Sweden
From SEA.unu.edu/wiki
From spring 2001, a key source of information should be the Swedish Government Website. Addition information is given below.
Alexandra Hazel (updated by Riki Therivel)
Contents |
Country contacts
* Spatial planning strategy * Stomnatsplan 1994-2003 * Karlkoga land use plan * Sollentuna land use plan * Alingsas energy plan * Korsta - Petersvik municipal land use plan * National transport policy 1996-7 * Long-term transport infrastructure planning 1996-8 * Gothenburg- Jönköping multi-modal study 1998 * "Dennis" agreement (urban transport)
Evaluation
Kaarik (1997) reports that SEA methods are developed for specific situations. The normal workload at the appropriate agencies unfortunately leaves little time to document processes and reflect on findings in order to share experiences more systematically, and to a wider SEA/EIA community. Specifically, she found that
"participants also stress the need for more analytical and thus less descriptive research focusing on alternative research and development approaches. Of special interest are the various attempts to use methodological and analytical approaches from the social sciences, such as policy analysis, scenario development and more. At the strategic level of EA, decision theory, context analysis need more attention, thus methods derived from project level EIA should be supplemented by alternative approaches". (Kaarik 1997)
The term SEA indicates an application of project EIA principles to "higher" or more strategic levels of decision making than project level. On the other hand, it is questioned whether project-level methods are applicable or even appropriate for policies, plans and programmes. In some cases, selected EIA principles can be adapted to SEA level activities; however in other situations completely other methodologies are called for.Other interesting areas in current research are decision making and municipal competence in planning, (Asplund & Orrskog 1996) the environmental indicators, (Ronning 1996; Boverket and Naturvardsverket 1996) and the use of GIS and scenario analysis in physical planning (Emmelin et al 1995; Johannesson 1997)
Specific SEA training programmes do not currently exist in Sweden. However in the natural resources management and physical planning sectors there are various extension activities, i.e. the dissemination of current experience related to the development of SEA approaches. Boverket, the national EA centre is prioritising capacity building and networking at national, regional but primarily municipal levels. Current municipal developments and success - stories are identified, documented, analysed, discussed and shared with both practioners and academics with the longer term aim of refining methodology. A number of regional and local seminars are carried out. A newsletter "Milgosekvensen" has been produced, aimed at facilitating dialogue.
CONSTRAINTS
Kaarik (1997) reports that constraints in Swedish SEA development are "primarily methodological, especially at the policy and program levels the EA has to be carefully placed into its specific context. This context is not merely sectoral, chief is the decision making and administrative context as indicated in the cases of infrastructure and physical planning". From a political and administrative perspective, SEA issues are receiving increased attention and support in Sweden. Constraints of a political-administrative nature relate to the short timeframe given to the responsible agencies in their work with forming methods as well as carrying out the assessments. Other political-administrative constraints are related to the split jurisdiction in environmental and natural resource management.Kaarik (1997) believes that the constraints can be partially overcome and gaps bridged by strengthening:
1. the substance in policy, program and plan assessments: in other words the assessment procedures need support of better defined, applicable and (regionally and locally) adapted environmental goals and indicators;processes: Alternative approaches for impact assessment, derived from, for example, social sciences, policy analysis, and future studies techniques such as scenario analysis, back casting and more;Institutions and implementation aspects: The identification of responsible authorities to execute the results of assessments. Also in the development of methods, it is critical to identify the target actors, institutions or sectors accountable for applying the methods and carrying out the assessments. 2. Institutions the assessment of environmental consequences in policies, programs and plans undeniably requests cross-sectoral, integrated approaches, which must form the institutions in charge.
CONCLUSIONS
Kaarik (1997) illustrates how SEA in a resource management and planning context has two other dimensions, illustrated by the letter "T". "The vertical bar represents sectoral authorities, such as planning, environmental protection, road transport, while the horizontal bar depicts the overriding stipulations of the Natural Resource Management Act (NRMA). The NRMA is also called an umbrella act since it defines sectoral responsibilities in the long term planning and management of natural resources. Policy and program EA, physical plan EA and the wider impact assessment in comprehensive municipal planning are all anticipated useful vehicles in implementing the basic intentions and stipulations of the NRMA".
