CHAPTER 3 STAGES AND STEPS IN UNDERTAKING SEA

3.3.3 Issues for scoping A scoping process should confirm the focus and establish the content of a SEA, the scope of the analyses needed, the stakeholders to be involved, the approach and methods to be used and the relevant criteria for assessment. [...] • Identify and confirm the focus and content of the SEA; • Identify relevant environmental and social quality objectives (ESQOs), targets, indicators, and decision criteria to use during the subsequent stages to select a preferred alternative – helped by stakeholder interviews, review of the policy and legal framework, situation analysis, and the identified critical issues, and • Identify baseline. [...] Authorities which, because of their environmental and social responsibilities, are likely to be concerned by the effects of implementing the PPP must be consulted on the scope and level of detail of the information to be included in the SEA Report. [...] 3.4 THE MAIN ASSESSMENT 3.4.1 Introduction This stage is the heart of the SEA process and involves an assessment of the likely risks and impacts of implementing the PPP and its alternatives; or of implementation of energy transition options under different scenarios. [...] for solar power), the initial step should be to assess the likely environmental and socio-economic risks and impacts of the agreed alternatives to the PPP (or its components), including the zero alternative (the ‘do nothing’ ‘business-as-usual’ or ‘without the PPP’ alternative – which implies the continued use of fossil energy systems and all of the impacts associated with these),.