Guidance on Integrating Climate Change and Biodiversity into ...
Guidance on Integrating Climate Change and Biodiversity into ...
Guidance on Integrating Climate Change and Biodiversity into ...
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• l<strong>on</strong>g-term <strong>and</strong> cumulative nature of effects;• complexity of the issues <strong>and</strong> cause-effect relati<strong>on</strong>ships;• uncertainty.These are the main characteristics of climate change <strong>and</strong> biodiversity that are most likely to pose asignificant challenge to SEAs. This secti<strong>on</strong> will help users to underst<strong>and</strong> these aspects better <strong>and</strong>gives some recommendati<strong>on</strong>s to help deal with them more effectively throughout the SEA process.Table 2 below summarises an approach to tackling these challenges. Each challenge is thendiscussed in more detail in the following secti<strong>on</strong>s.Table 2: Useful tips <strong>on</strong> tackling the challenges of climate change <strong>and</strong> biodiversity in SEAsKey challenges to c<strong>on</strong>sidering climatechange <strong>and</strong> biodiversity in SEATips <strong>on</strong> tackling this in SEAsL<strong>on</strong>g-term <strong>and</strong> cumulative nature ofimpacts• Avoid ‘snapshot’ analyses <strong>and</strong> c<strong>on</strong>sider trends with <strong>and</strong>without the proposed PP• Analyse impacts of proposed PP <strong>on</strong> the key climate changeComplexity of the issues <strong>and</strong> causeeffectrelati<strong>on</strong>ships<strong>and</strong> biodiversity trends <strong>and</strong> their drivers• Work with worst-case <strong>and</strong> best-case scenarios• Acknowledge assumpti<strong>on</strong>s <strong>and</strong> limitati<strong>on</strong>s of currentUncertaintyknowledge• Base your recommendati<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> the precauti<strong>on</strong>ary principle• Prepare for adaptive management2.3.1 L<strong>on</strong>g-term <strong>and</strong> cumulative nature of impacts<strong>Climate</strong> change − both mitigati<strong>on</strong> <strong>and</strong> adaptati<strong>on</strong> − c<strong>on</strong>cerns l<strong>on</strong>g-term trends <strong>and</strong> entails changesthat are often too gradual to detect over the lifetime of a typical PP. The l<strong>on</strong>g-term nature of climatechange makes it more difficult to c<strong>on</strong>sider within normal (five-to-ten year) planning horiz<strong>on</strong>s.However, as many PPs are implemented over the l<strong>on</strong>ger-term, <strong>and</strong> may set a framework forinfrastructure <strong>and</strong> other projects that will have a lifespan of many years, the c<strong>on</strong>siderati<strong>on</strong> of climatechange <strong>and</strong> biodiversity will be critical to their viability. This influences the baseline envir<strong>on</strong>mentagainst which a PP should be assessed as part of an SEA.<strong>Biodiversity</strong> also c<strong>on</strong>cerns l<strong>on</strong>g-term trends <strong>and</strong> changes as the effects <strong>on</strong> biodiversity arecumulative over time. Once species or habitats are completely lost, they cannot be replaced orrecovered. This means that we need to avoid impacts wherever possible <strong>and</strong> take positive acti<strong>on</strong> toenhance <strong>and</strong> better manage biodiversity <strong>and</strong> maximise ecosystem services.SEAs should therefore avoid ‘snapshot’ analyses (i.e. at a single point in time) <strong>and</strong> c<strong>on</strong>sider trends<strong>and</strong> envir<strong>on</strong>mental c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s with <strong>and</strong> without the proposed PP (<strong>and</strong> its alternatives). This isc<strong>on</strong>sistent with Annex I(b) to the SEA Directive, which requires the assessment of not <strong>on</strong>ly thecurrent state of the envir<strong>on</strong>ment, but also the ‘likely evoluti<strong>on</strong> thereof without implementati<strong>on</strong> ofthe plan or programme.’ The cumulative climate change <strong>and</strong> biodiversity effects are particularlyimportant with regards to the evolving baseline. The need to c<strong>on</strong>sider cumulative effects ishighlighted in both Annex I <strong>and</strong> Annex II(2) to the SEA Directive.18 <str<strong>on</strong>g>Guidance</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> integrating climate change <strong>and</strong> biodiversity <strong>into</strong> SEA