Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Global environmental change – Political aspects'
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Vladimirova, Ekaterina. "Values for sustainable future: transforming values in the context of climate change and global environmental degradation." Doctoral thesis, Universite Libre de Bruxelles, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/2013/ULB-DIPOT:oai:dipot.ulb.ac.be:2013/241295.
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Apostolis, Juanita Joleen. "A critical analysis of Global Warning coverage in the National Geographic (2000-2010)." Thesis, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1607.
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National Geographic is a magazine that inspires people to care about the planet through its articles of exploration, education, and conservation. Magazines are a significant source of knowledge and compete with a variety of other media, constantly rethinking where they can improve in comparison to other media. Research in this dissertation shows that some magazines offer high quality imagery for artwork, photos and advertisements, which remains critical for industries and readers. They often offer greater depth than radio, TV, or even newspapers, so that people interested in an analysis of news and events still depend on magazines for informative and general news. People often turn to media—such as television, newspapers, magazines, radio, and Internet—to help them make sense of the many complexities relating to environmental science and governance that (un)consciously shape our lives. Global warming, as a subject, demands both political and personal responses in all parts of the world, and effective decision making at both scales depends on timely, accurate information, according to Shanahan (2009:145). The quality and quantity of journalism about climate change will therefore be key in the coming years. National Geographic comprises a variety of themes, such as environment, science, wildlife, travel and photography. This study is an analysis of the writing and photography related to one theme - global warming. It provides a critical analysis of the coverage of the global warming discourse in one magazine, examined over an eleven-year period from 2000 to 2010. This theme is powerful in that it represents ethical responsibility and concern for nature and our world and the analysis attempts to define the objects of discourse within the coverage, thus, evaluating if the format of the coverage informs and educates the audience about global warming.
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Rodrigues, Diego de Freitas. "Desenho institucional, poliarquia decisória e formulação da política de mudanças climáticas no Brasil : estudo de caso da comissão interministerial de mudança global do clima." Universidade Federal de São Carlos, 2013. https://repositorio.ufscar.br/handle/ufscar/957.
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Previous issue date: 2013-03-25Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais
It has been observed that the same governance model was configurated in the brazilian climate change policy, characterizing by this policy to the responsible institutions three factors in comon: (1) institutional diversity, (2) cooperation e (3) political competition. Trough a Case Study, it was attempted to focus, as an unity of analisys, on the Interministerial Comission on Global Climate Change (CIMMGC in portuguese) to observe in what measure the bigger institutional diversity, characterized by the elevated inclusiveness of political actors and the accountability reinforcement in the political decision making process, promoted more cooperation and less political competition among the political actors involved in CIMMGC. In this scenery, the research question was: In the contexto of a diverse institutional composition and of it s political decision making process rules (supported by the unanimity rule), why, by observing the political decision making processo f the CIMMGC, wasn t possible to point a decision making paralisys or an institutional immobility in it s acitivities? The Hypothesis was that the institutional drawing of the CIMMGC worked as a political vector of dynamism through the decision making rules developed during the institutionalization of brazilian climate change policy. Were applied in this study, specially, two integrated data collection strategies: (1) query and analisys of institutional reports issued specially by the CIMMGC, but also issued by other institutional organisms vinculated to the governance of brazilian climate change policy and (2) interviews in depth and semi-structured with policy makers directly involved with national climate change policy and specially allocated in the CIMMGC. The results pointed that a bigger political inclusiveness in the decision making process of the brazilian climate change policy incurred in no absence of democratic governance. In the case of the CIMMGC, the brazilian climate change policy consensual model reinforced the accountability mechanisms in the political process without losing the institutional dynamism and the decision making capability in the political goals granted to the institution by the Climate Change National Policy and Plan.
Observou-se que um mesmo modelo de governança foi configurado na política brasileira de mudança do clima, caracterizando em comum às instituições responsáveis por essa política, três fatores: (1) diversidade institucional, (2) cooperação e (3) competição política. Como um Estudo de Caso, buscou-se tomar, como unidade de análise, a Comissão Interministerial de Mudança Global do Clima (CIMMGC) para efeito de observar em que medida a maior diversidade institucional, caracterizada pela elevada inclusividade de atores políticos e o reforço de accountability no processo político decisório, fomentou mais cooperação e menos competição política entre os atores políticos envolvidos na CIMMGC. Diante desse cenário, a pergunta de pesquisa foi: diante de uma composição institucional diversa e das regras de seu processo decisório (amparadas na regra de unanimidade), por que, ao se observar o processo político da CIMMGC, não foi possível apontar uma paralisia decisória ou o imobilismo institucional em suas atividades? A hipótese foi que o desenho institucional da CIMMGC funcionou como vetor político de dinamismo pelas regras decisórias desenvolvidas ao longo da institucionalização da política brasileira de mudança do clima. Foram aplicadas nesta pesquisa, especialmente, duas estratégias para a coleta de dados integrados: houve a (1) consulta e análise de relatórios institucionais emitidos especialmente pela CIMGC, mas também pelos demais organismos institucionais vinculados à governança da política brasileira de mudança do clima e; (2) entrevistas em profundidade e semi-estruturadas com os policy makers envolvidos diretamente com a política nacional de mudança do clima e especialmente alocados na CIMMGC, o que permitiu mapear o caráter horizontal no processo de tomada de decisão da CIMMGC. Os resultados apontaram que a maior inclusividade política no processo decisório da política brasileira de mudança do clima não incorreu em ausência de governabilidade democrática. No caso da CIMMGC, o modelo consociativo da política brasileira de mudança do clima reforçou mecanismos de accountability no processo político sem perder, em contrapartida, dinamismo institucional e capacidade decisória nos objetivos políticos outorgados à instituição pela Política e Plano Nacional sobre Mudança do Clima.
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Дядечко, Алла Миколаївна, Алла Николаевна Дядечко, Alla Mykolaivna Diadechko, Дарина Володимирівна Боронос, Дарина Владимировна Боронос, and Daryna Volodymyrivna Boronos. "Environmental, social and economic aspects of global climate change." Thesis, Вид-во СумДУ, 2009. http://essuir.sumdu.edu.ua/handle/123456789/16882.
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Боронос, Дарина Володимирівна, Дарина Владимировна Боронос, Daryna Volodymyrivna Boronos, Вікторія Георгіївна Боронос, Виктория Георгиевна Боронос, and Viktoriia Heorhiivna Boronos. "Environmental, social and economic aspects of global climate change." Thesis, Видавництво СумДУ, 2008. http://essuir.sumdu.edu.ua/handle/123456789/8127.
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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.
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Kurtz, Reed Michael. "Climate Change and the Ecology of the Political: Crisis, Hegemony, and the Struggle for Climate Justice." The Ohio State University, 2019. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1566180060639625.
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Iniesta-Arandia, Irene, Federica Ravera, Stephanie Buechler, Isabel Díaz-Reviriego, María E. Fernández-Giménez, Maureen G. Reed, Mary Thompson-Hall, et al. "A synthesis of convergent reflections, tensions and silences in linking gender and global environmental change research." SPRINGER, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/622830.
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This synthesis article joins the authors of the special issue "Gender perspectives in resilience, vulnerability and adaptation to global environmental change" in a common reflective dialogue about the main contributions of their papers. In sum, here we reflect on links between gender and feminist approaches to research in adaptation and resilience in global environmental change (GEC). The main theoretical contributions of this special issue are threefold: emphasizing the relevance of power relations in feminist political ecology, bringing the livelihood and intersectionality approaches into GEC, and linking resilience theories and critical feminist research. Empirical insights on key debates in GEC studies are also highlighted from the nine cases analysed, from Europe, the Americas, Asia, Africa and the Pacific. Further, the special issue also contributes to broaden the gender approach in adaptation to GEC by incorporating research sites in the Global North alongside sites from the Global South. This paper examines and compares the main approaches adopted (e.g. qualitative or mixed methods) and the methodological challenges that derive from intersectional perspectives. Finally, key messages for policy agendas and further research are drawn from the common reflection.
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Tousignant, Denise. "Selection response to global change of Brassica juncea (L.) czern." Thesis, McGill University, 1993. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=69693.
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The potential for an adaptive response to global climatic change was evaluated for an annual C$ sb3$ weed, Brassica juncea, by performing a selection on fecundity for eight generations. During the selection, atmospheric carbon dioxide and temperature were gradually increased from current levels (370 $ rm mu L cdot L sp{-1}$ CO$ sb2$, 20$ sp circ$C) to conditions predicted during the next century by climate models (650 $ rm mu L cdot L sp{-1}$ CO$ sb2$, 23.6$ sp circ$C) including heat stress events at 32$ sp circ$C/26$ sp circ$C day/night), At the end of the selection, a reciprocal transplant experiment was conducted to identify genetic differences between control selection lines of plants and those selected under increasing CO$ sb2$ and temperature. I observed a genetic adaptation of early vegetative growth elevated CO$ sb2$ and temperature, which resulted in to 63% more biomass and 11% higher photosynthetic rates. Reproductive biomass, however, was decreased during the selection, mainly due to temperature stress, which disrupted flower development and induced strong maternal effects, counteracting the selection on fecundity.
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Lang, Helmut. "Agents of fundamental policy change? : political strategies of the environmental, sustainable agriculture, and family farm groups in the 1990 farm bill /." Thesis, This resource online, 1992. http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-01122010-020218/.
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Hakala, Fanni Pirita. "The Greta Effect on Global Environmental Governance : Testing the Applicability of Frame Theory." Thesis, Malmö universitet, Malmö högskola, Institutionen för globala politiska studier (GPS), 2021. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:mau:diva-43634.
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Humanity currently faces an existential crisis: anthropogenic climate change. In order to guarantee our survival on a stable planet, immediate mitigation and adaption strategies must be implemented. However, institutions are failing to live up to the task and a concrete action plan is currently non-existent, as climate governance struggles with fragmentation, commitment, and challenges posed by neoliberalism. Since the top-down approach is insufficient, extra-institutional actors are arising as leaders for the environmental agenda. This study narrows down on Greta Thunberg and assesses her capacity in leading the climate movement. The applicability of frame theory (Benford and Snow, 2000) will be tested to understand the mobilisation potential of Greta’s discourse. The main focus of this examination is to analyse how Greta has used diagnostic, prognostic, and motivational collective action frames in order to place the limelight on the seriousness of climate change and correspondingly how this has led to civil society mobilisation. Through a discourse analysis of her speeches, it was discovered that the framing perspective plays a role in meaning construction for the movement.
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Uhrqvist, Ola. "Seeing and Knowing the Earth as a System : An Effective History of Global Environmental Change Research as Scientific and Political Practice." Doctoral thesis, Linköpings universitet, Tema vatten i natur och samhälle, 2014. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:liu:diva-110654.
