important to understand how SEA is performing in these countries and to establish whether related SEA systems are subject to the same premises and perspectives of effectiveness that have been reported in literature so far. The paper provides a comprehensive analysis of the state-of-practice in Brazil, based on best practice analysis of SEA reports and interviews, reporting empirical evidence regarding the use of SEA and its related timing, procedural performance and key players involved. Main findings reveal an isolated instrument, embroidered in a disperse and unclear framework, poorly coordinated and highly sensitive to circumstances. Provision of a structured system, indicating clear purposes of SEA, systematic procedures and stakeholder's responsibilities are suggested as potentially relevant measures to balance current system's flexibility, thus fostering SEA effectiveness. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 11/05242-7 - Análise da efetividade da avaliação ambiental estratégica como instrumento de política ambiental no Brasil
• Beneficiário: Anne Caroline Malvestio
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Mestrado