The environmental dimension in master plans: international experiences in strategic environmental assessment

Abstract The strategic environmental assessment (SEA) is applied in 90 countries to integrate the environment into planning, such as master plans, but remains voluntary in Brazil. The environmental dimension in international reports on SEA master plans is explored in this article using the theoretical framework of good SEA practices to identify contributions to the Brazilian context. Many of these practices were observed, such as standardization of stages and integration between urban and environmental planning, corroborating intrinsic and systemic SEA features that allow the integration of the environmental dimension into master plans regardless of the country’s planning context. We recommend that SEA be adopted locally to foster the integration of environmental issues into intersectoral urban policies, a challenge in urban planning.