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Previous research connecting scientific knowledge production with governing of the global environment usually start in international climate change negotiations and related assessments. From that vantage point Earth system science and models are studied as an expansion of Global Circulation Models. By tracing of the history of the present Earth system outlook this thesis offers a reflection about how scientific knowledge produce and connects problems with descriptions of desired order of things and strategies to get there. Knowledge becomes a productive power by shaping fields of possible action in relation to the global environment. The interpreted empirical material consists of scientific discussions from the International global environmental change programmes and particularly the International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme (IGBP) and the International Human Dimensions Programme on global environmental change (IHDP). The studied period spans from the start of the planning of the IGBP in 1983 to the presentation of the new research programme Future Earth in 2013. The thesis is organised around the effects of the IGBP’s strategy to use predictive Earth system models as a tool to bring a broad range of scientific disciplines together. The results demonstrate the historicity of the present Earth system outlook by showing how ecosystems and human dimensions were attributed new and more important roles as drivers of global change. The thesis also argue for the need to approach the ‘Earth system’ as a result of a productive tension between top-down perspectives found in global modelling and bottom-up empirical research engaging with process interactions down to local scales.Genom att studera diskussioner inom internationella miljöforskningsprogram spårar den här avhandlingen framväxten av dagens syn på planeten jorden som ett sammanlänkat system – Jordsystemet. Kopplingen mellan makt och kunskap, styrning och mentaliteter, ligger till grund för studiens tolkande ansats. Den knyter samman sätt att betrakta och beräkna den globala miljön, grunden för jordsystemperspektivet, och de handlingsalternativ det synliggör inom politik och vetenskap. Studien baseras primärt på analyser av arkivmaterial från International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme (IGBP) och International Human Dimensions Programme of Global Environmental Change (IHDP). Tillsammans representerar dessa två program ett brett nätverk för forskning om globala miljöförändringar. Den undersökta perioden startar i och med planeringen av IGBP 1983 och avslutas 2013 med att Future Earth etableras som ett nytt internationellt program för forskning om globala miljöförändringar. Avhandlingen undersöker effekter av IGBPs strategi att använda prediktiva Jordsystemmodeller som ett redskap för att integrera och koordinera forskningen om globala miljöförändringar. Studiens resultat visar på historiciteten i nuvarande sätt att betrakta Jordsystemet. Framförallt studeras hur introducerandet av ekologisk och social komplexitet i förståelsen och modelleringen av Jordsystemet hänger samman med en förändrad bild av relationen människa-miljö och därmed också bilden av globala miljöförändringar som vetenskapligt och politiskt problem. Avhandlingen visar att förståelsen av Jordsystemet vuxit fram i en produktiv spänning mellanovanifrånperspektivet i globala modeller och lokalt förankrad socio-ekologisk interaktion.
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Tsang, Heung-chun, and 曾向俊. "The impact of the global-warming-led climate change on agricultural production of major grain producing regions in China." Thesis, The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong), 2011. http://hub.hku.hk/bib/B46733048.
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Azarch, Anna. "Climate change negotiations and the North-South relationship : an exploration of continuity and change." Thesis, Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch, 2010. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/5202.
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Thesis (MA (Political Science. International Studies))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010.Bibliography
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The politics of climate change has thus far been marked by controversy and a lack of consensus in regards to the best manner in which to comprehend and mitigate this problem. This is further aggravated by the characterisation of climate change as a global problem requiring a global solution which has served to only further complicate inter-state relations. While a number of analysts have remarked that the North-South relationship is no longer a meaningful analytical tool in international relations, it will be the purpose of this study to explore this contention within the field of climate change negotiations and to identify both the transformation and continuity within the relationship between the North and South. The unsuccessful nature of climate negotiations are largely held to be the result of the rift between the North and South, where the issues relating to the global political economy are largely responsible for the lack of consensus being reached between developing and developed countries. All climate negotiations since the 1972 UN Conference on the Environment and Development have showcased the tension between the two regions in regards to climate change mitigation and their inability to overcome this fissure. More importantly, the ensuing Copenhagen Summit of 2009 further highlighted a rift amongst the developing countries of the South, and between the developed and developing countries. As a consequence, the main aim of the research will be to understand the character of the global interactions between the North and South in terms of the context of global environmental politics. It is also the purpose of this research to gain a more comprehensive account of the sequence of causation within this relationship which stalled the negotiating process and lastly, to understand the conceptual demarcations of the two terms in the post-Cold War era so as to better understand the nature of the relationship between the two regions. What may be surmised by the study is that there is still a continuity to be found in the international arena pertaining to the North-South relationship. However, the Copenhagen Summit has been instrumental in showcasing the growing stratification that is found within the South and as a result has highlighted the cross-alliances that have formed between the North and South in order to maintain economic growth. Overall, while the North-South relationship does impact the nature of climate mitigation negotiations, the stratification of states based upon economic and developmental divergences will result in states forming alliances based upon economic self-interest.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die politiek van klimaatsverandering is tot dusver gekenmerk aan kontroversie en ‟n gebrek aan konsensus met betrekking tot die mees effektiewe wyse waarop hierdie probleem verstaan en gemitigeer kan word. Die probleem word verder vererger deur die kenmerk van klimaatsverandering as ‟n globale probleem wat ‟n globale oplossing verg, wat tot die verdere komplikasie van interstaat-verhoudings gelei het. Verskeie analiste het opgemerk dat die verhouding tussen die Noorde en Suide nie meer dien as betekenisvolle analitiese gereedskap op die gebied van internasionale verhoudings nie. Die doel van hierdie ondersoek is gevolglik om hierdie aanname in oënskou te neem, en om beide transformasie en kontinuïteit binne die verhouding tussen die Noorde en Suide te identifiseer. Die onsuksesvolle aard van klimaatsonderhandelinge word grootliks toegeskryf aan die onenigheid tussen die Noorde en Suide, met kwessies rondom die globale politieke ekonomie grootliks verantwoordelik vir die gebrek aan konsensus tussen die streke. Sedert die 1972 VN Konferensie oor die Omgewing en Ontwikkeling het alle klimaatsonderhandelinge die spanning tussen die twee streke met betrekking to klimaatveranderingsversagtings en hul onvermoë om hierdie skeur te oorbrug, ten toon gestel. Die 2009 Kopenhagen-beraad het ‟n onenigheid ontbloot tussen die ontwikkelende lande in die Suide en tussen ontwikkelende en ontwikkelde lande. Gevolglik is die hoofdoelstelling van hierdie studie om die aard van globale interaksies tussen die Noorde en Suide te verstaan met betrekking tot die konteks van globale omgewingspolitiek. Die doel van die navorsing is ook om ‟n meer omvattende verklaring te verkry oor die volgorde van oorsaaklike verbande binne hierdie verhouding wat die onderhandelingsproses tot stilstand gebring het en laastens, om die konseptuele afbakening van hierdie twee terme in die post-Koue Oorlog era en die aard van die verhouding tussen die twee streke beter te verstaan. Hierdie studie wys dat daar steeds kontinuïteit in die internasionale arena is met betrekking tot die verhouding tussen die Noorde en Suide. Die 2009 Kopenhagen-beraad was egter instrumenteel om die groeiende stratifikasie wat binne die Suide gevind word uit te lig, en die kruisalliansies wat tussen die Noorde en Suide gevorm is om ekonomiese groei in stand te hou, te beklemtoon. Alhoewel die verhouding tussen die Noorde en Suide tog ‟n impak op die aard van klimaatsversagtingsonderhandelings uitoefen, sal die stratifikasie van state wat op ekonomiese- en ontwikkelingsafwykings gebaseer is tot gevolg hê dat state alliansies vorm op grond van ekonomiese selfbelange.
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Luna, Alfredo. "Implications of social movements in the present global environmental dynamics: the case of the United States." Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú. Centro de Investigación en Geografía Aplicada, 2013. http://repositorio.pucp.edu.pe/index/handle/123456789/119683.
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Social movements are mobilization groups of stakeholders who seek to change the status quo, given the unfavorable conditions regarding their demands, rights, warrants, etc. As a fundamental effect of the change, social movements become leading actors of institutional change. One of these effects is given in the environmental issues, in the use, control, legislation and appreciation of nature. The insurgent policies developed by these movements are, in the current context of globalization and development of information technology and communication, the center of analysis in this paper, focusing on the U.S. environmental movement. We, therefore, believe that insurgent policies determine the beginning of institutional change.Los movimientos sociales son grupos movilizados de actores sociales que buscan cambiar el status quo dadas las condiciones no favorables en relación con sus demandas, derechos, garantías,etc. Como efecto fundamental de dicho cambio, los movimientos sociales se constituyen como actores protagónicos del cambio institucional. Uno de estos efectos se da en el tema ambiental, en el uso, control, legislación y valoración de la naturaleza. Las políticas insurgentes que desarrollan dichos movimientos serán, en el actual contexto de la globalización y desarrollo de las tecnologías de la información y la comunicación, el centro de análisis de este documento, enfocándose en el movimiento ecologista de Estados Unidos. Por tanto, creemos que las políticas insurgentes determinan el inicio del cambio institucional.
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Hein, James Everett. "Movement-Countermovement Dynamics in the Global Warming Policy Conflict." The Ohio State University, 2012. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1338406978.
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De, Klerk W. A. (Willem Abraham). "An investigation into the trading in emissions credits as a free market mechanism to curb global warming." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2002. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/49717.
