You mentioned that an EA should be allowed to investigate the socio-economic as well as the environmental effects. But I think it's slightly different to say that an EA should be allowed to examine positive environmental effects as well as negative ones. It seems that much of environmental assessment, and perhaps rightly so, is focused on potential negative outcomes. I believe the origins of the act were to make sure that we prevent disasters and environmental destruction. Do you think we should be advancing the study, within the EA process, of potential positive environmental effects as well as negative ones?
On November 24th, 2011. See this statement in context.