A closer look at the fossil fuel industry

These types of central questions are traveling a six-year research as well as public engagement initiative, Mapping the Power of the Carbon-Extractive Business Resource Sector, with financing from the Social Sciences and also Humanities Research Council (SSHRC). The project brings together experts, civil society organizations along with Indigenous participants to study the actual oil, gas and fossil fuel industries in British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan.

“We’ve observed a rapid acceleration of fossil fuel extraction in recent years, ” says Dr . Bill Carroll, UVic professor of sociology and co-director of the relationship. “Yet our knowledge of the businesses involved and how they impact decision-making about our openly owned carbon resources is actually remarkably sparse. ”

“Over the coming year, we’ll be taking a detailed look at who the key gamers are in these industries-the businesses themselves, but also the many business associations that work to effect the decisions Canadians in addition to our governments make regarding oil, gas and fossil fuel resources, ” says Shannon Daub, who co-directs the particular partnership on behalf of Canadian Center for Policy Alternatives, BC.

“There are dozens of market groups to look at, some much better known to the public, like the Canadian Association of Petroleum Suppliers, and others that most people have in no way heard of, that form a strong lobby for fossil energy interests, " says Bedaub.

Hosted by the University associated with Victoria, the partnership will be jointly led by the college, the Canadian Centre with regard to Policy Alternatives (BC as well as Saskatchewan offices) and the Parkland Institute at the University regarding Alberta. In addition to the $2. 5-million SSHRC award, the task is also supported by $2 mil in matching contributions.

The actual partnership’s work will concentrate in four key places:

A systematic mapping of how typically the carbon-extractive industry is organized-which companies are involved, who operates them, who owns them and just how they connect to broader worldwide corporate networks.
Analysis from the sector’s influence on general public debates and policy making-such as efforts to safe social license, and corporate hyperlinks to governments, political events, lobby groups and private fundamentals.
Case studies of good “flashpoints”-such as the expansion or even development of new mines, sewerlines, oil fields or foreign trade facilities.
Development of an open resource, publicly accessible corporate database-along with a training program for people and civil society organizations, many of whom will lead and update data.
"Canadians understand how much economic power often the fossil-fuel energy sector wields, but we don't know possess that much knowledge of the actual method power is organized inside that sector, and how the actual sector wields influence more than other aspects of Canadian community, such as lobbying, media, schooling, " says Carroll.

“We are at a climate crossroads, ” says Trevor Harrison, director of the Parkland Start. “The decisions we create today about what to do with our own remaining oil and gas resources may have consequences for generations in the future. ” Adds Simon Enoch, director of the CCPA’s Saskatchewan office, “It is vital that people make these decisions democratically-and that requires transparency and a degree playing field. ”

SSHRC Partnership Grants support official partnerships between universities along with other partners to improve understanding of crucial issues of intellectual, interpersonal, economic and cultural importance.

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