Compare the context and characteristics of SEA and EIA. Y = always relevant and appropriate; (Y) = sometimes relevant or potentially appropriate; N = not relevant
| EIA | SEA | |
|---|---|---|
| Who undertakes it? | ||
| Government/decision authorities | (Y) | Y |
| Public sector organizations | Y | Y |
| Private sector | Y | N |
| What is it used for? | ||
| Policy assessment | N | Y |
| Plan assessment | N | Y |
| Pre-implementation site-specific project/activity assessment | Y | N |
| Post-implementation/operational project assessment | N | N |
| Regulation based? | Y | (Y) |
| Process components | ||
| Impact identification | Y | Y |
| Impact prediction | Y | Y |
| Evaluation | Y | Y |
| Issues dealt with | ||
| Environmental (including human health) impacts | Y | Y |
| Social impacts | Y | Y |
| Economic impacts | Y | Y |
| Costs | N | N |
| Spatial extent | ||
| Not site-specific | N | Y |
| Defined site/area | Y | N |
| Time focus | ||
| Specific current | N | N |
| Specific future | Y | Y |
| Past | N | N |
| Not specified | N | (Y) |
| Data sources | ||
| Literature | Y | Y |
| Expert opinion | Y | Y |
| Primary data collection/surveys | Y | Y |
| Evaluation | ||
| Multi-criteria | Y | Y |
| Regulatory/standards | Y | Y |
| Single criteria | N | N |
| Public participation | Y | Y |