Environmental assessments
I am a specialist in the procedural side of environmental assessments. That means that I can help you understand how you fit in this process, I can communicate for you with stakeholders, I can represent you in this process, and I can provide feedback for you. Furthermore, I can engage with your community to understand their thoughts, and then communicate this with government and proponents.
Public engagement
Most environmental assessments, and environmental review processes, require public participation and feedback. I am a specialist at engaging with the public, asking questions, and understanding public thoughts, opinions, and fears. I then can take that data and provide you with a report, or input it for you to proponents. Mostly, my view is that stakeholders should be viewed as partners, and not just a box to tick for a review process.
Law and Policy Review
I can help you review any environmental law, policy, program or plan. I can help you understand how it impacts you, your work, your organization, or your social group.
Scope of work
Report writing
Whether its a report on the demographics of your community, how climate change is impacting your lake, or how a local farm is polluting your waters, I can write you a report with my assessments of the situation. You can then use this to help guide your strategic planning, build a project to solve a problem, or for any other usage.
Social Injustice
In my view, humans are key to environmental protection. Often times, environmental destruction is linked to social injustices. For example, polluting facilities are often sited next to First Nation communities or other minority groups. My goal is to ensure those projects are not developed alongside you so that you can reap the benefits. If a development or policy is already in place and is causing you injustices or harm, I can work with proponents and stakeholders to mitigate or eliminate those issues, and help you on your path to just a fair redress.
Funding applications
Funding applications can be a challenge to work through. Whether you are a First Nation looking to develop a project, or a non-profit looking to build a campaign, I can help you with any questions about the application, or write the application for you while working with you.
What are my competitive advantages?
Competitive advantages set businesses a part from each other. So what are mine?
- My price! I charge $100.00 / hour for my work, where as traditional consultants charge between $125 - $600 an hour! Don’t hesitate to take advantage of a free consultation!
- My multi-faceted and interdisciplinary approach. I like to view things from multiple angles, to understand various intersections of problems, and solutions, to fully grasp your project or initiative. Then, once I understand your initiative fully, we can tackle it in a multi-faceted way, making it stronger than ever!
- Personable - I definitely value relationship building. So don’t hesitate to reach out, and please do expect conversation about hobbies and things you enjoy! If you only want to talk business, that is okay too!
- No bureaucratic levels! Its just me, and a couple of other smart people that help me along the way. So if you want to get a hold of me, just call, email, or text!
WHAT IS MY APPROACH?
My approach to environmental solutions is interdisciplinary. That means, depending on what you would like to do, I approach issues from a holistic approach, recognizing that there often is not one singular source for a problem. I like to look at the bigger picture in order to understand comprehensively what is going on.
Once we understand the larger picture, it is easier to map what our plan of action is, even if you would like to only tackle one specific issue, at least we understand what the larger picture is.
This graph represents the broad interdisciplinary lens that I work within. I can help you approach your issue from one or multiple of these lenses.
Who am I?
Hello! My name is Joe Goode, I am a freelance consultant and researcher with 5 years of professional experience in environmental management. Those 5 years are made up of experiences with Parks Canada (6-month contract), the Assembly of First Nations (3-month contract), the Coastal and Ocean Information Network (2-month contract), York University Master of Environmental Studies (3 years), Rescue Lake Simcoe Coalition (6 months), the Chippewas of Georgina Island (1.3 years), and my own private consulting firm (6 months). I also volunteer with Climate Action Newmarket-Aurora to push for better climate policy locally, provincially, and nationally.
In terms of the projects that I have worked on, I have fought and continue to fight against sprawl in York Region, held rallies against poor York Regional environmental policies, pushed to stop Hwy 413 and the Bradford Bypass, fought for the protection of Lake Simcoe, supported Georgina Island First Nation’s public statement of opposition against the Upper York Sewage Solutions Project, spoke to federal Members of Parliament to create stronger climate policies, written letters to parliament, and much more!
Who am I? continued...
I believe in the value of public participation in bettering environmental initiatives, like developments or PPP (policies, plans, and programs). process, My goal is to make sure that all voices are heard in the environmental review process, and that the feedback is actually incorporated into the project, rather than simply ‘acknowledged’ or ‘check-marked’. In cases where the project should not move forward at all because it would cause significant environmental damage, and the public articulates that, I would work to ensure that the initiative does not move forward.
In terms of environmental policy, if I believe current policies are unjust, I do not accept them. Instead, I look for gaps in law and policy, and often advocate for policy changes in order to reflect a just a fair environmental review process.
My strength comes from a belief that a compromise or solution can always be found, where all parties are happy, while keeping environmental principles in line. How? I believe in freedom of speech, and I believe in discussing the hard things that people don’t want to talk about. In my view, only through presenting and then addressing those challenges, can solutions be found.
I believe in long-term sustainability, meaning that I do not hope to simply implement quick solutions to a problem. My goal is the leave my clients with a sense that their idea or project will continue on, while empowering them along the way.
We must work collaboratively to repair the damage done from development, while building a future that is ecologically regenerative!
Connect with me:
LINKEDIN: HTTPS://WWW.LINKEDIN.COM/IN/JOE-GOODE/
416 712 1790 (c)
joe.goode23@gmail.com
Call, text, or email me for a free consultation!