IN-PERSON Lisbon Livable Cities. Section A

Abstract

The methodological approach to conducting Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) always been a subject of different opinions and severe conflicts among experts in urban, spatial, and environmental planning. Each plan and strategy requires a tailored methodology for environmental assessments closely aligned with the research focus. Over the past decade, new challenges have emerged, predominantly related to climate change, which adds an uncertain variable to the urban planning framework. Given that climate change mitigation and adaptation have become essential parts of strategic guidelines for cities, it is critical to evaluate these aspects through SEA-specific methodologies. SEA now faces the task of developing new goals that encompass climate-related factors and assess their potential environmental impacts. Additionally, SEA must propose climate-focused measures to address issues stemming from unexpected climate events. The primary aim of SEA is to establish comprehensive goals and indicators—especially those relevant to climate adaptation and mitigation indicators (exposure to droughts and floods, wildfires etc)and evaluate urban planning solutions using Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA). Based on expert insights, SEA recommends measures to reduce or neutralize potential environmental impacts. This paper examines SEA’s role in the climate action plans for Užice and Smederevo in Serbia, emphasizing importance of adequate climate related evaluation, which was not part of a standard procedure in urban planning until recent years. Paper will show importance of choosing climate-related goals and indicators, assess the impacts of urban development, and propose adaptation and mitigation measures, supporting the early identification of necessary interventions to manage environmental conflicts in Serbian cities.