Objectives, Targets and Indicators
From SEA.unu.edu/wiki
Here a decision support framework (Figure 1) is proposed based on a series of questions designed to help the SEA practitioner develop a robust set of objectives, targets and indicators for a specific proposed plan or programme. Each environmental receptor should be addressed in turn. The first question; ‘Is the environmental receptor going to be impacted by the plan?’, will determine whether or not the particular environmental receptor requires further attention. If not, the reasons must be clearly stated in the environmental report. If the answer is ‘yes’, the potential significant positive and negative impacts must be defined. Having assessed the nature of the overall impact of the plan the SEA objective for each specific receptor can be determined.
Once the objectives have been determined a set of associated targets need to be developed. The targets relate to different aspects of the objective which are more focused and usually have time limits and/or thresholds associated with them which are used as a measure against which impacts may be assessed. For example, if an SEA objective for a Local Area Plan is to improve air quality, a target might be that 10% of commuters move from using private cars to using public transport by 20XX. In this case it is possible to track the percentage of commuters using different modes of transport over time and if the target is not being achieved, it will be possible to consider remedial action at an early phase in the plan.
Having developed objectives and targets it is essential to establish the data requirements to facilitate tracking progress towards the targets and objectives. This can be achieved using indicators. The first question to be addressed is ‘what indicators are required to demonstrate achievements of each target?’ This is followed by ‘are these data currently available’, for example, are there existing monitoring programmes or recording systems already in place? If the data are available the question of their suitability for use in SEA arises. If they are suitable then these may be used as SEA indicators.
However, if the necessary data are not available the options are to set up a new monitoring system or to identify suitable proxy data or alternatives. The same holds true if data are available but are not in suitable form for use in SEA. In some instances it may be necessary to establish a monitoring system if data are not available or suitable, however, it may be of use to consider proxy data, modelling or alternatives. For example, to determine greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions resulting from a Local Area Plan, it would be expensive to setup a monitoring system and would require a high level of technical expertise. In addition, the proportion of these gases in the atmosphere directly attributable to the specific plan is nearly impossible to determine due to the influence of other plans both in the area and outside the area on atmospheric GHG concentrations. Therefore, proxy data combined with modelling techniques would be more appropriate. Using the number/type/km travelled of vehicles combined with their emissions profile in transport models predictions could be made for different plan scenarios. This type of data is readily available at low cost and most local areas would have access to transport models.
Further information can be obtained from, Donnelly, A., Jones, M.B., O’Mahony, T. and Byrne, G. (2006) Decision support framework for establishing objectives, targets and indicators for use in SEA. Impact Assessment and Project Appraisal 24: 151-157.
