Climate Change in the Canadian Impact Assessment Process
Date
2020-09-10
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Abstract
This thesis examines how climate change, particularly upstream and downstream greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs), have been considered in Canadian environmental impact assessment (EIA) of energy projects. The legal and policy framework on EIA for energy projects has evolved, and the recent transition from the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act 2012 (CEAA 2012) regime to the Impact Assessment Act (IAA) is the most recent change. Although the CEAA 2012 and the IAA share similarities, they have different requirements with respect to GHG emissions. One of the major differences is that the IAA makes climate change considerations an essential factor for the assessment and decision-making phases of the review and approval of a proposed energy project. Under CEAA 2012, climate change considerations were not clearly spelt out, though there were several avenues for GHGs to be considered in the assessment process. This thesis reviews the former regime and practice under CEAA 2012, then examines the new regime, and the GHGs consideration in the EIA process in the United States of America (U.S).
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Environmental Impact Assessment, Impact Assessment, Environmental Law, Upstream and Downstream Emissions, Greenhouse Gases (GHGs), Oil and Gas Law
Citation
Ajayi, A. O. (2020). Climate Change in the Canadian Impact Assessment Process (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca.