Strategic Environmental Assessment

Strategic environmental assessment (SEA) involves reviewing policy, plan and program proposals to incorporate environmental considerations into the development of public policies.

The Cabinet Directive on the Environmental Assessment of Policy, Plan and Program Proposals (the Directive) clarifies the obligations of departments and agencies and links SEA to the implementation of sustainable development strategies.

Note to federal officials involved in implementing the Directive: Effective January 1, 2004, there are new requirements.

Departments and agencies are now required to prepare a public statement of environmental effects when a detailed assessment of environmental effects has been conducted through an SEA. These statements will assure stakeholders and the public that environmental factors have been appropriately considered when decisions are made.

The Directive requires SEAs to consider important environmental effects, either positive or negative. The updated guidelines for implementing the Directive now provide clearer guidance on the consideration of positive and negative effects during assessments.

The First Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Workshop