GEOG 302 - Midterm 1

environmental management

the methodical approach of administering & overseeing human activities to minimize their envral impact while promoting sustainability

includes organizing, monitoring, & executing ideas/policies/practices in aim to reduce pollution, protect natural resources, & ensure socioeconomic dev. = balanced w/ envral conservation 

1980s-90s: public shift in how people think about & organise the environment

scope

the range of locations, activities, & processes considered in an EM project/system

defines extent/boundaries the EM efforts will cover (physical & non-physical)

key components of scope (in EM)

Geographic boundaries

Environmental pieces

• what is affected by the project? ie. trees, pollution, groundwater

Organisational functions

• the operations w/in an org. that are involved w/ the EM system

• ie. human resources, supply chain - the pieces that link to the project itself

Regulatory & legal requirements

• what relevant environmental standards need to be followed? Laws? Regional, national, international scales?

Stakeholders

• those who have interest in the project

• ie. ppl who live in the region, ppl who may be affected by air pollution, customers, workers

Timeframe

• period in which project takes place, could be months-years-decades

Objectives/goals

• specific envral outcomes the project aims for

• ie. reduce carbon emissions, generate more energy from a dam

1969 Santa Barbara oil spill

Californian coast, several oil rigs in the region

oil spill all over coastline over 11 days

• thousands of marine animals died, tourism suffered

• severe economic losses (farms along coast aslo impacted)

• largest oil spill in US waters at the time

• wealthy area - LOTS of media coverage

1969 Cuyahoga river fire

6 months after Santa Barbara, lots of media coverage partly due to timing

• completely industrialised region (Akron & Cleveland to Lake Erie), river heavily polluted w/ industrial waste

caught fire for ~30 min, caused ~50k USD damage

• semi-regular occurrence (happened 13+ times previously)

• became symbol of envral neglect

1962-70 mercury contamination in Grassy Narrows

“Path of the Poison” in English River Wabigoon system

• many continue experiencing impacts today

pulp & paper mill leaked mercury continuously into water over 8 years

• estimated 10 tons in the river

• spread through the area

• highly toxic, esp. for young, elderly, & vulnerable

• bioaccumulates

many experienced symptoms, primarily indigenous

• minimal media coverage

• way of life involved fishing, huge disruption of local livelihoods

• case of envral inuustice

significance of 1969 Santa Barbara oil spill & Cuyahoga river fire

events acted as catalysts that spurred environmental change

w/o the shift they caused in public perception, likely would not have been as significant as they are

history of EM

1. early conservation efforts (late 1800s-early 1900s)

2. rise of envral awareness (1960s-70s)

3. global envral governance (1980s-90s)

4. integration & interdisciplinary (2000s-present)

history of EM: early conservation efforts (late 1800s-early 1900s)

national parks & wildlife reserves established

• Europe & NA

main focus: preserving natural/wild landscapes, done by governments

history of EM: rise of envral awareness (1960s-70s)

characterised by growing public concern

• Silent Spring published

• National Environmanl Policy Act

many envral groups born during this time

• natural disasters occur (Santa Barbara, Cuyahoga, Grassy Narrows)

history of EM: global envral governance (1980s-90s)

establishment of big treaties begins (Montreal, Kyoto Protocols)

• Ozone hole prevention / reduction

Chernobyl happens

growing understanding of interconnected envral problems

• begin to see intl collaboration

history of EM: integration & interdisciplinary (2000s-present)

begin to see transformation of EM towards integrative interdisciplinary collaboration to solve large-scale problems

Paris Agreement, UNFCCC COP26, SDGs

Global Youth Cllimate Strikes

EM core goals/principles

• sustainability

• precautionary principle (PP)

• polluters pay principle (PPP)

• environmental justice

EM core principles: sustainability

practice of meeting present needs w/o compromising future generation’s ability to meet their own needs

holisitic approach to balance envral protection, economic growth, & social equity to ensure LR well-being for people & planet

3 main components of sustainability

environmental, social, & economic

EM core principles: precautionary principle

taking proactive steps to prevent envral (& human) harm, even if there is uncertainty about potential risks

ex: DDT ban

EM core principles: polluters pay principle (PPP)

envral policy concept - those who cause envral degradation/produce pollution should bear cost of managing its effects to prevent harm to envr/human health

• polluter (rather than society) should be responsible for their negative externalities

widely used in envral regulations & policies, underpins:

