Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Carbon – Environmental aspects – Queensland'
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1
Woodland, John Peter. "Volatile organic substances : ambient concentrations in Brisbane and dominant emission patterns." Thesis, Queensland University of Technology, 1989. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/35976/1/35976_Woodland_1989.pdf.
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Concentrations of several volatile hydrocarbons and
chlorinated hydrocarbons were determined in Brisbane air
at three sites adjacent to industrial activity. Sample
analysis involved pre-concentration of VOS on Tenax
filled cartridges, thermal desorption, gas chromato~raphy
with a capillary column and flame ionization detection,
and mass spectrometry.
The dominant emission patterns of VOS were interpreted
using the multivariate techniques, princi~al components
analysis and cluster analysis. Concentrations of nitrogen
oxides, sulphur dioxide, fine suspended particulates (as
scattering coefficient), wind direction and wind speed
were included in the analysis to aid data interpretation.
Two to three dominant emission patterns were identified
at the sample sites. Emissions of solvents from surface
coating operations, household and agricultural chemical
preparation, motor vehicle exhaust and dispersion of air
~ollutants by the dominant meteorological ~atterns,
influenced concentrations of VOS observed in this study.
2
Pang, Oi-ting Brenda, and 彭愷婷. "Climate change: the role of carbon dioxide." Thesis, The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong), 2011. http://hub.hku.hk/bib/B46732937.
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Wyatt, Victor T. "Characterization of gas-expanded liquids." Diss., Georgia Institute of Technology, 2001. http://hdl.handle.net/1853/26006.
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West, Barry Lamar. "Partitioning of solutes between supercritical CO₂ and polymer phases." Diss., Georgia Institute of Technology, 1997. http://hdl.handle.net/1853/9366.
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Nolen, Shane Anthony. "Environmentally benign chemical processing using supercritical carbon dioxide and near-critical water." Diss., Georgia Institute of Technology, 2001. http://hdl.handle.net/1853/11011.
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Twiddy, Edward James. "Applications of stable carbon and oxygen isotope analysis to some aspects of coastal environmental change." Thesis, Durham University, 1996. http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/1582/.
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Stettler, Marc Emil John. "Aviation emissions of black carbon and other air pollutants." Thesis, University of Cambridge, 2013. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.648379.
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Leung, Kwun-lun, and 梁冠倫. "Ecological risk analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, black carbon and heavy metals on soils and plants from coal factories inJiyuan City, China." Thesis, The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong), 2010. http://hub.hku.hk/bib/B45460516.
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Xie, Xiaofeng. "CO₂-expanded liquids for separation and reaction." Diss., Georgia Institute of Technology, 2003. http://hdl.handle.net/1853/10077.
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Weld, Mary-Jane. "Landscape planning for rural nature conservation : maintenance of remnant vegetation and sustainable agriculture in the brigalow belt of Central Queensland." Thesis, Queensland University of Technology, 1994.
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Cantin, Danielle 1967. "Response of Pinus banksiana (Lamb.) families to a global change environment." Thesis, McGill University, 1994. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=68159.
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We examined how fast- and slow-growing families (based on height at 10 years) of Pinus banksiana Lamb. are affected by a climate altered by CO$ sb2$ during their first growing season. Our primary objective was to evaluate the possibility that genotypes performing best under present conditions may not necessarily do best under projected warmer climate. Seedlings were grown for six months in two climatic environments (350 $ mu$L/L CO$ sb2$ x present temperatures and 700 $ mu$L/L CO$ sb2$ x 4$ sp circ$C warmer temperatures) and with 100 ppm and 5 ppm nitrogen.The CO$ sb2$T$ sp circ$ environment had a significant effect on most biomass components of seedlings and water-use efficiency but not on height and other growth variables. The nitrogen fertilization was generally the most significant effect of the treatments for most growth variables.
All the families responded in a similar way to variations in the growing environments except for WUE. Family differences were more important for measurements of height and growth variables than for biomass components. The architecture of seedlings was also highly variable between families. Norm of reaction graphs were built for several growth variables to outline which families were overall most successful in an enriched CO$ sb2$T$ sp circ$ environment. Of the 15 families studied, four of them were classified as most successful in a projected high CO$ sb2$T$ sp circ$ climate.
12
Chin, Mian. "An atmospheric study of carbonyl sulfide and carbon disulfide and their relationship to stratospheric background sulfur aerosol." Diss., Georgia Institute of Technology, 1992. http://hdl.handle.net/1853/26226.
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Abraham, Muriel. "Spatial variation in soil organic carbon and stable carbon isotope signature in a pasture and a primary forest in central Panamá." Thesis, McGill University, 2004. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=80159.
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Soil properties and their spatial variability was measured to provide a strong database to assess the modification in soil properties associated with future changes in land use. Surface (0--10 cm) soil samples were collected from a 9 ha, 46-year-old pasture being converted to a native tree plantation and a neighboring control pasture near Sardinilla, Panama. A small-scale nested grid of surface soil samples was replicated in the future plantation and a primary forest in the region to evaluate the spatial variability of soil properties. Seven 1 m profiles were sampled in the future plantation and litter samples were collected at the forest and the future plantation.Assuming the three sites were identical before the conversion to pasture, the difference in surface soil organic carbon (SOC) was 0.75 kg m-2 or equivalent to a loss of 0.017 kg m-2 yr -1 since the original land-use change. The control pasture is higher in bulk density but lower in percent SOC than the future plantation, which is critical to future comparisons.
The pasture soils showed signs of soil compaction and of the homogenization of soil properties. For the 7 profiles in the future plantation, total SOC mass ranged from 13.45 to 23.80 kg m-2, and stable isotopes revealed that 82% of the SOC in the top 10 cm is derived from the pasture vegetation, down to 23% at 1 m depth.
Spatially, the full scale of spatial variability was not determined from the nested grids alone. In addition, the 15 x 15 m grid in the future plantation generally over-estimated the semivariance at the scales below 3 m. The nested grids assessed the minimum measurable semivariance below 5 m.
The precision of surface estimations from point observations can be improved by adding a 5 x 5 m grid to any large-scale sampling scheme.
14
Lau, Pik-ha, and 劉碧霞. "An overview on the variation of sea surface pCO₂ in Northern South China Sea and its management." Thesis, The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong), 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/10722/194555.
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To have better understandings of the partial pressure of carbon dioxide (pCO2)in northern South China Sea(NSCS), the pCO2readings from 1999-2012 were reviewed. Both the pCO2in NSCS and in the atmosphere also showed an increasing trends and the pCO2in NSCS varied across the seasons. There are many important processes that influenced the pCO2in NSCS, which were the rise of the temperature, biological production, seasonal upwelling, Pearl River discharge, increase in the concentration of atmospheric pCO2and the rate of calcification. These six mechanisms extend different strengths on the resultant sea surface pCO2in NSCS. The impact of induced sea water acidification on the marine phytoplankton by the high pCO2in NSCS would also be discussed. The drop of pH in the seawater would change the community of phytoplankton from diatom to dinoflagellate as a resistance to the change of pH of dinoflagellate that was better than the diatom. DMS, which was one of the climatically important gases, would also affected by the high pCO2induced seawater acidification. Hong Kong (HK) was studied as a case to estimate whether NSCS also faced the same impacts upon by the marine phytoplankton. The study showed that the diatom was relatively sensitive to the drop of pH in HK waters. The DMS producing marine phytoplankton was also affected by the drop of pH in HK waters. It was concluded that the NSCS might also face the same situation with HK. Finally, three instruments were recommended to have a better management in NSCS, namely, knowledge gaps and NSCS research priorities, valuing the NSCS as well as decision making team. Firstly, filling the knowledge gaps and NSCS research priorities aim to enhance the ability of the ocean sequestration to absorb and store the largest amount of anthropogenic CO2as possible. Afterwards, valuing the NSCS aims to protect the marine organisms, such as the phytoplankton, form the negative impacts of the decrease of ocean acidity. Last but not least, a good decision making team aims to balance the conflicts between those various options to reduce the anthropogenic CO2with ocean sequestration and impacts result from the ocean sequestration.published_or_final_version
Environmental Management
Master
Master of Science in Environmental Management
15
Li, Jun, and 李駿. "A decision tool for selecting low-carbon refurbishment solutions for multi-storey residential buildings in Hong Kong." Thesis, The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong), 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/10722/208002.
