Publications
108 results found
Sheate W, White O, Daly E, et al., 2012, Embedding Futures Thinking in Environmental Policymaking, Publisher: European Foresight Platform (EFP), EFP Brief No. 241
Zamparutti T, White O, Sheate W, et al., 2012, Assessing and Strengthening theScience and EU Environment Policy Interface, Publisher: European Communities, Technical Report - 2012 - 059
Sheate WR, Daly E, White O, et al., 2011, BLOSSOM — Bridging long-term scenario and strategy analysis: organisation and methods: A cross-country analysis, EEA Technical Report, Publisher: EEA, 5/2011
Zhou K-Y, Sheate WR, 2011, EIA application in China’s expressway infrastructure: Clarifying the decision-makinghierarchy, Journal of Environmental Management, Vol: 92, Pages: 1471-1483
China’s EIA Law came into effect in 2003 and formally requires road transport infrastructure development actions to be subject to Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). EIAs (including project EIA and plan EIA, or strategic environmental impact assessment, SEA) have been being widely applied in the expressway infrastructure planning field. Among those applications, SEA is applied to provincial level expressway network (PLEI) plans, and project EIA is applied to expressway infrastructure development ‘projects’ under PLEI plans. Three case studies (one expressway project EIA and two PLEI plan SEAs) were examined to understand currently how EIAs are applied to expressway infrastructure development planning. Through the studies, a number of problems that significantly influence the quality of EIA application in the field were identified. The reasons causing those problems are analyzed and possible solutions are suggested aimed at enhancing EIA practice, helping deliver better decision-making and ultimately improving the environmental performance of expressway infrastructure.
Eales RP, Sheate WR, 2011, Effectiveness of policy level environmental and sustainability assessment: Challenges and lessons from recent practice, Journal of Environmental Assessment Policy and Management, Vol: 13, Pages: 39-65, ISSN: 1464-3332
This paper explores the challenges and lessons from recent practice and experience of applying tools such as Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and Sustainability Appraisal at the policy level in the UK and Europe. It investigates whether or not these tools have been effective and helped to deliver more sustainable development at the high level of national policy development. The analysis is illustrated by case examples from the UK, such as Eco-towns and Energy Planning. The paper concludes that the current performance by the UK Government in implementing the SEA Directive for national level strategic actions is far from exemplary. At the root of the problem is the poor consideration and evaluation of reasonable alternatives, the fundamentally weak conception of sustainability adopted and the apparent perception that having to undertake an assessment and comply with the SEA Directive is a hurdle, rather than a useful mechanism for helping to deliver better and more sustainable evidence-based policy making. © 2011 Imperial College Press.
Sheate W, 2011, Environmental Auditing and Environmental Management Systems (C208) Module and Study Guide., London, Publisher: CeDEP/SOAS, University of London
Sheate W, 2011, Environmental Assessment (C207) Module and Study Guide, Distance Learning Programme, London, Publisher: CeDEP/SOAS, University of London
Sheate WR, Eales R, Baker J, et al., 2011, A Natural Planning Framework: Putting the natural environment at the heart of the National Planning Framework for England., Publisher: RSPB
Zhou K-Y, Sheate WR, 2011, Case studies: Application of SEA in provincial level expressway infrastructure network planning in China — Current existing problems, Environmental Impact Assessment Review, Vol: 31, Pages: 521-537
Since the Law of the People's Republic of China on Environmental Impact Assessment was enacted in 2003 and Huanfa 2004 No. 98 was released in 2004, Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) has been officially being implemented in the expressway infrastructure planning field in China. Through scrutinizing two SEAapplication cases of China's provincial level expressway infrastructure (PLEI) network plans, it is found that current SEA practice in expressway infrastructure planning field has a number of problems including: SEA practitioners do not fully understand the objective of SEA; its potential contributions to strategic planningand decision-making is extremely limited; the employed application procedure and prediction andassessment techniques are too simple to bring objective, unbiased and scientific results; and no alternative options are considered. All these problems directly lead to poor quality SEA and consequently weaken SEA's effectiveness.
Sheate WR, 2010, Chapter 16: Linking SEA and Environmental Planning and Management Tools, Handbook of Strategic Environmental Assessment, Editors: Sadler, Aschemann, Dusik, Fischer, Partidário, Verheem, London, Publisher: Earthscan Publication, Pages: 1-704, ISBN: 9781844073658
Phillips P, Sheate W, 2010, A new SEA pathway: Reflecting on Strategic Environmental Assessment in Scotland, The Environmentalist, Vol: 104, Pages: 19-22
Sheate WR, Eales R, Vaizgelaite I, 2010, Appraisals of Sustainability and the New National Policy Statements: Opportunities Missed and Challenges to Come?, Publisher: RSPB/WWF
Eales R, Sheate WR, 2010, Opportunities missed, and challenges to come?, Town and Country Planning, Pages: 134-139
Ric Eales and William Sheate examine the Appraisals of Sustainability prepared by the Government to accompany the Draft Energy and Ports National Poliy Statements, and ask what they tell us about Government's approach to the Strategic Environmental Assessment Directive and sustainability more generally.