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Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2002.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: One of the most topical and widely discussed factors which could lead to the ultimate end of life on earth is global warming and its devastating effects. Several current trends clearly demonstrate that global warming is directly impacting on rising sea levels, the melting of icecaps and other significant worldwide climatic changes. These climatic changes will have a profound effect on the economy of the world as well as having health and social consequences for humans on earth. It has also become evident that mankind has played a significant role in causing global warming through its excessive burning of fossil fuels and its deforestation activities. Mainstream economists have increasingly realised that the prime cause of environmental problems is the absence of markets and more specifically, the absence of private ownership, which provide the foundation for markets. This occurrence has also been described in the literature as the tragedy of the commons. Mankind has come to a point in its history whereby it is in great danger of causing its own annihilation through the destruction of its natural environment. As a result of this, world leaders and many industrialists have realised that it is essential that the world must do something to preserve the natural environment. This was the rationale behind the Kyoto Protocol. In Kyoto 38 industrial states undertook to reduce their total emissions of six important greenhouse gases by at least 5 percent by the period 2012 at the latest. It was agreed in Kyoto that the system to be used to curb global warming should be based on free market principles that would focus on limiting the tragedy of the commons. On this basis it was agreed that the international trade in greenhouse gas emission allowances might fulfil an important role in providing countries and companies with the capabilities to achieve part of their reduction obligations. The Kyoto mechanism was therefore designed on the basis of emissions trading, but also had an equity objective with respect to developing countries. Supporters of the trading scheme are of the opinion that this market will guarantee that certain emission targets are met. In principle, the international trade in emission credits offers several advantages in terms of a flexible and cost-efficient realisation of the reduction obligations undertaken at Kyoto. Supporters of emissions trading are also of the opinion that trading in these gases also has economic and technological benefits. The answer to global warming might be as simple as buy low, sell high conventions. Now greenhouse-gas emissions are becoming a commodity that can be bought and sold on a worldwide scale, just like gold or soybeans. It is expected that the trading in greenhouse-gas emission rights will ultimately constitute the largest commodities market in the world. An international market for greenhouse gas emission allowances is already developing. However, rules governing such transactions are not fully worked out yet. The 178-nation Kyoto Protocol on global warming may provide a start, despite the US's refusal to support the treaty. It will be the aim of this thesis to provide understanding in terms of the functioning of emissions trading schemes and therefore the Kyoto mechanism as a solution to this problem of global warming. It will also be an important objective of this thesis to provide insight into the issues applicable to climatic change and the Kyoto mechanism.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Atmosfeerverwarming is wêreldwyd een van die mees bespreekte kwessies. Die nadelige effek van atmosfeerverwarming as gevolg van die toenemende kweekhuiseffek, het die potensiaal om tot die uiteindelike uitwissing van lewe op aarde te lei. Verskeie tendense dui daarop dat atmosfeerverwarming 'n direkte impak op stygende seevlakke, die ontvriesing van die pakys by die pole en ander noemenswaardige klimaatsversteuringe het. Indien iets drasties nie gedoen word om atmosfeer verhitting te keer nie, sal klimaatsversteuringe 'n geweldig nadelige effek op die wêreld ekonomie te weeg bring, asook 'n nadelige effek op gesondheids- en sosiale toestande tot gevolg hê. Dit het duidelik geword dat die aktiwiteite van die mensdom, hoofsaaklik verbranding van fossielbrandstowwe en ontbossing, te blameer is vir atmosfeerverwarming. Ekonome wêreldwyd het toenemend besef dat die hoofrede vir omgewingsprobleme, soos atmosfeerverwarming, toegeskryf kan word aan die afwesigheid van markte en meer spesifiek die afwesigheid van privaatbesit, wat in effek die basis van die vrye mark vorm. Hierdie gebeurtenis word in die ekonomiese literatuur beskryf as die "tragedie van die gemene goedere" . Wêreldpolitici en industriële leiers het besef dat die mens by 'n punt in sy geskiedenis gekom het waar hy moontlik sy eie uitwissing kan bewerkstellig en dat iets drasties gedoen moet word om die natuurlike omgewing te beskerm om sodoende volhoubare ekonomiese groei te verseker. Hierdie besef het gelei tot die totstandkoming van die Kyoto Protokol waar 38 nywerheidslande ooreengekom het om voor die jaar 2012 hul totale nasionale emissies van die ses belangrikste kweekhuisgasse met ten minste 5 persent tot onder hul 1990 emissievlakke te verminder. Daar was in Kyoto ooreengekom dat die stelsel wat gebruik moet word om die Kyoto doelwitte te bereik sterk vryemark eienskappe moet besit asook meganismes om regverdigheid en gelykheid tussen lande in terme van kweekhuisgasbeperkings te verseker. Die Kyoto meganismes is ontwerp met sterk vryemark eienskappe, wat basies 'n stelsel is waarvolgens lugbesoedelingsregte verhandel kan word. Hierdie verhandeling van besoedelingsregte kan toegepas word om kweekhuis gasse te verminder. Die Kyoto meganismes en dus lugbesoedelingsverhandeling verskaf buigbaarheid aan besighede en lande om hul onderskeie besoedelingsbeperkingsdoelwitte op die mees koste effektiewe manier te bereik. Die antwoord op atmosfeer verwarming kan dalk so eenvoudig wees soos koop laag en verkoop hoog. Kweekhuisgasse is besig om net soos graan of goud 'n kommoditeit te raak. Daar word verwag dat die verhandeling in kweekhuis gas besoedelingsregte uiteindelik sal groei tot die grootste kommoditeitsmark ter wêreld. Ondersteuners van die Kyoto meganismes is van mening dat kweekhuisgas verhandeling ook ekonomiese en tegnologiese voordele inhou. Dit is 'n oogmerk van die Kyoto meganismes om die verskuiwing van tegnologie tussen ontwikkelde en ontwikkelende lande asook volhoubare groei te verseker. 'n Grysmark vir kweekhuisgas regte is reeds internasionaal, voor die beplande instelling van die Kyoto meganismes, aan die ontwikkel. Die reëls en regulasies vir die Kyoto meganismes is nog nie gefinaliseer nie. Dit en die onwilligheid van die VSA om die Protokol te onderteken, belemmer die vroegtydige implementering van die Kyoto meganismes en die effektiwiteit van die stelsel. Dit is die doelwit van die werkstuk om die leser bekend te maak met die funksionering van emissieverhandeling as 'n vryemark stelsel om omgewingsprobleme soos atmosfeerverwarming te verminder. Die werkstuk beoog ook om die kwessies betrokke by klimaatsverandering en die Kyoto meganismes aan die leser te verduidelik.
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Wallenborg, Angelique, and Amanda Eriksson. "Excise taxation to protect our planet: a point of view from students in the global North : A case from Södertörn University, Sweden." Thesis, Södertörns högskola, Institutionen för naturvetenskap, miljö och teknik, 2018. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:sh:diva-35759.
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Background: Flying is a mode of travel used mainly by the wealthier part of the planets’ inhabitants, while it is the poor parts of the world that suffer the consequences from climate change the most. Coping with climate change is one of the largest challenges of the century, especially for low-income developing countries. Important stakeholders have realized that it’s a global responsibility to lower the anthropogenic impact on the climate. Political ecology will be used to place the problem with unequal distribution of consequences in a larger context, while environmental economics will be used to examine the flight tax implemented in Sweden on April 1st2018. Purpose: Toexamine student’s attitudes towards excise taxation as an incentive to reduce emissions from air traffic, and whether there was a difference in attitudes between students from different disciplines. Research question: What are Swedish students’ attitudes towards excise tax onflights to reduce emissions? Is there adifference in attitude towards the flight tax depending on the students’ field of studies? Method: Quantitative approach with questionnaire responses as the main empirical data material for analysis. Conclusion: A majority of students participating were positive towards the newly implemented flight tax. Students from an environmental discipline were positive to a greater extent than other students.
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Kurz, Sarah. "Corporate Social Responsibility in Global Governance – A Driver for Change towards Environmental Sustainability? : An Embedded-Case Study on the Sustainability Discourse in the Palm Oil Industry." Thesis, Malmö universitet, Institutionen för globala politiska studier (GPS), 2021. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:mau:diva-44518.
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The planet’s biodiversity is in a worrying state. Palm oil production significantly contributes to biodiversity loss in Southeast Asia, especially in Indonesia. Unfortunately, the different forms of public and private regulation in place have had limited success in regulating the sector and protecting the environment. Three of the biggest palm oil traders – Cargill, Musim Mas, and Wilmar International – were chosen as subjects of an embedded case study to answer whether their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) efforts have the potential to drive transformation in the palm oil sector towards more environmental sustainability. This thesis contributes to the debate around the role of business actors in Global Governance and their ability to tackle social and environmental problems caused by their business models with CSR. The thesis engages deductively with capitalism-critical theories on CSR. Carol Bacchi’s “What’s the Problem Represented to be?” (WPR) approach will guide a discourse analysis of the 2019 sustainability reports of the three companies regarding their efforts to improve sustainability in the palm oil sector. A comparison with research articles and NGO reports reaches the conclusion that the measures taken by Cargill, Musim Mas, and Wilmar are not enough to improve sustainability sufficiently.
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Freeland, Ballantyne Erin. "Sustainability's paradox : community health, climate change and petrocapitalism." Thesis, University of Oxford, 2013. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.711671.
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Haskins, Craig Ian. "Impacts of climate change : some economic considerations for decision-makers in the City of Cape Town, using Langebaan Lagoon as a case study." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2005. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/50366.
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Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2005ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Strong scientific evidence suggests that global warming is altering the world's climate and that this phenomenon is being accelerated as a result of human activities. Climate change is affecting weather patterns and, in addition to demonstrated sea-level rise, these in turn have and are likely to continue having significant, mostly negative, impacts - both economic and loss of life - on governments, industries and people. Ocean levels rose between 15 and 20 centimeters in the 20th century, mostly as a result of melting glaciers and thermal expansion of the oceans. The International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC, 2001a: 16) in its 2001 estimate suggests a potential rise in average sea level from nine to 88 centimeters from 1990 to 2100. Areas of risk in the City of Cape Town are residential property, infrastructure and beaches in low-lying areas. These areas are likely to be impacted as a result of increasing sea-level rise and increasing severity and frequency of storms. This study seeks to • demonstrate that sufficient evidence exists to compel decision-makers in the City of Cape Town that climate change and the impacts of sea-level rise and increasing frequency and severity of storms need to be considered in development planning; and • test cost-benefit analysis (through climate change impact analysis) as a tool for decision-makers to consider adaptation measures, using Langebaan as a case study. The research comprises a comprehensive literature study of the impacts of climate change, particularly with respect to coastal areas. A case study based on the eroding beaches at Langebaan is used to test cost-benefit analysis as a tool for decision-makers in dealing with the impacts. Despite the uncertainties associated with the impacts of climate change (time, place and extent) the issues of sea-level rise and severe storms seem to warrant further investigation, especially at a local level. This study provides local context to a global problem and makes recommendations for decision-makers in the City of Cape Town. Climate impact analysis (incorporating cost-benefit analysis) is suggested as a tool to quantify avoided damages at vulnerable coastal sites in the City of Cape Town. In conclusion, the impacts of climate change are a complex and multivariate problem. However, there are a number of identified vulnerable areas along the coastline of the City of Cape Town and using tools like climate impact analysis and cost-benefit analysis may assist in identifying, costing and managing these economic risks before the problem becomes unmanageable - a case for quantifying avoided damage.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Sterk wetenskaplike bewyse bestaan dat globale verwarming besig is om die wêreld se klimaat te verander en hierdie verskynsel word versnel deur die mens se handelinge. Klimaatsverandering affekteer weerpatrone en bykomend tot gedemonstreerde stygende seevlakke, sal dit waarskynlik 'n langdurige en meestal negatiewe impak - beide ekonomies en lewensverlies - op regerings, industrieë en mense hê. Seevlakke het in die twintigste eeu met tussen 15 en 20 sentimeter gestyg, meestal as gevolg van smeltende ysberge en hitte uitsetting van die oseane. Die 'International Panel on Climate Change' (IPCC, 2001a: 16) het in hul skatting 'n waarskynlike seevlak styging van tussen 9 en 88 sentimeters voorspel vir die tydperk 1990 - 2100. Risikogebiede in die Stad Kaapstad is residensiële gebiede, infrastruktuur en strande in laagliggende gebiede. Hierdie gebiede sal ge-affekteer word deur stygende seevlakke en groter en meer gereelde storms. Hierdie studie poog om • te demonstreer dat voldoende bewyse bestaan om besluitnemers van die Stad Kaapstad te oortuig dat weerveranderinge en die impak van seevlakstygings en toenemende storms in aanmerking geneem moet word in ontwikkelings beplanning; en • koste-voordeel analises (deur klimaatsverandering impak analises) te beproef as 'n hulpmiddel vir besluitnemers om aanpasbare maatreëls te oorweeg, deur Langebaan as 'n voorbeeld te gebruik. Ten spyte van onsekerhede wat saamgaan met die impak van klimaatverandering (tyd, plek en omvang) regverdig die problem van stygende seevlakke en erge storms verdere ondersoek, meer spesifiek op plaaslike vlak. Hierdie studie gee plaaslike konteks aan 'n globale probleem en maak aanbevelings aan beplanners van die Stad Kaapstad. Klimaat impak analises word as hulpmiddel voorgestel om vermybare skades by kwesbare kusgebiede in die Stad Kaapstad te kwantifiseer. Ten slotte: die impak van klimaatsverandering is 'n komplekse probleem met baie fasette. Nietemin is daar verskere sensitiewe areas langs die kus van Stad Kaapstad, en klimaat impak analises en koste-voordeel analises kan help met die identifisering, kosteberekening en bestuur van hierdie ekonomiese risiko areas, voordat dit onhanteerbaar raak.
