Introduction

The practical application of strategic environmental assessment (SEA) — the environmental assessment of policies, plans and programmes — has grown by leaps and bounds in the last few years. Whilst very few countries have formal SEA regulations, some have issued guidance on how SEAs should be carried out. Ad hoc SEAs have been carried out in a large number of countries. New SEA regulations and guidelines are being proposed worldwide, including a European SEA directive and national SEA legislations in many European countries. In Australia a major review process of the environmental impact assessment system is under way, including the specific consideration of SEA.