MES Major Papers

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https://hdl.handle.net/10315/28142

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Open Access
No ‘Walk in the Park’: Navigating the Complexities of Ecological Gentrification in Toronto
(2023-12-31) Elika Zamani; Laura Taylor
This major research paper aims to understand the phenomena of green gentrification in the context of the City of Toronto, in Ontario, Canada. Through a literature review, various scales of mechanisms that contributed to gentrification in the historical, social, political, and environmental context of Toronto were examined. Then, insights from local city planners in various capacities were collected through semistructured interviews. The resulting framework recommends context-specific guidelines for studying ecological gentrification, which include paying heed to planning policies, displacement patterns and mechanisms, factors impacting neighbourhood stability and economic development, and community engagement and inclusivity
Open Access
Placemaking as a Public Space Planning Tool in New Providence, Bahamas
(2023-12-31) Nastassia Pratt; Liette Gilbert
Public space in the Caribbean is increasingly under the planning and organizing power of the tourism industry. Since the emergence of development, the tourism industry has been positioned as an increasingly significant economic and spatial planning strategy in the region. In The Bahamas, waterfront public spaces for locals to enjoy and engage in everyday placemaking and social practice are often provided with “the tourist” as its primary end user. Locally activated public spaces, such as Potter’s Cay in New Providence, de-centers tourism and resists its spatialization forces. Potter’s Cay is an informal waterfront public space beyond the direct influence of tourism development and the “spatialization of race” that generally follows its projects. A literature review revealed a need to understand the full story of informal public spaces like Potter’s Cay to identify the impacts of development, the tourism industry, and local planning policy and development processes. Research revealed that the tourism sector in The Bahamas has been granted significant unofficial planning powers in lieu of explicit public space planning policy. Research also revealed that state and local community viewpoints on Potter’s Cay concerning its social practice, roots of spatial injustices, and cultural value differ. Additionally, a case study and observational study of Potter’s Cay has rendered as existing the complex transformation(s) of the area, its spatial injustices, its community and users, the ongoing placemaking happening in the area, and its layered Bahamian social space. It was found that public space planning that centers the lived experiences and needs of local Bahamians, like the Potter’s Cay community, is a more appropriate and relevant touchstone for Bahamian planning policy and enhancing the urban human scale of public life (Ghel, 2010).
Open Access
Somaliland: A critique of International Non-Governmental Organization (INGO)-led Development
(2023-12-31) Abdulrahim Mohamed; Justin Podur
Somaliland, situated in the northwest corner of the horn of Africa, has a past shaped by foreign rule and by conflict. Not internationally recognized as a country, it has been treated officially as an autonomous region within Somalia. Since 1991, when Somaliland unilaterally declared independence, international organizations and International Non-Governmental Organizations (INGOs) have played a major role in the rebuilding and development of the country. Because it is not recognized as an independent state, Somaliland is unable to access international loans and hence relies heavily on development aid from international partners. This paper examines the role of INGOs and critiques INGO-led development in Somaliland. It uses international development theories, encompassing various approaches from the pre-colonial era to the present. The history of Somaliland is explored during the British colonial era, tracing its trajectory from clan dynamics and civil war to the declaration of independence and the subsequent involvement of local and international NGOs. The paper focuses on funding mechanisms, priorities, and the diaspora’s role in the nation’s development to present the limitations of INGO-led development models. In this paper I examine the Somaliland Vision 2030 and the three National Development Plans (2011-2027). I address irregular youth migration (tahriib) and investigate agreements with the UAE and Taiwan with the introduction of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).
Open Access
Current and Best Practices for Scope3 Emissions Reductions in Higher Education Institutions – Procurement
(2023-12-31) Sze Ki Lo; Mark Winfield
Given the pressing need to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and the limited information available concerning higher education institutions’ (HEIs) approach to Scope 3 procurement emissions, this study investigates how HEIs measure and mitigate these emissions while identifying best practices. A review of literature, institutional websites and responses to a self-reporting sustainability performance framework was conducted along with a case study on York University. Results indicate a need to enhance HEIs’ awareness of procurement emissions, with only half of the HEIs examined calculating total procurement emissions. While Environmentally Extended Input-Output Analysis (EEIOA) emerges as the primary and recommended method for emissions estimation due to its resource efficiency, it lacks sensitivity to reduction strategies. Notably, HEIs predominately rely on product certifications under sustainable procurement schemes as reduction strategies, overlooking the reduction of consumption. These findings suggest that HEIs’ current approach to address procurement emissions often falls within the broader context of sustainability, rather than recognizing them as hotspots of emissions requiring attention for climate change mitigation. A re-evaluation of their approach is needed, given the urgency of the climate crisis. Future studies should address challenges related to data collection, standardization of emissions accounting and awareness of emissions embodied in products and services. Collaborations within HEIs and partnerships with other HEIs and suppliers present promising opportunities to reduce procurement emissions.
