Unit 13: Environment and Politics Flashcards
Challenges to changing the system (3)
- Wicked (Complex) Problems
- Growth Based Path Dependencies
- Interests and Politics
History of growth and sustainability
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.
Path dependency
The idea that decisions we are faced with depend on past knowledge trajectory and decisions made, in other words, history matters
Examples of path dependency (4)
Urban sustainability, material (Edmonton is auto-dependent), Cultural, formal institutional dependencies
Path Dependency, Social Institutions, and the environment
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.
Politics
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.
Examples of politics (3)
Traffic signals are formal institutions where most people are equal actors, carbon taxes don’t have equal actors
Stakeholders
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.
Examples of stakeholders (4)
Individuals, companies, elected officials, countries, etc…
Why do stakeholders seek power?
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.
Key Stakeholders (6)
- Politicians
- The Public
- The Producers (Corporations/Businesses)
- Environmental Groups (Civil Society)
- Media
- Experts (Scientists)
The political process
Government decisions are influenced by stakeholders that influence each other. Corporations and civil society influence media, which influences the public, which influences the government.
Politicians motivations (4)
Making the world a better place, retaining power, income, status, helping friends and family
Direct citizen influence
Public vote/opinion influences government decisions.
Divisions withing the public
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.
Producers
The ‘suppliers’ in the economy, of which the majority of the workforce contributes to in one way or another.
Types of private producers (2)
Owner Connected and Owner Dis-connected
Corporations
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.
Key activities of producers (4)
- Undertake Public Persuasion (consumer promotion, political persuasion, promote general beliefs and understandings that challenge proposed policies)
- Greenwash
- Fund research, politicians, media that support their position
- Lobby Government (legally or illegally)
Key activities of environmental NGOs, Activists and Civil Societies (4)
- Public Persuasion through Advocacy
- Act as a watchdog (on industry, government, on environmental initiatives such as eco labeling, public awareness)
- Fund Research that supports Position
- Lobby Governments
Environmental lobbying
Government decisions are influenced by both civil society and corporate lobbying/donations.
Environmental persuasion
Government decisions are influenced by public vote/opinion, which is influenced by civil society and corporate persuasion.
Environmental watchdogs
Environmental agencies maintain surveillance over companies and the government to pressure them to change their policies.
Journalism
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.
Journalism in Canada
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.”
Objectivity
Seeking to present the most factual interpretation of events possible, not influenced by personal feelings or opinions.
Impartiality
Treating all opinions of a debate equally by providing all rivals or disputants with equal opportunity to present arguments (equal air time).
Informing
Educating an audience about the ‘facts’ (Feeding High Cognitive stream of Persuasion Model)
Affirming
Providing viewers a version of events that they already support. This enhances and emboldens individuals in their current beliefs as opposed to challenging them.
Entertaining
Providing amusement or enjoyment over accuracy and education value.
Affirmation and entertainment displacing information
Speed in getting the story out is replacing fact checking, which has led to ‘thinner but faster stories’.
Fabricated information
False advertising to deceive people. More prevalent with the decline of journalism and the rise of the internet
Who fabricates information? (3)
Other countries/international actors for geopolitical reasons (EX: Israel creating propaganda about Palestine), political activists, opportunists spreading misinformation for profit.
Role of experts/scientists
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.
2004 conservative party platform
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.
2008-2012 Unraveling of The Consensus
Conservative government states that climate change is not a priority.
Key Themes in Climate Action Opposition Messaging (4)
- 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.
- If we act and others don’t, then we sacrifice our own quality of life for no benefit.
- There is scientific Uncertainty and Debate.
- Alternatives to the current situation are not feasible.
Regulatory capture
Regulatory agencies may be dominated by the interests they regulate and not by the public interest.
Owner connected producers (2)
Proprietorship and partnership
Owner disconnected producers
Corporation