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Waibel, Michael Scott. "Model Analysis of the Hydrologic Response to Climate Change in the Upper Deschutes Basin, Oregon." PDXScholar, 2010. https://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/open_access_etds/45.
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Considerable interest lies in understanding the hydrologic response to climate change in the upper Deschutes Basin, particularly as it relates to groundwater fed streams. Much of the precipitation occurring in the recharge zone falls as snow. Consequently, the timing of runoff and recharge depend on accumulation and melting of the snowpack. Numerical modeling can provide insights into evolving hydrologic system response for resource management consideration. A daily mass and energy balance model known as the Deep Percolation Model (DPM) was developed for the basin in the 1990s. This model uses spatially distributed data and is driven with daily climate data to calculate both daily and monthly mass and energy balance for the major components of the hydrologic budget across the basin. Previously historical daily climate data from weather stations in the basin was used to drive the model. Now we use the University of Washington Climate Impact Group's 1/16th degree daily downscaled climate data to drive the DPM for forecasting until the end of the 21st century. The downscaled climate data is comprised from the mean of eight GCM simulations well suited to the Pacific Northwest. Furthermore, there are low emission and high emission scenarios associated with each ensemble member leading to two distinct means. For the entire basin progressing into the 21st century, output from the DPM using both emission scenarios as a forcing show changes in the timing of runoff and recharge as well as significant reductions in snowpack. Although the DPM calculated amounts of recharge and runoff varies between the emission scenario of the ensemble under consideration, all model output shows loss of the spring snowmelt runoff / recharge peak as time progresses. The response of the groundwater system to changing in the time and amount of recharge varies spatially. Short flow paths in the upper part of the basin are potentially more sensitive to the change in seasonality. However, geologic controls on the system cause this signal to attenuate as it propagates into the lower portions of the basin. This scale-dependent variation to the response of the groundwater system to changes in seasonality and magnitude of recharge is explored by applying DPM calculated recharge to an existing regional groundwater flow model.
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Drabo, Alassane. "Health, environment and economic development." Thesis, Clermont-Ferrand 1, 2011. http://www.theses.fr/2011CLF10376/document.
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Cette thèse étudie théoriquement et empiriquement les interrelations entre la santé de la population, la dégradation de l'environnement et le développement économique, ses conséquences pour les pays en développement, et fournit certaines réponses en termes de politique économique. Elle est subdivisée en deux parties. La première partie s’intéresse à la relation entre l’environnement, la santé, et les inégalités. Elle analyse dans un premier temps l’hypothèse selon laquelle la dégradation de l'environnement pourrait être considérée comme un canal supplémentaire par lequel les inégalités de revenu affectent les taux de mortalité infantile et juvénile (chapitre 2). Nos travaux théoriques et empiriques montrent que les inégalités de revenu affectent négativement la qualité de l'air et de l'eau, et cela à son tour dégrade la santé de la population. Par conséquent, la dégradation de l'environnement peut être considérée comme un canal non négligeable à travers lequel les inégalités de revenu influence l’état de santé. Il est ensuite démontré que les émissions de dioxyde de soufre (SO2) et celles des micro-Particules (PM10) sont en partie responsables des grandes disparités dans la mortalité infantile et juvénile au sein des pays pauvres (chapitre 3) .En outre, nos résultats soutiennent l’idée selon laquelle les institutions démocratiques jouent un rôle de protection sociale en atténuant cet effet pour les classes de revenu les plus pauvres et ainsi réduisent les inégalités de santé provoquées par la pollution. La deuxième partie évalue le lien entre la santé, l'environnement et la croissance économique. Le Chapitre 4 évalue l'effet de la santé (charge globale de la maladie, maladies transmissibles et paludisme) sur la croissance économique. Ce chapitre montre que les indicateurs de santé, lorsqu'ils sont correctement mesurés par l'écart entre l'état de santé actuel et une situation de santé idéal où toute la population vit à un âge avancé, indemne de maladie et d'invalidité, et lorsqu’ils sont convenablement instrumentés, ont un impact négatif significatif sur la performance économique. Les conséquences de ces interactions sur la convergence économique des pays pauvres vers leur état régulier, sont théoriquement et empiriquement analysées dans le dernier chapitre. Il en ressort que la dégradation de l'environnement réduit la capacité des pays pauvres d'atteindre leur état régulier, renforçant ainsi notre argument théorique selon lequel l’amélioration de la qualité de l'environnement joue un rôle considérable dans le processus de convergence économique. En outre, la dégradation de la qualité de l'air et de l'eau affecte négativement la performance économique, et l'état de santé demeure un canal important par lequel la dégradation de l'environnement agit sur la croissance économique même si elle n'est pas le seul. L’hypothèse de la courbe environnementale de Kuznets (EKC) est également vérifiéeThis dissertation investigates theoretically and empirically the interrelationships among population’s health,environmental degradation and economic development, its consequences for developing countries, and someeffective policy responses. The first part explores the association between health, environment, and inequalities. Itfirstly analyzes whether environmental degradation could be considered as an additional channel through whichincome inequality affects infant and child mortality (chapter 2). Theoretical and empirical investigations show thatincome inequality affects negatively air and water quality, and this in turn worsens population’s health. Therefore,environmental degradation is an important channel through which income inequality affects population health. Then,it is shown that sulphur dioxide emission (SO2) and particulate matter (PM10) are in part responsible for the largedisparities in infant and child mortalities between and within developing countries (chapter 3). In addition, we foundthat democratic institutions play the role of social protection by mitigating this effect for the poorest income classesand reducing the health inequality it provokes. The second part is devoted to the link among health, environment,and economic growth. The effect of health (global burden of disease, communicable disease, and malaria) oneconomic growth is assessed in Chapter 4. This chapter shows that health indicators, when correctly measured by thegap between current health status and an ideal health situation where the entire population lives to an advanced age,free of disease and disability, and when accurately instrumented have significant impact on economic performance.The consequences of these interrelationships on the convergence of poor countries towards their steady state aretheoretically and empirically investigated in the last Chapter (chapter 5). It is found that environment degradationreduces the ability of poor countries to reach their own steady state, reinforcing our argument according to whichenvironment quality improvement plays a considerable role in economic convergence process. Moreover, thedegradation of air and water quality affects negatively economic performance, and health status remains an importantchannel through which environment degradation affects economic growth even if it is not alone. The EnvironmentalKuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis is also verified
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Buwa, Ziphokazi Siyasanga. "The interaction between a keystone plant species and its dominant epiphyte on Marion Island : climate change implications." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/17743.
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Thesis (MSc)--University of Stellenbosch, 2007.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Climate has shown some remarkable changes over the past century, especially at the polar and sub-polar regions. Southern Ocean Islands provide good models for studies related to climate change effects, since effects may be evident in the short term and may also be clearer. Marion Island is an example of such a system with a harsh abiotic environment, and low species richness often vulnerable to change. Climate change is predicted, and also reported, to have biological consequences on plant communities, affecting the phenology, morphology, and the interaction between individuals and species. This study examines the association between the keystone plant species, Azorella selago Hook. (Apiaceace), and its dominant epiphyte Agrostis magellanica Lam. (Poaceae). Two complimentary approaches were used, one observational and the other experimental. The main objective for the observational study was to quantify bioticallyrelevant microclimate temperature, as well as the morphology, epiphyte load and phenology of A. selago at three different altitude sites on Marion Island. This provided information on baseline variation for understanding specific variability in plant response to the experimental part of this study, against which future patterns arising from biological monitoring can be compared. Studying plants at different altitudes provides a possible analogue for temperature-related climate change consequences for the ecology of A. selago, and its interaction with A. magellanica. The microclimate temperature associated with A. selago differed between the three sites examined. This difference was related to local topographic conditions and altitude differences. Cushion size differed distinctively between the three altitude sites, with this difference related to environmental heterogeneity such as differences in age and substrate structure. Azorella selago annual growth rate was estimated through stem length and the number of leaves on both exposed and shaded stems. Within-site variability, as well as epiphyte cover were found to be the contributing factors on A. selago annual growth rate. This highlights the importance of site-specificity when estimating growth rate within and between different altitude sites. Leaf characteristics differed between the sites, with this attributed to local habitat conditions, such as topography, as well as epiphyte cover. As expected, the difference in leaf size between exposed and shaded leaves demonstrated a larger specific leaf area on leaves shaded by A. magellanica. Agrostis magellanica abundance and density were altitudinally related, with A. selago demonstrating facilitation effects on A. magellanica. The trend shown in this study suggests that in spite of general facilitative effect of A. selago on A. magellanica towards higher altitudes, the abiotic environmental threshold for A. magellanica occurs at lower altitudes than it does for A. selago. Phenological differences were also apparent between the three sites. The objectives of the experimental part of this study were to quantify the effect of the dominant epiphyte, A. magellanica on biotically-relevant microclimatic temperatures, as well as on the phenology and physical condition of A. selago. Different treatments were applied to cushions at the three altitude sites to examine the shading effect of epiphytic A. magellanica on cushion plants, as well as the effect of treatment-related disturbance. Azorella selago microclimate temperature showed no significant difference between treatments, suggesting that on average epiphytic A. magellanica cover has no effect on cushion microclimate temperature. The percentage of flower budding and flowering of A. selago was negatively related to epiphyte cover. Cushion vitality was also responsive to epiphyte cover, with higher vitality scores on low grass covered cushions than on high grass cushions. This shows that A. magellanica competes with A. selago, while A. selago facilitates A. magellanica. Heavy epiphyte numbers impose negative effects on A. selago vegetative and reproductive performance, as well as cushion vitality. Therefore, the results of this research show that the vegetative and reproductive performance of A. selago and cushion vitality are likely to be negatively affected under ongoing climate change on Marion Island if this brings about heavier epiphyte loads on this keystone cushion plant species.