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The pressure to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions has become increasingly obvious due to the need to alleviate the impact of climate change. As the second largest GHG emitter in the world, the building sector should play an active role in reducing GHG emissions. Particular attention should be directed to existing buildings not only because of the amount of emissions caused by inefficient buildings but also due to the existence of a variety of sustainable refurbishment solutions for different levels and stages of building refurbishment. The emission reduction performance of different sustainable refurbishment options may vary enormously as a result of different building design conditions. With the majority of residential properties being high-rise buildings, the most suitable sustainable refurbishment options for a sub-tropical city like Hong Kong are yet to be fully investigated. The opportunity to reduce emission may not be high without a tool to help the owners, occupants and consultants to assess the emission of different refurbishment solutions for multi-storey residential building.
The aim of this research has been to develop a systematic decision tool to identify suitable sustainable refurbishment solutions for multi-story residential buildings in subtropical regions like Hong Kong and to calculate the CO2emission reductions of these solutions. The research began with a comprehensive literature review of the existing sustainable refurbishment approaches. The results of this literature review formed the basis for a preliminary screening according to local climate and buildings features. Interviews with experts and questionnaire surveys with residents were carried out in order to confirm the applicability of the proposed approaches. Then, based on a case study, this research established a set of methods, through literature review and energy simulation, to calculate the CO2 emission reductions achievable by sustainable refurbishment. With the setup of criteria for identifying applicable refurbishment solutions, method of calculation of CO2 emission reductions and parameter input/output and user interface design, a decision tool was developed for sustainable refurbishment. Finally, a series of interviews was conducted to validate the major research outcomes.
In this study, a residential building is divided into two zones, the common area and those occupied by owners/tenants. This study further identifies possible sustainable refurbishment solutions for each area, which can provide stakeholders with a variety of options for launching sustainable refurbishment projects. Moreover, a theoretical framework for emission assessment, consisting of system boundary and calculation methods, is also proposed in this study, which can provide better calculation of emission reductions as a result of various sustainable refurbishment solutions. The most significant outcome of this project is a decision tool which can generate a set of sustainable refurbishment solutions and calculate CO2 emission reductions according to the architectural features input by users. With the function of identifying the approaches for reducing CO2emission, owners and occupants of existing residential buildings can minimize the CO2emissions of their properties through refurbishing some of the building components in a sustainable manner.published_or_final_version
Civil Engineering
Master
Master of Philosophy
16
Bastani, Parisa. "Essays in energy economics : emissions abatement, climate policy, and welfare." Thesis, University of Cambridge, 2014. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.708324.
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Mumuni, Zakari. "Assessing the Impact of Land Use and Travel on Carbon Dioxide Emissions in Portland, Oregon." PDXScholar, 2017. https://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/open_access_etds/4063.
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The negative consequences of sprawling metropolitan regions have attracted attention in both academia and in practice regarding how to better design settlements and alter travel behavior in a quest to curtail vehicle emissions. Studies that have attempted to understand the nexus between land use, travel and vehicle emissions have not been able to address the issue of self-selection in a satisfactory manner. Self-selection occurs when households choose their residential location based, in part, on expected travel behavior. This non-random experience makes the use of traditional regression frameworks that strongly rely on random sampling, unsuitable. This replication study's purpose was to examine the impact of land use and travel on CO2 emissions using the Heckman (1979) sample selection model in Portland Metropolitan Area. three research questions guided this study: (1) Does self-selection to drive a motor vehicle lead to reduction in CO2 emissions? (2) Does land use and automobile travel influence the decision to drive after controlling for self-selection? (3) What land use and travel factors determine CO2 emissions after controlling for self-selection? The findings suggest driving has a statistically significant negative effect on estimated CO2 and that most land use variables significantly affect driving behavior.
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Wong, King-wai Kelvin, and 黃景瑋. "Proteome response of barnacle larvae to CO2-driven seawater acidification." Thesis, The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong), 2011. http://hub.hku.hk/bib/B46475084.
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周剑津. "基于心理反应过程的消費者低碳消費行为的实证研究 = An empirical study on the influence of consumers' low carbon consumption behavior based on psychological reaction process." HKBU Institutional Repository, 2019. https://repository.hkbu.edu.hk/etd_oa/634.
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本研究以计划行为理论、态度情境行为理论、制度理论为基础，从社会心理学出发，对个体基于心理反应过程的低碳消费行为及其情境因素进行了研究。通过实证研究发现，低碳消费态度和低碳消费主观规范对低碳消费行为的影响是通过低碳消费意向实现的。低碳消费意向在低碳消费态度和低碳主观规范与低碳消费行为的关系构建中起到中介效应。结果表明，低碳消费态度和低碳消费主观规范均与低碳行为意向之间显著正相关，低碳行为意向和低碳消费行为之间显著正相关。低碳消费意向是低碳消费态度和低碳消费行为的部分中介，低碳消费意向还是低碳消费主观规范和低碳消费行为的完全中介。同时，本研究也发现便利条件对低碳消费意向和低碳消费行为之间的关系起正向调节作用。Based on the Theory of Planned Behavior, Attitude-Context-Behavior Theory and Institutional Theory, this study explores low-carbon consumption behavior based on Psychological reaction process and its context factors from the perspective of social psychology.Empirical research shows that Low Carbon Consumption Attitudes(LCCA) and Low Carbon Consumption Subjective Norms(LCCSN) influence Low Carbon Consumption Behavior(LCCB) through Low Carbon Consumption Intention(LCCI). The results show that both LCCA and LCCSN have significant positive correlations with LCCI, and LCCI has significant positive correlations with LCCB. LCCI is partial mediation between LCCA and LCCB , LCCI is also complete mediation between LCCSN and LCCB. Meanwhile, this article infer that facilitating conditions have moderating effects which strengthen the positive relationship between LCCSN and LCCI.
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LeBlanc, David Charles. "Modeling hot running carbon monoxide emissions : a comparison of speed-based and engine-based approaches." Diss., Georgia Institute of Technology, 1998. http://hdl.handle.net/1853/20750.
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Li, Zhe 1974. "The environmental Kuznets curve reexamined for CO₂ emissions in Canadian manufacturing industries /." Thesis, McGill University, 2004. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=80319.
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Recent studies of the environmental Kuznets curve raise questions regarding the relationship between environmental indicators and GDP and the fundamental reasons that explain this relationship. In response, this thesis presents one-sector and two-sector models to analyze the alternative causal relationships between an environmental indicator and GDP at different stages of economic development. These models analyze how economic scale, technology, preferences, and economic structure influence the causality and shape of the relationship. These theoretical studies are followed by two empirical studies. The first tests the causal relationship between CO2 emissions and GDP in Canadian manufacturing industries. The second explores several factors as the fundamental causes that influence the CO2 emissions in the same industries. Factors, such as economic scale, preferences, technological progress, structural change, and energy input, are found to be crucial in the determination of CO2 emissions. The empirical results are positive, but there are data limitations. The empirical studies can be re-evaluated as more data becomes available.
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Adam, Shalima. "Carbon disclosure and company performance : a portfolio performance approach." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/21194.
