scholarly journals Dialogues between social and natural sciences: contribution to the debate on socio-environmental conflicts

2015 ◽  
Vol 87 (4) ◽  
pp. 2335-2348 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruno Milanez
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Impact ◽  
Environmental Issues ◽  
Natural Sciences ◽  
Environmental Conflicts ◽  
Environmental Impact Assessments ◽  
The Social ◽  
Mining Projects ◽  
Negative Impacts ◽  
Strong Candidate ◽  
Social Environmental

ABSTRACT In this article, I argue that attempting to solve real problems is a possible approach to bring social and natural sciences together, and suggest that - as Environmental Impact Assessment necessarily brings together social and environmental issues - this debate is a strong candidate for such a task. The argument is based on a general discussion about the possibilities and limitations of Environmental Impact Assessments, the social-environmental impacts of mining activities and three case studies. The analysis of the cases indicates possibilities and limitations of the dialogue between scientists from various areas - and of the collaboration with social movements and affected communities - in avoiding negative impacts of mining projects and, eventually, increasing their sustainability.

Assessing 30 Years of Neoliberal Environmental Management in Chile

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Javiera Barandiarán
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Management ◽  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Environmental Impact ◽  
Scientific Knowledge ◽  
Conflicts Of Interest ◽  
Environmental Policies ◽  
Environmental Impact Assessments ◽  
Water Ecosystem ◽  
Negative Impacts ◽  
Mutual Accountability

Neoliberal environmental policies operate through markets, including for carbon, water, ecosystem services, or—as in contemporary Chile—for environmental scientific knowledge. Chile illustrates how markets for science operate, such as for monitoring data or environmental impact assessments, and their negative impacts on public trust in science and on the state’s regulatory efforts. In a society governed by a market for science, environmental scientists cannot escape the suspicion that conflicts of interest compromise their independence and the credibility of their work. Chile’s neoliberal 1980 Constitution sustains this market for knowledge but will be reformed following national demonstrations in 2019. The health of Chile’s environment depends on a new constitution that democratizes both democracy and science. Rights of nature doctrines, as in Ecuador’s 2008 Constitution, can provide the constitutional foundation for strong mutual accountability between science, the state, society, and nature.

Study on the Nonradioactive Environmental Impact Assessments for Chinese Nuclear Power Plants

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xinyu Wei ◽  
Hongbin Ma ◽  
Xiaowei Xiong ◽  
Duanjie Yang ◽  
Zhaorong Shang
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Impact ◽  
Impact Assessment ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Nuclear Power Plants ◽  
Environment Impact ◽  
Environmental Impact Assessments ◽  
Environment Impact Assessment ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Impact

In China, the radioactive environmental impact assessment (EIA) for nuclear power plants (NPPs) had been carried out in detail due to the specific characteristic of radiation and the social universal attention. However, the nonradioactive environment impact assessment for NPP doesn’t get enough attention. This should be improved, since the operation of NPPs could cause some serious nonradioactive environment impacts. Based on the investigation of EIA for American NPPs, the following suggestions were put forward for Chinese EIA: (1) the laws and regulations in China need to be revised for the EIA of NPPs; (2) the statistics of chemicals or biocides used in the operation of NPPs and their discharged concentration need to be tested; (3) the impact assessments of nonradioactive gas emissions as well as hazardous wastes need to be carried out to meet the national requirements; and (4) the monitoring of nonradioactive waste also needs to be carried out for NPPs to obtain the basic data.

scholarly journals Índice de Vulnerabilidade Socioambiental na Área da Gleba “C” da Universidade Federal do Pará, no Município de Belém

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 2322-2337
Author(s):  
Maria Carolina Chaves de Sousa ◽  
Peter Mann de Toledo ◽  
Filipe Gomes Dias
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
20Th Century ◽  
Social Economic ◽  
Environmental Issues ◽  
The State ◽  
Environmental Vulnerability ◽  
The Social ◽  
Social Environmental ◽  
The Right

