With the example of a new pipeline project, what would be some immediate issues?
- 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)
With the example of a new pipeline project, what would be some bigger issues (that go beyond just this example)?
- 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
What are the global policy implications for dealing with over using of resources and lack of equitable wealth?
- 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
What are the local concerns for dealing with over using of resources and lack of equitable wealth?
- locally unnecessary losses of socio-economic and eco well-being
- locally threatened prospects for lasting well-being
What are the 3 key principles of sustainability?
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
What are the generic rules of sustainability assessment trade-offs?
- 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
What are characteristics/results of CEAA 2012?
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
What is needed in the new SEA law?
- 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
