Researchers have highlighted the need for landscape scale management for biodiversity and other services such as recreation and pollination. Ecological networks have been proposed as a tool to deliver multifunctional services. Despite public policy interest, implementation of this tool is difficult because, as other public goods, ecological networks require land managers to be paid; in addition the creation of the spatial configuration of the network requires land managers’ cooperation across holdings. This thesis presents a methodological framework to test an economic incentive called ‘1-2-1 coordination bonus’ to stimulate cooperation. It also analyses existing cases of cooperation and the potential of adaptive co-management (ACM) to develop ecological networks. The research carried out in the Dee catchment, North-East Scotland, suggests the existence of processes that echo ACM, however this ACM-potential is hampered by the lack of local ecological knowledge, power-sharing and evaluation cycles. Attitudes to conservation suggested the identification of three clusters of land managers based on land tenure: states, tenants and smallholding owners. Cooperation was more frequently found within each group than across groups. The methodological framework proved to be innovative and informative for the design of the ‘1-2-1 coordination bonus’ which could stimulate cooperation for ecological networks such as field margins for pollination. But if a robust network is needed then the bonus has to be accompanied by coordination through third parties and/or spatial targeting of the incentive to achieve a specific desired network-pattern.

Les approches chinoises pour la lutte contre le changement climatique se sont orientées vers les instruments économiques. En particulier, la tarification du prix du carbone serait mise en oeuvre durant la période de son 12e plan quinquennal (2011-2015). Les prix implicites du carbone sont aussi engendrés par l’usage massif de l’abattement de TVA et les taxes à l’exportation des produits intensifs en carbone depuis 2007. Ceci serait complété par une mise un oeuvre par un marché d’échanges des permis d’émissions ici 2015. Cependant, l’un pourrait anticiper ces approches un statut de champion pour la Chine, les doutes s’émergent à la fois sur la motivation de taxer l’exportation des produits intensifs en carbone et sur les prix donnés au carbone au marché domestique et à l’export. En utilisant les approches quantitatives et qualitatives, cette thèse examine les impacts des prix du carbone en Chine et leurs conséquences à l’échelle globale. La thèse propose d’abord d’accélérer la mise en oeuvre du prix du carbone au marché domestique et ensuite introduire un prix du carbone explicite (20$/tCO2) à l’export comme une mesure de transition avant que le prix du carbone atteigne un niveau comparable. / China’s approach to tackle climate change has been marked by a rapid shift toward market-based instruments; particularly the carbon pricing policy since its twelfth Five Year Plan (FYP) (2011-2015) was launched. Carbon prices were indirectly generated by the massive use of export VAT refund rebate and export tax on energy-intensive products since 2007. It will be explicitly complemented by an emission trading scheme (ETS) tested at provincial level by 2013 and implemented at national level by 2015. While one could expect such initiatives to grant China a status as a “climate-champion”, doubts have been cast on the rationale for taxing energy-intensive exports on the one hand, and the value given to CO2 either at the border or domestically on the other. By using both quantitative and qualitative assessments, the thesis contributes to unpacking China’s domestic and border carbon pricing policies by analyzing their incentives and domestic and global consequences. It proposes first to accelerate domestic carbon price stringency; and second to implement an explicit and comparable (20$/tCO2) export carbon price, particularly on energy-intensive products, as a short-term transitional measure before a domestic comparable carbon price is introduced.

This thesis considers the sources of airborne particulate matter and dark smoke in the UK and its implication in the soiling of materials. The role of particulate elemental carbon receives special consideration. Results of emission inventories reveal that diesel emissions are responsible for 60% of dark smoke in urban areas and 25% on a national level. Particulate emissions have been identified as being largely responsible for the soiling of building fabric in urban areas. It is now being increasingly accepted that vehicle exhaust emissions make major contributions to this fabric soiling as well as to the deterioration of atmospheric quality within the urban environment. Field work has been carried out at nine locations within metropolitan London, where a variety of materials was displayed. The materials' reflectance was measured at regular intervals together with pollution and meteorological conditions for alperiod of eighteen months. Soiling rates in the range of -0.02-4.5 yr were recorded. Particulate samples were collected by a variety of methods and soiling rates were measured in a traffic tunnel to assess the rate of sliling in the absence of rainfall. Soiling rates of -0.5-0.8 yr were recorded. Daily soiling rates for sheltered and exposed materials were measured in a third field study. A cost-benefit analysis of the building soiling problem was also undertaken. The costings were achieved by a survey of UK stone cleaning companies to identify their turnover, market characteristics, mode and cleaning frequencies. The benefits were obtained by interviewing typical clients of the stone cleaning companies to ascertain the amount they spent per annum on stone cleaning and the benefits accrued as a result of cleaning

This research project examines the application of mineral magnetic techniques to the characterisation of particulates and their sources in the urban highway environment and in stormwater runoff. A review of previous investigations into sources, levels and pathways of metals through the urban highway environment is presented. The principles upon which the mineral magnetic techniques are based and those parameters employed in this study are described. Previous environmental applications are reviewed. A representative sampling scheme was established in a small well-defined sub-catchment. Copper, Fe, Pb and Zn concentrations in highway associated sediments increased with proximity to the road centre and seasonal maxima occurred in summer. Heavy metal loadings were dominated by the sediment loadings. Strong linear relationships between the metals, Cu, Fe, Pb and Zn, and magnetic mineral concentration related parameters, X and IRM3oomT, were observed. Mineral magnetic characterisation achieved complete discrimination between highway associated sediments and roof sediments allowing the derivation of equations defining the sediment groupings. Variations in metal-magnetic properties of sediments with particle size ,were investigated. Primary source materials and particulates were analysed. Metallic and magnetic mineral parameters indicated that atmospheric and vehicle derived· particulates were probably the dominant origins of source particulates. The variation of particulate associated heavy metals in stormwater runoff at the sub-catchment is discussed. Mineral magnetic parameters characterised the majority of stormwater particulates with the roof sediment grouping. The implications of these investigations is discussed. The study was expanded to encompass the parent c~tchment. The characterisation of source sediments from land use and road types other than that· represented by the sub-catchment was carried out. Stormwater particulates collected at the main catchment'· outfall were found to be generally characterised with soil and roof sediment groupings. The further application and use of mineral magnetic parameters in similar research is discussed.

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