As the Director of UBC’s Centre for Environmental Assessment Research, I have the privilege of leading a unique research organization in Canada. Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) practice demands creativity, open-mindedness, and the readiness to adapt to new and diverse forms of knowledge, evolving social and economic conditions, and rapid technological advancements. We are fortunate to have Dr Lauren Arnold join us as the CEAR Research Project Manager. Lauren has taken a lead in implementing and managing new projects suppression Indigenous led impact assessment, capacity building and training, and extending our work in cumulative effects assessment.
It is an understatement to say that we face significant environmental challenges. Climate change is an existential issue, yet denialism persists. We continue to transform our landscapes in unsustainable ways, degrade global water systems, and consume resources at rates that cannot be sustained. Disparities are increasing, and environmentally destructive ideologies appear to be gaining ground — even in Canada. These issues pose challenges for all facets of environmental management, including EA.
Recently, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning have assumed new roles in environmental management. While these advancements offer great promise, they also require cautious implementation. Technologies now provide more comprehensive, timely information and potentially more accurate predictions. However, these tools should be seen as aids to support practitioners, engagement, and decision-makers, rather than replacements. At our center, we are actively exploring these new tools with the understanding that they must be applied carefully, with a clear awareness of their limitations.
But effective EA requires more than just a strong technical foundation; it necessitates the ability to collaborate within interdisciplinary settings. The recent changes in Canada and globally indicate that the field is becoming increasingly complex, with a growing diversity of skills and people required to make EA successful. Our experience in research, collaboration with practitioners, and community work shows that best practices always include the ability to anticipate, innovate, and be flexible.
Over the last few years, we have expanded our work to support Indigenous-led impact assessments with a new collaborative project with the Tsawwassen First Nation. The outcomes of recent CEAR work with the Tŝilhqot’in National Government are now available Reports and Publications page. We have initiated new research projects focused on rethinking assumptions in Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria, strategic wildlife management, biodiversity and Environmental Assessment (EA), climate change risks and the electric grid, an analysis of data needs and availability in the Open Science Data Platform, and most recently, wildfire risk assessments and EIA. This work is responsive to the needs defined by our partners and is closely connected to practitioner requirements.
I invite you to explore the CEAR website to learn more about our people and research activities.
With best regards, Kevin Hanna PhD, CEAR Director
July 2024