Open Access
Eco-Access? Investigating archival documentation for presence and radical re-definitions of access, inclusivity, and disability representation
(2023-12-31) Rielle Haig; Leesa Fawcett
My research is focused on analyzing archival documents to highlight inclusive language and themes of disability representation. Access in this analysis is seen on a sliding scale, as nature and the natural world, when analyzed through the lens accessibility is not simply a binary with the urban. Approaching the research, I reflected on and used a critical disability-oriented lens, with a specific focus on eco-crip theory to better understand access and inclusion of disability in urban natural spaces. I am interested in how the perception of access to nature affects the dialogue surrounding representation, and as a by-product, the experience individuals with physical disabilities may have in wilderness and nature. Experience in this context is posited on, first, the representation in the environment and second, the movement and act of accessing or moving through the space. For this research, I chose to investigate archival content documenting the Leslie Street Spit, a unique urban area in Toronto, Ontario. My archival investigation involved highlighting and interpreting the key themes of access, disability, and nature, using the Spit as an example, to find representation and presence of individuals with physical disabilities. Through the research, I discuss and argue that access and inclusion ought to be interpreted on a sliding scale, particularly when attempting to integrate these themes into discussions of nature and the environment. With this in place, the use of language and representation can lead to creating more inclusive spaces in the outdoors, both physically and theoretically. I suggest an increasing need to acknowledge and promote the presence of a diverse range of beings in nature and adjust the current assumptions of access and inclusion that tend to exclude disability.
Open Access
Planning the Future of the Underground: Taking Toronto’s PATH to the Next Level
(2023-12-31) Ryan Chow; Laura Taylor
The Toronto PATH is among the world’s largest examples of underground pedestrian systems, offering sprawling subterranean corridors linking major office buildings, subway stations, shopping centres, and other destinations throughout downtown Toronto. Nearly entirely privately constructed, owned, and operated, the PATH was primarily built in the mid- to late-20th century to cater to the convenient, climate-controlled circulation of downtown Toronto’s population of office workers. As I experienced walking through the PATH during the COVID-19 pandemic, I thought to myself how this network of once lively urban spaces was impacted by the pandemic, such as through the consequent rise in popularity of working from home. This ultimately prompted me to write this paper, which serves to explore the history of the PATH network, record the current conditions of the PATH, and evaluate its future role in serving Toronto. Underground pedestrian systems have not been heavily researched and I found that as the world was exiting the COVID-19 pandemic, this would be an ideal opportunity to rethink the purpose of the PATH as an urban space. Through the review of literature, many site visits to the PATH, and discussions with several individuals knowledgeable on the PATH, I sought to answer: What kind of space can the Toronto PATH underground pedestrian system be in the future? While the PATH did suffer from severe drops in pedestrian activity during the core of the pandemic, the networks have seen a rebound to nearly pre-pandemic levels on most days of the week. It is not anticipated for the PATH to see any revolutionary changes to its approach as a transportation system in the near future, however, new retail options and experiences can be expected as well as improved wayfinding. Nevertheless, the PATH should not rest on its laurels and would benefit from greater efforts towards keeping it relevant and purposeful for the future. New uses, expanded network coverage, continued improvements of the PATH’s spaces and their given amenities, and better integration between above-ground and below-ground spaces are encouraged for the PATH to become less dependent on its core office commuter clientele and live up to its full potential.