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Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2012.The objective of this research study was to investigate whether socially responsible companies that disclose their carbon emission, referred to in this research report as ‘carbon disclosure leaders’, outperform their non-disclosing counterparts, referred to in this research report as ‘carbon disclosure laggards’. This research study attempted to substantiate the relationship between companies’ carbon disclosure practices and companies’ share price performance. An empirical analysis was conducted with a focus on South African-listed Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) top-100 companies. A portfolio approach was utilised to establish if any significant relationship exists between company carbon disclosure and company share price performance. Portfolios were constructed based on companies that participated in the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) and were thus categorised into JSE industry sectors. It was assumed that by using industry-specific sectors, the macro-economic conditions would generally affect all companies in that specific sector in a similar way, thus enabling comparative analysis. The results from this study subsequently found, having done various analyses in terms of share price growth and carbon disclosure, that no significant correlation exists in terms of the CDP. This would, however, be correct in terms of the analysed data, which is limited at times, but cannot be necessarily inferred as a broader statement. Intuitively, it can be said that carbon disclosure and greater ratings in terms of the CDP would imply that companies are more positive in dealing with their carbon footprint, which would be more positive for their long-term existence and sustainability. Equally, it could also yield various cost savings that will translate into higher earnings and earnings per share that drive share price growth. In becoming more active in reducing the carbon footprint, companies would also reduce their risk profile since they would be better aligned to potential restrictive carbon emission legislation and improve their public profile, which could again boost profitability. Further arguments can be made to suggest that disclosure of a company’s carbon initiatives and footprint would benefit the company’s value and share price performance. Thus, having observed the outcomes of the analyses conducted in this report, the more appropriate question would be if other factors exist that could have affected the outcomes as observed and whether these factors could have overshadowed the proof that there is a positive correlation between share price growth and carbon disclosure.
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Ames, Susan Eveline. "Impacts of land use on carbon storage and assimilation rates." Thesis, National Library of Canada = Bibliothèque nationale du Canada, 2000. http://www.collectionscanada.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk1/tape2/PQDD_0021/NQ48596.pdf.
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Chan, Shu-tim, and 陳樹添. "Feasibility study of introducing product carbon footprint labelling in Hong Kong." Thesis, The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong), 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/10722/207668.
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Conventionally, efforts of combating climate change mainly focus on reducing emissions at production sources, such as factories, offices or other organizational-based entities. While this approach has served its purposes for years, the environmental impacts of consumer goods, which cause cross-border carbon emission are very difficult to be managed. This study investigated the feasibilities of an alternative solution to combat climate change using the concept of product carbon footprint (PCF) labelling in Hong Kong. PCF describes the total set of greenhouse gases caused by a product over its whole life cycle, from raw material extraction to disposal. The concept of PCF is prevalent in regions such as Europe, Japan and Taiwan, where PCF information is shown as labels on products’ packaging to help consumers distinguish more eco-friendly products. These PCF labels, based on overseas pioneer experience, have shown enormous market potential and environmental benefits. Hong Kong has yet to establish such labelling system despite these benefits. The aim of the study is to investigate the feasibilities of introducing PCF labelling in Hong Kong and identify the opportunities and difficulties lie ahead. Five main types of feasibilities, namely technical, economic, legal, operational and scheduling feasibilities were considered in the study and in-depth review was carried out on each one. Literature review, questionnaire for general public and interviews with stakeholders were undertaken to understand existing PCF labelling schemes and obtain first-hand information from stakeholders of different perspectives. By analyzing the questionnaire and interview results, the study revealed that short-term feasibilities of introducing PCF labelling in Hong Kong is medium. Recommendations were made in accordance to each type of feasibilities to promote the wider adoption of PCF labelling in the future.published_or_final_version
Environmental Management
Master
Master of Science in Environmental Management
25
Curran, Patrick. "Research and development of a preliminary South African voluntary carbon standard for landscape restoration projects." Thesis, Rhodes University, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006968.
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The mandatory and voluntary carbon markets have both developed around the increasing trade of carbon offsets. In order to add legitimacy to an otherwise intangible commodity there has been a rise in the development of third party carbon certification standards, particularly in the voluntary market. These standards aim to provide independent, third party certification to projects that are developed specifically to generate and sell carbon offsets. South Africa has the opportunity to engage with these markets, but current participation in and certification of projects is sluggish. These projects have not taken off mainly due to the high transaction costs and lag times surrounding the current certification of projects', complex baseline methodologies, accounting uncertainty and the often bureaucratic systems surrounding the current voluntary carbon certification standards and methodologies. In order to overcome these pitfalls this project aimed to address these challenges through initiating the development of a preliminary South African voluntary carbon standard. This was done by: a) undertaking a critical assessment of the development of current carbon markets, with a particular focus on voluntary markets and third party certification, b) critically analysing the current voluntary carbon certification standards for best practices, pitfalls and weaknesses. To provide a better understanding of the historical development of voluntary certification standards, various established certification standards were evaluated, including the Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC), Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) and ISO 14000 standards. This analysis focussed on the challenges they faced in acceptance and in particular how they have managed to operationalize sustainable development within the certification process. In order to explicitly ensure the incorporation of a sustainable development assessment of projects under the proposed standard, an expert workshop was held with 14 experts from a wide variety of disciplines. These experts identified the crucial sustainable development challenges facing South Africa. They identified 12 sub-themes and 44 indicators that could be used to measure and incorporate sustainable development indicators into the certification process. These were then further developed through using the 'Input – Output – Outcome – Impact' framework model which allowed the indicators to be organised and understood and thus practical. The analysis of the voluntary certification standards and the development of the sustainable development indicator framework were ultimately incorporated into the development of the proposed South African voluntary carbon standard. The key approach to this standard is the incorporation and focus of the proposed standard to ensuring the generation of net SD benefits and placing them at the same level as carbon within the project design and development, validation and verification process. The full and effective integration of these has been missing within current fully fledged voluntary carbon standards, as they often rely on a mixture of project design standards to achieve this. Offering the inclusion of all components into one standard, specifically designed for South Africa, will not only assure SD credentials but also increase transparency and understanding, and reduce costs. This thesis allowed for the development of innovative new ideas and process focussed specifically at including and mainstreaming South Africa’s developmental challenges into the certification process. This is the hoped that the standard will effectively certify South African based landscape restoration projects, but also decrease costs and increase efficiencies in order to encourage the development of these projects. This preliminary standard not only aims to incorporate and address all the issues identified but also has the end goal of acting as the basis for future debate and development surrounding a potential South African voluntary carbon certification standard.
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Naidoo, Anesan. "Determining the carbon footprint of Sishen South Mine and evaluating the carbon reduction opportunities in the opencast mining environment." Thesis, Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/6446.
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Topouzi, Marina. "Occupants' interaction with low-carbon retrofitted homes and its impact on energy use." Thesis, University of Oxford, 2015. https://ora.ox.ac.uk/objects/uuid:ac363b69-c414-4ef8-875a-ada6a9867f8f.
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Current regulatory and other policy trends in housing refurbishment relating to low-carbon performance standards tend to involve complex technologies and systems as well as innovative solutions to achieve 80% emissions reduction in line with the UK national target for 2050. Indicators of domestic energy performance tend to assume ideal performance of materials, complex systems and services, and that they are installed to high standards and under specific conditions, as well as rational occupant behaviour and interactions. Previous studies exploring the influence of socio-technical factors on the UK's domestic energy use highlight that one of the main reasons for under-performance of individual projects is the lack of understanding of how people interact with domestic technology. Considering this, and given that there is still little evidence on deep refurbishments that implement low-carbon 'whole house' approaches in the UK, this research explored occupants' interaction with heating and ventilation measures as these were designed, installed and operated. The main concern was to identify the type of interactions that occur between occupants (social housing tenants) and building systems (mainly low-carbon heating and ventilation systems), and how that influences actual energy use. Using a sample of 26 social housing properties involved in the Retrofit for the Future competition in the UK, the study employed an socio-technical mixed methods approach, in which qualitative and quantitative empirical data were explored together, cross-checking occupants' 'doings' and 'sayings'. A combination of theories was used to analyse the complex interrelated factors involved in users' interaction with building systems. The analysis identifies key factors that affect significantly occupants' everyday practices and their interactions with the new measures: thermal comfort and pastexperiences with measures and controls; knowledge and skills (of both occupants and those involved in the project); design of the technical interventions (systems/measures) and quality of their installation. The findings from this research showed that active measures (such as intelligent and conventional heating controls, MVHR boosters, etc.) fostered direct interaction with active users when there were no design or installation faults. On the contrary, low-carbon measures that are designed and installed to be passive (such as MVHR systems operation) tend, in practice, to involve indirect interactions with active users. The research findings provide an insight into the 'in-use' factors, demonstrating to policy makers and implementers of mass refurbishment programmes the need for a framework where critical combinations of different measures and design solutions are targeted on specific house types, locations and households, in order to achieve maximum savings. Higher standards in installation of the new measures and improved quality control are also found to be a key part of refurbishment policies.
