Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
example, techniques for strategic planning have been used to explore
not only how less environmentally harmful means of meeting energy
demands might be deployed, but also to examine how far demand for
energy might be reduced, over what timescales reductions might be
achieved, and what policy measures might be used to promote this.
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3.3.2.2 Obviating development
Alleviating the pressures we place on ecosystems by reducing our expect-
ations of the quality of life that natural resources can support is a long-
term objective. Its pursuit would operate as a separate initiative although
its success or failure would inevitably have major implications for the
extent to which permanent reductions in anthropogenic stresses can be
achieved. In the meantime, demand should be met in ways that present
as little threat of harm as possible to the health of ecosystems. With
this end in mind, we must consider whether needs can be satis
ed
without taking action that will generate additional stress. For example,
might the construction of new power plants be avoided by making the
products that consume energy more ef
cient and through the better
insulation and more energy-ef
cient design of existing and new homes,
and buildings?
Commentators who have argued for a more environmentally progres-
sive use of strategic environmental assessment contend that its
rst
aim should be to explore whether there are ways of meeting demand or
of managing it so that new development might be avoided.
68
The UK
Government
'
s guide of 2005 on strategic environmental assessment also
advises that the
rst question in identifying and assessing alternatives
should be whether demand can be met without a proposed plan or pro-
gramme being implemented.
69
I agree that options which would genuinely
achieve policy objectives without adding to stresses should be preferred.
However, the reality is that, in ecological terms, such possibilities will be
67
K. L. Anderson,
'
Reconciling the Electricity Industry with Sustainable Development:
Backcasting
-
a Strategic Alternative
'
(2001) 33 Futures, 607.
68
E. Joao,
in M. Schmidt, E. Joao,
and E. Albrecht (eds) Implementing Strategic Environmental Assessment (Berlin:
Sp inge ,2005 ,p.7;R.Goodland,
'
Key Principles of Strategic Environmental Assessment
'
in
A. L. Porter and J. J. Fittipaldi (eds) Environmental Methods Review: Retooling Impact
Assessment for the New Century (Fargo: The Press Club, 1998), p. 89.
69
Of
ce of the Deputy Prime Minister,
'
Strategic Environmental Assessment
'
'
A Practical Guide to the Strategic Environmental
Assessment Directive
'
(HM Government,
2005
), pp. 68
-
9.
