Dr Ted Christie: Environmental Dispute Resolution and Sustainable Solutions

2.    Scientific Uncertainty,  the Politicization of Science and Public Interest Environmental Conflicts TAGS:   Adani; coal mine; information conflict; science; politics; public interest; community consultation; silo science; Daubert v Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals Inc.      Politicization of science means that the interpretat ion of scientific information is shaped for political gain in a way that  distorts its true meaning.    T his article reviews why public interest environmental conflicts, like the Adani project, can lead to politicization. And an understanding of what politicization of science means: How it arises and how it may be offset.  READ MORE … The next article in this series will review environmental decision-making, incomplete and unavailable information and the EIS.

Some form of objective review of the environmental evaluation and approval processes for the ‘Adani Carmichael Coal Mine and Rail Project’ is warranted to address the reasons the final approval was granted  in June 2019.  In a series of articles that follow, the scientific and public interest concerns that ignited the conflict, litigation and delay will be reviewed in a conflict resolution framework .  Must history repeat? 1.   Acceptance of Scientific Findings: Best Available Science ~v~ Relevant and Reliable Science TAGS:  Adani; coal mine; conflict; best available science; relevant and reliable science;  Daubert v Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals Inc               The focus of this article is on a source of information conflict that created scientific uncertainty for Adani: Different interpretations of the scientific information base as to what is “the best available science”. READ MORE … The next article in this series will review scientific uncertainty and the poli

The Scientific Roundtable: A More Effective Role for Science in Environmental Dispute Resolution TAGS: Adani; coal; development; environment; evaluation; scientific evidence; information conflicts; approval; conflict management; scientific roundtable After almost nine years, nine legal reviews and $3.7 billion in “start-up” costs, the ‘Adani Carmichael Coal Mine and Rail Project’ was finally approved by the Queensland Government in June 2019. It will be one of the largest coal mines in the world. Why have the planning and evaluation processes taken so long? Must the history of conflict and delay repeat? Some form of objective review of the environmental evaluation and approval processes for Adani is warranted to offset this concern. READ MORE... The next article in this series will review: Acceptance of Scientific Findings ~ Best Available Science -v- Relevant and Reliable Science