Objectives

This research program explored the impact of environmental assessment (EA) processes on the environmental outcomes of major infrastructure and resource extraction projects in Canada, Brazil, and South Africa. The research explored the hypothesis that in the politically contested domain of project development, project success is associated with the accommodation of conflicting interests through changes in project design (including mitigation and monitoring measures) which create environmental benefits, reduce environmental costs, and/or create compensations for affected parties. The research sought to identify design changes made in response to public pressure. The research employed a small-N comparative methodology and generated several research outputs.

Publications

Tubino, Denise (2009) The Quest for Socially Responsible Behaviour in Itabira: Not Just a Picture on the Wall, U of Guelph, Major Research Paper.

Boyco, Morgan (2010) Political Opportunity and Public Participation: EIA In Northern Canada and South Africa, U of Guelph, Masters Thesis.

Tubino, Denise, Devlin, John F, & Yap, Nonita. (2011). A busca pela responsabilidade socioambiental em Itabira. In Fernandes, Francisco Rego Chaves, Enríquez, Maria Amélia Rodrigues da Silva, & Alamino, Renata de Carvalho Jimenez (Eds.), Recursos Minerais & Sustentabilidade Territorial: grandes minas (pp. 307–332). Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: CETEM/MCTI.

Tubino, D. I. S., Yap, N. T., & Devlin, J. F. (2011). Professional practice: Vale and its corporate sustainability performance in Itabira, Brazil: is the glass half full or half empty? Impact Assessment and Project Appraisal, 29(2), 151–157. doi:10.3152/146155111X12913679730638

Devlin, J., & Tubino, D. I. (2012). Contention, participation, and mobilization in environmental assessment follow-up: the Itabira experience. Sustainability, 8(1), 106–115.