Open Access
Analysis of the Quality of the Green Bonds for Climate Action
(2024-08-31) Sila Basturk Agiroglu; Lina Brand Correa
This research aims to quantify and evaluate the quality of green bonds in terms of transparency and additionality at the issuance level. The study reveals the differences between different countries and industry groupings in their green bond quality assessment and aims to provide a snapshot of the status of the market. For the purpose of this study, 241 green bonds were analyzed. The sample represents 31% of the 774 green bonds disclosed by the International Capital Markets Association (ICMA) as aligned with ICMA Green Bond Principles which covers 2016 – 2022 period as updated on 25 November 2022. For each green bond issuance, the same metrics were collected through an extensive review of the publicly available green bond frameworks and their impact reporting practices. Using the data extracted and coded by the author, each issuance is scored in terms of transparency and additionality. In this study, the disclosure practices concerning the use of proceeds of an issuance feed the transparency score. On the other hand, additionality is assessed based on the presence of refinancing and if any, the share of refinancing in the total use of proceeds. Hence, an issuance may receive a high transparency score with a low additionality score in the final scoring table. Each selected metric, such as disclosure of the excluded activities from financing, affects only transparency or additionality assessment. At the same time there are some interdependencies between iii metrics. For instance, the share of refinancing in total financing is a determinant of additionality. However, to be able to assess this, there should be a disclosure of the refinancing share which feeds the transparency score. There is a growing literature focusing on the greenwashing risk in the financial markets. This research fills a significant gap in the literature in two aspects. First, it creates a green bond database focusing on detailed disclosures. To the best knowledge of the author, there is no similar database publicly available. Secondly, the analysis provides an evidence-based analysis of the quality of issuances. The results of this study indicate that there is significant room for improvement in the transparency practices of the green bonds even if they are aligned with the ICMA Green Bond Principles. Further policy development is needed to enhance the reporting practices of the issuers to limit the risk of greenwashing. Green bonds are not designed as tools to finance greenfield projects only. Any green bond can be fully or partially dedicated to refinancing. The results show that the majority of the issuances are dedicated fully or partially to refinancing. This resulted in lower additionality scores. The additionality scoring helps to distinguish financial capital dedicated to address climate change from green bond issuances structured as “nice to have” labels. In the absence of clear intentions and transparent communication of impact, no kind of label can help us in the middle of a global climate catastrophe. This iv research aims to provide evidence of the urgent improvements required in climate finance market by specifically focusing on its shining star green bonds.
Open Access
Planning for what nature, in whose city? Climate resilience and ecological imaginaries in the Port Lands Flood Protection Project
(2022-04-30) Alan Trumble; Jennifer Foster
This paper examines the Port Lands Flood Protection Project, a flood mitigation, ecological naturalization, and climate change adaptation project located in Toronto, Canada’s Port Lands area. Previously a site of post-industrial economic decline, ecological dysfunction, and flood risk, the area is being remade into a modern mixed-use neighbourhood with a newly constructed river estuary and a significantly increased area of naturalized habitat and recreational green space. Drawing from research on climate change resilience, urban political ecology, restoration ecology, and public participation theory, this paper investigates how the contemporary ecological imaginaries of the Port Lands emerged, how they have defined and influenced the course of the Port Lands Flood Protection Project, and what actors and interests have directed and been served by these developments. This research finds that the planning and implementation of the Port Lands Flood Protection Project has been defined by a series of compromises made by the project’s proponents between competing imperatives of ecological restoration and economic development, and between demands for public participation and the directives of government and private sector partners. While the project is a remarkable improvement on the state of the Port Lands, the compromises that have defined the project’s direction also threaten to undermine aspects of the project’s democratic legitimacy and its ability to produce long-term resilience in the area.