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Maddin, Hayley Patrice Florence. "Regulating for environmental protection : a case study of the CJC inquiry into the improper disposal of liquid waste in South-East Queensland." Thesis, Queensland University of Technology, 1996.
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Queensland's political history has been built upon a culture of developmentalism, particularly at the cost of environmental protection. This has been a prominent feature in the policies of past Queensland Premiers such as T.J. Ryan, Ted Theodore, William McCormack, Forgan Smith, Frank Nicklin, Johannes Bjelke-Petersen and Wayne Goss. The policies pursued by many of these Premiers often resulted in the destruction of many sensitive environmental areas, of which the effects are still evident today. This study examines how anti-environmentalism has been a recurrent
theme in state politics, as well as examining the extent to which industry has influenced governmental policies toward developmentalism. In particular, this research explores in depth the theory of 'regulatory capture' and
examines the extent to which this is applicable to the Queensland context. A secondary issue which is explored is that of the development of a culture of nonenforcement
within government departments. The testing of these theories is conducted through an analysis of the Queensland Criminal Justice Commission Inquiry into the Improper Disposal of Liquid Waste in South-East Queensland.
The outcome of this thesis certainly demonstrates that state government departments responsible for environmental protection were negligent in fulfilling their roles. This
thesis will highlight how such departments were 'captured' by the interests of industry to the extent that they failed to administer and enforce effective environmental legislation. It also raises the possibility that, as a result, administrators were guilty of official misconduct.
Finally this thesis argues that while departmental culture is so strongly embedded in pro-development policies, responsibility for the environment should be centralised in
an agency whose sole responsibility would be environmental protection. Such an agency could be an Environmental Protection Authority.
29
Lam, Hei, and 林熙. "Planning and design for low-carbon public housing development in Hong Kong: an evaluation." Thesis, The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong), 2012. http://hub.hku.hk/bib/B49885194.
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It has been widely recognized that there is urgent need to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emission for mitigation of climate change. The mitigation strategies are highly associated with planning and design that assist to tackle CO2 emissions embodied in housing development.
This research conducts evaluation of planning and design of public housing in Hong Kong as it affects the production of CO2 has shown a quite unique situation in comparison with other cities because of a combination of various aspects. Firstly, the reduction in energy consumption of transportation by lower transportation demand that directly cutbacks the fossil fuel consumption as well as reduces the emission of CO2. Dramatic change of location-based mobility patterns due to the failure of selfcontained new town development that highly impacts the daily trip of low-income people, who live in public housing that locate distant from the urban area and even the railway station. Cross-district to work or conduct their activities by multiple trips generate more CO2 emission.
Secondly, the reduction of carbon dioxide increases the importance of carbon absorption by greening and CO2 diminution by recycling. As Hong Kong is a compact city, planning and design of housing face to the challenges of conserve lands for greenery and reserve space for recycling facilities in estate.
Thirdly, enhancing low-carbon living through the reduction of electricity consumption. High-rise and high-density housing development is unique in Hong Kong, which has no doubt amplified the electricity consumption. While residents’ behavioral study shows that convenient, privacy, and practicability are the driven consideration factors.
This study reveals the practicing planning and design of public housing in Hong Kong positively contribute to reduce CO2 emission; while less attention has been paid to the jobs-housing balance and non-motorized transportation developments. This study fills a gap of variations between theoretical and practical differences context by suggesting integrate residents’ perspectives and administrative approach in fostering low-carbon development in compact urban context.published_or_final_version
Urban Planning and Design
Master
Master of Science in Urban Planning
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Hou, Guolong. "The feasibility of carbon-subsidized afforestation projects : a case study of China." HKBU Institutional Repository, 2020. https://repository.hkbu.edu.hk/etd_oa/887.
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Afforestation projects in China have substantially contributed to national CO2 sequestration and play an important role in international climate change mitigation. However, these nation-wide afforestation projects are usually funded by the national government, with very large and unsustainable investments. It is important to find alternative sources of funding to finance afforestation, and convince poor farmers to become involved in afforestation projects. Carbon-subsidized afforestation could be the solution. The current study aims to find i) whether farmers need additional subsidies to reforest their marginal farmland; if so, ii) whether the value of carbon sequestration of afforestation can offset farmers' net costs. To do this, first I determine the amount of carbon sequestration though afforestation. Second, I assess the value of carbon sequestration, the costs and benefits of afforestation projects, and the costs and benefits of crop production. Third, I investigate the optimal rotation period of the plantations considering a joint production of timber and carbon, for different species. Results show that total carbon sequestration through tree biomass and soil carbon following afforestation differs among tree species and stand age as well as across regions. Economic trees sequester less carbon than ecological trees and bamboo. Among economic trees, nut trees with an inedible hard shell sequester more carbon than fruit trees. The regional context significantly influences the carbon sequestration potential, with more carbon sequestered in southern and eastern regions than in northern regions. Bamboo also shows a remarkable carbon sequestration potential, which is even greater than Chinese fir and Poplar in northern regions. Although afforestation programs have huge potential to store carbon, the voluntary acceptance by landowners crucially depends on their economic outcome. I found that usually carbon credits can compensate for the opportunity costs of alternative land uses, except i) when highly profitable croplands are afforested, in which case carbon credits are not sufficient, and ii) when croplands that generates low incomes are afforested, in which case carbon credits are not needed. Fruit trees are the most cost-effective option for afforestation. Bamboo afforestation is economically attractive if carbon revenues is included. The minimum price of carbon credit decreases with increasing project duration because more carbon is stored when time increases. This does not hold for fast-growing trees like Eucalyptus, for which the minimum price increases with extended project duration. Given the temporal variations of joint production of timber and carbon sequestration, the carbon accounting regimes (tCER, temporary Certified Emission Reductions and lCER, long-term Certified Emission Reductions) have a significant impact on the optimal rotation as well as on the revenue. Forest managers have an incentive to use tCER accounting to finance slow-growing plantations, and lCER for fast-growing ones. I perform a sensitivity analysis detects the changes of rotation period with different carbon prices and discount rates. While the optimal decision for slow-growing species (e.g. Chinese fir) is highly sensitive to changes in both variables under tCER accounting, the results concerning fast-growing species (e.g. Eucalyptus) are most sensitive under the lCER accounting regime. In contrast, carbon revenues have a minimal impact on the optimal rotation of Poplar plantations, no matter which regime is applied. I conclude that carbon-subsidized afforestation is a feasible way to offset the opportunity costs of retired farmland and support the livelihood of farmers. The findings can contribute to the efficient and sustainable management of forestry projects using carbon sequestration, while the methodology can also be applied to other regions in the world.
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Waugh, Rachel Louise. "Options for achieving a 50% reduction in steel industry CO₂ emissions by 2050." Thesis, University of Cambridge, 2013. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.648392.
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Jablonski, Leanne M. "Reproductive response to elevated CO2 : the roles of vegetative carbon storage, nitrogen and seed traits." Thesis, McGill University, 1997. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=34646.
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This study focused on the reproductive response to elevated CO2 of plants possessing below-ground storage. I tested the hypotheses that under elevated CO2: (1) Plants with greater non-foliar storage capacity win show more reproductive response and (2) The altered foliar physiology of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) use will cause increases in seed number and quality. Carbon dioxide treatments of High (650 muL L-1) and Ambient (360 muL L-1) were used in a controlled environment, simulated growing season, and in a natural pasture community. Hypothesis 1 was tested experimentally using four Raphanus varieties that differed in hypocotyl and leaf sizes. N fertilization and harvest times were used to obtain a range of root:shoot ratios. Enhancements in vegetative leaf area rather than the hypocotyl predicted reproductive responsiveness to CO 2. However, after three years of CO2 exposure in the pasture, hypocotyl-storing Taraxacum officinale responded strongly in vegetative biomass which correlated with inflorescence size and number. Fitness was enhanced four-fold, while the leaf-storing Plantago major produced more ramets and had only a two-fold fitness increase. Hypothesis 2 was tested by examining the C and N physiology underlying the vegetative organs and seeds of the pasture plants. Under elevated CO2, photosynthesis increased two-fold and senescence was delayed. Total plant C:N ratio did not differ, suggesting N acquisition increased. N similarly limited seed number in all cases suggesting an unchanged Physiology of N use in reproduction. While morphology constrained total biomass response, provisioning to seeds increased as shown by higher seed mass and number and decreased variability in number and mass. In all cases, leaf mass increase under high CO2 corresponded with fitness increase. Phenology constrained response to CO 2 as there was no plasticity in flowering day in Raphanus and Plantago, while there were flowering delays but greater seed maturation rate in Tar
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Jones, Rebecca S. "Carbon Dioxide as a Benign Solvent for Homogeneous Catalyst Recovery and Recycle." Diss., Georgia Institute of Technology, 2005. http://hdl.handle.net/1853/11641.
