The Canadian Environment in Political Context, Third Edition
3rd Edition
Published on 30. June 2025
Book
Paperback/Softback
288 pages
978-1-4875-5461-3 (ISBN)
Description
The Canadian Environment in Political Context offers an accessible introduction to environmental politics for undergraduate readers. The third edition features new chapters on environmentalism, climate governance, biodiversity, and oceans, while also integrating key topics such as political economy and environmental justice into the existing twelve-chapter structure.
The book begins with an overview of environmental quality across Canada and then examines the political institutions and policymaking processes that shape the country's environmental landscape. It traces the history of environmentalism in Canada and explores critical contemporary issues, including Indigenous perspectives, environmental justice, and the unique challenges facing the North. Enhanced with case studies, key terms, and a comprehensive glossary, this new edition provides a thorough foundation for understanding the major environmental challenges of the twenty-first century.
The book begins with an overview of environmental quality across Canada and then examines the political institutions and policymaking processes that shape the country's environmental landscape. It traces the history of environmentalism in Canada and explores critical contemporary issues, including Indigenous perspectives, environmental justice, and the unique challenges facing the North. Enhanced with case studies, key terms, and a comprehensive glossary, this new edition provides a thorough foundation for understanding the major environmental challenges of the twenty-first century.
Reviews / Votes
"Andrea Olive and Heather Millar skillfully introduce the dynamic world of environmental policy-making, emphasizing the influential roles of institutions, industry, Indigenous Nations, and social movements. Centring these political forces effectively illustrates the complex and often contested relationships we have with land, water, and air. Despite covering a wide range of topics, Olive and Millar maintain an accessible writing style, combining verve with clarity. This engaging book is essential reading for anyone interested in environmental policy-making in Canada." -- Minh Do, Assistant Professor of Political Science, University of Guelph "This third edition updates the basics of law and policy-making as it relates to the environment in Canada, making it relevant for those interested in using it as a primer for undergraduate and graduate courses as well as for public servants. Updates include a second author who gives an Eastern Canadian perspective and new chapters which are extremely relevant to Canada- just as oceans, biodiversity, and Indigenous governance are relevant. It uses recent examples to help give key clear context in a clear and concise manner. The discussion questions help readers to think about the content of each chapter in their own lives and to examine their own world view and foster class conversation." -- Sheila R. Colla, Associate Professor of Interdisciplinary Conservation Science, York UniversityMore details
Edition
Third Edition
Language
English
Place of publication
Toronto
Canada
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Edition type
New edition
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Dimensions
Height: 234 mm
Width: 188 mm
Thickness: 13 mm
Weight
517 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-4875-5461-3 (9781487554613)
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
Persons
Andrea Olive is a professor of political science and geography, geomatics, and environment at the University of Toronto, Mississauga.
Heather Millar is an associate professor of political science at the University of New Brunswick.
Heather Millar is an associate professor of political science at the University of New Brunswick.
Content
List of Figures, Maps, and Tables
Preface
Acknowledgements
1. Canada in Context
Canada's Land and Waters
Canada's Environmental History
Environmental Issues in Canada
Factors Affecting Environmental Quality
Conclusions
2. Canadian Politics and Institutions
Canada's Political Institutions
Federalism
Multiple Levels of Governance
Conclusions
3. Making Policy in Canada
Policy Actors
The Policy Process
Policy Instruments and Tools
Policy-Making in the Provinces
Policy-Making in the Territories
Conclusions
4. Environment in Theory, Practice, and Policy
Environmentalism as Ideology
Environmentalism as Social Movement
Four Waves of Environmentalism in Canada
Environmental Politics as Public Policy
Conclusion
5. Risk and Chemical Governance
Chemical Pollution
Federal Chemical Policy
The Provinces and Chemicals
Cities and Chemical Pollution
NGOs and Chemical Pollution
The Business Community and Chemical Pollution
Citizens and Chemical Pollution
Indigenous Peoples and Chemical Pollution
Conclusions
6. Water and Air Pollution Governance
What Is Water Pollution?
What Is Air Pollution?
