Integrating Strategic Environmental Assessment into community development plans— a case study from Austria

China is one of the thirteen countries in the world that lacks water. Rapid economic growth and urbanisation over the past two decades have exerted enormous pressure on China's water resources. The shortage of water resources and serious water pollution have become important factors restraining the sustainable development in the cities. Wastewater reuse has been proven to prevent water pollution and ameliorate the pressure on the water environment. Moreover, wastewater reuse can make up for the lack of funds in wastewater treatment. So, wastewater reuse is a viable choice to realise the sustainable utilisation of water resource in China. There still remain many uncertainties in wastewater reuse. It is strongly recommended that a wastewater reuse policy be pushed forward considering the necessity and the implications to society, the economy and the environment. Strategic environmental assessment (SEA) is seen as an important tool for integrating the environmental factors into decision-making. This paper illustrates a case study for SEA — aimed at Tianjin Wastewater Reuse Policy (TWRP). The process of SEA at the policy level and the related problems are presented within this case study. It provides a good framework for carrying out SEA of waste reuse at the national level. The study will support the Chinese Government in developing a national strategy on urban wastewater reuse through an investigation of the existing situations, evaluation of policy options in different areas, and offering recommendations.

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GOVERNMENTALITY AND STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT: CHALLENGING THE SEA/GOOD GOVERNANCE NEXUS

Journal of Environmental Assessment Policy and Management ◽

10.1142/s1464333211003791 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 13 (01) ◽

pp. 67-100 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

CAROLINE SCOTT

Keyword(s):

Environmental Assessment ◽

Good Governance ◽

Strategic Environmental Assessment ◽

Policy Objective ◽

The Public ◽

Development Framework ◽

The World Bank ◽

The Government ◽

High Level

Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) has been associated with "good governance" by bodies at national and international levels including the World Bank, OECD, and UK and Scottish Governments. Typically involving components such as transparency, accountability, public participation and partnership working, this SEA/good governance nexus has been promoted in Scotland where the government sees SEA as central to its sustainable development aspirations. Using a governmentality lens to view SEA as a technique seeking to instil environmentally-focused governance, the paper examines the operation of the SEA/good governance nexus in the SEA process of one Scottish case study, a road corridor development framework undertaken between 2006 and 2008. The paper exposes instances of resistance to both the democratising elements of good governance and to SEA itself as the public and statutory Consultation Authorities find their efforts to constructively engage with the SEA process thwarted. This reveals that, in the case studied, the SEA/good governance nexus, as a high-level policy objective, is more aspiration than reality.

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