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We have successfully investigated the use of CO2 as a miscibility switch to create an environment in which we can run a homogeneously catalyzed reaction while maintaining a heterogeneous separation. We explored the use of this technique with fluorous biphasic systems, a fluorous solid support, and aqueous biphasic systems.
In the case of the fluorous systems, CO2 was added to induce solubility of the fluorous catalyst. When the reaction was completed, CO2 was vented and the system returned to a biphasic state, making the separation easy.
For the aqueous biphasic systems, the organic phase is chosen such that it is fully miscible with water at ambient conditions. Examples include acetonitrile, THF, and dioxane. The addition of CO2 reduces the polarity of the solvent and causes a phase split. The recovery of the water-soluble catalyst is once again heterogeneous.
The application to aqueous biphasic systems is the most exciting studied. Aqueous biphasic systems are used industrially in the hydroformylation of propylene. With our technique, these systems can be extended to more hydrophobic substrates. We have shown a rate increase of 65 fold and 99% product recovery at modest pressures for the hydroformylation of 1-octene.
These aqueous biphasic systems also show much promise in the arena of enzyme catalyzed reactions. We can create an environment in which the enzyme kinetics will no longer be mass transfer limited.
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Schiffman, Paula M. "Carbon storage during the regrowth and conversion of Virginia Piedmont forests." Thesis, Virginia Tech, 1985. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/45731.
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Recent increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide caused by the combustion of fossil fuels and tropical deforestation may result in global warming. Carbon accumulation by regrowing temperate forests, in regions such as the southeastern United States, may have been extensive enough to counterbalance releases of carbon from the tropics. In the Virginia Piedmont, large amounts of carbon have accumulated in phytomass and detritus of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) plantations and natural forests regrowing on post-agricultural fields. After 50 years, carbon in phytomass of old field plantations was 200,000 kg/ha, twice the amount accumulated by natural forests. Detrital carbon accumulations totaled over 100,000 kg/ha, but were dependent upon amounts of erosional loss prior to reforestation.
The forested land area in the southeastern United States has stabilized, and forest conversion is now the primary form of reforestation. Therefore, the region's ability to continue to store carbon has been questioned. Still, the phytomass of late-rotation converted plantations stored 200,000 kg carbon/ha, twice the amount of the natural forests they replaced. In addition, while the harvest of natural forests resulted in small reductions in detrital carbon, it was rapidly restored to over 100,000 kg/ha within 30 years.
Houghton et al. (1983) developed a series of models describing carbon dynamics during reforestation. My data show that patterns of carbon accumulation exhibited by regrowing loblolly pine plantations are different from their models. Therefore, modifications of the models are suggested to improve estimates of carbon storage in temperate forests.Master of Science
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Patterson, Tai Zachary. "Freight shipper mode choice in the Quebec City-Windsor Corridor and its impact on carbon dioxide emissions." Thesis, McGill University, 2007. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=102823.
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The Quebec City - Windsor corridor is the busiest and most important trade and transportation corridor in Canada. The transportation sector is the second largest greenhouse gas (GHG) emission category in the country. Governments around the world, including Canada, are considering increased mode share by rail as a way to reduce transportation emissions. To understand whether freight mode shift is a realistic means to reduce transportation emissions, an analytical model is needed that can predict the effect of government policy on mode split.This thesis provides background on the freight transportation-GHG nexus in Canada and describes the development, implementation, reasoning behind, and results of, a Stated Preference shipper carrier choice survey for the Quebec City - Windsor corridor conducted during the fall of 2005. It then describes how the resulting carrier choice models are used to estimate the potential to displace truck traffic to rail (premium-intermodal) under current conditions, as well as to test the effectiveness of different possible future policy or service offering scenarios.
The results show that premium-intermodal has the potential to capture a substantial share of traffic between the main destinations in the Quebec City - Windsor Corridor. However, its ability to contribute significantly to reducing CO2 emissions is limited. According to the analyses conducted, potential reductions are considered to be in the range of nil to 0.413 Mt---a fraction of what the federal government was hoping to be able to achieve through "further public-private collaboration to promote the use of intermodal freight opportunities and to increase the use of low-emission vehicles and modes" (Government of Canada 2002).
At the same time, these potential reductions are based on a small proportion of total truck-related emissions and a few city-pairs. Extension of the current analysis to more city-pairs separated by longer distances might arrive at different conclusions.
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Cabena, Lori E. "Vascular land plant isolates from near-shore sediments and implications for stable isotope determination of the paleoatmosphere." Thesis, Georgia Institute of Technology, 1999. http://hdl.handle.net/1853/25882.
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Caldecott, Benjamin. "Stranded assets and environment-related risk." Thesis, University of Oxford, 2016. https://ora.ox.ac.uk/objects/uuid:36137d36-8392-4ce9-8a51-709bc6495a17.
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This thesis represents the first comprehensive attempt at providing conceptual and scholarly coherence to the topic of stranded assets and the environment. Over the last five years the topic has risen up the agenda and has become of significant interest to scholars and practitioners alike, as it has influenced a number of pressing issues facing investors, companies, policymakers, regulators, and civil society in relation to global environmental change. The thesis reveals how the topic developed and emerged, notably through a unique first-person account based on autoethnography and close dialogue. Four self- contained papers demonstrate the wide applicability of stranded assets, and further existing, relatively well-developed literatures (namely carbon budgets and stranded costs) and also two much less developed literatures (namely the calibration of climate policy to minimise stranded assets and policy mechanisms to quickly and efficiently strand assets). Though a significant amount has been written on stranded assets over a short period, there remain significant gaps in the literature. The thesis identifies substantial research opportunities, particularly to better connect our understanding of physical and societal environment-related risks; to improve our knowledge of perception and behaviour in relation to the creation and management of stranded assets; to expand the scope of work into new sectors and geographies; and to place stranded assets in an appropriate historical perspective. Stranded assets is, if anything, a geographical concept. The thesis makes the case for economic geography as the disciplinary home for stranded assets. The sub-discipline can both contribute to the development of stranded assets as a scholarly endeavour and itself benefit from interacting with a topic that intersects with some of the most pressing contemporary issues related to environmental sustainability.
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Wearing, Catherine Louise. "Changes in fluxes of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) from small catchments in central Scotland." Thesis, University of Stirling, 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/1893/368.