• envral taxes, fines, fees, & liability insurance

• basis of cap-&-trade

embedded in intl agreements & declarations (ie. Rio Declaration 1992)

EM core principles: envral justice

fair treatment & meaningful involvement of all people in the development, implementation, & enforcement of envral laws, regulations, & policies, regardless of race, national origin, or income

• primary goal: ensure no grp has disproportioante share of negative envral impacts, esp. those who are traditionally marginalised

examples of injustice: Flint water crisis in Michigan, African-American community w/ lower economic status & unsafe potable water

systems thinking in EM

due to complexity of the envr, changes in one part may have implications elsewhere

• may also not be immediate

pieces of environment = interdependent

socio-ecological system

ecological parts of our envrs connected to social parts

• if change in physical/natural envral, will have social (as well as physical) impacts

• ie. changing farming patterns/local practices changes consumption habits

feedback loops

if we change 1 part of system, may see a change elsewhere

• often in systems

• ie. melting ice caps

• small changes lead to continual change

positve or negative loop mechanisms

systems resilience

systems/ecosystems have ability to deal w/ (minor) disturbances while maintaining their original functions (ie. a couple seasons of drought in a grassland)

systems thresholds

reached when system = under continual stress (ie. a decade of drought pushes grassland into a diff ecosystem type, ie. shrubland)

• changes system when reached, unable to bounce back

key actors & institutions in EM

envral problems = inherently complex, require input from diff disciplines to address them effectively

• interconnected systems, varying scales

issues encountered in interdisciplinary projects

• differing methodologies & interests

• integration

• communication barriers

today’s key environmental challenges / global issues are …

each complex problems with their own solutions (both of which vary based on location)

often interlinked

4 drivers of envral degradation

population growth

consumption patterns

economic systems

technological change

> unevenly distributed across the world

governance structures & regulation in EM

design & enforce envral policies

role of regulations/incentives/market-based instruments in managing envral risks

importance of transparency, accountability, & participation

the anthropocene

geological epoch shaped by profound & lasting impacts of human activity

• humans now dominant diver of natural processes

• both direct & indirect

active adaptive management

treats management as an experiment as it goes

• tests hypotheses & monitors outcomes to directly inform future decisions

may happen for first-of-a-kind projects, treated as experiments for future reference

adaptive co-management

dynamic approach, combines collaborative elements of co-management with learning-focused strategies & flexibility of adaptive management

• multiple stakeholders work together while continuously learning/adapting to changing conditions

adaptive envral management (AEM)

structured, iterative approach to managing encral systems under uncertain conditions

• emphasizes learning by doing, treating management as experiential, & adjusting strategies based on what is learned

goal: to improve outcomes over time by integrating monitoring, feedback, & continous learning into decision-making

adaptive systems thinking

recognizes ecosystems as complex, dynamic, & interconnected

• management flexible & iterative - accepts impossibility of full control

• focus on leraning, resilience, & feedback

anthropogenic (social & economic) impacts

impact of a proposed project on people / communities / social structures / livelihoods / economies

• positive or negative

• often large range of stakeholders

• ie. livelihoods, employment, displacement, health, infrastructure, community dynamics, public services

arnstein’s ladder

higher you go, the more you are participating

1 - 2: non-participation

3 - 5: tokenism

6 - 8: citizen power

arnstein’s ladder: non-participation

1. manipulation: influencing, convincing, or trying to “educate” people (coercion)

2. therapy: “curing” people who express distaste for the project by convincing them otherwise

arnstein’s ladder: tokenism

3. informing: telling ppl about the project (more passive, not v. interested in their opinions)

4. consultation: info gathered from participants, but limited actual change/contribution from this in proceedings

5. placation: ideas infleunce decisions, but someone else ultimately does decision-making

arnstein’s ladder: citizen power

6. partnership: power shared by participants & another group (ie. gov), both make some decisions

7. delegated power: participants make most decisions (often urban projects)

8. citizen control: participants make all decisions (participants impacted by project in a significant way)

biophysical impacts

effects of a proposed project on envr’s physical & biological component

• often characterised as direct/indiret

• ie. soil, land, water resources, air quality, vegetation, biodiversity, climate, ecosystem & services

capacity building

COME BACK TO THIS - L5

co-management / shared management

collaborative approach where envral decisions & management is jointely shared between agencies & local stakeholders

