Strategic Environmental Assessment for Low-Carbon Development: A Review and Research Agenda

Q1 Social Sciences

Journal of Environmental Assessment Policy and Management Pub Date : 2023-01-12 DOI:10.1142/s1464333222300012

A. G. Rweyendela, N. Pauline, G. Lema

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Strategic environmental assessment (SEA) can support low-carbon development (LCD). However, no empirical review exists to consolidate the existing evidence base and inform practitioners, policymakers and scholars. This paper reviews prior empirical studies on SEA–LCD integration, identifies research gaps and develops a future research agenda. A narrative literature review was employed. Results reveal that only nine studies have been reported to date. They all demonstrate inconsistent and inadequate treatment of LCD. Most studies lack defined theories, focus on Global North countries, ignore SEA’s strategic characteristics and use SEA reports for data. The review culminates in a future research agenda that should lead to novel and significant contributions to the literature. It also highlights policy implications, focussing on the need for (1) high-level policy commitment to address LCD within SEA, (2) operational guidance and legal and regulatory structures to enable practice and (3) policy incentives for conducting, disseminating and applying research.

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低碳发展战略环境评估：回顾与研究议程

战略环境评估可以支持低碳发展。然而，没有实证审查来巩固现有的证据基础，并为从业者、决策者和学者提供信息。本文回顾了先前关于SEA-LCD集成的实证研究，确定了研究差距，并制定了未来的研究议程。采用叙述性文献综述。结果显示，迄今为止只有9项研究报告。它们都证明了LCD的处理不一致和不充分。大多数研究缺乏明确的理论，侧重于全球北方国家，忽视了SEA的战略特征，并使用SEA报告作为数据。这篇综述在未来的研究议程中达到了高潮，应该会对文献做出新颖而重要的贡献。它还强调了政策影响，重点关注以下方面的必要性：（1）在SEA内解决LCD问题的高级别政策承诺；（2）实现实践的运营指导和法律和监管结构；（3）开展、传播和应用研究的政策激励。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Journal of Environmental Assessment Policy and Management Social Sciences-Geography, Planning and Development

CiteScore

7.00

自引率

0.00%

发文量

期刊介绍： The Journal of Environmental Assessment Policy and Management is an interdisciplinary, peer reviewed, international journal covering policy and decision-making relating to environmental assessment (EA) in the broadest sense. Uniquely, its specific aim is to explore the horizontal interactions between assessment and aspects of environmental management (not just the vertical interactions within the broad field of impact assessment) and thereby to identify comprehensive approaches to environmental improvement involving both qualitative and quantitative information. As the concepts associated with sustainable development mature, links between environmental assessment and management systems become all the more essential.