The role of scientific evidence in Canada's west coast energy conflicts
Abstract
With salience, credibility, and legitimacy as organizing themes, we investigated how opposing
communities engaged with scientific information for two contentious proposed energy projects in
western Canada, and how their perceptions of science influenced its use in decision-making. The Trans
Mountain pipeline expansion, to carry diluted bitumen from northern Alberta’s oil sands to tankers on
British Columbia’s (BC) south coast, was expected to adversely impact biodiversity and contribute to
climate change. The Bute Inlet hydroelectric project, a large renewable energy project planned for BC’s
Central Coast, was anticipated to impact biodiversity but was largely seen as climate-friendly. Based on
surveys and interviews with 68 participants who had made one or more personal or professional decisions
pertaining to the projects, we discovered that values, cultural cognition, and media effects permeated all
aspects of using scientific evidence—from commissioning scientific research to selecting, assessing, and
weighing it with other forms of information. As a result, science was developed and used to support
positions rather than to inform decisions. We discuss ways to improve the use of science in environmental
assessments and other planning and development processes where engaged communities are divided
by oppositional positions. We hope this research will lead to community-university partnerships that
identify broadly salient, credible, and legitimate sources of information about energy and climate issues,
and foster knowledge mobilization across conflict divides.
Description
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License. The version of record is available at https://digitalcommons.northgeorgia.edu/jces/vol13/iss3/5.URI
https://digitalcommons.northgeorgia.edu/jces/vol13/iss3/5https://viurrspace.ca/handle/10613/23565
http://dx.doi.org/10.25316/IR-15452
Collections
Related items
Showing items related by title, author, creator and subject.
-
Walking the talk : leading change-related communications in Girl Guides of Canada–Guides du Canada, British Columbia Council
Wang, Audrey Ying-Hu (2017-09-21)This interpretive phenomenological study used an appreciative inquiry-based methods approach to explore how Girl Guides of Canada―Guides du Canada, BC Council could leverage its organizational values to communicate and ... -
Henderson scores for Canada!: memories and meanings of the 1972 Canada - Soviet Union Summit Series
Lewis, Timothy (Electronic version published by Vancouver Island University, 2013)The 1972 Summit Series is widely acknowledged as both the most significant event in Canadian sports history and a landmark cultural moment. Most Canadians alive at the time retain fond memories of Paul Henderson's ... -
Plan Canada - Volume 52, Number 1 (Spring 2012)
Unknown author (Canadian Institute of Planners, 2012-03)Regional planning today|L'urbanisme régional aujour'hui