Open Access
The Caribbean Urban Phenomenon: Trinidad’s Development and Climate Change
(2023-08-31) Syne, Breanna; Gilbert, Liette
In the age of urbanization, the Global South has begun to experience rapid urban development. Trinidad is a small Anglo-Caribbean nation whose previous success with fossil fuel has allowed them to become a global business leader among other Caribbean nations. This success has led to Trinidad becoming highly urbanized and developed compared to other Global South nations due to its economic and land-use potential. Since the late 1800s, Port of Spain, the capital city of Trinidad, has been formally developed through street patterns and land uses and these planning decisions are still seen throughout the City today. The global threat of Climate change has imposed sudden changes for Trinidad and the government is now seeking new ways to diversify its economy and attract new business interests. Trinidad’s planning policy documents are anchored on the concept of sustainable development, which follows the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Trinidad’s national East Port of Spain (POS) revitalization project is a series of site-specific redevelopments of private and public spaces. The project’s goal is to shift the global narrative of East POS being a crime-ridden and impoverished area to becoming a booming economic center full of opportunities. This research paper explores the effects of implementing sustainable development practices through the case study of Piccadilly Street Urban Regeneration Project (PSURP). New pressures to modernize and develop Port of Spain have created new tensions between the state and civil society, which highlights potential gentrification in the interest of sustainability. PSURP is a classic example of a marginalized community who has been historically neglected by the government and is now on the verge of being displaced for new developments catered for a specific group of people. This research problematizes Trinidad’s approach to urban development as a solution to poverty alleviation and climate change by examining national planning policy documents: National Spatial Development Strategy (2013), Vision 2030: National Development Strategy (2016), and National Environmental Policy (2018).
Open Access
New Era’ of Mass Transit: Governance, Suburbanization, and Regionalism in Toronto and Montréal
(2023-08-31) Stogianou, Patrick; Keil, Roger
This paper examines the ways in which two mass transit projects, the Eglinton Crosstown in Toronto, and the Réseau express métropolitain in Montréal, are responding to changes and challenges in terms of governance, suburbanization, and regionalism. It uses experiences from the two projects, and the lessons learned from them, in order to identify a series of best practices for transit planning in Canada. Methods used included a document and content analysis, as well as walk-through components of station areas on both lines. The results of the research indicated that the lines were designed and built with goals of ameliorating some of the challenges related to suburbanization and regionalism in mind. However, one of the two projects was more successful in countering the challenges related to governance, whereas the other may be more successful in curtailing suburban sprawl. Overall, the paper concludes that the Eglinton Crosstown and the Réseau express métropolitain have provided a framework of how to develop mass transit projects in Canada, and has found that a focus on public involvement, transparency, and accountability are important for success in transit projects, and that developing a local industry from the experiences of projects built will be highly beneficial in the future.
Open Access
The 15-minute City Concept as a Solution to Climate Change in a Regional Context
(2023-08-31) Sadler, Monika; Taylor, Laura
The 15-minute city concept is an urban planning strategy that could be used as a solution to climate change in the context of a regional municipality. This paper examines the 15minute city concept as a solution to climate change in York Region. The 15-minute city concept is a popular sustainable urban planning strategy that has arisen out of media that could be useful in creating policies and plans to combat the effects of climate change. My research focuses on the 15-minute city concept as a positive strategy focusing mainly on urbanized cities and neighbourhoods, neglecting the inequalities and problems that could be associated with this concept. I conducted a literature review on regional planning and sustainable urban forms, interviewed planners at local and regional municipalities, examined two example cases, Ottawa, and Paris, and reviewed official plans and policies in York Region and other municipalities. From this research, I have concluded that the 15-minute city concept could work as a solution to climate change in certain parts of York Region. To fully include the 15-minute city concept in York Region, planners would have to create additional site-specific plans and policies. Overall, I think the 15-minute city solution is an accessible concept to understand that could be used in plans and policies to address sprawl and car dependency. Further research could include research on accessible urban planning wording and the 15-minute city viability in other regional municipalities.
Open Access
Placemaking as a Public Space Planning Tool in New Providence, Bahamas
(2023-08-31) Pratt, Nastassia; Gilbert, Liette
Public space in the Caribbean is increasingly under the planning and organizing power of the tourism industry. Since the emergence of development, the tourism industry has been positioned as an increasingly significant economic and spatial planning strategy in the region. In The Bahamas, waterfront public spaces for locals to enjoy and engage in everyday placemaking and social practice are often provided with “the tourist” as its primary end user. Locally activated public spaces, such as Potter’s Cay in New Providence, de-centers tourism and resists its spatialization forces. Potter’s Cay is an informal waterfront public space beyond the direct influence of tourism development and the “spatialization of race” that generally follows its projects. A literature review revealed a need to understand the full story of informal public spaces like Potter’s Cay to identify the impacts of development, the tourism industry, and local planning policy and development processes. Research revealed that the tourism sector in The Bahamas has been granted significant unofficial planning powers in lieu of explicit public space planning policy. Research also revealed that state and local community viewpoints on Potter’s Cay concerning its social practice, roots of spatial injustices, and cultural value differ. Additionally, a case study and observational study of Potter’s Cay has rendered as existing the complex transformation(s) of the area, its spatial injustices, its community and users, the ongoing placemaking happening in the area, and its layered Bahamian social space. It was found that public space planning that centers the lived experiences and needs of local Bahamians, like the Potter’s Cay community, is a more appropriate and relevant touchstone for Bahamian planning policy and enhancing the urban human scale of public life (Ghel, 2010).