The Federal Government and Water and Air Pollution
The Provinces and Water and Air Pollution
Cities and Water and Air Pollution
NGOs and Water and Air Pollution
The Business Community and Water and Air Pollution
Citizens and Water and Air Pollution
Indigenous Peoples and Water and Air Pollution
Conclusions
7. Global Governance of Environmental Issues
Global Institutions
Conclusions
8. Biodiversity Governance
Federal Conservation of Biodiversity
Provinces and Biodiversity
Cities and Biodiversity
NGOs and Biodiversity
The Business Community and Biodiversity
Citizens and Biodiversity
Indigenous Peoples and Biodiversity
Conclusions
9. Climate Governance
Defining Climate Change
Canada's International Climate Commitments
Federal Climate Policy
Provincial Climate Policy
Cities and Climate Change Policy
NGOs and Climate Change Policy
The Business Community and Climate Change Policy
Citizens and Climate Change Policy
Indigenous Peoples and Climate Change Policy
Conclusions
10. Oceans Governance
Federal Government and Oceans
Provinces and Oceans
Cities and Oceans
NGOs and Oceans
The Business Community and Oceans
Citizens and Oceans
Indigenous Peoples and Oceans
Conclusions
11. Northern Environmental Governance
What Is the Arctic?
Territories and Governance in the North
International Laws in the Arctic
The Arctic Council
NGOs in the North
Conclusions
12. Conclusion: Looking Forward
Net-Zero, Energy Transitions, and Political Backlash
Emerging Alternatives: Justice, Degrowth, and Rights of Nature
Conclusions
Glossary
References
Index
Preface
Acknowledgements
1. Canada in Context
Canada's Land and Waters
Canada's Environmental History
Environmental Issues in Canada
Factors Affecting Environmental Quality
Conclusions
2. Canadian Politics and Institutions
Canada's Political Institutions
Federalism
Multiple Levels of Governance
Conclusions
3. Making Policy in Canada
Policy Actors
The Policy Process
Policy Instruments and Tools
Policy-Making in the Provinces
Policy-Making in the Territories
Conclusions
4. Environment in Theory, Practice, and Policy
Environmentalism as Ideology
Environmentalism as Social Movement
Four Waves of Environmentalism in Canada
Environmental Politics as Public Policy
Conclusion
5. Risk and Chemical Governance
Chemical Pollution
Federal Chemical Policy
The Provinces and Chemicals
Cities and Chemical Pollution
NGOs and Chemical Pollution
The Business Community and Chemical Pollution
Citizens and Chemical Pollution
Indigenous Peoples and Chemical Pollution
Conclusions
6. Water and Air Pollution Governance
What Is Water Pollution?
What Is Air Pollution?
The Federal Government and Water and Air Pollution
The Provinces and Water and Air Pollution
Cities and Water and Air Pollution
NGOs and Water and Air Pollution
The Business Community and Water and Air Pollution
Citizens and Water and Air Pollution
Indigenous Peoples and Water and Air Pollution
Conclusions
7. Global Governance of Environmental Issues
Global Institutions
Conclusions
8. Biodiversity Governance
Federal Conservation of Biodiversity
Provinces and Biodiversity
Cities and Biodiversity
NGOs and Biodiversity
The Business Community and Biodiversity
Citizens and Biodiversity
Indigenous Peoples and Biodiversity
Conclusions
9. Climate Governance
Defining Climate Change
Canada's International Climate Commitments
Federal Climate Policy
Provincial Climate Policy
Cities and Climate Change Policy
NGOs and Climate Change Policy
The Business Community and Climate Change Policy
Citizens and Climate Change Policy
Indigenous Peoples and Climate Change Policy
Conclusions
10. Oceans Governance
Federal Government and Oceans
Provinces and Oceans
Cities and Oceans
NGOs and Oceans
The Business Community and Oceans
Citizens and Oceans
Indigenous Peoples and Oceans
Conclusions
11. Northern Environmental Governance
What Is the Arctic?
Territories and Governance in the North
International Laws in the Arctic
The Arctic Council
NGOs in the North
Conclusions
12. Conclusion: Looking Forward
Net-Zero, Energy Transitions, and Political Backlash
Emerging Alternatives: Justice, Degrowth, and Rights of Nature
Conclusions
Glossary
References
Index