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In die afgelope eeu het die klimaat in die Antarktiese en sub-Antarktiese gebiede merkwaardige verandering getoon. Die Suidelike See Eilande dien as goeie modelle vir studies verwant aan die gevolge van klimaatsverandering, aangesien die kort termyn effekte in die gebiede duideliker mag wees in die toekoms. Marion Eiland is ‘n voorbeeld van so ‘n sisteem, met ‘n ruwe abiotiese omgewing en lae spesies rykheid, wat vatbaar is vir verandering. Daar word voorspel, en is reeds bevind dat klimaatsverandering biologiese gevolge op plant gemeenskappe het, in terme van morfologie, fenologie en die interaksie tussen individue en spesies. Hierdie studie ondersoek die assosiasie tussen die hoeksteen plant spesie, Azorella selago (Apiaceace), en sy dominante epifietiese gras, Agrostis magellanica Lam. (Poaceae). Die studie is op twee komplimentêre maniere benader, naamlik deur waarneming en eksperiment. Die hoof doel van die studie was om die biotiese belang van mikroklimaat temperatuur te kwantifiseer, en die hoeveelheid epifiete, die morfologie en die fenologie van A. selago te bepaal by drie verskillende hoogtes op Marion Eiland. Laasgenoemde het inligting verskaf oor die variasie in die reaksie van plante tot die eksperimentele aspek van die studie, waarteen patrone vanaf toekomstige biologiese beheer vergelyk kon word. Deur plante te bestudeer by verskillende hoogtes bo seespieël word ‘n moontlike analoog vir die gevolge van temperatuur-verwante klimaatverandering in terme van die ekologie van A. selago, en laasgenoemde se interaksie met A. magellanica verskaf. Die mikroklimaat temperatuur geassosieer met A. selago verskil tussen dié drie liggings. Die versil was verwant aan die plaaslike topografiese toestande en die verskillende hoogtes bo seespieël. Die grootte van die kussingplante het duidelik versil tussen die drie liggings, met die verskille verwant aan die omgewing se heterogeneïteit, byvoorbeeld die verskille in ouderdom en substraat struktuur. Azorella selago se jaarlikse groeitempo was bepaal deur die stingel lengte en die aantal blare, op beide die wat oorskadu is deur die gras, en die was nie oorskadu is nie. Daar is gevind dat die faktore wat bygedra het tot die jaarlikse groeitempo van A. selago, varieër binne die verskillende liggings, en bedekking deur epifiete. Dit beklemtoon die belang van spesifisiteit van ligging wanneer groeitempo in en tussen die liggings van verskillende hoogtes bepaal word. Die blaar eienskappe het verskil tussen verskillende liggings, as gevolg van plaaslike habitat toestande, soos topografie en bedekking deur epifiete. Soos verwag, het die blare wat oorskadu was deur A. magellanica ‘n groter spesifieke blaar area getoon as blare wat blootgestel was. Die hoeveelheid en digtheid van Agrosits magellanica was verwant aan hoogte bo seespieël, met A. selago wat fasiliterende effekte toon op A. magellanica. Die tendens waargeneem in hierdie studie is dat ten spyte van die algemene fasiliterende effek van A. selago op A. magellanica, die abiotiese omgewingsdrempel op ‘n laer hoogte is vir A. magellanica as vir A. selago. Fenologiese verskille was ook duidelik tussen die drie liggings. Die doel van die eksperimentele deel van die studie was om die effek van die dominante epifiet, A. magellanica, te bepaal op bioties relevante mikroklimaat temperature, asook op die fenologie en fiesiese toestand van A. selago. Verskeie behandelings is aangewend op die kussingplante by die drie liggings om die effek van skaduwee van die epifietiese A. magellanica op die plante te bepaal, asook die effek van versteurings versoorsaak deur die behandelings. Azorella selago se mikroklimaat temperatuur het geen betekenisvolle verskille tussen behandelings getoon nie, wat voorstel dat epifitiese A. magellanica oor die algemeen geen effek op die kussingplante se mikroklimaat temperatuur het nie. Daar was ‘n negatiewe verwantskap tussen die hoeveelheid epifiete op A. selago en die persentasie blomme en blomknoppe op die kussingplante. Die plante se vitaliteit was ook afhanklik van epifiet bedekking, met ‘n hoër vitaliteit telling vir kussingplante bedek met lae gras as die bedek met hoë gras. Dit toon dat A. magellanica met A. selago wedywer, terwyl A. selago vir A. magellanica fasiliteer. Hoë epifiet getalle het negatiewe effekte op A. selago se vegetatiewe en reproproduktiewe nakoming, asook die kussingplante se vitaliteit. Die resultate van hierdie studie toon dus dat die vegetatiewe en reproduktiewe nakoming van A. selago en kussingplant vitaliteit heel moontlik negatief geaffekteer sal word indien klimaatsverandering op Marion Eiland hoër epifiet getalle op die sleutel kussingplant spesie tot gevolg sal hê.
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Douglas, Steven Murray, and u4093670@alumni anu edu au. "Is 'green' religion the solution to the ecological crisis? A case study of mainstream religion in Australia." The Australian National University. Fenner School of Environment and Society, 2008. http://thesis.anu.edu.au./public/adt-ANU20091111.144835.
Full textAbstract:
A significant and growing number of authors and commentators have proposed that ecologically enlightened (greened) religion is the solution or at least a major part of the solution to the global ecological crisis. These include Birch, 1965 p90; Brindle, 2000; Callicott, 1994; Gardner, 2002, 2003, 2006; Gore Jr., 1992; Gottlieb, 2006, 2007; Hallman, 2000; Hamilton, 2006b, a, 2007b; Hessel & Ruether, 2000b; Hitchcock, 1999; King, 2002; Lerner, 2006a; McDonagh, 1987; McFague, 2001; McKenzie, 2005; Nasr, 1996; Oelschlaeger, 1994; Palmer, 1992; Randers, 1972; Tucker & Grim, 2000; and White Jr., 1967. Proponents offer a variety of reasons for this view, including that the majority of the worlds and many nations people identify themselves as religious, and that there is a large amount of land and infrastructure controlled by religious organisations worldwide. However, the most important reason is that religion is said to have one or more exceptional qualities that can drive and sustain dramatic personal and societal change. The underlying or sometimes overt suggestion is that as the ecological crisis is ultimately a moral crisis, religion is best placed to address the problem at its root.
¶
Proponents of the above views are often religious, though there are many who are not. Many proponents are from the USA and write in the context of the powerful role of religion in that country. Others write in a global context. Very few write from or about the Australian context where the role of religion in society is variously argued to be virtually non-existent, soon to be non-existent, or conversely, profound but covert.
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This thesis tests the proposition that religion is the solution to the ecological crisis. It does this using a case study of mainstream religion in Australia, represented by the Catholic, Anglican, and Uniting Churches. The Churches ecological policies and practices are analysed to determine the extent to which these denominations are fulfilling, or might be able to fulfil, the proposition. The primary research method is an Internet-based search for policy and praxis material. The methodology is Critical Human Ecology.
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The research finds that: the greening of these denominations is evident; it is a recent phenomenon in the older Churches; there is a growing wealth of environmentalist sentiment and ecological policy being produced; but little institutional praxis has occurred. Despite the often-strong rhetoric, there is no evidence to suggest that ecological concerns, even linked to broader social concerns (termed ecojustice) are core business for the Churches as institutions. Conventional institutional and anthropocentric welfare concerns remain dominant.
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Overall, the three Churches struggle with organisational, demographic, and cultural problems that impede their ability to convert their official ecological concerns into institutional praxis. Despite these problems, there are some outstanding examples of ecological policy and praxis in institutional and non-institutional forms that at least match those seen in mainstream secular society.
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I conclude that in Australia, mainstream religion is a limited part of the solution to the ecological crisis. It is not the solution to the crisis, at least not in its present institutional form. Institutional Christianity is in decline in Australia and is being replaced by non-institutional Christianity, other religions and non-religious spiritualities (Tacey, 2000, 2003; Bouma, 2006; Tacey, 2007). The ecological crisis is a moral crisis, but in Australia, morality is increasingly outside the domain of institutional religion. The growth of the non-institutional religious and the spiritual but not religious demographic may, if ecologically informed, offer more of a contribution to addressing the ecological crisis in future. This may occur in combination with some of the more progressive movements seen at the periphery of institutional Christianity such as the eco-ministry of Rev. Dr. Jason John in Adelaide, and the Creation Spirituality taught, advocated and practiced by the Mercy Sisters Earth Link project in Queensland.
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"Global civil society and cultural change: the case of environmental groups in China." 2005. http://library.cuhk.edu.hk/record=b5892360.
Full textAbstract:
Ng King Sau.Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2005.
Includes bibliographical references (leaves 138-147).
Abstracts in English and Chinese.
Abstract --- p.iii
論文摘要 --- p.iv
Acknowledgements --- p.v-vi
Chapter Chapter 1 --- Introduction
Chapter 1.1 --- Research Background --- p.1-3
Chapter 1.2 --- Research Questions --- p.3-5
Chapter 1.3 --- Research Significance --- p.5-7
Chapter 1.4 --- Overview of the Research --- p.7-9
Chapter Chapter 2 --- Literature Review
Chapter 2.1 --- Definition of Civil Society --- p.10-16
Chapter 2.2 --- The Idea of Global Civil Society --- p.16-19
Chapter 2.3 --- Development of Chinese Civil Society --- p.19-23
Chapter 2.4 --- Development of Global Civil Society in China --- p.23-26
Chapter Chapter 3 --- Analytical Framework and Methodology
Chapter 3.1 --- Structural Level of Analysis --- p.21-29
Chapter 3.2 --- Organizational Level of Analysis --- p.29-33
Chapter 3.3 --- Individual Level of Analysis --- p.33-34
Chapter 3.4 --- Definition of Culture --- p.34-40
Chapter 3.5 --- Methodology --- p.40-45
Chapter Chapter 4 --- Global Civil Society: The case of Greenpeace
Chapter 4.1. --- A History of Greenpeace --- p.46-47
Chapter 4.2. --- The Mission of Greenpeace --- p.47
Chapter 4.3 --- The Resources of Greenpeace --- p.48-49
Chapter 4.4. --- Organizational Structure of Greenpeace: a M-form organization --- p.49-52
Chapter 4.5. --- Global Strategy of Greenpeace --- p.52-56
Chapter 4.6 --- Background of Establishment of China Office --- p.56-57
Chapter 4.7 --- Greenpeace China I: An Introduction to the Hong Kong Unit --- p.57-58
Chapter 4.8 --- Greenpeace China II: An Introduction to the Beijing Unit --- p.58-60
Chapter 4.9 --- Greenpeace China III: An Introduction to the Guangzhou Unit --- p.60-62
Chapter 4.10 --- Conclusion --- p.62-63
Chapter Chapter 5 --- Guangzhou Unit: Process and Mechanisms of Cultural Diffusion
Chapter 5.1 --- Structural Level of Analysis: An Introduction of Guangzhou --- p.64-69
Chapter 5.2 --- Organizational Level of Analysis: Cooperation with local civil society and local authorities --- p.69-82
Chapter 5.3 --- Individual Level of Analysis: Social Remittance Theory and Opinion Leader --- p.82-83
Chapter 5.4 --- Conclusion --- p.83-84
Chapter Chapter 6 --- Before Change: Development of Traditional Chinese Civic Culture
Chapter 6.1 --- Chinese Civility: From Traditional to Contemporary China --- p.85-88
Chapter 6.2 --- Compare Chinese Civility to Western Civility --- p.88-92
Chapter 6.3 --- Conclusion --- p.92-93
Chapter Chapter 7 --- After Change: Success and Constraints on Cultural Change
Chapter 7.1 --- Diffusion of the Consciousness of Civil Rights --- p.94-100
Chapter 7.2 --- Diffusion of the Consciousness of Social Rights --- p.100-102
Chapter 7.3 --- Diffusion of the Consciousness of Political Participation --- p.102-104
Chapter 7.4 --- Diffusion of the Consciousness of Community Participation --- p.104-112
Chapter 7.5 --- Constraints --- p.112-117
Chapter 7.6 --- Conclusion --- p.117-120
Chapter Chapter 8 --- Conclusion
Chapter 8.1 --- Globalness and Cultural Change --- p.121-122
Chapter 8.2 --- Roles Played by Local Civil Society --- p.122-123
Chapter 8.3 --- Culturla Change led by Greenpeace --- p.124-128
Chapter 8.4 --- Reflections and Implications --- p.128-129
Appendix I --- p.130-131
Appendix II --- p.132-135
Appendix III --- p.136
Appendix IV --- p.137
Bibliography --- p.138-147
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Griffitts, Thomas A. "Global climate change : the human condition, the market and ecorealism." Thesis, 2004. http://hdl.handle.net/10125/11819.
