Water is a critical resource that is essential for human well-being and economic development. Many regions around the world face ongoing water scarcity and competition over water resources. Climate change, other drastic social changes, and population and economic growth can significantly impact the supply and consumption of water. There has been an increasing body of research focusing on the Food-Energy-Water (FEW) nexus. There is a mismatch between the spatial resolution of data availability and the resolution that water resources follow. Lack of quality sub-county water data also makes the research of micro-level food-water dynamics difficult if not impossible. These challenges pose obstacles to the further understanding of water scarcity in the context of the FEW nexus and leaves critical gaps in the research of the nexus. In this dissertation I asked and answered the question: how do socio-economic forces shape localized groundwater depletion and surface water scarcity within the United States at the field and basin scale? Specifically, I tested whether irrigated farm size leads to reduction in groundwater application per unit area and whether an increase in the annual depletion in the underlying aquifer storage increases the probability of an irrigated land transfer, with a Kansas field level dataset and an econometrics approach. I estimated the FEW production and the water footprint of FEW production in every US watershed and compare the water footprint of production against their water scarcity. Then the groundwater reserves and dam storage in watersheds were examined as the buffers for the watersheds' FEW production against water shortages. I mapped the transfers of FEW goods and services and both the virtual and physical water flows from watersheds to US cities. The transportation infrastructure and other infrastructure that supports the FEW transfers are analyzed in terms of their contributions to the movement of FEW goods. This dissertation improves our understanding of how broad structural changes within the agricultural industry are interconnected with the overexploitation of groundwater resources. It is the first study of water footprint accounting with the most recent input data for the whole US food-energy-water system at the watershed level and includes an analysis of cities' infrastructure reliance for food-energy-water transfers and infrastructure as buffers. The transfers of virtual water and physical water were compared. The resulting data and findings from the novel data synthesis will provide insights for consumers, food companies, and other decision-makers at various levels on their connection to water resources in non-local areas. The outcomes of this dissertation will also improve our ability to analyze drivers and solutions to local small-scale watershed water scarcity challenges and allow a quantifiable basis for policy support in the water resources management domain and beyond. / Doctor of Philosophy / Water is an important resource for humans and the economy, but many regions around the world face ongoing water shortages and competition over the limited water resources. The Food-Energy-Water (FEW) nexus has gained increasing attention as a framework for understanding the complex relationships between water, food, and energy systems. However, research in this area has faced challenges in data availability and data resolution. This dissertation addresses these challenges while exploring how socio-economic forces shape localized groundwater depletion and surface water scarcity within the United States at the field, basin, and city scales. The author tests hypotheses related to irrigated farm size, irrigation water use, groundwater depletion, and the irrigated land transfers. The author estimates the FEW production and water footprint of production in every US watershed. The author also tracks and analyzes the transfers of FEW goods and services and embedded water footprint. Infrastructure's role in delivering FEW goods and buffering against water shortages were also examined. Overall, this dissertation provides insights into the connections between water resources and broad structural changes within the food system, and offers a novel data synthesis that can facilitate the understanding of connections between production and consumption of FEW at various spatial scales and water resources in local and non-local areas. The findings will also help analyze the drivers and solutions to local small-scale watershed's water scarcity challenges, and provide a quantifiable basis for policy support in the water resources management domain and beyond.

Yes / To realize the sustainable development of concrete, it is vital to mitigate its consumption and environmental footprint (especially CO2 footprint) from prolonging the service life through upgrading mechanical and durable performances of concrete. Incorporating nanofillers can effectively tailor the microstructures and performances of bulk cement paste and cement paste at interfacial transition zone in concrete. The hydrated calcium silicate (C–S–H) gels account for half of the volume of hardened Portland cement pastes, and they are the fundamental source of overall properties of concrete. However, the underlying mechanisms of nanofillers on C–S–H gels remains unclear. Herein, this paper underpinned the role of 5 types of representative nanofillers in tailoring the nanostructure of C–S–H gels in cement composites. The research results demonstrated that through the nano-core effect, nanofillers induce the formation of two new C–S–H gels in outer hydration products, namely nano-core-shell element doped low-density C–S–H (NEDLD C–S–H) and nano-core-shell element doped high-density C–S–H (NEDHD C–S–H). The indentation modulus/hardness of NEDLD and NEDHD C–S–H reaches 25.4/0.80 GPa and 46.7/2.72 GPa, respectively. Such superior performances of NEDLD and NEDHD C–S–H derive from the existence of nano-core-shell elements in C–S–H gels rather than the increase in C–S–H packing density. In a short-range, nanofillers form nano-core-shell elements by adsorbing silica tetrahedrons during the hydration process, improving the mechanical properties of C–S–H basic building blocks. In the long-range, the nano-core-shell elements modify the nano-scale performances of C–S–H gels in outer hydration products due to the increase of C–S–H gels’ integrality. / The authors would like to thank the funding offered by the National Science Foundation of China (52308236, 51978127, 51908103, and 52368031), National Key Research and Development Program of China (2018YFC070560 and 2017YFC0703410), the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (2022M720648, 2022M710973, 2022M713497). / The full-text of this article will be released for public view at the end of the publisher embargo on 01 Dec 2024.

