Policy Assessment at SEI

Translating the effect of policy decisions on individual and collective behavior is difficult. Quantifying the impact of resident behaviour on the environment can be more complicated still. Scenarios are inherently uncertain, given the large number of variables possible related to population, economic conditions and cultural change. Even so, scenarios do have real deliberative value and can be used to offer insight into the potential impact of policies during the decision making process. 

Using REAP, SEI create scenarios which can be used to help compare the footprint impact of alternative policy interventions. The scenarios we create are best applied at the strategic level because they look at the potential impact of changes in consumption patterns of a population of an area as a whole. REAP can be used to help answer questions such as:

• How will exisitng policy influence the carbon footprint of our area over the next 10 years?

• Where should we focus our efforts to ensure the greatest reduction in our footprint by 2020?

• What scale of intervention is neccessary for us to stabalise our emissions by 2015?

• What combination of interventions would bring about 'one planet living' by 2050?
  

This type of analysis can be carried out at a national, regional or local level with a focus on all areas of consumption activity. To find out more take a look at our recent projects for Leeds City Region, Wales, the South East and Ashford.  

A transformation scenario for the South East. This chart takes into account historical trends and shows what is needed to reduce the ecolgocial footprint of the South East by 80% from 1990 levels by 2050. Source: Reducing the South East's ecological footprint and carbon emissions: a route map. Published by CAG, 2008