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Ransan-Cooper, Hedda Marie Celia. "It's hard but it's for my family : mobility and environmental change in the rural Philippines." Phd thesis, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/1885/173573.
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Environmental migration is an idea that has attracted significant attention from policy-makers, activists, the media and academic researchers since the 1970s. Since its inception, however, questions have remained over how best to explore environment-mobility dynamics. Much progress has been made in this area, particularly in unpacking the political ecological context in which mobility patterns emerge, yet researchers are still faced with limited conceptual frameworks from which to develop context-specific explanations of the influence of environmental change on mobility patterns. Existing conceptualizations tend to be biased towards structural explanations. This thesis seeks to improve conceptual clarity by applying new theoretical approaches to understanding the influence of environmental change on mobility. The study draws on debates within general migration theory as a springboard for exploring the theoretical challenges associated with explaining mobility. These theoretical discussions form the basis for identifying the influence of environmental changes on existing mobility patterns. The methodological approach in this study employs social practices theory to examine how chains of action are the result of both individual actors and the effect of social structures organized around shared practical understandings. The study used a case study design and employed qualitative methods such as interviews, group discussions, participant observation and document analysis to analyse the linkages between multi-scale contexts of action. The fieldwork was conducted in three rural villages in Albay province, the Philippines. Albay was selected because it experiences a range of different environmental shocks and stressors and is a province with net out-migration, characterized by seasonal and circular mobility patterns. While mobility could certainly be conceptualised as a 'rational' response, for research participants, working for periods of time in urban areas also represented a familiar practice-part of the rhythm of daily life. Mobility for Albayanos was viewed as an opportunity to transform oneself and improve livelihood security, despite the often disappointing experiences of working elsewhere. Decisions associated with mobility were suffused with a range of emotions. The decision to move was not so much a process of quantifying what was better or worse (to stay or go), but rather what fitted with the values, emotions and ideas of self in particulars moment and over the experience of mobility. These findings challenge the dominant framing of environmental migrants as rational actors responding to particular push and pull factors. The study concludes that practice-based approaches are a valuable way to explore the numerous dimensions of the mobility experience. It draws on this approach to bridge the structure-agency divide evident in many contemporary conceptualizations of environmental migration. One of the distinguishing features of a practice theory approach is the consideration not only of reflexivity and conscious thought for understanding agency, but also shared and routinized dimensions. This approach shifts the focus away from how individuals rationalize their migration decision, to how various practices solidify and routinize practices relating to mobility. The natural environment forms part of this context, but its influence cannot be understood without explicit and critical consideration of interconnected practices involved in mobility patterns.
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Aljareo, Abdulhakim. "How is climate change incorporated into environmental impact assessments (EIAs) in South Africa?" Thesis, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/10539/16829.
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A research report submitted to the Faculty of Science, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science by Coursework and Research Report. Johannesburg 2014.Climate change is an issue of global significance resulting in trans-boundary environmental and socio-economic impacts. South Africa is involved in the international efforts to address climate change, has accepted the findings of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Assessment Report and developed a National Climate Change Response Policy, listing the impacts of climate change on the sustainable development in South Africa. The main causes of climate change are Greenhouse Gases (GHGs), which have been emitted from different development activities over temporal and spatial scales. In order to reduce the emissions of GHGs and protect proposed development projects from climate change impacts, climate change mitigation and adaptation measures should be incorporated into Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). This research aimed to describe climate change incorporation into the EIA legal regime and practice in South Africa, based on climate change impacts on sustainable development and the role of EIA in considering climate change. The methodology involved reviewing EIA regulations and related legislation, EIA case studies from Gauteng province conducted between 2010 and 2013, key informant interviews with Environmental Assessment Practitioners (EAPs), and discussion on the linkedin group of the International Association for Impact Assessment of South Africa (IAIAsa). The study concluded that climate change is not explicitly incorporated into the EIA regime, but it is implied in the EIA regulations and related legislation. Largely as a result of the lack of climate change incorporation in the EIA legal regime, climate change is not adequately considered in the EIA practice. In order to support the contribution of EIA to sustainable development in South Africa, It is recommended that climate change should be incorporated into EIA regulations in the next amendment of NEMA. This can be done through including listed activities that require climate change incorporation into the EIA based on type of an activity and/or specific receiving environments. It is also suggested that EIA guidelines for climate change consideration be developed. Further recommendations include supporting the role that Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and Environmental Management Framework (EMF) play, in conjunction with the EIA, in considering climate change; increasing the availability of accurate, local climate change data and modelling technology; developing staff capacity and awareness about climate change, and building EAP’s ability to incorporate climate change in the EIA through the support of government related authorities and associations such as IAIAsa and EAPSA. Key words: climate change, EIA, mitigation, adaptation, EIA legal regime, EIA practice.
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Starobin, Shana Miriam. "Institutions, Innovation, and Grassroots Change: Alternatives to Transnational Governance in the Global South." Diss., 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/10161/12817.
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Transnational governance has been advanced as a viable option for regulating commodities produced in emerging economies—where incapable or unwilling states may undersupply institutions requisite for overseeing supply chains consistent with the quality, safety, environmental, or social standards demanded by the global marketplace. Producers from these jurisdictions, otherwise left with few venues for securing market access and price premiums, ostensibly benefit from whatever pathways transnational actors offer to minimize barriers to entry—including voluntary certification for compliance with a panoply of public and private rules, such as those promulgated by NGOs like the Fair Trade Federation or multinational retailers like Wal-Mart. Yet, such transnational “sustainability” governance may neither be effective nor desirable. Regulatory schemes, like third-party certification, often privilege the interests of primary architects and beneficiaries—private business associations, governments, NGOs, and consumers in the global North—over regulatory targets—producers in the global South. Rather than engaging with the international marketplace via imported and externally-driven schemes, some producer groups are instead challenging existing rules and innovating homegrown institutions. These alternatives to commercialization adopt some institutional characteristics of their transnational counterparts yet deliver benefits in a manner more aligned with the needs of producers. Drawing on original empirical cases from Nicaragua and Mexico, this dissertation examines the role of domestic institutional alternatives to transnational governance in enhancing market access, environmental quality and rural livelihoods within producer communities. Unlike the more technocratic and expert-driven approaches characteristic of mainstream governance efforts, these local regulatory institutions build upon the social capital, indigenous identity, “ancestral” knowledge, and human assets of producer communities as new sources of power and legitimacy in governing agricultural commodities.
Dissertation
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Yang, Hong (helen). "Changing institutional environment, Chinese company characteristics, and climate-change reporting." Thesis, 2014. https://vuir.vu.edu.au/24839/.
Full textAbstract:
The objective of this thesis is to investigate how China’s country-specific context influences climate-change reporting by Chinese companies. Specifically, the thesis theoretically and empirically examines factors that influence climate-change reporting in China’s changing political and economic institutional environment. The thesis addresses how the political ideology of the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC) has driven the changing institutions in the field of climate-change reporting, and the impact on Chinese company characteristics and reporting practice. The thesis includes Chinese literature in evaluating the adaptability of theories originating in the West to the Chinese context. It identifies institutional theory as the preferred basis for developing an extended model to explain the homogeneity and heterogeneity of climate-change reporting by Chinese companies. The model developed, which incorporates multiple levels of institutional analysis, was then tested empirically. From 100 leading listed Chinese companies, 471 reports (Annual Reports and Corporate Sustainability Reports) were examined across three key reporting years between 2006 and 2010, using content analysis. Multivariate regression and logit analyses were then used for further analysis.
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Chitsiga, Tafara Leonard. "Optimization of the synthesis and performance of Polyaspartamide (PAA) material for carbon dioxide capture in South African coal-fired power plants." Thesis, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/10539/21104.
Full textAbstract:
A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Engineering, 2016Global climate change is among the major challenges the world is facing today, and can be attributed to enhanced concentrations of Greenhouse Gases (GHG), such as carbon dioxide (CO2), in the atmosphere. Therefore, there is an urgent need to mitigate CO2 emissions, and carbon capture and storage (CCS) is amongst the possible options to reduce CO2 emissions. Against this background, this work investigated the synthesis and performance evaluation of Polyaspartamide (PAA) adsorbent for CO2 capture. In particular, the effect of the presence of water-soluble amines in the amine-grafted poly-succinimide (PSI) (referred to as Polyaspartamide (PAA) adsorbent), was investigated. Methyl Amine (MA) and Mono-Ethanol Amine (MEA) were employed as water-soluble amines and the effect of changes in their concentration on CO2 adsorption capacity was investigated as well. Water-soluble amines were incorporated to allow water solubility of the adsorbent paving the way for freeze-drying to improve the geometric structure (surface area, pore volume and pore size) of the adsorbent. Initially, the PSI was loaded with Ethylenediamine (EDA), forming PSI-EDA. The water-soluble amines were grafted to PSI-EDA, with the EDA added to improve the chemical surface of the adsorbent for CO2 capture. NMR and FTIR analyses were performed and confirmed the presence of MA and MEA amine groups in the PAA, thereby indicating the presence of the grafted amines on the backbone polymer. BET analysis was performed and reported the pore volume, pore size and surface area of the freeze-dried material. It was observed that the physical properties did not change significantly after the freeze-drying compared to literature where freeze-drying was not employed. An increase in adsorption capacity with an increase in MA and MEA concentrations in MA-PAA and MEA-PAA samples was observed. At low amine concentrations (20% amine and 80% EDA grafted), MEA-PAA was observed to exhibit higher adsorption capacity compared to the MA-PAA samples. At high amine (100% amine grafted) concentrations, MA-PAA samples displayed higher adsorption capacity. Three runs were performed on each sample and the results obtained were reproducible. The best adsorption capacity obtained was 44.5 g CO2/kg Ads. Further work was then performed to understand the effects of operating variables on CO2 adsorption as well as the interactive effect using the Response Surface Methodology approach. The experiments were done by use of CO2 adsorption equipment attached to an ABB gas analyzer. A central composite design of experiment method with a total of 20 experiments was employed to investigate three factors, namely, temperature, pressure and gas flow rate. Six regression models were drawn up and mean error values computed by use of Matlab, followed by response surfaces as well as contours, showing the influence of the operating variables on the adsorption capacity as well as interaction of the factors were then drawn up. The results obtained displayed that each of the factors investigated, temperature, pressure and gas flowrate had an incremental effect on the adsorption capacity of PAA, that is, as each factor was increased, the adsorption capacity increased up to a point where no more increase occurred. Adsorption was seen to increase for both an increase in gas flowrate and adsorption pressure to a maximum, thereafter it starts to decrease. A similar trend was observed for the interaction between temperature and pressure. However, the interaction between gas flowrate and temperature was such that, initially as the temperature and the gas flowrate increase, the adsorption capacity increases to a maximum, thereafter, the temperature seizes to have an effect on the adsorption capacity with a combined effect of decreasing temperature and increasing gas flowrate resulting in a further increase in adsorption capacity. It was confirmed that the operating variables as well as the flow regime have an effect on the CO2 adsorption capacity of the novel material. The highest adsorption capacity was obtained in the pressure range 0.5 bar to 1.7 bar coinciding with the temperature range of 10 oC to 45 oC. The interaction of gas flowrate and adsorption pressure was such that the highest adsorption capacity is in the range 0.8 bar to 1.5 bar which coincides with the gas flowrate range from 35 ml / min to 60 ml / min. In conclusion, the best adsorption capacity of 44.5 g / kg via the TGA and 70.4 g / kg via the CO2 adsorption equipment was obtained from 100 % MA grafted PSI.