Yes / The UK faces the joint economic policy challenges of raising productivity and tackling climate change. This report challenges prevailing narrow market-based views of productivity, by examining the £4bn UK early stage Cleantech innovation finance market. We find that Cleantech innovation is frequently capital intensive and long horizon (5-10+ years), measured by shorterterm technology readiness level (TRL) and intellectual property (IP) progression. Longer-term sustainable productivity impacts remain little understood and, where applied, narrowly relate to customer adoption. This leads to Cleantech environmental impact investor logics that primarily relate to end user financial value (customer sales). There is little consideration for non-market values from, for example, circular economy (CE) and wider environmental spillover impacts (e.g. supply chains). Whilst few Cleantechs currently successfully commercialise, a small proportion exhibit high employment and sales growth and global environmental impact. Improved understanding of the broader environmental impacts of Cleantechs, through the adoption of environmental impact metrics (EIMs) can (i) add to a more holistic notion of productivity and (ii) improve the efficiency of the finance escalator, enabling more Cleantechs to contribute significantly to establishing the UK as a globally leading low carbon economy. / ESRC

One of the greatest challenges of our time is the ongoing climate change. Research suggests that it is us humans that through our greenhouse gas emissions are the greatest cause of globalwarming and the problems that comes with it. To reduce the emissions of greenhouse gas and meet the international goals, it is necessary for individuals to make changes in their behavior. Some people care a lot about the climate and tries to do everything in their power to lower theirown impact, others want to do something but do not know what and some people does not care at all. The purpose of this study is to provide a deeper understanding of how to influence people to live in a more environmentally friendly way by identifying factors that determines environmentally friendly actions both positively and negatively. The study was conducted through a qualitative case study where the data collection was made through personal interviews with citizens in Luleå. The results of the study show that knowledge has a strong connection to individual behaviors. It is important to know that the environmental actions you take is of importance. Many people have the desire to do more than they do but are hindered by contextual factors like saving time. Except for the factors that was identified in the frame of reference the study also shows that there are other reasons for individuals to act in an environmentally friendly way: health, economy, ethics, frugality and care about future generations. By identifying these factors and get an explanation of how they impact individuals, the study can aid decision makers of a county with information that helps them adapt their conversion work to the citizens. The recommendations for counties are to provide citizens with clear information both regarding what goals they aim to reach as well as concrete actions to take in order to fulfil these, make it easier to choose environmentally friendly options, market the environmental benefits but also other reasons for certain behaviors since many people are more motivated byother things than environmental reasons, share their results in their environmental work to include citizens as well as spread motivation for further behavior changes. / En av vår tids största utmaningar är de pågående klimatförändringarna. Forskning visar att det till allra största del är vi människor som genom våra utsläpp av växthusgaser är ansvariga för den globala uppvärmningen och de problem som den för med sig. För att reducera utsläppen av växthusgaser och uppnå de internationella utsläppsmålen krävs delvis insatser på individnivå. Vissa människor bryr sig mycket om klimatet och försöker göra allt i sin makt för att minska sin egen klimatpåverkan, andra vill göra något men vet inte vad och vissa bryr sig inte alls. Denna studie syftar till att ge en djupare förståelse för hur man kan påverka människor att leva mer klimatsmart genom att identifiera faktorer som påverkar miljövänliga beteenden i både positiv och negativ riktning. Studien genomfördes genom en kvalitativ fallstudie där datainsamlingen gjordes genom personliga intervjuer med invånare i Luleå kommun. Studiens resultat visar att kunskap har en stark koppling till en individs beteenden. Det är viktigt att de insatser man gör till förmån för klimatet känns betydelsefulla. Många har en vilja att göra mer för klimatet men hindras av kontextuella faktorer, till största del handlar det om tidsaspekten. Förutom de faktorer som identifierades i det teoretiska ramverket framkom även ytterligare orsaker till varför individer beter sig miljövänligt: hälsa, ekonomi, etik, sparsamhet samt att värna om framtida generationer. Genom att identifiera dessa faktorer samt få förklarat hur de påverkar individen kan studien bidra med information till beslutsfattare exempelvis inom kommuner för att de ska kunna anpassa sitt omställningsarbete till medborgarna i kommunen. Studiens rekommendationer för kommuner är att de bör bistå med tydlig information till invånarna, både när det gäller vilka mål de siktar till att uppnå samt vad som konkret krävs för att uppfylla dessa. Kommunen bör också göra det lättare att välja miljövänliga alternativ, marknadsföra såväl klimatnyttan men även andra skäl till ett visst beteende eftersom att många motiveras mer av andra fördelar än klimatnytta. Samt dela med sig av resultat i klimatarbetet för att göra medborgarna delaktiga samt sprida motivation att arbeta vidare.

