Cross-sectoral input for the potential role of science in Canada’s environmental assessment
| Autor: | Adam T. Ford, Caroline H. Fox, Alana R. Westwood, Jonathan W. Moore, Emily J. Sunter, Danielle Gauthier, Aerin L. Jacob |
|---|---|
| Rok vydání: | 2018 |
| Předmět: |
impact assessment
Government Multidisciplinary Impact assessment 0211 other engineering and technologies public consultation 021107 urban & regional planning Public consultation 02 engineering and technology 010501 environmental sciences Public administration environmental science 01 natural sciences Scientific integrity scientific integrity Environmental law environmental law Cross sectoral lcsh:Q Environmental impact assessment lcsh:L lcsh:Science lcsh:Education 0105 earth and related environmental sciences |
| Zdroj: | FACETS, Vol 3, Pp 521-529 (2018) |
| ISSN: | 2371-1671 |
| Popis: | Since being elected in 2015, Canada’s federal Liberal government has taken steps to overhaul major environment-related laws and policies, including federal environmental assessment (EA) and regulatory processes. During 2016–2017, a government-appointed panel toured Canada and received >1000 suggestions from diverse sectors of society regarding EA reform. Yet, different sectors of society may have different views concerning scientific components of EA. We analyzed written submissions during public consultation (categorized into five sectors) regarding five key scientific components of EA: (1) openly sharing information, (2) evaluating cumulative effects, (3) scientific rigour, (4) transparency in decision-making, and (5) independence between regulators and proponents. On the whole, submissions from Indigenous groups, non-governmental organizations, and individuals/academics supported strengthening all five components. In contrast, most contributions from industry/industry associations, and, to a lesser extent, government bodies or agencies, suggested that there was no need for increased scientific rigour or increased independence. These findings indicate that there is cross-sectoral support for strengthening some scientific aspects of EA. However, the degree to which the Government of Canada strengthens the scientific rigour and independence of EA will indicate whether environmental decision-making in Canada is aligned with preferences from industry or the rest of Canada. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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