Strategic Environmental Assessment of Transport Plans and Programs: How to Reach Systematic Monitoring?

Abstract The Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Directive of plans and programs represents a key tool for enabling an earlier integration of environmental issues into the preparation, adoption and implementation of plans and programs that are likely to have significant effects in the environment. Nevertheless, recent research in impact assessment and project appraisal noted that monitoring is still poorly performed, more than 20 years after the launch of SEA in Europe. Given the above context, this paper aims to address the following research questions: a) Which are the factors that hinder the SEA process and in particular the monitoring of environmental impacts in transport plans and programs? and b) Can any good practices be identified in terms of monitoring frameworks of transport impacts worldwide? The methodology includes a comprehensive review and in-depth analysis of available SEA studies in main scientific databases and use of data mining tools to enable mapping the range of factors and existing frameworks within the transport domain. Research results are expected to shed light on further SEA updates to facilitate an effective monitoring and follow-up in implementing transport plans and programs, to enable transitions to the sustainable mobility of people and goods.