GR2016
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Fell, Bruce G., University of Western Sydney, College of Arts, and School of Education. "The question concerning commercial television and the more-than-human world." 2008. http://handle.uws.edu.au:8081/1959.7/32790.
Full textAbstract:
This thesis examines the relationship between commercial television and the more than-human world at a time when global ecological degradation challenges human well-being and the survival of other species. In the latter half of the twentieth century, television became the means by which most people got to know about society and publicly important events or issues. As billions of people the world over regularly view television the planet’s ice caps, rainforests, soil and oceans continue to be depleted. The research considers three questions aimed at a fuller understanding of the role of commercial television in Western society’s approach to global ecological degradation. What arises from being immersed in the more-than-human world? What arises from encountering the broadcast of commercial television? What arises from being immersed in the world of producing commercial television? The literature on global ecological degradation is substantial; the reasons why Western society is having difficulty coming to terms with the issue is less understood. While quantitative studies of the environmental content of television output have been undertaken, there has not been research into understanding the relationship between ecological awareness, television viewing and commercial television production. This research takes a hermeneutic phenomenological approach to the questions above. Firstly, the researcher immerses himself in the native woodlands and creeks of his immediate vicinity and gradually peels back layers of his perception. He then immerses himself in the world of watching contemporary commercial television and reflecting on his memories of Australian television since 1956. He juxtaposes the content of twenty-four hours of commercial television with personal recollections that reflect both the invisible and sedimented experiences of commercial television. Thirdly, the researcher observes a range of commercial television production environments (News, Advertising and Drama). In doing so he reflects on conversations with and between television executives, directors and scriptwriters who occupy this world. The main findings are that commercial television scriptwriters and personalities hold the most available tools for delivering an Australian-based ecological message through the plot and actions of characters, via a ‘green mise-en-scène’. However, there are severe constraints on this process because of the over-riding importance of ratings. Commercial television is a ratings hungry ‘third parent’ that has increasingly occupied the everydayness of Australian homes since 1956. The invisible technological nature of television has created a particular distance between the production of commercial television and how its mise-en-scène is perceived in domestic Australia, by a population that is technologically and procedurally removed from the more-than-human world.Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
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Chretien, Jonathon. "Potential for synthesis between REDD+ and community forest management as understood through the lens of global political ecology." Thesis, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/1974/7783.
Full textAbstract:
Global climate change is one of the defining issues of the 21st century. The phenomenon of natural climate variation being pushed beyond normal ranges has been fueled largely by industrial activities and those which support them (i.e. land-use change and the over-exploitation of natural resources). The urgency is well established with reports demonstrating an increased occurrence of rare, highly damaging weather events, and shifts in the natural range of species. The necessity of action on climate change has resulted in the development of novel global initiatives designed to address the problem across global and regional scales. Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation (REDD+) is emblematic of this new wave of conservation strategy. It brings together parties which are often seen as opposed on environmental issues in collaborative environmental practise.
This thesis explores the development of REDD+ as an effective and equitable solutions to this problem. REDD+ is a policy architecture designed for global deployment, the success of which will depend largely upon the engagement and involvement of local community groups. Community forest management (CFM) may inform the REDD+ design process, and enhance both land-use strategies by way of synergy. The pathway to that point is, however, uncertain and marred with potential pitfalls. This thesis uses the instructive and critical lens of political ecology to assess the potential for integrating greater CFM elements into the REDD+ policy structure. It explores how the narratives of CFM and REDD+ clash at discursive levels, while also identifying elements of each which may make them mutually beneficial. The thesis finds that much of the conflict between positions on REDD+ are the result of contrasting environmental understandings, some of which are informed by negative experiences with past environmental conservation initiatives. Greater community-centric attributes may assist in improving the local and regional acceptability of REDD+ projects by appealing to the “alternative” values of forest-dependent peoples. Some suggested policy modifications are made to improve the overall design of REDD+ to be inclusive of the concerns of forest user groups, and potential areas for future research projects are discussed.Thesis (Master, Environmental Studies) -- Queen's University, 2013-01-28 14:57:55.951
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Casson, Anne. "Oil palm and resistance : the political ecology of the Indonesian oil-palm sub-sector in an era of turbulent change." Phd thesis, 2001. http://hdl.handle.net/1885/146041.
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Urdang, Brandon Craig. "An assessment of the environmental sustainability guidelines and requirements set by international stock exchanges." Thesis, 2017. https://hdl.handle.net/10539/23752.
Full textAbstract:
A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Science, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science. Johannesburg, 5 June 2017.Environmental reporting is largely voluntary for companies, unlike financial reporting which has well set standards for measurement, reporting, auditing and governing laws based on IFRS and GAAP. A driver such as a stock exchange is able to act as a “regulating body” that requires a minimum reporting standard for companies listed on the stock exchange. Stock exchanges have an ethical responsibility to encourage companies listed with them to be environmental stewards to provide investors with responsible investment opportunities. This study provides an understanding of the quality of environmental guidelines presented by international stock exchanges compared to key global environmental concerns. The aim of this dissertation was to assess and compare sustainability guidelines provided by selected stock exchanges, with specific focus on key global environmental concerns. The objectives were (1) to assess the existing environmental reporting requirements of 19 stock exchanges across all continents, (2) to determine how the JSE environmental reporting guidelines compared to those of other stock exchanges, (3) to compare 20 JSE listed companies’ environmental reports based on the presence and quality of data, (4) to compare what companies reported to what the JSE required and (5) to identify possible differences in reporting between the impact levels and industries of companies. A Sustainability Balanced Scorecard (SBSC) was developed by identifying seven key global environmental concerns (resources; biodiversity; water; energy; emissions, pollution and waste; products and services; and supply chain management) that were common themes from the MEA (2005) and UNEP Ecosystem Management policy (2010). A five tier scoring system specific to assessing reporting guidelines and another five tier scoring system specific to assessing company environmental reports were used. Nineteen stock exchange guidelines were assessed to represent both developing and developed countries and all regions (Africa, America, Australasia and Europe). Overall, the stock exchange guidelines addressed the key global environmental concerns rather poorly. There were no differences in the quality of guidelines for stock exchanges that recommended guidelines in developing or developed countries. There were no differences found in the guidelines of stock exchanges operating in different regions. There were differences in the focus on key global environmental concerns by the guidelines. The environmental information reported by twenty companies spanning three impact levels and seven industries was also assessed. The companies in the high and medium impact levels iv reported similarly and better than the companies in the low impact levels. There were differences found in the way companies reported according to the different industries as well as differences in the way companies addressed the key global environmental concerns. Even though the JSE’s developed guidelines did not account for resources and biodiversity, the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) reporting guidelines that the JSE recommended to their listed companies covered these categories. Companies reported voluntarily on the categories because they may understand the importance of managing resources and biodiversity for the sustainability of their business. Stock exchanges are faced with a variety of companies at different impact levels representing different industries, making it difficult to provide a minimum set of environmental reporting guidelines. Stock exchanges should require companies to report on all key global environmental concerns identified in this study, but should not dictate how the companies report on them. Global environmental reporting standards may be better suited with a global sustainability body like the Global Sustainability Standards Board (GSSB) that is able to provide global standards for all companies. Companies need to change the way that they do business, the benefits of reporting on environmental performance outweigh the risks of not reporting and managing these impacts. Sustainability reporting and best practise today may be the compliance of the future. Stakeholders are increasingly expecting companies to contribute more to environmental sustainability. Companies are essential in building a resilient planet that will be able to feed a growing population that will increase from seven to nine billion people by 2050. Key words: Environmental Sustainability; Johannesburg Stock Exchange; Millennium Ecosystem Assessment; Sustainability Balanced Score Card Approach; United Nations Environment Programme Ecosystem Management Policy
GR2018
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Manyanya, Tshilidzi Cloudia. "An Impact Assessment of Agro-Ecology on Climate Change Mitigation and Economic Sustainabilty: A Case of Mopani District." Diss., 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/11602/844.
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Sithole, Ticharwa Patrick. "A legal and policy framework for addressing climate change in the Western Cape Province, South Africa." Thesis, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/10386/724.
Full textAbstract:
Thesis (M.Phil. (Environmental Law and Management)) -- University of Limpopo, 2009In recent years, a lot has been said about global warming and climate change. Governments and Institutions have been congregating more frequently all over the world. The subject of global warming and climate change is believed to be a ticking time bomb, which can have catastrophic effects on the existence of the human race and other living organisms. This led me to think and ponder about all our coastal towns in South Africa. What would happen if the melting of the glaciers continues and the sea levels rise by over two meters? This surely is a recipe for disaster and hence a look at the Western Cape Province was really necessary to find out on the province and the country‟s preparedness. Climate change has been scientifically proven to be occurring and is being aggravated by industrialisation1. With South Africa being the 19th Green House Gas (GHG) emitter in the world, the government should definitely take action by either mitigating or adapting to these effects.2 Rightly so, something is being done not only at national level, but at a regional and international level. A number of treaties, conventions and protocols to do with climate change and its related effects have been passed and ratified by most countries. The most notable international protocol is the United Nations Framework Convention for Climate Change‟s (UNFCCC) Kyoto protocol. At a regional level, New Partnership for Africa‟s Development (NEPAD) and the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC), have come in support of environmental initiatives like the Atmospheric Pollution Information Network for Africa (APINA). The Western Cape Province, in line with most of these agreements and national strategies, have come up with their own polices in trying to mitigate and/or adapt to climate change.
