Fracking Uncertainty
Hydraulic Fracturing and the Provincial Politics of Risk
Published on 24. September 2024
Book
Paperback/Softback
262 pages
978-1-4875-5269-5 (ISBN)
Description
Hydraulic fracturing - fracking - is an unconventional extraction technique used in the oil and gas industry that has fundamentally transformed global energy politics. In Fracking Uncertainty, Heather Millar explains variation in Canadian provincial policy approaches, which range from pro-development regulation to moratoria and outright bans. Millar argues that although regulatory designs are shaped by governments' desires to seek out economic benefits or protect against environmental harms, policy makers' perceptions of said benefits and/or harms are mediated through socially constructed narratives about uncertainty and risk.
Fracking Uncertainty offers in-depth case studies of regulatory development in British Columbia, Alberta, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia. Drawing on media analysis and interviews with government officials, industry representatives, academics, and environmental advocates, Millar demonstrates how risk narratives foster distinctive forms of learning in each province, leading to different regulatory reforms.
Fracking Uncertainty offers in-depth case studies of regulatory development in British Columbia, Alberta, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia. Drawing on media analysis and interviews with government officials, industry representatives, academics, and environmental advocates, Millar demonstrates how risk narratives foster distinctive forms of learning in each province, leading to different regulatory reforms.
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Toronto
Canada
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Dimensions
Height: 229 mm
Width: 152 mm
Thickness: 14 mm
Weight
358 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-4875-5269-5 (9781487552695)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Heather Millar is an associate professor of political science at the University of New Brunswick.
Content
List of Tables
List of Figures
List of Appendices
1. Fracking and the Politics of Risk
Risk narratives
Plan of the book
2. Fracking Uncertainty
Uncertain technologies
Uncertain economics
Uncertain environmental science
Responding to uncertainties: Subnational regulation
3. Analysing Uncertainty
Defining risk narratives
Risk narratives and hydraulic fracturing
Who participates? Where?
How does regulatory formulation occur?
Putting it all together: Risk narratives, actors, venues, and learning
Study design
4. Limiting Uncertainty in British Columbia
BC regulatory timeline
The political economy of British Columbia
Risk narratives in British Columbia policy debates
Technical learning and the path to single issue regulation
Absence of salient catastrophic risks
5. Monitoring Uncertainty in Alberta
AB regulatory timeline
The political economy of Alberta
Risk narratives in Alberta policy debates
Technical and political learning: The path to comprehensive regulation
6. Managing Uncertainty in New Brunswick
NB regulatory timeline
The political economy of New Brunswick
Risk narratives in New Brunswick hydraulic fracturing debates
Complex risk and epistemic learning
Uncertain risk and social learning
7. Contesting Uncertainty in Nova Scotia
NS regulatory timeline
The political economy of Nova Scotia
Risk narratives in Nova Scotia hydraulic fracturing debates
Uncertain risk and limited technical learning
Catastrophic risk and political learning
8. Regulating Uncertainty
Empirical implications
Theoretical implications
Practical implications for policy makers
Conclusion
Appendices
1. List of Actor Types
2. Interview Schedules
Notes
References
Index
List of Figures
List of Appendices
1. Fracking and the Politics of Risk
Risk narratives
Plan of the book
2. Fracking Uncertainty
Uncertain technologies
Uncertain economics
Uncertain environmental science
Responding to uncertainties: Subnational regulation
3. Analysing Uncertainty
Defining risk narratives
Risk narratives and hydraulic fracturing
Who participates? Where?
How does regulatory formulation occur?
Putting it all together: Risk narratives, actors, venues, and learning
Study design
4. Limiting Uncertainty in British Columbia
BC regulatory timeline
The political economy of British Columbia
Risk narratives in British Columbia policy debates
Technical learning and the path to single issue regulation
Absence of salient catastrophic risks
5. Monitoring Uncertainty in Alberta
AB regulatory timeline
The political economy of Alberta
Risk narratives in Alberta policy debates
Technical and political learning: The path to comprehensive regulation
6. Managing Uncertainty in New Brunswick
NB regulatory timeline
The political economy of New Brunswick
Risk narratives in New Brunswick hydraulic fracturing debates
Complex risk and epistemic learning
Uncertain risk and social learning
7. Contesting Uncertainty in Nova Scotia
NS regulatory timeline
The political economy of Nova Scotia
Risk narratives in Nova Scotia hydraulic fracturing debates
Uncertain risk and limited technical learning
Catastrophic risk and political learning
8. Regulating Uncertainty
Empirical implications
Theoretical implications
Practical implications for policy makers
Conclusion
Appendices
1. List of Actor Types
2. Interview Schedules
Notes
References
Index