Social Sensitivity Analyses Applied to Environmental Assessment Processes

Abstract

Social sensitivity analysis is aimed at exploring the robustness of complex governance processes through the involvement of stakeholders. This approach is based on the concepts of transparency and citizen participation. This paper presents a new methodology for the application of sensitivity analysis to environmental assessment projects. The general idea behind this method involves making the results of natural resource planning processes available to an “extended peer community”. This community, also known as a stakeholder community, is allowed to evaluate the quality of planning processes and give their opinion on the results. A Decision Support System based on institutional analysis, multi-criteria analysis and focus group sessions is used to implement this approach in a case study involving sustainable land-based transport policies in Tenerife, Canary Islands. In this exercise, stakeholders are involved in framing transport governance issues appropriately and then in defining and assessing plausible policy alternatives. The results obtained highlight that social sensitivity analysis is a viable approach that guarantees robustness in environmental governance. In addition, methodological suggestions are made that might be of use to the sustainability assessment community