Guidance on Integrating Climate Change and Biodiversity into ...

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For more information on the tools and approaches, see Annex 3. This is not an exhaustive list andmany other tools may be useful. 26 Some of the tools and approaches listed assess specific aspects ofclimate change and biodiversity (e.g. GHG emission calculators); others are more generallyapplicable. They can support different stages of the SEA process, with some being applicable only tospecific stages and others to the whole process.Table 10: Overview of selected tools and approaches that can be used to support the assessmentof climate change and biodiversity as part of the SEA processTools and approachesBiodiversity offsettingTopics that the tools and approaches are most applicable toClimate changemitigationClimate changeadaptationBiodiversityBiodiversity screening mapCO 2 MPAREConfidence levelsCritical FactorsEcosystem-based approachesEcosystem services approachesEcosystem services valuationGHG emission calculatorsGIS and spatial analysisGreen infrastructureGRIPIndustry (project) profiles of GHGsLife Cycle Assessment (LCA)Natural capital approaches/Four-CapitalsNetwork analysisRegional Economy EnvironmentInput Output (REEIO)Resources and Energy AnalysisProgramme (REAP)Risk managementScenariosSpheres of influence and EcosystemchainsSWOT and STEEP analysisVulnerability assessmentFurther information: Annex 3.26 The IAIA wiki is a useful resource for more general tools and concepts in the practice of SEA: http://www.iaia.org/iaiawiki/.38 <strong>Guidance</strong> on integrating climate change and biodiversity into SEA
5.2 Consider climate change scenarios at the outset of the SEASEA practitioners should outline climate scenarios that may either adversely affect implementationof the proposed PP or may worsen its impacts on biodiversity and other environmental factors.These may include ‘big surprises’ such as extreme droughts, major heat waves and fires, speciesextinctions, loss of resilience and system collapses. The scenarios to consider will depend on thenature of the PP and issues that emerge at the scoping stage.In order to put climate change factors as the basis of the assessment, future climatic conditionsshould be considered upfront — this should include both gradual changes in climate and changes tothe frequency of extreme events. Include the following factors:• changing temperatures (general expected changes, extreme conditions such as heat waves andcold spells);• changing rainfall patterns and extreme rainfall events (heavy rainfall and droughts);• windstorms;• changing sea levels;• other potential extreme climatic conditions (snowstorms, hail, etc.).In addition to climate scenarios, it is important to consider socio-economic scenarios as this will helpassess future vulnerability to climate change. Most of the direct manifestations of climate changewill cause further secondary and indirect effects that can be considered in the analysis ofenvironmental baseline trends (see the section below on analysing evolving baseline trends.)5.3 Analyse evolving baseline trendsThe evolution of the baseline — how the current state of the environment is expected to change inthe future with or without implementation of the PP — is critical to understanding how theproposed PP could impact that changing environment (see box below).Case study:SEA of the Offshore Energy Development Plan, Ireland — an example of considering the evolvingbaselineThis SEA is most interesting as a good example of climate change effects being factored into the assessment of theenvironmental baseline, particularly with regard to the impacts on biodiversity. The review of the evolvingenvironmental baseline for each category of species considers ‘key issues and future trends’, with climate changeincluded within each of these species category assessments. This ensures that information on climate effects isbased on future trends as per the best available information about what can be expected to happen. Thisinformation is used to identify and develop win-win alternatives to the development areas and to apply theprecautionary principle.Source: Sustainable Energy Authority in IrelandThe baseline environment will be a moving baseline, particularly for PPs resulting in largeinfrastructure projects with a long planning or long-lasting effects (time-scales exceeding 20 years).<strong>Guidance</strong> on integrating climate change and biodiversity into SEA 39
Page 1 and 2: Guidance on Integr
Page 3: ForewordThe need for action on clim
Page 6 and 7: GlossaryTermAdaptation(climate chan
Page 8 and 9: Mitigation (climatechange)Mitigatio
Page 10: HOW TO ADDRESS BOTH CLIMATE CHANGE
Page 13 and 14: guidance.Since it is the first such
Page 15 and 16: 2. Climate change and biodiversity
Page 17 and 18: 2.2.3 Resilience of a PP to a chang
Page 19 and 20: 2.3.2 Complexity of the issues and
Page 21 and 22: 3. Understanding climate change and
Page 23 and 24: EU Climate and EnergyPackageRoadmap
Page 25 and 26: • Under Article 6(3) of the Habit
Page 27 and 28: Table 5: Key aspects of biodiversit
Page 29 and 30: single biggest cause of biodiversit
Page 31 and 32: Engaging proactively with environme
Page 33 and 34: For climate change, in particular,
Page 35 and 36: 4.3 Identifying the key biodiversit
Page 37: 5. How to assess effects related to
Page 41 and 42: • Key areas that may be particula
Page 43 and 44: • aim for ‘no-net-loss’ of bi
Page 45 and 46: Flood regimes and extremerainfall e
Page 47 and 48: • Where possible, use causal chai
Page 49 and 50: This guidance document emphasises t
Page 51 and 52: Annex 1: Further readingThe policy
Page 53 and 54: Resource Paper: No Net Loss and Los
Page 55 and 56: Resource Manual to Support Applicat
Page 57 and 58: Annex 2: Sources of information on
Page 59 and 60: EmDATERA-NET ROAD —Coordination a
Page 61 and 62: GeneralData and Maps (EEA)EUROSTATE
Page 63 and 64: factorsEcosystembasedapproachesEcos
Page 65 and 66: to your PP area. Greenhouse Gas Imp
Page 67 and 68: stage, but may be extended intothe
Page 69 and 70: enefits for all; Political: discuss

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