Refining the Cumulative Effects Lexicon
Funder
Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, Explore Grant (2019-current)
Project Team
Jill Blakley, Associate Professor, University of Saskatchewan, Principal Investigator
Background
Cumulative effects occur when the receiving environment can no longer assimilate ongoing perturbations, manifesting as issues such as desertification, wildlife extinction, ocean acidification, etc. However, recent research shows that all over the world, there is confusion about what makes an environmental effect cumulative which greatly confounds cumulative effects assessment (CEA) practice.
Cumulative effects assessment is the process of analyzing the potential cumulative impacts of a development project (e.g. mines, hydro dams, highways, refineries) in light of other impacts to valued environmental components and “proposing concrete measures to avoid, reduce, or mitigate such cumulative impacts and risks to the extent possible” (IFC 2013). While many CEA practice reviews appear in the literature over the past decade (e.g. Gunn and Noble 2009; Canter and Ross 2010; Ma et al. 2012; Bailey et al. 2014; Olagunju and Gunn 2015; Hipondoka et al. 2016; Foley et al. 2017; Willsteed et al. 2018), almost universally, that practice is panned.
A large part of the issue is there is widespread lack of understanding of cumulative effects. The term is frequently used, yet the underlying principles and definitions are poorly specified (e.g. Weiland 2010; Judd et al. 2015). For example, Franks et al. (2013) cite a need for better understanding of how the effect of an impact varies as a function of cumulating processes, adaptation, and feedbacks; better understanding of aggregation of impacts over time and space; and better understanding of system dynamics including compounding effects, time lags, space lags, triggers, limits and thresholds.
Very often, dealing with interactive effects in complex socio-environmental systems are either ignored or simplified because the concepts are just too complex (Weiland 2010). Morgan (2012: 9) notes that compared with other kinds of impact assessment, CEA is still relatively “under-developed”. Masden et al. (2010) believe that the well-documented lack of good practice in UK, Europe and North America is a function of the current lack of guidance, and particularly the absence of a common definition for cumulative effects. At present, there is no consolidated typology of cumulative effects or processes of accumulation, nor are there clearly defined criteria that distinguish cumulative effects from non-cumulative effect types.
Objectives
To develop a refined lexicon and consolidated typology of cumulative environmental effects and processes of accumulation.
Progress
Data collection is complete, with dozens of cumulative effects terms now identified through an extensive literature search. The next phase is consultative work to refine the lexicon and develop a consolidated typology.
File Hills Qu'Appelle Tribal Council Initiative on Cumulative Effects
Funder
Indigenous Centre for Cumulative Effects (ICCE) (2021-current)
Project Team
Shannon Thomson, Director of Lands, Resources, Environment & Stewardship, File Hills Qu'Appelle Tribal Council, Principal Investigator
David Fortin, Environmental Sciences Lead, File Hills Qu'Appelle Tribal Council, Co-Principal Investigator
Jill Blakley, Associate Professor, University of Saskatchewan, Co-Principal Investigator
Bram Noble, Professor, University of Saskatchewan, Co-Principal Investigator
Now Recruiting
The File Hills Qu'Appelle Tribal Council and the University of Saskatchewan are partnerning to investigate cumulative effects drivers/pressures and responses for the Lower Qu'Appelle River and the Qu'Appelle Chain of Lakes. We are currently recruiting research assistants/master students to undertake the research. If you are interested, please contact jill.blakley@usask.ca or click on the link below for more information.