Unit 13: Environment and Politics

Question 1

Challenges to changing the system (3)

Answer 1

1. Wicked (Complex) Problems
2. Growth Based Path Dependencies
3. Interests and Politics

Question 2

History of growth and sustainability

Answer 2

Throughout history, human societies have evolved their institutions to increase productivity (growth) because it was a key factor in addressing many problems (poverty, health, quality of life, etc.).
Sustainability’ has been given less attention because the ability of humans to harm nature was limited.

Question 3

Path dependency

Answer 3

The idea that decisions we are faced with depend on past knowledge trajectory and decisions made, in other words, history matters

Question 4

Examples of path dependency (4)

Answer 4

Urban sustainability, material (Edmonton is auto-dependent), Cultural, formal institutional dependencies

Question 5

Path Dependency, Social Institutions, and the environment

Answer 5

Societal institutions have ‘momentum’ and change takes a lot of effort and time. Change is hard, and just because we are aware of environmental issues, it does not mean that we can quickly adapt to change them.

Question 6

Politics

Answer 6

Activities that relate to influencing the actions/policies of a government, or getting/keeping power in a government. The work/job of people (such as elected officials) who are part of a government. The opinions that someone has about what should be done by governments, a person’s political thoughts and opinions.

Question 7

Examples of politics (3)

Answer 7

Traffic signals are formal institutions where most people are equal actors, carbon taxes don’t have equal actors

Question 8

Stakeholders

Answer 8

All individuals, groups, etc… that are impacted by or who take an active interest in a policy decision. Most issues involve multiple stakeholders with competing interests (stakes) and levels of political power.

Question 9

Examples of stakeholders (4)

Answer 9

Individuals, companies, elected officials, countries, etc…

Question 10

Why do stakeholders seek power?

Answer 10

To benefit themselves and their allies/groups by increasing their power, their rights, their quality of life, their market competitiveness, or their wealth. They believe they are improving the overall public good.

Question 11

Key Stakeholders (6)

Answer 11

1. Politicians
2. The Public
3. The Producers (Corporations/Businesses)
4. Environmental Groups (Civil Society)
5. Media
6. Experts (Scientists)

Question 12

The political process

Answer 12

Government decisions are influenced by stakeholders that influence each other. Corporations and civil society influence media, which influences the public, which influences the government.

Question 13

Politicians motivations (4)

Answer 13

Making the world a better place, retaining power, income, status, helping friends and family

Question 14

Direct citizen influence

Answer 14

Public vote/opinion influences government decisions.

Question 15

Divisions withing the public

Answer 15

The public can be assessed as individuals or as groups (EX: Age, ethnic, income, social, location, etc…). Policy support/opposition can correlate such divisions. Other stakeholders (EX: politicians, corporations, environmental advocates, etc…) will sometimes create and/or enhance those divisions for political gain.

Question 16

Producers

Answer 16

The ‘suppliers’ in the economy, of which the majority of the workforce contributes to in one way or another.

Question 17

Types of private producers (2)

Answer 17

Owner Connected and Owner Dis-connected

Question 18

Corporations

Answer 18

An entity that is legally separate from its owners.
Externalizing machines because reduce costs by cheating and putting it on other people. If they don’t have to pay a cost, they won’t. The people part of a corporation may be driven by moral and environmental concerns. Most often, they are driven by wealth.

Question 19

Key activities of producers (4)

Answer 19

1. Undertake Public Persuasion (consumer promotion, political persuasion, promote general beliefs and understandings that challenge proposed policies)
2. Greenwash
3. Fund research, politicians, media that support their position
4. Lobby Government (legally or illegally)

Question 20

Key activities of environmental NGOs, Activists and Civil Societies (4)

Answer 20

1. Public Persuasion through Advocacy
2. Act as a watchdog (on industry, government, on environmental initiatives such as eco labeling, public awareness)
3. Fund Research that supports Position
4. Lobby Governments

Question 21

Environmental lobbying

Answer 21

Government decisions are influenced by both civil society and corporate lobbying/donations.

Question 22

Environmental persuasion

Answer 22

Government decisions are influenced by public vote/opinion, which is influenced by civil society and corporate persuasion.

Question 23

Environmental watchdogs

Answer 23

Environmental agencies maintain surveillance over companies and the government to pressure them to change their policies.

Question 24

Journalism

Answer 24

Journalism’s obligation is to the truth, and its loyalty is to the citizens. It is the discipline of verification and must serve as an independent monitor of power. It must provide a forum for public criticism and compromise. It must keep the news comprehensive and proportional.

Question 25

Journalism in Canada

Answer 25

Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedom establishes the “freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of the press and other media of communication.”

Question 26

Objectivity

Answer 26

Seeking to present the most factual interpretation of events possible, not influenced by personal feelings or opinions.

Question 27

Impartiality

Answer 27

Treating all opinions of a debate equally by providing all rivals or disputants with equal opportunity to present arguments (equal air time).

Question 28

Informing

Answer 28

Educating an audience about the ‘facts’ (Feeding High Cognitive stream of Persuasion Model)

Question 29

Affirming

Answer 29

Providing viewers a version of events that they already support. This enhances and emboldens individuals in their current beliefs as opposed to challenging them.

Question 30

Entertaining

Answer 30

Providing amusement or enjoyment over accuracy and education value.

Question 31

Affirmation and entertainment displacing information

Answer 31

Speed in getting the story out is replacing fact checking, which has led to ‘thinner but faster stories’.

Question 32

Fabricated information

Answer 32

False advertising to deceive people. More prevalent with the decline of journalism and the rise of the internet

Question 33

Who fabricates information? (3)

Answer 33

Other countries/international actors for geopolitical reasons (EX: Israel creating propaganda about Palestine), political activists, opportunists spreading misinformation for profit.

Question 34

Role of experts/scientists

Answer 34

Helps identify problems and solutions (EX: Scientists have been the key actors in the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change)). Challenged by connecting the public and policymakers to good science, and by scientific debate being misused by other stakeholders.

Question 35

2004 conservative party platform

Answer 35

Conservative government will implement the commitments of Stephen Harper’s 2004 paper, “Towards a Cleaner Canada,” by investigate a cap-and-trade system reducing smog-causing pollutants.

Question 36

2008-2012 Unraveling of The Consensus

Answer 36

Conservative government states that climate change is not a priority.

Question 37

Key Themes in Climate Action Opposition Messaging (4)

Answer 37

1. If we act (restrictions, regulations, carbon taxes) it will put our economic growth at risk while other nations benefit. This puts us at a relative disadvantage making us weaker and them stronger.
2. If we act and others don’t, then we sacrifice our own quality of life for no benefit.
3. There is scientific Uncertainty and Debate.
4. Alternatives to the current situation are not feasible.

Question 38

Regulatory capture

Answer 38

Regulatory agencies may be dominated by the interests they regulate and not by the public interest.

Question 39

Owner connected producers (2)

Answer 39

Proprietorship and partnership

Question 40

Owner disconnected producers

Answer 40

Corporation