The Paris Agreement spelled out an ambitious goal to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. The IEA recognizes that the gap between the goals of the Paris Agreement and efforts on the ground looms large. Carbon Capture and Sequestration is recognized by climate modelers as necessary to meet the Paris commitments in a cost effective manner. However, progress in deploying CCS technology has been slow.

This work seeks to contribute to developing the “business case” through valuation of environmental and social impacts related to potential risks in the extractive sector taking into consideration both academic and practitioner settings. A solid review of methodologies will lead to important considerations to improve the current assessment and valuation tools. The latter aims to help practitioners better estimate environmental and social impacts, and thus implement more informed strategies that reduce both business and societal risks.

There is a significant body of research on Corporate Social Responsibility in the mining sector. However, little empirical data exists about what works well across stages of the mine life cycle, particularly during early exploration.

A series of high-profile pipeline proposals and controversial changes to federal environmental legislative have created a “crisis of confidence” in the National Energy Board (NEB). As a result, the federal government has initiated a review and modernization of the NEB in conjunction with a broader review of federal environmental legislation. The purpose of this project is to support the Pembina Institute’s ongoing engagement in the NEB modernization process by undertaking policy research and developing recommendations to facilitate inclusive and accessible regulatory processes.

As Aboriginal people increasingly migrate to urban areas, it has become imperative to promote their socioeconomic engagement in the destinations. While there has been increasing research focuses on Aboriginal peoples’ quality of life (QoL) few studies explicitly measure Aboriginal people’s QoL based on a shared understanding of what QoL really means to Indigenous peoples and the government. Consequently, a meaningful conversation between the parties has not occurred to make a substantial improvement to the current status quo.

Nova Scotia forests boast the second highest private ownership rate in Canada, with almost 3 of 4.5 million hectares owned by 30,000 woodlot owners and private corporations. Because of this, forest management practices vary widely. Though the Nova Scotian forests traditionally consist of large, mature, unevenly aged trees that support both important biodiversity and a thriving forest sector, mismanagement of these forests for decades has led to a decline of the forests and the rural communities that depend on them.

Canada and US governments have committed to establishing preclearance for land, rail and sea travelers in a manner similar to that for air travel. While the primary reason for this is security, preclearance presents an opportunity to streamline journeys for travelers thereby creating better travel experiences and reputations for destinations.
The federal governments have agreed to implement preclearance in BC for those land, sea and rail gateways where U.S. Customs and Border Patrol already provide pre-inspection services.

The mining sector plays a huge role in the Saskatchewan economy, in addition to being the largest private sector employer of Aboriginal peoples in the province. It is important economically and socially for the mining workforce to be healthy and productive. Yet we know little about the impacts of physical and mental health on productivity, absenteeism, presenteeism and disability within the industry.

Since 2011, radiologists at Royal Jubilee Hospital (RJH) and Victoria General Hospital (VGH) have piloted a “Rapid CT” (CT = Computed tomography) program to provide same-day CT scans for patients referred directly by participating community physicians, with the intent of avoiding unnecessary ED (Emergency Department) visits. This research will test the hypothesis that the Rapid CT pilot project has reduced costs by reducing ED visits.

The goal of this project is to improve the health of patients in rural and First Nations communities by improving the implementation and delivery of telemedicine services. The intern will study the telemedicine clinic in Nisga’a territory, which is run through a partnership between Livecare (a telemedicine company run by physicians) and the Nisga’a Valley Health Authority (NVHA), who manage healthcare services for their members. The clinic that Livecare operates in Taylor, BC will be examined as a second case study.