At the beginning of the 20th century, urbanization and occupation of privileged spaces at the expense of “lowland” spaces and close to a floodplain. The “lowlands” were occupied by a population, mostly with socioeconomic needs, forming housing groups susceptible to flooding and flooding. To bring the recognition of rights to these occupants, a land regularization work was carried out by the Federal University of Pará - UFPA, together with public entities from the State and the Union. The article aims to present and compare the degree of socio-environmental vulnerability in the area of land C of UFPA in the municipality of Belém, object of land regularization activity, applying indicators and indices related to social, economic, legal and environmental issues. The results show that the degree of vulnerability is high in the years surveyed, concluding that the legal regularization work carried out in the area was only patrimonial, in order to transfer responsibilities for land use to the beneficiary residents and the recognition of the right of that title by law. . Effective land regularization work should involve a set of bodies responsible for the social, environmental, urban and land areas so that, in a concatenated and long-term manner, the work carried out is carried out so that the results are captured by the indicators and that the data decrease the degree of socio-environmental vulnerability in the studied area.

scholarly journals Neoextractivismo en América Latina y Colombia: una reflexión desde la ecología política

2017 ◽  
pp. 15-53
Author(s):  
Carolina Arias Hurtado
Keyword(s):  
Latin America ◽  
Environmental Justice ◽  
Political Ecology ◽  
21St Century ◽  
Local Level ◽  
The Political ◽  
Environmental Conflicts ◽  
The Social ◽  
America Latina ◽  
Social Environmental

En el artículo, se realiza una aproximación a la problemática del neoextractivismo en el siglo xxi desde la ecología política en el ámbito regional, nacional y local. En primer lugar, se presenta un panorama sobre las contradicciones del desarrollo neoextractivista en América Latina como expresión de la crisis multidimensional y la necesidad de búsqueda de alternativas. Enseguida, se examina la situación actual del neoextractivismo en Colombia, a partir del reconocimiento de los conflictos socioambientales y las luchas sociales por la justicia ambiental. Por último, se analiza el caso del municipio de Marmato (Colombia), lugar emblemático por la constante defensa del territorio como un patrimonio y un derecho.Palabras clave: neoextractivismo, ecología política, conflictos socioambientales, justicia ambiental. AbstractNeo-extractivism in Latin America and Colombia: a political ecology reflexion In this article an approach is performed to the problematic of neoextractivism in the 21st century at a regional, national and local level from the political ecology view. In the first place, it presents a panorama on the contradictions of the neo-extractivist development in Latin America, as an expression of the multidimensional crisis and the needing to search for alternatives. Next, it examines the current situation of neo-extractivism in Colombia from the * Estudiante del doctorado en Estudios del Desarrollo de la Universidad Autónoma de Zacatecas (México). Correo electrónico: [email protected] Controversia 207 abril 2018.indd 17 6/25/2018 8:20:18 PM 18 Controversia 208 recognition of the social-environmental conflicts and social struggles for environmental justice. Finally, the paper analyzes the case of the municipality of Marmato (Colombia), emblematic in the defense of the territory as a heritage and a right.Keywords: neo-extractivism, political ecology, social-environmental conflicts, environmental justice.

scholarly journals You Eat What You Are: The Role of Identities and Socioeconomic Factors in Meat Consumption and Acceptance of Protein Alternatives

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Aaron McKay-Valentine
Keyword(s):  
Social Identity Theory ◽  
Soil Degradation ◽  
Animal Ethics ◽  
Environmental Issues ◽  
Meat Consumption ◽  
Security Issues ◽  
The Social ◽  
Strongly Connected ◽  
Negative Impacts

<p>The consumption of meat has serious implications for environmental issues. It contributes to carbon emissions, soil degradation, and habitation loss. Meat consumption also has negative impacts on health, and animal ethics. Despite these issues, meat is still the preferred source of protein for many, and this reliance on meat will likely lead to food security issues in the future. Meat is not only a source of sustenance for some but is strongly connected to their identity. Due to this connection, meat remains an important part of diet, regardless of price increase and availability of protein alternatives. In order to reduce meat consumption, connections between meat consumption and identity must be understood. Using the Social Identity Theory, this research investigates how identities are connected to meat consumption, how they interact with different motivations for vegetarianism, how they can change to include vegetarianism, and how they resist protein alternatives. One-on-one interviews were conducted with a mixture of vegetarians and omnivores, followed by an online anonymous survey focusing on masculine, ethnic, and socioeconomic identities. Results indicate that these identities interact with both the three core concerns for vegetarianism and the perceptions of protein alternatives in different ways. The implications of this research suggest that identities can assist in efforts to reduce meat consumption, but this depends on the identities.</p>

Including health impacts in environmental impact assessments for three Australian coal-mining projects: a documentary analysis