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Biggar, Jamie. "Beyond the market fix: shaping emerging climate strategies." Thesis, 2010. http://hdl.handle.net/1828/3166.
Full textAbstract:
This thesis offers a critique of the dominant strategy to prevent catastrophic climate change, which I call the market fix, and starting points for developing an alternative strategy, which I call the common transition. To prevent catastrophic climate change GHG emissions must both peak by around 2015 and be reduced to near zero by 2050. I will argue that it is unlikely that the market fix will be able to reduce GHG emissions sufficiently because there is a powerful and resilient drive for destructive kinds of economic growth embedded in the relationship between states and the global economy. For this reason, the market fix relies on unrealistically rapid technological development to reduce GHG emissions sufficiently without threatening general economic growth or powerful economic interests. I will argue that self organizing networks and commons institutions, the two key elements of the common transition, can be woven together to change the relationship between societies and their economies in order to weaken the drive for destructive kinds of economic growth, directly reduce GHG emissions, and create a new context for climate action in which societies have a greater ability to achieve zero GHG emissions by 2050.
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Smith, Jonathan Alexander. "The earth remains forever" : Ecclesiastes 1: 1-18 as a basis for a Christian, theological environmental ethic as an antidote to the modern emphasis of control and as a new perspective within postmodernism." Thesis, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/10500/3923.
Full textAbstract:
Currently the world is in the midst of a major ecological crisis, of which climate change is a key element. It is contended that this ecological destruction is largely a result of the underlying values controlling ethics and the controlling instinct of the modern worldview, which has been dominant for the past three centuries. The most recent and still emerging worldview, postmodernism, is examined and contrasted as a rebuttal to the modernistic tendencies and ethics. Utilising Ecclesiastes 1: 1-18, the ethical themes that the author of Ecclesiastes used are explored and paralleled to similar views found in postmodernism. Together, these biblical and postmodern thoughts illustrate how a strong environmental ethic can be formed that counters the modernistic worldview of controlling creation. The outcome of this research is to integrate aspects of postmodern thought with the book of Ecclesiastes to present a theological ethical basis from which a Christian can view and act towards creation.Systematic Theology & Theological Ethics
M.Th. (Theological Ethics)
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Ngcobo, Simphiwe Innocent. "Projected impacts of climate change on water quality constituents and implications for adaptive management." Thesis, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/10413/9480.
Full textAbstract:
The past few decades have seen, amongst other topical environmental issues, increased
concerns regarding the imminent threat of global warming and the consequential impacts of
climate change on environmental, social and economic systems. Numerous groundbreaking
studies conducted independently and cooperatively have provided abundant and conclusive
evidence that global climates are changing and that these changes will almost certainly
impact natural and socio-economic systems. Increased global change pressures, which
include, inter alia, climate change, have increased concerns over the supply of adequate
quality freshwater. There is an inadequate body of knowledge pertaining to linking basic
hydrological processes which drive water quality (WQ) variability with projected climate
change. Incorporating such research into policy development and governance with the
intention of developing adaptive WQ management strategies is also overlooked. Thus, the
aim of this study was the assessment of projected climate change impacts on selected WQ
constituents in the context of agricultural non-point source pollution and the development of
the necessary adaptation strategies that can be incorporated into WQ management, policy
development and governance. This assessment was carried out in the form of a case study in
the Mkabela Catchment near Wartburg in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The research
involved applying climate change projections derived from seven downscaled Global
Circulation Models (GCMs) used in the Fourth Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
(IPCC) Assessment Report, in the ACRU-NPS water quality model to assess the potential
impacts on selected water quality constituents (viz. sediment, nitrogen and phosphorus).
Results indicated positive correlations between WQ related impacts and contaminant
migration as generated from agricultural fertilizer applications. ACRU-NPS simulations
indicated increases in runoff and associated changes in WQ variable generation and migration
from upstream sources in response to downscaled GCM projections. However, there was
limited agreement found between the simulations derived from the various downscaled GCM
projections in regard to the magnitude and direction (i.e. percent changes between present
and the future) of these changes in WQ variables. The rainfall distribution analyses conducted
on a daily time-step resolution for each selected GCM also showed limited consistency
between the GCM projections regarding rainfall changes between the present and the future.
The implication was that since hydrological and climate change modelling can inform
adaptation under climate change. However, adaptation to climate change in water quality
management and policy development is going to require approaches that fully recognise the
uncertainties presented by climate change and the associated modelling thereof. It was also
considered crucial that equal attention be given to both climate change and natural variability,
in order to ensure that adaptation strategies remain robust and effective under conditions of
climate change and its respective uncertainties.Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2013.
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Elimi, Ibrahim O. "An estimate of carbon footprint of Ekurhuleni Health District office and provincial clinic employees." Diss., 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/10500/23723.
Full textAbstract:
Climate change is regarded as the greatest threat facing the world today. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) concluded that climate change is caused by human activities, as a result of greenhouse gases (GHGs) being emitted into the atmosphere. Scientific literature on the impact of climate change is well documented, especially for the health sector. The mission of the Gauteng Department of Health (GDoH) is to “contribute towards the reduction of the burden of diseases in all the communities in Gauteng”. Ekurhuleni Health District is part of GDoH and shares a similar mission. However, this mission is under threat due to the direct and indirect impact of climate change on the public health sector. Therefore, it is essential for Ekurhuleni Health District and Provincial Clinics to take measures to reduce their contribution to climate change in the light of improving the health of their constituent. This study estimates the carbon footprint of the employees of Ekurhuleni Health District and Provincial Clinics and determines the knowledge and perception of climate change among managers and operational employees.
The methodologies of the Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHGP) and the Department of Environmental Forestry and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) were used to quantify the carbon footprints of the employees of the Ekurhuleni Health District and Provincial Clinics. A content analysis was applied to determine the knowledge and perception of climate change. The study revealed that Scope 2, indirect emissions (electricity), accounts for 92% (35150 t CO2e) of the total carbon footprints for the period of five years, 2010-2014. Scope 1, direct emission (vehicles), is responsible for 4% (1362 t CO2e) and Scope 3, indirect emissions for ICT, for 2% (862 t CO2e), office paper 1% (181 t CO2e) and air conditioners 1% (458 t CO2e). The majority of employees demonstrated basic knowledge of climate change. However, the concept of GHGs was unfamiliar to most of the employees. In terms of perceptions of climate change, the majority of employees were concerned about the future of the planet and climate change and believed that climate change will impact their job description.
The study recommends the following mitigation measures, among others, to reduce carbon footprints:
(1) electrical vehicles; (2) substituting personal desktops with laptops; and (3) substituting HFC-23 air conditioner refrigerant with R410A. These recommendations have the potential to reduce the carbon emissions by 2445 t CO2e for the period of five (5) years and save R7 875 089 from fuel and power consumption. Furthermore, the District Office and Provincial Clinics can generate a revenue of R293 400 by registering for a CMD project for five years or R1 173 600 for the duration of the project (20 years).Environmental Sciences
M. Sc. (Environmental Management)
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Westraadt, Petrus. "Ecological taxation and South Africa's agricultural sector : international developments and local implications." Diss., 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/10500/23107.
Full textAbstract:
The study focussed on the research question namely: “How will the introduction of new ecological
taxes impact the South African agricultural sector?” To answer the question, eight international
eco-taxes were selected and further investigated. The nature and history of each eco-tax was
examined. The effects or expected effects (where implementation have not yet taken place) of
the eco-taxes on the agricultural sectors of the foreign countries, were then considered. The
study continued by considering the possible impact on South African agriculture, should these
taxes be implemented in South Africa. This was accomplished by extrapolating the foreign effects
previously investigated. Mindful of findings, recommendations were then made of what eco-taxes
could be implemented which will not impede South African agriculture. It was concluded that the
British Climate Change Levy and Climate Change Agreement scheme, Australian Carbon
Farming Initiative and Swedish meat consumption tax could be considered for implementation.Financial Accounting
M. Phil (Accounting Science)
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Rameshur, Harrilal. "Education policy implementation in a society in transition : a multivariate systems approach." Thesis, 1996. http://hdl.handle.net/10500/15859.
Full textAbstract:
At the best of times, education policy implementation is a difficult and
uncertain process. Taking this as a point of departure, the researcher
advanced the hypothesis that education policy implementation in a society
in transition:
is accompanied by a fragmentation of the pre-transition coherence in
interpersonal relations among policy actors;
is affected by a heightening of value conflicts and the emergence of
competing interpretive schemes;
is influenced by the perceived self-interest of policy actors;
is affected by changing power relationships and structural
adjustments; and
reflects a general weakening of interpersonal, cultural, and
structural linkages that had evolved in pre-transition years.
The Indian education system in South Africa was studied as an exemplar
of a system located in a society in transition.
The data collated by means of three research strategies - historical report, questionnaire, and structured interview - gave strong support to
the hypothesis. In addition, they pointed to the significance of
variables such as policy content and policy quality, political interference and pressure, bias and favouritism among senior officials,
religious, sectional, and language loyalties of participants, and loss
of job satisfaction and morale among policy actors.
These findings were discussed against the background of relevant
literature. This concluded in the development_gf a theoretical model to
explain education policy implementation in a society in transition.
Basically, the model suggests that socio-political struggles in the
larger society tend. to be replicated in the micro-contexts of the education system, producing fundamental alterations in the interpersonal,
cultural, and structural aspects of the system, a general weakening of
system linkages, and a progressive de-coupling of system components. All
these changes recursively impact on and are impacted on by policymaking
and policy implementation processes and outcomes. These impacts,
however, tend to occur in a non-standard, nonlinear manner. The
theoretical underpinnings of the model emerge from general systems
theory, modern social systems theory, chaos/ complexity theory, conflict
theory, structuration theory, organisation change theory, and loosely
coupled systems theory.
Finally, the study concludes with general propositions relating to
education policy implementation in a society in transition and a set of
research and management-oriented recommendations.Educational Leadership and Management
D. Ed. (Educational Management)
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Douglas, Steven Murray. "Is 'green' religion the solution to the ecological crisis? A case study of mainstream religion in Australia." Phd thesis, 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/1885/49314.
Full textAbstract:
A significant and growing number of authors and commentators have proposed that ecologically enlightened (‘greened’) religion is the solution or at least a major part of the solution to the global ecological crisis. These include Birch, 1965 p90; ... . Proponents offer a variety of reasons for this view, including that the majority of the world’s and many nations’ people identify themselves as religious, and that there is a large amount of land and infrastructure controlled by religious organisations worldwide. However, the most important reason is that ‘religion’ is said to have one or more exceptional qualities that can drive and sustain dramatic personal and societal change. The underlying or sometimes overt suggestion is that as the ecological crisis is ultimately a moral crisis, religion is best placed to address the problem at its root. ¶ ... ¶ This thesis tests the proposition that religion is the solution to the ecological crisis. It does this using a case study of mainstream religion in Australia, represented by the Catholic, Anglican, and Uniting Churches. The Churches’ ecological policies and practices are analysed to determine the extent to which these denominations are fulfilling, or might be able to fulfil, the proposition. The primary research method is an Internet-based search for policy and praxis material. The methodology is Critical Human Ecology. ¶ ...