Open Access
Retrofitting Concrete Utopias: Climate Change Adaptation for Mid-Century Housing Stock
(2023-08-31) Peters, Frederick; Keil, Roger
Toronto is the site of nearly two thousand 1960s concrete residential tower blocks in various states of maintenance, in various locations, more or less peripheral to the major public transit corridors, housing in many cases vulnerable populations on the peripheries of the economic core of the city. Overcrowding of apartments, lack of affordability, inadequate maintenance of basic amenities has been identified as significant problems in academic and social agency reports. This paper is concerned with extreme heat events related to climate change and mortality especially for vulnerable population in these legacy towers. My contribution to this discussion takes as its framework of analysis an understanding that social processes are sociopolitical negotiations in uneven relative power relationships. They are political and environmental. This project is driven by concerns for the experiences of human well-being in the face of the global climate emergency, efforts at reducing operational carbon emissions, and energy consumption, for cooling especially. Comparable towers in France and Switzerland, as well as low rises there and in Germany, are examined, buildings that have undergone significant retrofitting to address these issues. The towers and site analyses are approached within their specific locations, the natural environment and the social infrastructure within which they stand. Practical learnings from European cases and current practices in Toronto lead to practical policy recommendations that aim to bolster institutional and financial capacity in the Toronto situation to address the dual crises of affordable housing and climate change mitigation.
Open Access
Displacement and Survivance: Oromo Organizing and Urban Planning in Addis Ababa (Finfinne) and Minneapolis
(2023-05-31) Osman, Dulaa; Haritaworn, Jin
The role of independent media within Urban Planning is deeply important as it provides a contrasting perspective to the government narrative. In Ethiopia censorship is the norm so members of the public are limited in what they can say on planning issues as going against the government can be seen threat. Diaspora media outlets such as the Oromo Media Network (OMN) play a critical role in amplifying the voices of people that are organizing against the state driven development which seeks to destroy their livelihoods. The Oromo protest movement lead by the Qeerroo (Unmarried young person) against the Addis Ababa Integrated Master Plan was transnational stretching to Oromo street in City of Minneapolis. This paper draws upon a diverse set of literature to argue that the creation of Oromo Street is an instance of post-colonial space making, as the Oromo who had been invisible within the Ethiopian Empire are now visible in the City of Minneapolis. The paper examines the intangible cultural assets of Oromo Street through a community mapping project that shares pictures and stories of Oromo members of the Minneapolis community. It also assesses City of Minneapolis Official Plan 2040 and how it can uplift the Oromo community's cultural heritage.
Open Access
Understanding Human-Wildlife Relationships in Northern Italy
(2023-08-31) Mole, Alessia; Colla, Sheila
There is an abundant of interdisciplinary research regarding connections between humans and nature aimed at mobilizing Local Ecological Knowledge and perspectives within conservation efforts. Additionally, despite an abundance of research concerning pollinator declines, there is very little research exploring local knowledge of pollinators within connections between humans and nature. To address this gap, we conducted interviews with thirty-five local people in communities surrounding Monte Grappa in the northern region of Veneto, Italy to explore generational differences in relationships between people, plants, and pollinators. Our study aimed to understand Local Ecological Knowledge (LEK) that exists in this area regarding local plant use, whether such knowledge extends to local pollinator species of which those plants depend on, as well as the perception of threats to local ecosystems and wildlife. We focused on three local, native species of plants (Stachys recta, Taraxacum officinale, and Hypericum perforatum) and insects (Vespa crabro, Apis mellifera, various species from genus Bombus, various bee species from family Apoidea, various wasp species from family Vespidae, various fly species from family Syrphidae) to prompt discussion and to grasp the LEK that exists in the area regarding key species. Semi-structured interviews including questions regarding participants’ general relationships and awareness of the surrounding natural areas and local pollinator species. Participants were also shown photos of local plants and insects and asked if they could identify the species, knew any local names, noticed any pollinators visiting (for the plants), knew of any uses (for the plants), if they noted any behaviours (for the insects) and any other natural history observations Overall, we found that LEK regarding local plants, for the majority of participants, did not extend to local pollinator species. For plant species, LEK was most notable regarding culinary uses of Taraxacum officinale that has been foraged in the area over many generations and recognized for several health benefits. Stachys recta and Hypericum perforatum were recognized by some participants as being used by previous generations for medicinal remedies. For insects, Apis mellifera was the most mentioned and recognized species among participants, while other ubiquitous local, native pollinators were less likely to be identified. Our results also found that vineyards and pesticides were the biggest concerns of participants regarding threats to both the surrounding natural area and pollinator species, of which we discuss could be attributed to participants’ personal connection to land-use change.