2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 449-457 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily Riley ◽  
Peter Sainsbury ◽  
Phil McManus ◽  
Ruth Colagiuri ◽  
Francesca Viliani ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Impact ◽  
New South ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Health Impacts ◽  
Cumulative Impacts ◽  
Equity Issues ◽  
Environmental Impact Assessments ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Mining Projects ◽  
Health And Well Being

Abstract Notwithstanding the historical benefits of coal in aiding human and economic development, the negative health and environmental impacts of coal extraction and processing are of increasing concern. Environmental impact assessments (EIAs) are a regulated policy mechanism that can be used to predict and consider the health impacts of mining projects to determine if consent is given. The ways in which health is considered within EIA is unclear. This research investigated ‘How and to what extent are health, well-being and equity issues considered in Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) of major coal mining projects in New South Wales, Australia’. To this end we developed and applied a comprehensive coding framework designed to interrogate the publicly available environmental impact statements (EISs) of three mines in New South Wales (NSW), Australia, for their inclusion of health, well-being and equity issues. Analysis of the three EISs demonstrates that: the possible impacts of each mine on health and well-being were narrowly and inadequately considered; when health and well-being were considered there was a failure to assess the possible impacts specific to the particular mine and the communities potentially affected; the cumulative impacts on human health of multiple mines in the same geographical area were almost completely ignored; the discussions of intragenerational and intergenerational equity did not demonstrate a sound understanding of equity and, it is essential that governments’ requirements for the EIA include detailed analysis of the health, well-being, equity and cumulative impacts specific to the proposed mine and relevant communities.

scholarly journals Delayed and Approved: A Quantitative Study of Conflicts and the Environmental Impact Assessments of Energy Projects in Chile 2012–2017

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (13) ◽  
pp. 6986
Author(s):  
Sebastián Huneeus ◽  
Sergio Toro ◽  
Juan Pablo Luna ◽  
Diego Sazo ◽  
Andrés Cruz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Impact ◽  
Review Process ◽  
Assessment System ◽  
Environmental Conflicts ◽  
Environmental Decision Making ◽  
Logit Regression ◽  
Environmental Impact Assessments ◽  
Energy Projects ◽  
River Plants ◽  
Run Of River

The Sistema de Evaluación de Impacto Ambiental (Environmental Impact Assessment System—SEIA) evaluates all projects potentially harmful to human health and the environment in Chile. Since its establishment, many projects approved by the SEIA have been contested by organized communities, especially in the energy sector. The question guiding our research is whether socio-environmental conflicts affect the evaluation times and the approval rates of projects under assessment. Using a novel database comprising all energy projects assessed by the SEIA, we analyzed 380 energy projects that entered the SEIA review process between 2012 and 2017 and matched these projects with protest events. Using linear and logit regression, we find no association between the occurrence of protests aimed at specific projects and the probability of project approval. We do, however, find that projects associated with the occurrence of protest events experience significantly longer review times. To assess the robustness of this finding, we compare two run-of-river plants proposed in Mapuche territory in Chile’s La Araucanía region. We discuss the broader implications of these findings for sustainable environmental decision making.

scholarly journals Conflitos Socioambientais envolvendo Projetos de Mecanismo de Desenvolvimento Limpo (MDL) na América Latina10.5773/rgsa.v3i3.182

2009 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 155
Author(s):  
Andréa Ventura ◽  
José Célio Silveira Andrade
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Developing Countries ◽  
Latin America ◽  
Participant Observation ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Comparative Case Study ◽  
Environmental Conflicts ◽  
The Social ◽  
America Latina ◽  
Social Environmental

