Lecture 3.1 Actors, Activism, and Adani GEOG20003 PDF

GEOG20003 Elena Tjandra, School of Geography, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences Lecture 3.1 Actors, activism, and Adani 1 Today: What is a stakeholder Adani/Carmichael mine controversy Stakeholder an...

GEOG20003 Elena Tjandra, School of Geography, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences Lecture 3.1 Actors, activism, and Adani 1 Today: What is a stakeholder Adani/Carmichael mine controversy Stakeholder analysis assessment  N USA PUEBLA VERACRUZ Gulf of MEXICO Mexico Mexico City Pacific Ocean BELIZE Oaxaca GUATEMALA O A X A C A Oaxaca de Juárez Valles Centrales GUERRERO region INSET Magdalena San José del Progreso CHIAPAS Ocotlán Pacific Ocean 0 50 100 km © Cartography, Chandra Jayasuriya What is a stakeholder? “The people and organizations who are involved in or affected by an action or policy and can be directly or indirectly included in the decision-making process” (Freeman 1984; Annan 2007; Sterling et al.) Actors become stakeholders when they contribute to a policy problem, are needed for solving the problem, or are affected by problem-solving activities. Stakeholders and actors Resource users Indigenous groups Environmental NGOs Political parties and interest groups Corporations, businesses, industry groups Environmental and social movements Affected individuals Alliances of NGOs Other supporters/objectors, e.g. transnational campaigns Residents, consumers, … Hidden stakeholders  Identifying stakeholders Vogler, D., Macey, S, & Sigouin, A. (2017). Stakeholder Analysis in Environmental and Conservation Planning. Lessons in Conservation, 7, pp.5-16.  Wicked problems (Head, 2008, p. 104; 2010b, p. 22)  Adani’s Carmichael Mine #StopAdani - biggest environmental campaign seen for some time. Part of a coordinated global environmental movement towards no new coal mines. “It is talismanic. It’s the litmus test. Adani has become shorthand for ‘are you serious about climate change?’.” (Labor figure, May 2017) Queensland location, but multiple actors working across multiple scales (state, non- state, and hybrid transnational networks engaged in multiple forms of social steering). https://www.tiki-toki.com/timeline/entry/1006867/Timeline-of-StopAdani-actions http://envlaw.com.au/carmichael-coal-mine-case/  Adani’s Carmichael Mine: Background 2010: Adani (Indian private corporation) bought largest coal mine endeavour in Australia ($2.72bn). Was to begin production in 2014. 2011: Paid $1.83bn for 99-year lease Abbot Pt Coal Terminal. Galilee Basin (central QLD) = ~247,000 km2 coal reserves, ~400km from coast Thermal coal - for generating electricity - largest in Australia. First mining basin opened up in 50 years. Originally planned to be the largest untapped coal reserve on the planet. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-46383597 July 2019: Construction of Carmichael Mine begins after receiving final govt approvals.  At full production, the proposed Galilee Basin projects would double Australia’s coal exports to >600 million T/year. If the GHG emissions resulting from the burning of Galilee coal were compared to emissions from other countries, the Galilee Basin would rank as the world’s seventh biggest contributor of CO 2 pollution. Development of the Basin is the driver for the proposed expansion of coal ports along the GBR coast, causing further international concern. http://galileebasin.org/overv iew/#fn3-129  Political Economic Dimensions – National, International, Global,... India: energy supply security. Australia: energy demand security. “no credible energy transition plan Continuation of the environmental for an economy like Australia that does not involve the greater use history seen since colonization. of gas”. – former Prime Minister Fossil fuel dependence is built into Scott Morrison (Feb 2020) the structure of Australian society (Baer 2016). Expanded development of the economy is tied to extracting and exporting fossil fuels, to consolidating Australia as an ‘energy superpower’ (Rosewarne 2016). https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/sep/17/scott-morrisons-gas-led- recovery-what-is-it-and-will-it-really-make-energy-cheaper Social movements Anti-Coal Movement is Growing Increased sophistication and mobilisation of resources by environmental groups Strategic partnerships with non- traditional sectors Internationalisation of campaigns Made coal exports key election issues for several elections Local grassroots engagement Regional Issues: Railway and Port New railway from Galilee Basin to Abbot Point Terminal: land clearing, taxpayer funds? National interest? Expansion of Abbot Point Terminal (“North Queensland Export Terminal”): dredging seafloor of the Great Barrier Reef, hundreds of new coal ships, risk of spills, climate impacts on already delicate ecosystem – further coral bleaching Widespread impacts including habitat loss, biodiversity loss, tourism and livelihoods, economic impacts…  Regional Issues: Jobs Most reliable estimates of employment at the Carmichael Mine: https://www.themonthly.com.au/issue/2019/april/1554037200/james- increase average employment by 1,200 jobs in northern QLD and create 1,464 jobs Australia-wide Adani claims 10,000 jobs Under scrutiny for exaggerating benefits bradley/how-australia-s-coal-madness-led-adani#mtr https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/queensland/accc- asked-to-investigate-adani-jobs-claim-20171206-p4yxfl.html Traditional Owners: Wangan and Jagalingou people