Lecture 2

Question 1

With the example of a new pipeline project, what would be some immediate issues?

Answer 1

• leaks and spills: breakage, increased traffic, response time, clean-up abilities
• distributional effects: economic benefits for oil companies, boom-bust construction effect, new risks in areas the pipeline crosses, inequitable effects on employment and where the money goes (not to Indigenous)

Question 2

With the example of a new pipeline project, what would be some bigger issues (that go beyond just this example)?

Answer 2

• Indigenous rights: most projects go through indigenous territory, subject to the crown’s duty to consult and accommodate, concerns about long term legacy effects
• climate change: concerns about meeting Paris agreement targets, GHG emissions, lifetime of pipeline facilities but limited amount of oil

Question 3

What are the global policy implications for dealing with over using of resources and lack of equitable wealth?

Answer 3

• economic growth based on greater resource exploitation CANNOT improve overall wellbeing
• trickling down of expanding material wealth CANNOT deal with poverty
• impact mitigation CANNOT protect valued eco/social qualities

Question 4

What are the local concerns for dealing with over using of resources and lack of equitable wealth?

Answer 4

• locally unnecessary losses of socio-economic and eco well-being
• locally threatened prospects for lasting well-being

Question 5

What are the 3 key principles of sustainability?

Answer 5

i) inter-generational and of immediate public interest
ii) demands mutually supportive economic, social, and enviro gains
iii) depends on learning, especially building capacities of all participants to understand issues/options to work together towards solutions

Question 6

What are the generic rules of sustainability assessment trade-offs?

Answer 6

• seek max net gains
• place burden of argument on proponent of trade-off
• avoid all significant adverse effects
• protect the future (don’t displace effects to future gens)
• provide specific justification
• use open process

Question 7

What are characteristics/results of CEAA 2012?

Answer 7

Characteristics:
- promotes sustainable development but only focuses on mitigation not prevention
- limited application
- often deferral to prov process
- narrow scope
- legislated timelines
- constrains public engagement
Results:
- loss of credibility
- strong resistance to highly contentious proposals
- conflicts, delays, general unhappiness

Question 8

What is needed in the new SEA law?

Answer 8

• requires every project/undertaking to make a positive contribution to sustainability
• discourage trade-offs
• apply explicit criteria
• identify the best options
• seek multiple, fairly distributed, lasting gains that avoid significant adverse effects