ABSTRACT
This chapter critically examines procedures and methods that are applied in SEA, identifying strengths and weaknesses of analytical tools, what is missing and what we need to do better or differently. SEA is understood by academics and practitioners as a process rather than solely a technique (Bina, 2007). As such, it involves stakeholders with interests and power, and therefore SEA methods cannot be discussed as being dissociated from the context in which they are applied. After an initial section on the background and state of the art of methods and procedures in SEA, the chapter focuses on three main themes: baseline, political and pragmatic contexts. These themes were an overriding matter at the SEA Conference in Prague. Through these themes the chapter discusses how adaptive and robust SEA can be in analyzing the impacts and issues that matter.