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Concentrations of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) measured within water bodies have been increasing on a global scale over the last two decades. Changes in temperature and rainfall have been shown to increase the production and export of DOC from catchments with peat soils in the UK (Freeman et al., 2001). However it is not clear whether increases in DOC concentrations are caused by production increases induced by temperature changes or by a greater incidence of high flows induced by rainfall changes. Increases in both temperature and rainfall have been predicted in Scotland over the next few decades (Kerr et al., 1999) which may further increase current DOC concentrations and exports. The implications of this include both a decrease in water quality and an increase in mobility of metals in upland water bodies. The overall aim of the thesis is to determine if the relationship between dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations and discharge has changed over a 20 year period in small stream catchments in Scotland, in order to better understand the role of hydrology, in driving changes in DOC concentration. To achieve this streams draining two coniferous forest sites and one moorland site were monitored intensively between June 2004 and February 2006. Analysis of the relationship between DOC and discharge, within the catchments, identified the importance of the amount of precipitation falling on the catchment, antecedent precipitation and season, on the concentration of DOC that was measured within the stream. Models were then developed using variables to represent these drivers in terms of both the production (seasonal sine values and 14 day average temperatures) and movement (log of discharge (log Q), days since previous storm event and rising or falling stage) of DOC. In the Ochil Hills catchment, the best predictive model, used 4 hour average discharge and 1 day average 30cm soil temperatures (R2= 0.88). In the Duchray and Elrig catchments, the best predictive models produced used discharge and seasonal sine values; the strength of the model was greater in the Elrig (R2= 0.80) than the Duchray (R2= 0.48) catchment. The strength of the regression models produced highlighted the importance of precipitation in the movement of DOC to the stream and temperature variables representing production in the surrounding catchment. To determine if dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations had changed within the three study catchments, since previous research was conducted at the same sites in the early 1980s and 1990s (Grieve, 1984a; Grieve, 1994), then regression analysis conducted in the previous research was repeated, so changes in the DOC and discharge relationship could be identified. Analysis of the Ochil Hills regression equations identified higher log of discharge and lower temperature and seasonal sine values in the present study (2004-06), when compared to the previous study (1982-83). This suggests that more DOC is now available for movement from the soil, and that the difference between winter and summer DOC production has decreased, potentially because of increasing temperatures. This would explain the limited increase in DOC concentration within the Ochil Hills stream. In the Duchray and Elrig streams, a large increase in DOC was identified at all discharges when all the models produced were compared between the two sampling periods (1989-90 and 2004-06). The increasing trend in DOC concentrations is too large to have been produced by change in temperature alone and it is suggested that the measured reduction in acidic deposition has resulted in the increased DOC concentrations measured in the Duchray and Elrig. The results from this research have identified that concentrations of DOC have increased in Scottish streams over the last 20 years and that the increases in DOC have been induced, potentially by temperature changes in climate. However, changes in temperature are not the only driver of this change as the reduction in acidic deposition is potentially more important, specifically in areas with base poor geology such as the Duchray and Elrig catchments.
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Wartena, Ryan Craig. "Generation of sodium oxide and discharge of carbon by the electrolysis of multi-component molten salt systems : a recycle process for kraft pulping chemicals." Diss., Georgia Institute of Technology, 2001. http://hdl.handle.net/1853/10281.
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Pahwa-Gajjar, Sumetee. "Building corporate resilience : based on a case study of Spier Holding's search for a lower carbon future." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/71843.
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Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2012.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: A study of the sustainability journey of Spier Holdings, a well known wine and leisure business in South Africa, offers a unique opportunity for interrogating corporate drivers for a lower carbon future. The business has established sustainability as a brand identity, declared carbon neutrality as a macro organisational goal in response to the global challenge of climate change, and sought scientifically and technologically appropriate ways of addressing this challenge. A preliminary analysis revealed various initiatives that are in place for measuring and reducing the business’ environmental impact, including carbon emissions. However, an in-depth study of the establishment’s environmental performance over two decades showed inconsistencies in year-on-year reporting, delays in shifting the supply chain, and gaps in implementation, particularly in the area of energy efficiency and adoption of renewable energy technology. Understanding and interrogating the business’ sustainability journey through a systems ecology and corporate citizenship framework proved inadequate. The case highlights that organizational goals for environmental performance areas, including the aim of carbon neutrality, and sustainability reporting are not sufficient catalysts for change. A complexity-based resilience approach allowed the business to be understood as an adaptive system. The sustainability story tracks different phases of a modified adaptive renewal cycle, which also determine the dominant management paradigms, strategic responses and forms of collaboration during each phase. Spier’s sustainability journey was found to be underpinned by a quest for corporate resilience which includes the resilience of the business (enterprise resilience) and of the social-ecological system within which it resides (SES resilience). The business responded to interdependent risks and uncertainties in its internal and external contexts, through investment strategies in key areas of corporate environmental performance. As a contribution to new knowledge, this thesis proposes an integrated corporate resilience framework for building enterprise resilience and ecological sustainability. This framework, and the accompanying mapping tool, reveals deep, ecological drivers for Spier’s environmental performance across corporate areas of lower carbon emissions, water sustainability, wastewater treatment, solid waste recycling and ecological custodianship. The framework is recommended for use by similar businesses, eager to configure their relationship with natural resources and ecosystem services, and by scholars, for investigating corporate performance towards environmental sustainability.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: ʼn Studie van die volhoubaarheidsonderneming van Spier Holdings, ʼn bekende wyn- en ontspanningsaak in Suid-Afrika, bied ʼn unieke geleentheid vir die ondersoek van korporatiewe aandrywers vir ʼn laer koolstoftoekoms. Die onderneming het volhoubaarheid as ʼn handelsmerkidentiteit gevestig, koolstof-neutraliteit as ʼn makro- organisatoriese doel verklaar in reaksie op die wêreldwye uitdaging van klimaatsverandering, en het wetenskaplik en tegnologies gepaste wyses gesoek om hierdie uitdaging die hoof te bied. ʼn Voorlopige analise het verskeie inisiatiewe wat gereed is vir meting en vermindering van die onderneming se omgewingsimpak aan die lig gebring, met inbegrip van koolstofvrystellings. ʼn Dieptestudie van die instelling se omgewingsprestasie oor twee dekades heen het egter inkonsekwenthede in jaar-tot-jaar-verslagdoening, vertragings in die verandering van die aanvoerketting, en gapings in implementering, in die besonder op die gebied van energiedoeltreffendheid en die ingebruikneming van hernubare energietegnologie getoon. Begrip en ondersoek van die onderneming se volhoubaarheidsonderneming aan die hand van ʼn raamwerk vir sisteemekologie en korporatiewe burgerskap het onvoldoende blyk te wees. Die geval beklemtoon dat organisatoriese doelstellings vir omgewingsprestasiegebiede, met inbegrip van die oogmerk van koolstofneutraliteit, en volhoubaarheidsverslagdoening nie voldoende katalisators vir verandering is nie. ʼn Kompleksiteitgebaseerde veerkragtigheidsbenadering het dit moontlik gemaak dat die onderneming as ʼn aanpassingstelsel beskou kan word. Die volhoubaarheidsverslag gaan verskillende fases van ʼn gewysigde aanpassings- hernuwingsiklus, wat ook die dominante bestuursparadigmas, strategiese reaksies en vorme van samewerking gedurende elke fase bepaal, na. Daar is bevind dat Spier se volhoubaarheidsonderneming onderstut word deur ʼn soeke na korporatiewe veerkragtigheid wat die veerkragtigheid van die onderneming (ondernemingsveerkragtigheid) en van die sosiaal-ekologiese stelsel waarbinne dit gesetel is (SES-veerkragtigheid) insluit. Die onderneming het op onderling afhanklike risiko’s en onsekerhede in sy interne en eksterne samehange gereageer deur beleggingstrategieë in sleutelgebiede van korporatiewe omgewingsprestasie. As ʼn bydrae tot nuwe kennis, doen hierdie tesis ʼn geïntegreerde korporatiewe veerkragtigheidsraamwerk vir die opbou van ondernemingsveerkragtigheid en ekologiese volhoubaarheid aan die hand. Hierdie raamwerk, en die gepaardgaande beskrywingsinstrument, lê diep, ekologiese aandrywers vir Spier se omgewingsprestasie oor korporatiewe gebiede van laer koolstof-vrystellings, watervolhoubaarheid, die behandeling van afloopwater, herbenutting van vaste afval en ekologiese bewaring bloot. Die raamwerk word aanbeveel vir gebruik deur soortgelyke ondernemings wat graag aan hulle verhouding met natuurlike hulpbronne en ekostelseldienste vorm wil gee, en deur vakkundiges vir die ondersoek van korporatiewe prestasie met betrekking tot omgewings-volhoubaarheid.
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Sitompul, Rislima Febriani Economics Australian School of Business UNSW. "Energy-related CO2 emissions in the Indonesian manufacturing sector." Awarded by:University of New South Wales. School of Economics, 2006. http://handle.unsw.edu.au/1959.4/30434.