• can be collaborative governance, but not all collaborative governance = co-management

• resource-specific

types:

• community-based management (CBM)

• adaptive co-management

example: Nunavut Wildlife Management Board

• adaptive co-management

collaborative governance

government agencies work together w/ non-governmental stakeholders (community grps, businesses, scientists, etc) in shared decision-making framework

• usually working with groups of people, not individuals

command-&-control

traditional EM strategies, aim to predict & control natural systems w/ top-down regulation & fixed rules

community-based management (CBM)

empowers local communities to take central role in EM decisions

emphasizes participation, decision-making, & local knowledge w/ community having prinary responsibility for various management realms

co-operative (joint) assessments

project designed federally, but also triggers provincial envral assessment

• ie. w/in provincial borders but has federal funding, federal mining project that also triggers provincial interest

both gov levels work together in cooperative agreement or memorendum of understanding

in a joint process:

• 1 assessment conduct to satisfy both gov reqs

• coordinated timelines, public participation, & reporting

• each gov retains own decision-making authority at end of process

cumulative effects

combined, incremental impacts when considered w/ past, present, & future actions

have:

• broader spatial & temporal scope (LR impacts)

• multiple impact sources

• incremental impact

• synergistic effects (interactions lead to totally diff impact)

ie. climate change, biodiversity loss, water resources

cumulative effects assessment (CEA)

process in an EIA, evaluates combined impacts of a proposed project along w/ past/present/future projects/activities in same region

goal: understand combined impact over time & broader area (rather than in isolation)

identify & focus on envral/social components (particularly valuable or vulnerable)

scope: broader/longer spatial/temporal

cumulative effects: look at interactions & thresholds

evaluates mitigation measures :

• develop strategies to mitigate cumulative impacts

• coudl include project modifications, more sustainable practicess, or broader regional planning efforts to manage cumulative effects

need continous monitoring to track cumulative impacts, esp. since they may be gradual

• adaptive management strategies put in place in case new/unexpected impacts arise

EIA process: decision making

1. EIA report submission: to relevant authority/decision-making body

2. regulatory review & public consultation

3. alternatives evaluation

4. mitigation measures assessment

5. weighing envral, social, economic factors

6. issuance of a decision

7. envral management & monitoring plans

8. appeals & legal challenges

9. announcement of final decisions & disclosure

compliance w/ envral laws/regulations

technical & scientific soundness

project benefits & stakeholder/community concerns

institutional & political context

designated projects

pre-identified project types that auto-trigger federal impact assessment under the IAA

• listed in Physical Activities Regulations; potential for significant adverse effects

• includes anything trans-provincial or intl boundaries, or anything w/ public funding

discretionary triggers

competent authority determines if EIA is required based on specific project circumstances

• allows flexibility to address projects that don’t meet forma criteria, but could still cause major envral impacts (location, context, or cumulative, etc)

• may be required for small projects in sensitive areas

• case-by-case, at discretion of authority

double-loop learning

reflects on & possibly changes goals/values behind actions

• does everything single-loop does, but also questions underlying assumptions/goals/everything

section 35 of Constitution Act (1982)

recognizes & affirms aboriginal rights

distinct role in participation

• indigenous peoples have distinct status as rights-holders, not just stakeholders

• participation must consider traditional knowledge, governance systems, & cultural values

duty to consult & accomodate

duty to consult & accomodate

Crown’s legal duty to consult Indigenous Peoples when actions/decisions may impact their rights

• range of actions from notification to accomodation

issues w/ treatment of indigenous peoples in envral projects

many standards, but varied implementations

treatment as stakeholders (rather than rightsholders)

consulting too late in projects

reducing indigenous knowledge to envral data points - devalues it

ignores intenral diversity w/in indigenous communities (treats them homogenously)

envral baseline assessment (EBA)

part of scoping in the EIA process

could be modelling, consulting in spurts, or looking at similar projects & how they are changing

used to establish baseline

EIAs public participation requirements

• public invited to comment during planning phase

• projet proposals & assessment processes readily available

• public comment periods required on key documents

• special provisions for meaningful indigenous participation

• participant funding available to support public/indigenous participation

envral impact assessment (EIA)

a systematic process to identify, predict, & assess potential envral, social, & economic impacts of a proposed project/policy

