Bridging the Gap in Iranian Environmental Policy: Using SEA to Overcome EIA Limitations in the South Pars Region

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) has been implemented in Iran for over two decades as the primary tool for incorporating environmental consideration into development decisions. However, its project-based orientation, limited capacity to evaluate cumulative and synergistic impacts, weak governance integration, and minimal public participation have constrained its effectiveness in addressing complex environmental challenges. Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) is introduced internationally as an upstream planning instrument that systematically integrates environmental analysis into policies, plans, and programs, addressing many limitations of traditional EIA, including anticipatory assessment and multi-scenario evaluation. Using a qualitative analytical methodology based on legal and policy document analysis, governance assessment, comparative review with established SEA systems (such as the EU SEA Directive), and a case study on South Pars, this study identifies key structural gaps in Iran's EIA framework. Findings suggest that SEA enhances policy coherence, cumulative impact assessment, institutional coordination, and meaningful stakeholder participation. The study concludes that SEA institutionalization represents a necessary governance transformation to advance sustainable environmental decision-making in Iran.

کلیدواژه ها:

Cumulative Impacts ، Environmental Governance ، Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) ، Iran ، Public Participation ، South Pars ، Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA)