Publication Details

Category Text Publication
Reference Category Journals
DOI 10.1016/j.eiar.2006.09.001
Title (Primary) The handling of causality in SEA guidance
Author Perdicoulis, A.; Hanusch, M.; Kasperidus, H.D.; Weiland, U.
Source Titel Environmental Impact Assessment Review
Year 2007
Department SUV
Volume 27
Issue 2
Page From 176
Page To 187
Language englisch
Keywords SEA; guidance; causality; causal thinking
Abstract Causality, or the relation of cause and effect, is a fundamental notion in science, planning, and management. It is also a fundamental notion in impact assessment, as it relates action proposals with environmental impacts. Building on recent research about causality in impact assessment, this article turns to Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and examines eleven guidance documents to see whether and how they handle causality. The findings of this research, in line with results from similar research in EIA, indicate a weak handling of causality with regards to instruction, obligation, and theoretical support. The recommendations are to investigate the reasons for the observed trend, as there is no evidence in the guidance documents themselves, and to have the fundamental premise of causality in impact assessment safeguarded in future SEA guidance.
Persistent UFZ Identifier https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=2154
Perdicoulis, A., Hanusch, M., Kasperidus, H.D., Weiland, U. (2007):
The handling of causality in SEA guidance
Environ. Impact Assess. Rev. 27 (2), 176 - 187 10.1016/j.eiar.2006.09.001