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This study is aimed at developing policies for energy efficiency by observing the past changes of energy use in Indonesia???s manufacturing sector over the period 1980???2000, and to investigate mitigation options for energy-related CO2 emissions in the sector. The first part of the study uses decomposition analysis to assess the effect of the changes in energy consumption and the level of CO2 emissions, while the second part investigates energy efficiency improvement strategies and the use of economic instruments to mitigate CO2 emissions in the manufacturing sector. Economic activity was the dominant factor in increasing energy consumption over the whole period of analysis, followed by the energy intensity effect and then the structural effect. The increase in aggregate energy intensity over the period 1980-2000 was mainly driven by the energy intensity effect. In turn, the technical effect was the dominant contributor to changes in energy intensity effect, with the fuel-mix effect being of lesser importance. Changes in CO2 emissions were dominated by economic activity and structural change. Sub-sectors that would benefit from fuel switching and energy efficiency improvements are the textile, paper, and non-metal sub-sectors. Three main options for reducing CO2 emissions from the manufacturing sector were considered: the imposition of a carbon tax, energy efficiency initiatives, and other mitigation measures. A carbon tax was found to reduce sectoral emissions from the direct use of oil, gas and coal, but increased the demand for electricity. At the practical level, energy efficiency improvements can be implemented by adopting energy efficient technologies that can reduce aggregate energy intensity up to 37.1 per cent from the base-year level, estimated after imposition of a carbon tax at $30 per tonne of carbon. A major priority for energy efficiency improvements was found to be in the textile and the paper and chemical sub-sectors. A mitigation measure such as the Clean Development Mechanisms could be encouraged in order to reduce projected emission levels. The preferred option would be the adoption of energy efficient technologies in the textile, chemical, paper and non-metal sub-sectors.
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Bocken, Nancy Maria Petronella. "Reducing CO₂ emissions associated with fast moving consumer goods : development and testing of tools and frameworks." Thesis, University of Cambridge, 2012. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.610070.
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Glenn, Aaron James, and University of Lethbridge Faculty of Arts and Science. "Growing season carbon dioxide exchange of two contrasting peatland ecosystems." Thesis, Lethbridge, Alta. : University of Lethbridge, Faculty of Arts and Science, 2005, 2005. http://hdl.handle.net/10133/259.
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The CO2 flux of two peatlands in northern Alberta was examind during the 2004 growing season using eddy covariance measurements of net ecosystem exchange (NEE), chamber measurements of total ecosystem respiration, and empirical models driven by meteorological inputs. The two ecosystems, a poor fen and an extreme-rich fen, differed significantly in plant species composition, leaf area index, aboveground biomass and surface water chemistry. The mean diurnal pattern of NEE at the peak of the season was similar between the sites, however, the extreme-rich fen had a higher photosynthetic and respiratory capacity than the poor fen. Over the 6 month study, the poor fen was shown to accumulate between 2 to 3 times more carbon than the extreme-rich fen despite having a lower photosynthetic capacity. The evergreen nature of the poor fen site allowed for a longer season of net CO2 uptake than the deciduous species that dominated the extreme-rich fen.xii, 126 leaves : ill. (some col.) ; 29 cm.
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Thompson, Andrea Elizabeth. "Reactions of Bromide Ions with Atmospheric Trace Gases and Aerosols." Thesis, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2006. http://hdl.handle.net/1853/10447.
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I investigated the utility of Br- as a chemical ionization mass spectrometry (CIMS) reagent ion for the detection and measurement of both atmospheric trace gases and aerosol species. The primary goals of this study are to obtain fast, very sensitive measurements of nitrate and sulfate and to ascertain if gas phase PAN and HNO3 could be measured simultaneously with the same chemical ionization scheme. Gas-phase measurements of PAN and nitric acid were conducted and the sensitivities of these measurements to temperature and relative humidity were determined. The potential for measuring aerosol composition by CIMS was assessed by comparison with PILS (particle-into-liquid sampler) measurements.
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Bennett, Kathryn C. (Kathryn Condreay). "Desorption/Diffusion of Benzene After Simulated Ground Water Remediation." Thesis, University of North Texas, 1989. https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc500458/.
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A study was undertaken to examine the desorption/ iffusion of benzene after simulated ground water remediation in aquifer material of differing carbon content using column experiments and comparing the results to batch experiments and adsorption empirical relationships. It was hypothesized that the organic carbon of the aquifer material will affect desorption/diffusion. Results from the column experiment indicated no significant difference in the increase benzene concentrations after remediation between aquifer materials of differing carbon content, however, a significant increase in benzene concentration was observed for all aquifer material. Fair agreement of retardation factors was observed between empirical relationships and batch and column experiments. However, the desorption phase of the batch experiment showed hysteresis and seemed to differ from the column experiment.
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Chiang, Yang-Sheng. "Estimating landscape level leaf area index and net primary productivity using field measurements, satellite imagery, and a 2-D ecophysiological model." Virtual Press, 2004. http://liblink.bsu.edu/uhtbin/catkey/1294241.
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This study has provided a landscape level estimate of leaf area index (LAI) and net primary productivity (NPP) for a temperate broadleaf forest ecosystem in south-central Indiana. The estimates were compared with the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) biophysical products LAI and NPP from both spatial and temporal perspectives. The evidence suggests that field-based estimates were poorly correlated with global MODIS data due to the simplifying assumptions of the MODIS global applicability, saturation problems of the red reflectance in highly vegetated areas, homogeneous land cover types of the study area, and other design assumptions of the field-based estimates. To improve the localized applicability of MODIS product algorithms, an empirical and localized algorithm combining in-situ measurements, the buildup of a localized biophysical model, and remote sensing-derived data were suggested for each local-scaled ecosystem.Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management
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Jones, Isabel L. "Legacies of tropical forest fragmentation and regeneration for biodiversity and carbon storage." Thesis, University of Stirling, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/1893/26238.
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Expanding anthropogenic development within the tropical forest biome is driving the loss of an irreplaceable global resource. Mega-diverse tropical forests are vital for regulating the global carbon cycle, and are essential for climate change mitigation. Today, over half of the world’s remaining tropical forest is degraded or regenerating secondary forest. Tropical forests are becoming increasingly fragmented through the expansion of agriculture and roads. Landscape-scale flooding of terrestrial habitats caused by dam construction is an emerging driver of habitat loss and fragmentation. Much attention has been paid to the long-term impacts of tropical forest fragmentation for biodiversity, ecosystem functioning, and carbon emissions. Most of our understanding of the impacts associated with habitat fragmentation originates from systems in which the habitat matrix surrounding remnant forest patches is another, albeit low quality, terrestrial habitat. However, dam-induced habitat fragmentation results in remnant terrestrial biological communities becoming isolated on islands within a water matrix. A water matrix presents the worst-case scenario for remnant habitat fragments. In Chapter 2 I synthesise the results of numerous studies reporting the responses of taxonomic groups to isolation on reservoir land-bridge islands, and uncover a globally-applicable pattern of extinction debt acting upon remnant biological communities on reservoir islands. All islands, regardless of taxonomic group, habitat type, or island area lose species as island isolation time increases. Moreover, I show that contrary to existing ecological theory, once terrestrial habitat becomes isolated within a water matrix, it is effectively too isolated for species losses to be buffered by metapopulation dynamics. Dam development is rapidly expanding in the largest remaining tract of intact tropical forest, the Amazon Basin. In Chapters 3 and 4 I study the Balbina mega-dam system in the central Brazilian Amazon. Here, I use detailed field inventories of trees and lianas on islands and in continuous mainland habitat to determine the impact of landscape-scale habitat fragmentation caused by reservoir creation on these taxonomic groups. I find that islands maintain tree communities at significantly lower densities, richness and diversity compared to continuous forest. Furthermore, tree communities on islands exhibit compositional divergence from those found in mainland continuous forest. Island tree assemblages are dominated by low-wood density species, and may be on a trajectory towards communities characteristic of early successional forests with reduced carbon storage capacity. In contrast, liana assemblages remain compositionally intact and are becoming increasingly dominant relative to trees. Thus, lianas appear robust to many of the negative impacts associated with landscape-scale habitat fragmentation. As insular tree communities continue to degrade through area- and edge-effects, lianas may become a key feature of this archipelagic landscape due to their competitive advantage over trees in disturbed forest habitats. Lianas significantly inhibit tree recruitment and carbon storage. Thus, findings from Chapters 3 and 4 provide strong evidence for additional, and currently unaccounted-for biodiversity and carbon impacts associated with tropical dams. As development of tropical forest regions increases, there is an urgent need to reconcile the need for resources with the need for ecosystem service provision, such as carbon storage, particularly as we attempt to mitigate the impacts of rising atmospheric carbon. Recent studies have shown that secondary tropical forests have the potential to rapidly uptake atmospheric carbon, and act as a powerful tool in climate change mitigation policy. Broad-scale estimates of secondary forest carbon uptake are currently based on above-ground biomass alone. In Chapter 5 I present carbon stock estimates of additional tropical forest carbon pools - soil and dead woody biomass - in secondary forests ranging from 40-120 years. I find that soil fertility (nitrogen concentration) is key in determining carbon storage in secondary forests, and that the stability of carbon stocks held in dead woody biomass increases with secondary forest stand age. I highlight the need to integrate detailed site-specific information into broad-scale predictive models of secondary tropical forest carbon sequestration. This thesis links ecological theory and landscape-scale field inventories, to provide new understanding of the long-term costs of tropical forest fragmentation for biodiversity conservation and carbon storage, and provides further evidence of the important role secondary tropical forests may play in carbon sequestration and climate change mitigation.