https://wanganjagalingou.com.au/our-fight/ Traditional Owners Wangan and Jagalingou people have native title rights. Native title recognises rights and interests to land and waters according to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander laws and customs. Native title gives the right to negotiate land uses, not veto them. Native title can be exclusive and non-exclusive. Indigenous Land Use Agreements (ILUA) negotiated with some Traditional Owner groups across the region. ILUA can rule out native title rights. Native title was extinguished by the Queensland government, meaning Wangan and Jagalingou people’s objections have no legal significance. Other actors and Coalition building and alliances Range of people and organisations that Stakeholders represent different values and positions within an environmental problem, policy or political drama: Arms of the state (Federal/state governments; political parties; courts) Multilateral bodies (UNESCO, UNFCCC) Civil Society (unions, WWF, Lock the Gate, Greenpeace, GetUp!, 350.org, local climate action groups, TOs, etc) Business (Adani, Australian resource companies, banks and major institutional investors) Where do these actors exert influence? Across scales Local Regional Sub-national National Global Jolley, C. and Rickards, L. (2020). Contesting coal and climate change using scale: emergent topologies in the Adani mine controversy. Geographical Research, 58(1), pp.6-23.  Mine is operational, but story continues https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-03-04/adani-bravus-issued-with-environment-protection-order/102052852 w.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/jan/26/adanis-queensland- ed-in-us-investors-claims-of-biggest-con-in-corporate-history https://qz.com/emails/quartz-obsession/1850202522/adani-group- a-new-hindenburg-disaster Stakeholder Analysis Stakeholder analysis aims at eliciting the main actors that have a stake or interest in a particular policy problem Note the link between actors and interests: see Blondeel and Van de Graaf (2017) reading Why or how are stakeholder analyses useful in understanding environmental conflicts? o To assist in planning and policy development o Make visible diverse points of view and relationships to project and other actors o Important to understand how policies and projects are determined o To understand where controversies come from, and how they might be resolved o To consider the fairness/justice/ethics of the process & outcomes  Identifying stakeholders *** Bryson (2004) What to do when Stakeholders matter, Public Management Review, 6:1, 21-53. Vogler, D., Macey, S, & Sigouin, A. (2017). Stakeholder Analysis in Environmental and Conservation Planning, Lessons in Conservation, 7, 5-16. Mapping stakeholders Mapping stakeholders Remember, this is JUST ONE way of visualising these relationships! Stakeholder Analysis Assignment For this assignment, you are required to design a stakeholder map for a current environmental conflict or controversy. The assignment must be no more than two pages. This includes the diagram, the explanatory text (max 300 words), and a reference list. The assignment is worth 15% of your final mark and is to be submitted via the LMS (Turnitin) by 30 March (Thursday 11:59pm). Do not chose Adani or other similar coal mining conflicts in Australia 1. Identify a current environmental conflict or problem. Australian or international. Provide a short (150 words max) overview, and link to additional info. 2. Identify the main stakeholders associated with the conflict. Who are the main actors? 3. Analyse the relationships among the stakeholders. Variables? e.g. networks and alliances, level of influence, resources, proximity, interests … 4. Map (and explain) it! 150 words max for text description. 5. List your sources. 6. Submit! Where do I find a conflict? News websites: ABC Environment, The Guardian, Al Jazeera etc The Conversation Vic Dept of Energy, Environment & Climate Action or Sustainability Vic Aust Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment & Water Environment Victoria (Environment peak body) or Environmental Justice Australia, Environmental Defenders Office, etc Environmental Protection Agencies/ Authorities Activist and advocacy group websites Remember to look at the Stakeholder Assessment Rubric: Criteria Pts Conflict selection Case selected is relevant to the assignment (i.e., it is a current and controversial 25 pts environmental conflict). The overview provides a clear, concise account of conflict’s context and a rationale for the case choice. Appropriate link is provided. Stakeholder Identification 25 pts Key actors in the conflict are clearly and accurately identified, with sufficient detail. Relationship analysis 25 pts The variables chosen for analysis are relevant and the text provides a clear and coherent explanation of the variables and a rationale for their selection/depiction. Presentation and organisation Clear, relevant, effective visual. All assignment elements are present and well 25 pts organised. Total points: 100 pts A word on narratives… How might we add complexity to the stories we tell (and maps we make!)? What are the existing narratives involved in environmental conflict? Who has the loudest voice? Is it indicative of power? Who is not included in the debate? What can silence tell us? Politics of Representation: attention to representation and narratives. Be aware of stereotypes (i.e. “angry, black woman”) and archetypes (“poor people”). Questions or comments?