Version 1 of Improving Decision-Making for the Energy Transition: Guidance for Using Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) helps governments, planners, and practitioners apply SEA in policy making, planning, and program development for the energy transition.
Drawing on global best practices, analytical tools, and real-world case studies, this guidance supports better, more sustainable decisions for a cleaner energy future.
As we work collectively toward global climate goals, this resource aims to:
IAIA plans to revise and expand this guidance over time, adding new case studies, videos, and tools relevant to the use of SEA in the energy transition.
The guidance is divided into two main parts: Part A: The why, what, and how of SEA (Chapters 1–3); and Part B: SEA in specific energy sectors and issues (Chapters 4–14). Each chapter has its own webpage with a short overview, table of contents, expanded executive summary, and a button to download the full PDF chapter file.
This guidance is modular—users can consult individual chapters as needed. To ensure context isn’t lost, key SEA concepts are repeated where relevant.
Part A provides foundational information common to all SEAs in the renewable energy sector. These chapters are especially useful for practitioners new to SEA, helping them draw on international experience and good practice when designing and conducting SEA processes.
There is no single blueprint for SEA. Each case is unique—but the core stages and tasks are consistent.
Part B focuses on methodological aspects specific to certain renewable energy types and related issues. Each chapter follows a common format, including: why SEA matters for the subsector; existing international guidelines; global installed capacity; general subsector background; and environmental and social issues associated with development.
Access the chapters, case studies, and tools to start applying SEA to your energy projects.