Socially Constructed Environmental Issues and Sport: a Content Analysis of Ski Resort Environmental Communications Sam Spector
Socially Constructed Environmental Issues and Sport: A Content Analysis of Ski Resort Environmental Communications Sam Spector, B.Sc. Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Applied Health Sciences (Sport Management) Under the supervision of Chris Chard, PhD & Cheryl Mallen, PhD Faculty of Applied Health Sciences, Brock University St. Catharines, Ontario Sam Spector © January, 2012 Abstract Due to the impact of sport on the natural environment (UN, 2010), it is important to examine the interplay between environmental issues and sport (Hums, 2010, Mallen & Chard, 2011; Nauright & Pope, 2009; Ziegler, 2007). This research content analyzed 82 ski resort environmental communications (SRECs). These communications were rated for their prominence, breadth, and depth using the delineation of environmental issues provided by the Sustainable Slopes Program (SSP) Charter. This data was compared to the resorts’ degree of environmentally responsible action as rated by the Ski Area Citizens’ Coalition (SACC). An adaptation of Hudson and Miller's (2005) model was then used to classify the ski resorts as inactive, reactive, exploitive, or proactive in their environmental activities. Recommendations have been made for standardization and transparency in environmental disclosures and an environmental management system to aid ski resorts in moving from ad hoc processes to a systematic and comprehensive framework for improving environmental performance. Acknowledgements I would like to thank Dr. Chris Chard, Dr. Cheryl Mallen, and Dr. Craig Hyatt. Their support and guidance has been truly invaluable. Because of them I am not only proud of the final product but have also found the process to be exciting and rewarding.
[Show full text]