Protocol on Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA)

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Protocol on Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA)

Protocol on Strategic Environmental Assessment (Kyiv, 2003)

Plans and programmes requiring strategic environmental assessment will include energy plans. Photo © Dave

The Kyiv (SEA) Protocol, now in force (see which countries are Party to the Protocol ; see press release on entry into force), requires its Parties to evaluate the environmental consequences of their official draft plans and programmes.

Strategic environmental assessment (SEA) is undertaken much earlier in the decision-making process than project environmental impact assessment (EIA), and it is therefore seen as a key tool for sustainable development. The Protocol also provides for extensive public participation in government decision-making in numerous development sectors.

The Protocol was adopted by an Extraordinary meeting of the Parties to the Espoo Convention, held on 21 May 2003 during the Ministerial 'Environment for Europe' Conference (Kyiv). Read more about the history of the Protocol »

The Meeting of the Signatories has been the decision-making body under the Protocol pending its entry into force.

The text of the Protocol:

Authentic texts	ENG	FRA	RUS	-
Texts	ENG	FRE	RUS	-
Other formal translations by the United Nations	ARA	-	SPA	-
Informal translation by Spain	-	-	SPA
Informal translation by the European Commission	Danish	Dutch	Finnish	Greek
	Italian	Portuguese	Swedish	-
Informal translation by Armenia	Armenian
Informal translation by Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Liechtenstein	German
Informal translation by Sweden	Swedish

Some useful resources

Summary of provisions	ENG	RUS
Pamphlet on applying the Protocol	ENG	RUS
Introductory presentation	ENG	-
Workshop on public participation in strategic decision-making, Sofia, 3-4 December 2007	ENG	-
Press release for the end of negotiations	ENG	-
Reports of the drafting meetings (Ad Hoc Working Group)	ENG	-

Millennium Development Goal 7: Ensure environmental sustainability

Target 1: Integrate the principles of sustainable development into country policies and programmes and reverse the loss of environmental resources

Rio Declaration on Environment and Development (1992)

Principle 4: In order to achieve sustainable development, environmental protection shall constitute an integral part of the development process and cannot be considered in isolation from it.