The development and practices of Strategic Environmental Assessment in Shandong Province, China

Journal Article · Sun Nov 15 00:00:00 EST 2009 · Environmental Impact Assessment Review

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eiar.2009.02.005· OSTI ID:21364602

Wang Shujun, E-mail: [e-mail].c ^[1]; Liu Jian, E-mail: [e-mail].c ^[2]; Ren Lijun, E-mail: [e-mail].c ^[3]; Zhang Kai, E-mail: [e-mail] ^[4]; Wang Renqing, E-mail: [e-mail].c ^[1]; Institute of Environment Research, Shandong University, Ji'nan ^[5]

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1. Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Ji'nan (China)
2. Institute of Environment Research, Shandong University, Ji'nan (China)
3. School of Environment Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Ji'nan (China)
4. Shandong Province Environment Protection Bureau, Ji'nan (China) and Shandong Association of Environment Protection Industry, Ji'nan (China)
5. (China)

Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), a newly-developed decision-making support tool, has been used in many developed and developing countries for predicting and evaluating potential environmental impact of policies, plans, and programs (PPPs), as well as for providing alternatives to avoid, mitigate, or compensate for these impacts. Unfortunately, due to the complexity and flexibility of SEA, to date there has been no consensus on a system which could be suitable for the contexts of different regions or countries. Different requirements and practices are observed in the different typical stages of SEA. Controversial areas include the appropriate indicators to apply in the early baseline setting stage, suitable methodologies for the impact assessment, and appropriate procedures for the SEA process. Given this, it is important to review and refine the SEA system specific to the context but informed by internationally agreed norms. As an illustration, this study reviews and proposes steps to refine the SEA system in Shandong Province, an economically powerful province of China, aiming to achieve sustainable development. Supported by the Environmental Impact Assessment Law of the People's Republic of China, Shandong Province employed SEA to reform the traditionally economy-oriented decision-making and incorporate consideration of environmental consequences into government deliberation on proposed PPPs. This paper illustrates the developmental process, procedures, and legal support for SEA in Shandong Province. By analyzing five SEA cases carried out by Shandong Province Environment Protection Bureau (SEPB) and Shandong University, problems in the SEA system were identified, and recommendations were made for improving the SEA system not only in Shandong Province but also other similar regions or countries.

• OSTI ID: 21364602
• Journal Information: Environmental Impact Assessment Review, Vol. 29, Issue 6; Other Information: DOI: 10.1016/j.eiar.2009.02.005; PII: S0195-9255(09)00043-2; Copyright (c) 2009 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved.; ISSN 0195-9255
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
CHINA
DECISION MAKING
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
ECONOMICS
ECONOMY
EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES
ENVIRONMENT
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
FLEXIBILITY
INDICATORS
LEGAL ASPECTS
RECOMMENDATIONS
SAFETY
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
ASIA
DOCUMENT TYPES
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
TENSILE PROPERTIES