O Protocolo de Kyoto surge em 1997 como uma pretensa solução para o aquecimento global, Apenas um dos seus mecanismos permite a participação direta dos países em desenvolvimento: o Mecanismo de Desenvolvimento Limpo (MDL). A proposta deste mecanismo é que os países em desenvolvimento possam contribuir para a redução de gases do efeito estufa usando financiamento dos países desenvolvidos e, ao mesmo tempo, promovam o desenvolvimento sustentável. No entanto, não há um consenso os atores sociais envolvidos sobre a eficácia dos projetos MDL. Um número crescente de ONGs os critica, argumentando que não há contribuição para o meio ambiente global e para o desenvolvimento sustentável com o MDL. Este trabalho apresenta os resultados de uma investigação que analisou, através de um estudo de caso comparativo, dois diferentes projetos MDL na América Latina: o Projeto Plantar, no Brasil, e o Projeto Fray Bentos de Biomassa, no Uruguai. Os casos têm pelo menos um ponto comum: ambos envolvem conflitos socioambientais entre empresas privadas e ONGs sobre plantações de eucalipto em escala industrial. Através de revisão bibliográfica e documental, entrevistas com os principais atores envolvidos em cada caso, e da observação não participante, este artigo tenta analisar as principais semelhanças e diferenças entre estes conflitos. Observa-se que, não obstante as diferenças marcantes existentes, os casos são ligados em aspectos-chave, a exemplo da contestação ao modelo de desenvolvimento apoiado pelos projetos de MDL e da forma de contestação utilizada pelos integrantes do movimento social ambientalista de oposição. Palavras-chave: Conflitos socioambientais; Mecanismo de Desenvolvimento Limpo (MDL); América Latina. Abstract The Kyoto Protocol comes up in 1997 as a supposed solution to global warming. Only one of its mechanisms allows direct participation of developing countries: the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). The purpose of this mechanism is that developing countries can contribute to reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions using funding from developed countries and, at the same time, promote sustainable development. However, there is not a consensus on CDM projects effectiveness among the social actors involved. A growing number of NGOs criticize them, arguing that there is not any contribution to the global environment and sustainable development with the CDM. This paper presents the results of an investigation that examined, through a comparative case study, two different CDM projects in Latin America: Plantar Project in Brazil and the Project Biomass Fray Bentos in Uruguay. The cases have at least one point in common: both involve social and environmental conflicts between private companies and NGOs on eucalyptus plantations in industrial scale. Through literature and documentary review, interviews with key actors involved in each case, and non-participant observation, this article attempts to analyze the similarities and differences between these conflicts. It is observed that, despite marked differences, the cases are linked to key aspects, such as the challenge to the development model supported by the CDM projects and the contestation methods used by the social environmentalist movement of opposition. Keywords: Social Environmental Conflicts; Clean Development Mechanisms (CDM); Latin America.

scholarly journals What Will The Legacy Of The Pan American And Parapan Games 2015 Be For Toronto? Looking At Past Successes And Failures To Inform Toronto's Experience

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natasha P. Jailal
Keyword(s):  
Case Studies ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Sporting Events ◽  
Review Of Literature ◽  
The West ◽  
Mixed Use ◽  
The Social ◽  
Pan American ◽  
Negative Impacts ◽  
Social Environmental

The 2015 Pan American and Parapan American Games will be hosted in Toronto. The Athletes’ Village is being constructed in the West Don Lands and post Games will be transformed into a mixed-use community. Due to the scale of the project and brief duration of the Games, the creation of this new neighbourhood in Toronto is a sizeable undertaking but has the potential to accommodate Toronto’s anticipated growth and serve to connect the Waterfront from east to west. The central issue for this paper is identifying the legacy aspects of the Athletes’ Village and how stakeholders can work to mitigate any potential negative impacts identified. The investigation will focus on the social, environmental and economic impacts. Recommendations for stakeholders are presented based on the research approach which included interviews, a review of literature as well as case studies of previous sporting events in Winnipeg, Vancouver, Calgary, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and Guadalajara, Mexico.

Mining and Defensive Mobilization

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Akchurin
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Binary Logistic Regression ◽  
Indigenous Communities ◽  
Binary Logistic Regression Analysis ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Environmental Impact Assessments ◽  
The Social ◽  
Public Scrutiny ◽  
International Investors ◽  
Mining Projects

Opposition to the social and environmental impacts of large-scale mining has become more visible in Chile since the early 1990s, yet not all mining projects catalyze mobilization. Building on the concept of defensive mobilization, I argue that opposition is more likely when a project is perceived as a threat to some members of a community. Using a data set of all major mining projects submitted for environmental licensing since environmental impact assessments were implemented in Chile, I identify the conditions under which mining projects lead to opposition. The results, based on binary logistic regression analysis, show that projects threatening agrarian and indigenous communities, where threats to existing water and land uses are especially salient, are more likely to be opposed. Community challenges are also more likely for projects majority-owned by international investors. About four out of every ten proposed projects have faced opposition, and only a handful of projects have ever been definitively rejected, even as projects that are found to violate regulations are increasingly fined and challenged in court as well as facing protests and public scrutiny.

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