TY - JOUR
T1 - Risk blindness in local perspectives about the Alberta oil sands hinders Canada's decarbonization
AU - Virla, Luis D.
AU - van de Ven, Dirk Jan
AU - Sampedro, Jon
AU - van Vliet, Oscar
AU - Smith, Alistair
AU - Pollitt, Hector
AU - Lieu, Jenny
PY - 2021
Y1 - 2021
N2 - Local perspectives can conflict with national and international climate targets. This study explores three stakeholder (community, provincial, and federal) perspectives on the Alberta oil sands as risks for a sustainability transition in Canada. In an ex-post analysis, we compared outputs from stakeholder consultations and energy-economy models. Our research shows that different local stakeholders groups disregarded some policy risks for the Alberta oil sands and Canadian energy transition. These stakeholders expected the sector to grow, despite increasing environmental penalties and external market pressures. The study revealed that blind-spots on risks, or “risk blindness”, increased as stakeholders became less certain about policy climate goals. We argue that “risk blindness” could be amplified by dominant institutional narratives that contradict scientific research and international climate policy. Strategies that integrate local narratives, considered as marginalized, provide perspectives beyond emission reductions and are essential for meeting climate targets while supporting a just transition.
AB - Local perspectives can conflict with national and international climate targets. This study explores three stakeholder (community, provincial, and federal) perspectives on the Alberta oil sands as risks for a sustainability transition in Canada. In an ex-post analysis, we compared outputs from stakeholder consultations and energy-economy models. Our research shows that different local stakeholders groups disregarded some policy risks for the Alberta oil sands and Canadian energy transition. These stakeholders expected the sector to grow, despite increasing environmental penalties and external market pressures. The study revealed that blind-spots on risks, or “risk blindness”, increased as stakeholders became less certain about policy climate goals. We argue that “risk blindness” could be amplified by dominant institutional narratives that contradict scientific research and international climate policy. Strategies that integrate local narratives, considered as marginalized, provide perspectives beyond emission reductions and are essential for meeting climate targets while supporting a just transition.
KW - Energy transition
KW - Ggreenhouse gas emissions
KW - Oil sands
KW - Risk and uncertainties
KW - Risk blindness
KW - Stranded assets
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85118593842&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.eist.2021.10.008
DO - 10.1016/j.eist.2021.10.008
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85118593842
SN - 2210-4224
VL - 40
SP - 569
EP - 585
JO - Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions
JF - Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions
ER -