Open Access
Investigating the Eglinton LRT Crosstown: Understanding the Impact of Transit Oriented Development on Racialized Communities in Flemingdon Park
(2023-08-31) Mohamud, Anab; Kipfer, Stefan
Over the recent years, we have seen Transit Oriented Developments (TODs) expansion in the development and construction phase across Toronto. TODs are near existing and newly constructed transit lines like the Eglinton Crosstown LRT East. Although the construction of TODs is highly encouraged amongst policymakers, developers, and planners to curb urban sprawl and a means of building more dense, sustainable, and accessible communities that would see residents utilizing public transportation in their daily lives, there has not been an indepth analysis on the wide-ranging effects of such transit-related projects on neighbouring communities such as Flemingdon Park. Several relatively old apartment buildings with social housing projects (Toronto Community Housing) are close to the newly built Science Center Station (Eglinton Crosstown LRT). Issues arise when landlords and property managers see the significant investment in transit projects as an opportunity to increase rent and turn what has traditionally been a relatively affordable area into a means of collecting massive profits. In this research paper, I outline Flemingdon Park's development to understand the community's history and what it looks like currently with the construction of TODs and the LRT. Then I look at Transit Oriented Developments and Affordable Housing, specifically delving into the case of 31-35 St. Dennis Drive, apartment building to understand the issues that tenants are facing, such as renoviction, above-guideline rent increases and what has since pushed them to fight back and organize a rent strike. The paper concludes by examining the role of community-based participatory planning and how citizen control and power can open pathways to meaningful engagement within urban planning processes.
Open Access
Memories to Futures: Re-Imagining Planning Toronto through Black Art and Stories
(2023-08-31) Mohamed, Nasra; Abbruzzese, Teresa
Memories to Futures: Re-Imagining Planning Toronto through Black Arts and Stories is a two-part portfolio project. The purpose of this research is to honour and document moments of community amid rapid change. To demonstrate what the everyday lives and challenges of blackness in Toronto may look like. The first portfolio component is platformed through a digital gallery https://firgroveviewsruins.wordpress.com/ and combines storytelling, photography as a reflective piece of revitalization of the Jane and Firgrove community. The second component is demonstrated as a critical mapping project profiling Black Toronto artists https://toblackartmapping.wordpress.com/.Clyde Woods, Blues epistemology informs mapping as the cultural history of Hip Hop, Blues operated as tools of resistance and expressing urban realities.
