GGH3705
ASSIGNMENT 2 SEMESTER 2 2025
UNIQUE NO. 768148
DUE DATE: 18 SEPTEMBER 2025
, Introduction
Environmental assessment is a cornerstone of sustainable development, providing tools
to anticipate, mitigate, and manage potential impacts of projects and policies. This
assignment critically engages with three key aspects: the role of strategic environmental
assessment (SEA) in addressing the shortcomings of environmental impact assessment
(EIA); the requirements and content of environmental management plans (EMPs) in
three countries; and the challenges and opportunities of social impact assessments
(SIAs) and public participation in multicultural South African communities. Through a
critical and comparative approach, the discussion highlights how these instruments
contribute to environmental governance and sustainable decision-making.
Question 1: The role of SEA in overcoming shortcomings of EIA
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a project-level tool designed to predict and
evaluate environmental consequences before development. While valuable, EIA has
limitations. EIAs are often reactive, addressing impacts late in the planning process,
which restricts their influence on strategic decisions (Cashmore et al., 2010). They tend
to focus narrowly on site-specific projects, frequently neglecting cumulative and long-
term impacts (Morgan, 2012). Additionally, political and economic pressures can
compromise their objectivity (Retief et al., 2008).
Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) was introduced to address these gaps.
Unlike EIAs, SEAs operate at the policy, plan, and programme (PPP) level, enabling
proactive integration of environmental considerations into higher-order decision-making
(Fischer, 2007). SEAs allow cumulative impacts, alternatives, and sustainability
principles to be considered earlier, reducing project-level conflicts and delays (Noble &
Nwanekezie, 2017). Moreover, SEAs promote transparency and inclusivity, aligning with
global sustainability agendas like the SDGs.
ASSIGNMENT 2 SEMESTER 2 2025
UNIQUE NO. 768148
DUE DATE: 18 SEPTEMBER 2025
, Introduction
Environmental assessment is a cornerstone of sustainable development, providing tools
to anticipate, mitigate, and manage potential impacts of projects and policies. This
assignment critically engages with three key aspects: the role of strategic environmental
assessment (SEA) in addressing the shortcomings of environmental impact assessment
(EIA); the requirements and content of environmental management plans (EMPs) in
three countries; and the challenges and opportunities of social impact assessments
(SIAs) and public participation in multicultural South African communities. Through a
critical and comparative approach, the discussion highlights how these instruments
contribute to environmental governance and sustainable decision-making.
Question 1: The role of SEA in overcoming shortcomings of EIA
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a project-level tool designed to predict and
evaluate environmental consequences before development. While valuable, EIA has
limitations. EIAs are often reactive, addressing impacts late in the planning process,
which restricts their influence on strategic decisions (Cashmore et al., 2010). They tend
to focus narrowly on site-specific projects, frequently neglecting cumulative and long-
term impacts (Morgan, 2012). Additionally, political and economic pressures can
compromise their objectivity (Retief et al., 2008).
Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) was introduced to address these gaps.
Unlike EIAs, SEAs operate at the policy, plan, and programme (PPP) level, enabling
proactive integration of environmental considerations into higher-order decision-making
(Fischer, 2007). SEAs allow cumulative impacts, alternatives, and sustainability
principles to be considered earlier, reducing project-level conflicts and delays (Noble &
Nwanekezie, 2017). Moreover, SEAs promote transparency and inclusivity, aligning with
global sustainability agendas like the SDGs.
