Transcript Sustainable Energy Futures: Toward an Integrated Strategic

THE CONTRIBUTION OF SEA TO ENERGY
SECTOR PLANNING
Lisa White
Ph.D. Candidate
School of Environment and Sustainability
University of Saskatchewan
May 29th, 2012
RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

SEA has been slow to evolve in the energy sector


Decisions about energy development have
significant sustainability implications
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
Can SEA contribute to energy sector planning?
Need to understand & advance SEA in energy sector
planning & decision-making
Role & contributions of SEA in energy sector
planning are examined

electricity sector in particular
Determination of best practice SEA process
elements & outcomes
 Implications?
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METHODS

Review of 6 international SEA case studies
UK, Sweden, Portugal, Wisconsin, Ontario & Nova
Scotia
 Level of application, spatial scales & formal/informal
SEA process used
 25 documents reviewed &14 interviews conducted
 Questions regarding purpose, timing, regulatory
requirements, process steps & outcomes

RESULTS – SEA PROCESS
3 cases considered alternatives
 6 cases assessed impacts of the PPP:

Five used social, economic and environmental criteria
 Qualitatitive methods dominate

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6 cases had participation & engagement

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Ranged from simple to complex forms
6 cases proposed monitoring of some form
RESULTS – SEA OUTCOMES
Increased understanding & knowledge in 5 cases
 Improved communication & institutional learning
in 6 cases
 SEA influenced PPP decision-making in 5 cases
 Tiering to lower level decision-making promoted in
6 cases


Although only demonstrated in two cases
DISCUSSION
Some evidence of good SEA process & PPP
influence
 Consideration of alternatives is poor
 Qualitative impact assessment methodologies are
dominant
 Early SEA application is more influential
 Participation has both direct & more subtle
benefits
 Tiering is alive & well

IMPLICATIONS

SEA can & does contribute to improved PPPs in
the energy sector
Awareness of environmental issues & PPP options
 Institutional learning
 Early application that includes alternatives
 Tiering

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Barriers to SEA realizing its full potential

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Lack of early application, lack of alternatives,
restrictions set out by higher-level policies
Better SEA guidance needed in the future
QUESTIONS?
I would like to thank:
Wayne Clifton, Clifton Associates Ltd., for his generous support
of my academic endeavours
Dr. Bram Noble, School of Environment and Sustainability, for
his support and advice throughout my studies