POLLUTION PROBE

1
Pollution Probes Experience in Collaboration
Presentation by K.B. Ogilvie Executive
Director Pollution Probe To MSWG MOE 2006 Fall
Conference October 16, 2006
2
A Perspective on the Evolution of Environmental
Policy

• Decade Policy Focus Envtl Principle Envt-Economy
  Link
• 1970s End-of-pipe Polluter pays Not linked
  separate
• 1980s In-plant reuse Pollution Increasing cost of
• and recycling prevention end-of-pipe treatment
• 1990s Envt and Sustainable Triple bottom line
• devt decade development envt, economy and
  social factors linked
• 2000s Design for Precautionary Envt drives
  product
• envt principle design

3
Pollution Probes Experience in Collaboration

• Who do we collaborate with?
• NGOs - Green Budget Coalition (federal budget
  focus)
• - Canadian Renewable Energy Alliance (energy
  efficiency and green power focus)
• - Canadian Partnership for Childrens Health
  and Environment (toxic substances focus)
• Consumer Groups - Canadian Automobile Association
  (ecomobility/fuel efficiency standards)
• Industry - Loblaws (product endorsement)
• - New Directions Group )various policy issues
  - - e.g. voluntary initiatives greenhouse gas
  covenants biotechnology)
• - Canada Chamber of Commerce (Guide to Climate
  Change for Small- to Medium-Sized Enterprises

4

• Governments - Ontario Environmental Leaders
  Program (voluntary, beyond compliance
  initiatives)
• - Environmental Performance Agreements Policy
  Framework (voluntary agreements)
• - MOU on VOCs with the Canadian Chemical
  Producers Association
• Other - Clean Air Renewable Energy Coalition
  (federal green power policies and programs)

5
What do we do in support of collaborations?

• Research - report on ENGO Business
  Partnerships Lessons Learned
• - report on Defining Corporate Environmental
  Responsibility Canadian ENGO Perspectives
• Resource Centre - Voluntary Initiatives Resource
  Centre (track literature as well as examples
  of voluntary environmental initiatives)
• Promote Dialogue - e.g., NDG work on VNRIs
• Support Governments - involved in both the design
  and implementation of Ontarios OEL program and
  the federal governments EPA Policy Framework
  (i.e., on management and advisory committees now)
• - accessible to media to give support to
  leadership programs and industry leaders

6
Government Collaborations

• Governments face challenges in setting up
  voluntary programs with industry, but so do
  industry and NGOs
• Peter Watson has talked about various
  perspectives on CASA in Alberta, including
  benefits to governments
• Georges Portelance has talked about achievements
  and challenges in paint recycling in Quebec
• I will focus on an NGO perspective and on risks
  and rewards in government-led collaborations

7
Government-Led Collaborations Rewards to NGOs

• Rewards - environmental achievements can be made
  that otherwise might not occur (or may take
  longer to occur)
• - positive relationships are built with
  governments and industry
• - industry leadership can facilitate future
  policy measures
• - NGO staff learn things they might otherwise
  not have access to
• - limited financial support may be available
  (and governments may be more receptive to NGO
  research initiatives related to areas of
  collaboration)

8
Government-Led Collaborations Risks to NGOs

• Risks - non-performance under a voluntary
  initiative/collaboration could harm the
  reputation of an NGOs that supported it
• - collaborations that bring NGOs into them
  tend to weaken the role of NGOs as
  watchdogs
• - NGOs have very limited resources and
  collaborations usually do not adequately
  compensate for the time spent (thus diverting
  resources from more traditional advocacy roles)
• - NGOs may lack expertise and capacity to
  meaningfully participate in collaborations,
  thus risking being co-opted without knowing
  it
• - NGO peer pressure may isolate
  collaborative NGOs from their colleagues (or
  may set up conflict with them)
• - Foundations that fund NGOs generally do not
  understand or support collaborations - - thus,
  one of the primary independent funding
  sources for NGOs may be compromised
• - politicians tend to stop listening to NGOs
  who are not active in the media

9
Closing Comments How Governments Should
Collaborate with NGOs

• recognize the risks/reward situation in which
  many NGOs operate
• provide financial support whenever possible (both
  for participation and for independent research)
• listen and respond to NGO comments
• do not expect too much of NGOs (e.g., try not to
  put them in conflict situations with other NGOs)
• show your appreciation for NGOs that support
  collaboration initiatives (e.g., a ministerial or
  DM level letter of appreciation would go a long
  way)