Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
acting as a beacon for, and the threat of review as a backdrop to the
undertaking. The iterative nature of backcasting would allow for trial and
error until feasible programmes of measures and endpoints for realising
ecological goals can be matched.
3.3.4.2 Policy impact assessment
The purpose of the
rst two steps in the strategic stage is to identify
endpoints and packages of policy measures for realising them that
represent an ideal from an ecological perspective. This initial focus is
necessary to ensure that information is available to support the forma-
tion of policies that are capable of driving reductions in anthropogenic
stresses. However, it is also essential if effective policies for ecologically
desirable change are to be developed that policy-making should take into
account, and respond to, the economic and social impacts that their
implementation would have.
Decision-makers with responsibility for policy formation should have
available to them information concerning both the potentially negative
effectsthatpoliciesmaygiverisetoandthestepsthatmightbetakento
avoid or mitigate them. They would also need to know how the public
would be likely to react to the signi
cant changes that an ecological focus
in policy-making would bring, and to explore with them ways of intro-
ducing policies that would be publicly acceptable or, failing that, which
reduce scope for active opposition. The third and
nal step of the strategic
stage is therefore concerned with assessing the impacts that giving prac-
tical effect to the
rst two steps would
have and considering how these might be addressed without compromis-
ing achievement of the framework
'
ideal
'
strategies identi
ed under the
s statutory objectives.
Policy impact assessment is intended, as with strategic environmental
assessment, to improve outcomes of decision-making although it is
concerned with
'
nding ways of reconciling the pursuit of ecological
objectives with the social and economic changes that this would entail
rather than with identifying the environmental consequences of devel-
opment. In addition to this obvious difference, policy impact assessment
would also depart from the current practice of strategic assessment in
three respects. The
rst is that it would provide for participation by
members of the public in the scoping stage that precedes assessment.
The purpose of the exercise is to establish the full range of effects that
ecologically oriented policies may have so that means of addressing
them in ways that would allow the highest levels of risk reduction to be
achieved can be identi
ed. Early participation is required to ensure that