Open Access
Rights of nature and the “kincentric” turn in Canadian settler law
(2023-08-31) Kushnir, Michelle; Scott, Dayna
This paper considers how the legal articulation of “rights of nature” (RoN) advances social and environmental justice goals in Canada. Focusing on the St. Lawrence River (STL) watershed as a case study, it explores why politicians and environmental not-for-profit groups (ENGOs) have pursued a RoN legislation strategy in this case, and what they hope to achieve. The story that emerged is that the RoN movement is evidence of a hoped-for paradigm shift that is critical for the world and that is to some extent already occurring. This paradigm shift is often described as one towards ecocentrism or towards a more Indigenous-centred view. Alternately, the concept of “kincentrism” is another way of understanding the shift that the RoN movement is encouraging. Kincentrism can be seen as a reorientation for North American settler colonial society, towards greater respect for relationality between, and common ancestry of, human and non-human life. This way of understanding kinship is central to many Indigenous legal systems and worldviews. The research demonstrated that many of those actively involved in the RoN movement are planting the seeds of a shift towards (or perhaps back to) a more relational way of understanding the world and its non-human elements. This supports the suggestion that nature rights can be considered a “collective” form of right that is itself more relational than more traditional western rights concepts. While there is optimism amongst many advocates that a RoN-related paradigm shift could have profound socioecological impacts, there are numerous hurdles. First, if the RoN movement in Canada is to support or compliment Indigenous rights, it must be grounded in Indigenous laws rather than simply be “inspired” by them. To accomplish this, RoN initiatives should be led or co-led by Indigenous peoples and include grassroots Indigenous voices. Second, “anthropocentrism” as well as human failures to protect the environment are often cited as key causes of the problems RoN laws aim to address. In employing this framing, advocates and legal drafters must neither erase the fact of historical and ongoing Indigenous stewardship, nor ignore the role of other socio-economic and political forces contributing to environmental degradation such as (racial) capitalism and the ongoing effects of colonialism. Finally, a related concern is that the movement must not distract from or undermine Indigenous self-determination efforts. While the initial two bills did not advance past first reading, other RoN movement goals such as public education may be advancing. As well, the increased public involvement of Indigenous leaders in STL rights recognition efforts over the past year is a positive sign. It may indicate that the RoN movement in Canada represents and supports progress towards greater respect for, recognition of and prioritization of Indigenous knowledges, laws, and lifeways.
Open Access
A Spatially Explicit Assessment of the Biocapacity of Brazilian Forests from 2001 to 2019
(2021-12-31) Kapoor, Chaya; Mulvihill, Peter
Through the demand for resources and ecosystem services, the accumulation of atmospheric carbon dioxide poses a striking example of how humanity exceeds the regenerative and absorptive capacity of the biosphere. The magnitude to which humans exceed this threshold is often expressed using the Ecological Footprint (EF) methodology. This approach tracks the amount of biologically productive areas on Earth for which human demands compete. Forested land is an integral component of the EF methodology since it is expected to meet multiple competing demands. This paper assesses the forest component of the National Footprint & Biocapacity Accounting (NFBA) framework – the most widely known application of the EF methodology. It investigates the forest component from a methodological and data perspective through an extensive literature review. Since the discussion of outdated input data to the forest component seems neglected in the literature, this study explores alternative datasets to estimate a key parameter of the carbon Footprint (cF), the Average Forest Carbon Sequestration (AFCS). A spatially explicit analysis involving net primary productivity (NPP) and land use datasets is conducted to generate forest metrics and timeseries data for the country of Brazil between 2001 and 2019. The results are subsequently compared to forest area and biocapacity data found in the NFBAs. The outcome of this analysis presents forest extent and productivity data in a more nuanced manner which could work towards improving the robustness of the Accounts if applied at the global scale.
Open Access
Turning Tides: Sustainability Measures for Shark Conservation
(2023-08-31) Guido, Vivian; Terry, Mark
This major project paper explores the critical role of environmental documentary films in addressing the lack of ocean-related environmental education programs in academic and non-academic settings. Focusing on marine conservation and biodiversity, particularly sharks, the study showcases how sharing scientific knowledge through documentary films facilitates easy and comfortable engagement with ocean-related topics. By targeting youth, who are well-acquainted with technology and media, the research emphasizes the potential of documentary films to improve environmental knowledge retention, thus advancing ocean literacy and awareness. The study incorporates in-person observations of at-risk marine environments, such as coral reefs and seagrass meadows, as well as endangered marine species, primarily sharks and rays, to assess specific conservation needs and understand the correlation between ocean and human health. Through visual documentation, the film presents compelling evidence of global ocean health decline, urging governments, policymakers, and the public to prioritize socio-political changes. Among the evidence presented, an interview with marine biologist and shark scientist David McGuire offers valuable support and credibility to the information and examples being shared. Aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal #14, the research shares the current state of oceans and their biodiversity. By bridging science, policy, and education through film, it contributes to increasing ocean literacy and inspires conservation behavior. The paper concludes by affirming the effectiveness of film and media as educational tools, breaking language barriers and providing universally understandable evidence that encourages future efforts to promote ocean stewardship.