Lec 3: The Context for EM

Question 1

According to Pinker, what are some evidences of progress?

Answer 1

• increased life expectancy
• decreased child mortality
• decreased maternal mortality
• decreased undernourishment
• decreased famine deaths

Question 2

What laws/policies demonstrate that Political Will is evidence of progress?

Answer 2

increasing commitment to EM
- 1972 UN Conference on the Human Environment
- 1987 Commission on environment and development: Our Common Future
- 1992 Earth Summit: Agenda 21
- 2015: SDGs adopted by UN to replace Agenda 21
- 2016 Paris Accord

Question 3

Besides Pinker and Political Will, what are some other grounds for hope?

Answer 3

success in solving environmental problems:
- lead in gas
- cleaning St-Laurent
- ozone hole

Question 4

What are choice and commitment based on?

Answer 4

• information
• values
• world view: what you believe affects how you perceive things

Question 5

Give a brief history of EA in Canada.

Answer 5

2012: Canadian environmental assessment act (CEAA)
- Under PM Harper and in consequence of the 2008 recessions, EA procedures were limited.
- In 2017, Minister of Environment Catherine McKenna was tasked with:
- restoring public trust in EA
- getting resources on the market
- introducing new, fair processes

2019: Impact Assessment Act
- This created in the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada and repealed the CEAA, 2012

Question 6

What are 5 broad steps in the Impact Assessment Process?

Answer 6

1) Planning
2) Impact Statement
3) Impact Assessment
4) Decision-making
5) Post-decision

Question 7

What are 2 questions regarding the Impact Assessment Act?

Answer 7

1) How good is it?
2) Will it survive the next elections?