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Crawford, Ian Stewart. "Catalytic reduction of nitric oxide by carbon monoxide or hydrogen over a Monel metal catalyst." Title page, contents and summary only, 1987. http://web4.library.adelaide.edu.au/theses/09EN/09enc899.pdf.
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Van, Gaalen Kenneth Eric, and University of Lethbridge Faculty of Arts and Science. "Photosynthetic CO2 exchange and spectral vegetation indices of boreal mosses." Thesis, Lethbridge, Alta. : University of Lethbridge, Faculty of Arts and Science, 2005, 2005. http://hdl.handle.net/10133/293.
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Moss dominated ecosystems are an important part of the global terrestrial carbon cycle. Over large areas, remote sensing can be useful to provide an improved understanding of these ecosystems. Two boreal mossess (Pleurozium and Sphagnum) were assessed using remote sensing based spectral vegetation indices for estimating biochemical capacity and photosynthetic efficiency by varying net photosynthesis rate via changes in water content. In the laboratory, changes in the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and chlorophyll index coincided with declining photosynthetic capacity due to desiccation. This effect was more dramatic in Sphagnum. The photochemical reflectance index (PRI) did not vary with changes in CO2 supply as anticipated, possibly due to overriding effects of changing water content. The water band index (WBI) was strongly related to water content but this relationship showed an uncoupling in the field. Bi-directional reflectance measurements indicated what WBI was sensitive to sensor, sun, and moss surface slope angles.xi, 110 leaves : ill. (some col.) ; 29 cm.
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Ndalowa, Dan. "Evaluation of carbon accounting models for plantation forestry in South Africa." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/86247.
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Thesis (MScFor)--Stellenbosch University, 2014.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The role that forestry plays in climate change mitigation is well recognized by countries that ratified the Kyoto protocol agreement. Though climate change mitigation strategies provide a strong incentive to quantify current patterns of forest carbon sources and sinks, this exercise (carbon accounting) is not as simple as it sounds. This is proven by the vast number of techniques and methodologies available, from models to softwares programmes created in response to the need to estimate carbon sequestration. The study aimed at gaining an understanding of the current carbon sequestration estimation methodology and models in use by the South African Forestry Industry. A survey was undertaken amongst forestry industry stakeholders in which 77% of respondents agreed to the need for a carbon sequestration model for South Africa. This model should have qualities that the forestry industry and all stakeholders agreed with. . A search of freely available models and software was conducted. The aim was to find freely available model(s) that would be readily applicable and adoptable to South African conditions. A Multi Criteria Analysis was carried out using “ideal qualities” for a carbon model as weighting. This resulted in the selection of two models, CASMOFOR and CBM CFS 3, which obtained the highest sum product total from the analysis. These together with FICAT, which came as a recommendation from the questionnaire survey, were compared in the analysis. Carbon values were calculated from yield table volumes by Kotze et al. (2012). A conversion of these volumes to biomass and carbon was done using Dovey (2009) biomass expansion factors and a biomass to carbon conversion value of 0.5 g C/g dry matter, following procedures by Matthews (1993). The first comparison was made on how the model results related to the yield table estimates from Kotze et al. (2012). When carbon values were compared per hectare, it was found that the FICAT model differed significantly from the rest. A second comparison looked at the models’ prediction of the carbon accumulated in NCT’s Enon plantation outside Pietermaritzburg. The Hungarian model, CASMOFOR, was the better predictor as it produced the lowest Mean Squared Error (MSE). Based on the results from the survey and model analysis a number of recommendations can be made regarding the current carbon accounting situation in South Africa. One of the main recommendations is that information sharing among the industry’s stakeholders should improve if the industry is to reach consensus on which methodology to adopt in their business practices.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die rol wat bosbou speel in klimaatsverandering-bekamping is welbekend onder lande wat die Kyoto protokol ooreenkoms onderteken het. Alhoewel klimaatsverandering-bekamping strategieë ‘n sterk aansporing bied om huidige patrone van woudkoolstof bronne en sinkte te kwantifiseer, is hierdie oefening nie so maklik soos dit klink nie. Die bewys hiervan is die groot aantal tegnieke en metodes, wat wissel van modelle tot sagteware programme wat ontwikkel is om koolstofsekwistrasie te meet. Die doelwit van die studie was om die huidige koolstofsekwistrasie metodes en modelle wat deur die Suid Afrikaanse Bosbou Bedryf gebruik word, beter te verstaan. ‘n Vraelysopname is onderneem onder bosbou-industrie deelnemers, waarin 77% van respondente saamgestem het dat dit nodig is dat Suid Afrika ‘n koolstofsekwistrasie model moet hê. Die model moet eienskappe hê waarmee die bosbou-industrie en alle deelnemers saamstem. ‘n Soektog na vrylik beskikbare koolstofmodelle en sagteware programme is onderneem. Die doelwit was om modelle te vind wat geredelik aangepas kan word vir Suid Afrikaanse toestande. ‘n Multi-kriteria analise is uitgevoer met die “ideale eienskappe”vir ‘n koolstofmodel as gewigte. Die resultaat was die seleksie van twee modelle, CASMOFOR en CBM CFS 3, wat die hoogste telling in die ontleding behaal het. Hierdie modelle, tesame met FICAT, wat aanbeveel is deur respondente van die vraelys opname, is vergelyk in ‘n ontleding. Koolstofwaardes is bereken vanaf opbrengstabelle wat deur Kotze et al. (2012) ontwikkel is. Die omsetting van hierdie volumes na biomassa en koolstof is gedoen deur Dovey (2009) se biomassa uitbreidingsfaktore en ‘n biomassa na koolstof omsettings faktor van 0.5 g C/g droëmassa te gebruik (Matthews, 1993). In die eerste vergelyking van die modelle is gekyk hoe die modelle vergelyk met koolstof berekeninge vanaf die Kotze et al. (2012) opbrengstabelle. Wanneer koolstofwaardes per hektaar vergelyk word is gevind dat FICAT beduidend verskil van die ander modelle. In ‘n tweede vergelyking is gekyk na hoe die modelle die koolstof wat in NCT se Enon plantasie buite Pietermaritzburg versamel is, voorspel. Die Hongaarse CASMOFOR model was die beste voorspeller. Anders as die FICAT en CBM CFS 3 modelle het dit die laagste Gemiddelde Vierkante Fout gehad. Na gelang van die resultate van die vraelysopname en die modelontleding kan ‘n aantal aanbevelings gemaak word oor die huidige koolstofberekening situasie in Suid Afrika. Een van die hoof aanbevelings is dat die uitruil van inligting tussen industrie deelnemers moet verbeter as die bedryf eenstemmigheid oor die metode van koolstofberekening wil bereik.