Strategic Environmental Assessment for Low-Carbon Development: A Review and Research Agenda

Strategic environmental assessment (SEA) can support low-carbon development (LCD). However, no empirical review exists to consolidate the existing evidence base and inform practitioners, policymakers and scholars. This paper reviews prior empirical studies on SEA–LCD integration, identifies research gaps and develops a future research agenda. A narrative literature review was employed. Results reveal that only nine studies have been reported to date. They all demonstrate inconsistent and inadequate treatment of LCD. Most studies lack defined theories, focus on Global North countries, ignore SEA’s strategic characteristics and use SEA reports for data. The review culminates in a future research agenda that should lead to novel and significant contributions to the literature. It also highlights policy implications, focussing on the need for (1) high-level policy commitment to address LCD within SEA, (2) operational guidance and legal and regulatory structures to enable practice and (3) policy incentives for conducting, disseminating and applying research.