• proposed: before project starts

• important tool, integrates envral considerations into decision-making, aims to minimize negative effects & enhance positive ones

• direct & indirect impacts

• inform actors, stake-holders, & public by evaluating wide range of potential impacts, proposing mitigation measures, identifying alternatives, & esnuring sustainable dev in line w/ regulatory frameworks & EM goals

Canadian - governed by the Impact Assessment Act (2019) at federal level

purpose of EIAs

1. Identify & predict environmental impacts

2. Inform decision-makers

3. Mitigate negative impacts

4. Ensure regulatory & legal compliance

5. Facilitate public participation

6. Support environmental stewardship long-term

7. Promote sustainable development

free, prior, & informed consent (FPIC)

backed by several treaties (ie. UNDRIP)

indigenous peoples must be able to give/withold consent to projects impacting their lands, territories, or resources

must be free of coercion, prior to any approval, & informed w/ full info about potential impacts

EIA process: impact assessment

critical part of EIA, no EIA w/o it

identify, analyse, & evaluate potential impacts in detail

focus on envral

healps determine impact significance, is essential to guide decisions, design, & project approvals

impact assessment priority concerns

vulnerability: degree to which system susceptible/unable to cope w/ adverse effects of envral changes/hazards

• encompasses both system sensitivity & capacity to adapt / recover

• assessment = crucial to understand how external stressors (climate change, pollution) may impact it & to find measures to enhance resilience

tries to rank important impacts based on priority

impact assessment steps

1. identify potential impacts

2. predict impact nature & magnitude

3. impact significance evaluation

4. adverse impacts mitigation

5. residual impact assessment

6. risk analysis & uncertainty

7. Cumulative Impact Assessment

8. documentation & reporting

impact assessment act (IAA)

governs EIAs at federal Canadian level

replaced CEAA in 2019

• more emphasis on indigenous rights, transparency, public involvement, & sustainability

• still used today

public participation = core element

impact assessment agency of Canada (IAAC)

federal agency, oversees all major Canadian EIAs

primary goal: ensure potential impacts of designated projects evaluated before decisions = made

mandate:

• lead federal impact assessments, streamline projects & avoid duplication

• ensure assessments consider envral, health, social, & ecnomic impacts, including indigenous knowledge & rights

• engage public & indigenous ppl meaningfully throughout process

• provide high-quality evidence-based assessments to support decision-making

• promote sustainability, contribute to Canada’s envral/climate goals

EIA process: IAAC

conducts/coordinates EIAs for designated projects

consults indigenous grps, public, & experts

prepares report

provides evidence to Minister of Envr & Climate Change Canada

mitigation

SUPER vague - COME BACK

EIA process: monitoring & follow-up

after project approved & operational

• last step

focus on tracking actual envral impacts, determining if proposed mitigation measures implemented & effective, compliance w/ regulatory conditions

involves:

• monitoring: collecting data to track envral performance, assess if complies w/ outlined EIA terms

• envral indicators: specific metrics to monitor key areas of concern

  • monitoring frequency: how often measurements = taken, continously, periodically, or at key stages

• reporting: monitoring results compiled in reports & shared w/ authorities/stakeholders

• follow-up: ensure unforeseen impacts = addressed, project evolves sustainably

  • adaptive management, corrective actions, audits

EIA process steps

1. screening

2. scoping & baseline assessment

3. impact assessment

4. decision making

5. monitoring & follow-up

EIA vs IAA

COME BACK - L8

non-adaptive (traditional) management

assumes fixed model of world

aims for control & predictability, often fails in complex systems

nonlinearity

envral responses !always proportional to inputs

• sudden/unexpected changes can occur, challenging predictability & planning

participation in EM

engaging stakeholders from multiple disciplines & communities

stakeholders: all relevant parties (local communities, gov agencies, NGOs, etc)

aims to incorporate diverse POVs, improve decision quality, & foster community ownership of envral initiatives

rationales for pariticipation in EM

1. normative rationale (rationale of democratic rights)

2. instrumental rationale

3. substantive rationale

participation rationales: normative

participation =

participation rationales: instrumental

participation rationales: substantive

participatory approaches

passive adaptive management

residual impacts

resilience

scoping

screening

single-loop learning

adjusts actions to meet existing goals w/o questioning underlying assumptions/goals

socio-economic systems

sustainable development

transparency

Valued Components (VCs)

vulnerability