Public Lecture: Professor Jonn Axsen, Citizen Acceptance of New Fossil Fuel Infrastructure: Value Theory and Canada’s Northern Gateway Pipeline

https://www.facebook.com/events/592094860850953/?ref=5

http://www.sfu.ca/humanities-institute/

Proposals to build infrastructure for unconventional fossil fuels are increasingly generating controversy among citizens. This study explores the case of Canada’s proposed Northern Gateway Pipeline (NGP), which would transport unconventional oil (bitumen) 1,172 km from Alberta’s oil sands to British Columbia’s northern coast for export. The NGP has received extensive media coverage in the two most affected provinces (Alberta and BC). I implemented a web-based survey (n = 2,628) in 2013 to collect data on citizen acceptance, values and beliefs related to two common frames of the NGP: economic benefits and environmental risks. I draw from value theory to explain variations in citizen acceptance within and between the two regions, constructing value-based clusters of respondents based on survey data. NGP acceptance varies considerably among clusters in each region; the highest acceptance is among citizens with strong traditional (conservative) values and acceptance is lowest among citizens with strong biospheric-altruistic values. Contextual or regional effects are also substantial; NGP acceptance is higher in every one of Alberta’s value-based clusters relative to BC. Differences in media and stakeholder framing between the regions may help to explain why citizens with the same core values hold different perceptions of the NGP.

Bio: Dr. Jonn Axsen is Assistant Professor in SFU's School of Resource and Environmental Management. His work explores transitions to sustainable energy systems. He draws from disciplines of economics, psychology, sociology and engineering to investigate the nexus of technology, environmental policy, and consumer behaviour. Jonn’s study of consumers’ social valuation of plug-in electric vehicles has earned him recognition as “Young Researcher of the Year” at the OECD’s 2011 International Transportation Forum.