From a personal perspective from an ex Oxford Brookes MSc graduate: "SEA practice in Sweden is young, and the methods and standards can be judged according to the ambition of the practioners. SEA processes are connected to both major projects such as new roads, bridges, tunnels etc, as well as regional and comprehensive plans. The latter are the most common, however the legislation is weak."
Case studies
* Spatial planning strategy * Stomnatsplan 1994-2003 * Karlkoga land use plan * Sollentuna land use plan * Alingsas energy plan * Korsta - Petersvik municipal land use plan * National transport policy 1996-7 * Long-term transport infrastructure planning 1996-8 * Gothenburg- Jönköping multi-modal study 1998 * "Dennis" agreement (urban transport)
Impact analysis
It is commonly stated that an SEA should be carried out at the same time and at the same level as assessment of economic and social consequences. This has been made explicit in the Swedish Planning and Building Act (PBA), amended in 1996. The Act now requires Impact Assessment encompassing environmental, economic and social concerns, to be part of comprehensive planning. Furthermore provisions for public participation in the planning process were strengthened. Municipal planning covering the whole area of a municipality is mandatory in Sweden, and plans are to be revised every four years. At the detailed plan level, the PBA requires EIA to be carried out when risk for any significant environmental effects. This is one clean-cut example of tiering and thus strengthening project-level (i.e. Detailed Plan level) EIA.
Municipal planning procedures are expected to be integrative and to function as "host procedures" to EA; however, existing planning procedures have been deemed inadequate for accommodating environmental concerns. Equivalently, project EIA methods have been judged ineffective to deal with larger scale or higher tier activities than projects. Despite the shortcomings of existing planning procedures, the main premise is to host SEA and Impact Assessment within the municipal planning framework.
Boverket is in charge of developing approaches for impact assessment. The work is carried out in cooperation with municipalities, central agencies, other practitioners, and researchers concerned. Environmental aspects were addressed initially (1996) and in 1997-98 practical approaches and techniques for the assessment of social and economic consequences for physical planning purposes are being pursued. Planning processes are being strengthened for instance Local Agenda 21 activities in the municipalities make an innovative contribution. Environmental goals and indicators specifically adapted to physical planning purposes strengthen the substance part of the planning equation - as complement to the planning processes. Plan EA approaches are seeking support in environmental indicators.
Innovative municipalities now present explicit and very different alternatives for future developments; sometimes these plans contain alternative scenarios in order to encourage local, public discussions on the principles for future community development.
It is commonly stated that an SEA should be carried out at the same time and at the same level as assessment of economic and social consequences. This has been made explicit in the Swedish Planning and Building Act (PBA), amended in 1996. The Act now requires Impact Assessment encompassing environmental, economic and social concerns, to be part of comprehensive planning. Furthermore provisions for public participation in the planning process were strengthened. Municipal planning covering the whole area of a municipality is mandatory in Sweden, and plans are to be revised every four years. At the detailed plan level, the PBA requires EIA to be carried out when risk for any significant environmental effects. This is one clean-cut example of tiering and thus strengthening project-level (i.e. Detailed Plan level) EIA.
Municipal planning procedures are expected to be integrative and to function as "host procedures" to EA; however, existing planning procedures have been deemed inadequate for accommodating environmental concerns. Equivalently, project EIA methods have been judged ineffective to deal with larger scale or higher tier activities than projects. Despite the shortcomings of existing planning procedures, the main premise is to host SEA and Impact Assessment within the municipal planning framework.
Boverket is in charge of developing approaches for impact assessment. The work is carried out in cooperation with municipalities, central agencies, other practitioners, and researchers concerned. Environmental aspects were addressed initially (1996) and in 1997-98 practical approaches and techniques for the assessment of social and economic consequences for physical planning purposes are being pursued. Planning processes are being strengthened for instance Local Agenda 21 activities in the municipalities make an innovative contribution. Environmental goals and indicators specifically adapted to physical planning purposes strengthen the substance part of the planning equation - as complement to the planning processes. Plan EA approaches are seeking support in environmental indicators.
Innovative municipalities now present explicit and very different alternatives for future developments; sometimes these plans contain alternative scenarios in order to encourage local, public discussions on the principles for future community development.