Sheate WR, Partidario MR, 2010, Strategic approaches and assessment techniques - potential for knowledge brokerage towards sustainability, Environmental Impact Assessment Review, Vol: 30, Pages: 278-288
The role of science in policy and decision-making has been an issue of intensive debate over the past decade. The concept of knowledge brokerage has been developing in this context contemplating issues of communication, interaction, sharing of knowledge, contribution to common understandings, as well as to effective and efficient action. For environmental and sustainability policy and decision-making the discussion has addressed more the essence of the issue rather than the techniques that can be used to enable knowledge brokerage. This paper aims to contribute to covering this apparent gap in current discussion by selecting and examining empirical cases from Portugal and the United Kingdom that can help to explore how certain environmental and sustainability assessment approaches can contribute, if well applied, to strengthen the science–policy link. The cases show that strategic assessment approaches and techniques have the potential to promote knowledge brokerage, but a conscious effort will be required to design in genuine opportunities to facilitate knowledge exchange and transfer as part of assessment processes.
Zhou KY, Sheate WR, 2009, Comparative analysis of sea legal requirements and institutional structure in China (Mainland), Canada and the UK (England), Journal of Environmental Assessment Policy and Management, Vol: 11, Pages: 387-426, ISSN: 1464-3332
After the Law of the People's Republic of China on Environmental Impact Assessment (the EIA Law) came into effect in China (mainland) in September 2003, and notably in 2006, the Chinese government released a series of laws and regulations to strengthen strategic environmental assessment (SEA) application in China. SEA is acknowledged by the Chinese central government as a tool to help achieve sustainable development, and it is employed as an instrument to emphasise environmental protection and 'scientific outlook of development' during the course of the current rapid industrial and urban development, to build a 'harmonious society', and ultimately to achieve sustainable development. This paper compares the Chinese (mainland) SEA system, its legal requirements, institutional structure and procedural framework with the UK and the Canadian systems, to provide a comprehensive overview of the current status of the institutional and governance arrangements of the Chinese SEA system. The conclusions point to some possible explanations for less than optimum implementation of SEA in China, and suggestions for ways to improve the Chinese SEA system in the future. © Imperial College Press.
van der Vorst R, Grafé-Buckens A, Sheate WR, 2009, A systemic framework for environmental decision-making, Tools, Techniques and Approaches for Sustainability: Collected Writings in Environmental Assessment Policy and Management, Pages: 171-196, ISBN: 9789814289689
The context of sustainable development poses new challenges for traditional environmental decision-making tools, such as environmental impact assessment, environmental management systems and life cycle assessment. Today these tools are expected to provide multidisciplinary information to aid sustainability decisions, not just to inform decisions about environmental effects. This paper brings together the different perspectives of authors from EIA, EMS and clean technology/LCA to examine critically the separate tools in the context of sustainable development, and their inter-relationships, and identifies a "tool-user's dilemma": whether to use a tool as intended, to adapt it or develop something new. The paper examines the similarities of these key tools and recognises both a paradigm shift and a congruence in the way in which they have developed: from being merely tools, through being techniques to approaches. The paper concludes by suggesting an integrated framework within which the tools can continue to operate effectively, and one that helps resolve the tool-user's dilemma. Clean Technology is seen as providing a useful philosophical understanding for the operation of this outline framework.
Sheate WR, 2009, Tools, techniques & approaches for sustainability: Collected writings in environmental assessment policy and management, ISBN: 9789814289689
This unique volume brings together key writings from experts drawn from the first ten years of the Journal of Environmental Assessment Policy and Management (JEAPM), launched in 1999 as a forum for encouraging better linkages between environmental assessment and management tools. The book is structured around four themes that focus on the characteristics of tools that influence their ability to link together effectively: The Nature of Tools; The Nature of Decision-Making and Institutional Context; The Nature of Engagement and The Nature of Sustainability. Edited and introduced by William Sheate, founding and present editor of JEAPM, the book provides an analysis of what makes for successful linking of assessment and management tools, supported by theoretical and practical examples. Key authors include Roland Clift, David Gadenne, Robert Gibson, Neils Faber, Thomas Fischer, David Lawrence, Måns Nilsson, Bronwyn Ridgway, and Frank Vanclay.
Sheate WR, 2009, The evolving nature of environmental assessment and management: Linking tools to help deliver sustainability, Tools, Techniques and Approaches for Sustainability: Collected Writings in Environmental Assessment Policy and Management, Pages: 1-29, ISBN: 9789814289689
- Cite
- Citations: 13
Sheate WR, 2008, Strategic environmental assessment, The New Oxford Companion to Law, Editors: Cane, Conaghan, Oxford, Publisher: Oxford University Press, Pages: 1134-1135, ISBN: 978-0-19-929054-3
Sheate WR, Eales R, Daly E, et al., 2008, Case study to develop tools and methodologies to deliver an ecosystem-based approach:Thames Gateway Green Grids, Project report NR0109, London, Publisher: Defra
Partidario M, Sheate WR, Bina O, et al., 2008, Sustainability assessment for agriculture scenarios in Europe's mountain areas: lessons from six study areas (in press), Environmental Management
Sheate WR, Bennett S, 2007, The Water Framework Directive, Assessment, Participation and Protected Areas: What are the Relationships?, Synthesis Report to the Irish Environmental Protection Agency, ERTDI Research Programme, Dublin, Ireland, Publisher: Environmental Protection Agency, Republic of Ireland, Report No. 67
Sheate W, 2007, Editorial, Journal of Environmental Assessment Policy and Management, Vol: 9, ISSN: 1464-3332
William R Sheate, Maria Rosário do Partidário, Helen Byron, et al., 2007, Sustainability Assessment of Future Scenarios: Methodology and Application to Mountain Areas of Europe, Environmental Management
Bennett S, Sheate WR, 2007, The Water Framework Directive, Assessment, Participation and Protected Areas: What are the Relationships? (WAPPA), Final Report, Dublin, Publisher: Environmental Protection Agency, Republic of Ireland
Sheate WR, Bennett S, 2007, The Water Framework Directive, Assessment, Participation and Protected Areas: What are the Relationships? (WAPPA, (2005-W-DS-24-M1), Synthesis Report, Dublin, Publisher: Environmental Protection Agency, Republic of Ireland, No. 67
Maxwell D, Sheate W, Vorst RVD, 2006, Functional and systems aspects of the sustainable product and service development approach for industry, Journal of Cleaner Production, Vol: Vol 14, Pages: 1466-1479, ISSN: 0959-6526
The Sustainable Product and/or Service Development (SPSD) approach is a pragmatic industry support encompassing a range of strategies aimed at maximising environmental and social performance in all types of “offerings” whether they are “products”, “services” or Product Service Systems (PSS). Implementation of the approach was tested in industry and conclusions reached on the effectiveness of the strategies included in terms of developing an offering with improved sustainability performance as well as practical use as an industry approach. Two strategies incorporated are functional and systems thinking, as these are seen as key for increasing the environmental benefits of offerings. This paper summarises the SPSD approach, general industry testing results, describes how and why functional and systems strategies are incorporated in it and industry testing results relating to their use. This provides valuable information on how functional and systems related considerations can be practically and effectively included in sustainable offering development.
Sheate W, 2006, Editorial, Journal of Environmental Assessment Policy and Management, Vol: 8, ISSN: 1464-3332
Maxwell D, Sheate W, 2006, Enabling sustainable development through sustainable consumption and production, International Journal of Environment and Sustainable Development, Vol: 5, Pages: 221-239, ISSN: 1474-6778
A key aspect of moving towards Sustainable Development is Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) and enabling us to meet our human needs in more sustainable ways. This is a complex issue incorporating many facets and stakeholders. On the basis of the results of a recent industry-focused research project on these issues, this paper describes the factors necessary to enable SCP as a reality and whether SCP can deliver on the Sustainable Development agenda. Copyright © 2006 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.
Sheate WR, Leinster T, 2005, Strategic environmental assessment (SEA) of water industry plans and programmes, Journal of Water Law, Vol: 16, Pages: 115-121, ISSN: 1478-5277
The strong strategic integrated river basin management framework that already exists in the UK water sector means that the UK should be better placed than some Member States to implement the WFD. Furthermore, the UK has long-standing experience of applying environment assessments at varying levels of decision-making throughout the water sector. How far down the hierarchy of water resource management plans and programmes the SEA Directive will apply has yet to be determined and will no doubt be explored on a case-by-case basis. There is a case, however, for SEA to apply to all plans in the hierarchy, subject to the avoidance of duplication. The privatised water companies will be affected by the SEA Directive - it seems almost certainly with regard to water resources management plans, but most likely also for drought plans. Both of these have significant implications in terms of opening up previously closed decision-making processes to wider public participation. While some voluntary SEA has been undertaken by water companies in the past, the legal requirement to do so raises key issues for the companies of confidentiality, and access to information. A more immediate challenge for water companies - if SEA is required for drought plans - will be how to deliver SEA for drought plans when draft drought plans must be submitted by 31 March 2006. The environmental report for any SEA will need to be submitted with the draft plan, which creates a very tight timetable if decisions have not already been made as to whether an SEA is required. The extent to which water related plans and programmes might set the framework indirectly for other, non-water, development projects needs to be explored further. It may mean rather more plans and programmes meet the SEA screening criteria of 'setting the framework' if this is interpreted broadly. The potential discord between the law and SEA theory and practice is a cause for concern, since this runs the risk of creating false perceptions
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