Textil- och klädindustrin är identifierad som en av dem största bidragande faktorerna som frigör växthusgaser över hela världen. Produktionen har en lång och komplex försörjningskedja vilket redan från råvaruutvinning släpper ut enorma mängder växthusgaser. Den här kandidatuppsatsen går igenom hela försörjningskedjan för hemtextilsektorn vad gäller olika processer från fiber till färdiga produkter och deras miljöpåverkan. Den undersöker miljöpåverkan från olika stadier i textilprodukters livscykel från vaggan till graven. Uppsatsen belyser också konceptet och principerna för mätning av koldioxidavtryck, vatten och energianvändning för hemtextilprodukter, metoder för att mäta det och dess tillämpning i textilförsörjningskedjan. I produktens livscykelanalys beräknas avtrycket från resursutvinning (vagga) till fabriksporten (grind), i de faserna inkluderas försörjning av fiber, trim och förpackning, textilbearbetning, transporter i produktion, lagring och förpackning, samt distribution. Syftet med arbetet är att beräkna koldioxidavtryck, vatten- och energianvändning och jämföra mellan två påslakanset i 100% bomull tillverkade i två olika länder. Studien ämnar ge en bättre förståelse kring koldioxidutsläppen och miljöpåverkan som dessa produkter frigör under produktion. För att senare kunna jämföras, analyseras och föreslå eventuella förbättringar för att minska produktionens utsläpp. / The textile and clothing industry has been identified as one of the biggest contributing factors to greenhouse gas emissions worldwide. Production has a long and complex supply chain, which already emits enormous amounts of greenhouse gases from raw material extraction. This bachelor's thesis goes through the entire supply chain for the home textile sector in terms of various processes from fiber to finished products and their environmental impact. It examines the environmental impact from different stages in the life cycle of textile products from the cradle to the grave. The thesis also highlights the concept and principles for measuring carbon footprint, water and energy use for home textile products, methods for measuring it and its application in the textile supply chain. The product life cycle analysis calculates the footprint from resource extraction (cradle) to the factory gate (gate), in which phases supply of fiber, trim and packaging, textile processing, transport in production, storage and packaging, and distribution are included. The purpose of the work is to calculate the carbon footprint, water and energy use and compare between two duvet cover sets in 100% cotton made in two different countries. The study aims to provide a better understanding of the carbon dioxide emissions and environmental impact that these products release during production. In order to later be able to compare, analyze and suggest possible improvements to reduce production emissions.

隨著消費者開始意識到自身的購買行為對於環境的影響，環境友善的產品也越來越受歡迎．碳足跡標籤，也就是在標籤上註明一件產品的生命週期所產生的所有碳排放，而其過程就包括了從原料取得到最後被丟棄的整個產品生命週期．產品碳足跡標籤讓消費者了解產品的環境友善程度，也幫助消費者做對環境友善的購買決策．碳足跡標籤也讓消費者成為帶動更永續的未來的主要推力，並激勵企業製造碳足跡較低的產品來維持競爭力． 碳足跡標籤已在全球成為一個越來越普遍的行為，而台灣也正開始推動碳足跡標籤方案．此論文深入研究已發展國家包括英國，美國，法國，日本以及跨國公司包括Walkers，Walmart和Casion Group如何導入碳足跡標籤方案． 接下來將探討台灣以及台灣企業是如何將碳足跡標籤導入到公司以及過程中所碰到的問題與機會． 在台灣企業的部分，宏碁以及泰山為研究對象，由於這兩家企業都是在碳足跡標籤方案的先驅者，並且為不同的產業背景，因此挑選了這兩家深入研究，並探討不同產業導入碳標籤方案的作法． / As consumers become conscious of the impacts of their purchase decision on the environment, environmental friendly products become increasingly popular. By indicating the amount of carbon dioxide produced and emitted throughout a product’s life cycle, from material acquisition to manufacturing to consumption, carbon footprint label give consumers the information to make earth-friendly purchase decisions. Carbon footprint label also makes consumers the driver of a more sustainable future by incentivizing businesses to make lower GHG-content products to increase the competitiveness of products. Carbon footprint label is becoming a popular practice around the world. Taiwan is also learning and doing carbon footprint labelling. This dissertation investigates how carbon footprint labelling is done in advanced countries including the United Kingdom, the United States, France, and Japan and multinational companies including Walkers, Walmart and Casino Group. Then it investigates how carbon footprint labelling is done in Taiwan and how Taiwan businesses approach carbon footprint labelling. Two companies of different industry were interviewed to gain an in-depth understanding of how and why Taiwan businesses implement carbon footprint labelling. From the interviews, insights of the motivation, project planning, execution and questions encountered during the implementation of carbon footprint labelling were revealed. The dissertation then concludes by discussing the limitations that happened during the research and the suggestions for the development of Taiwan’s carbon footprint label.

Die fünf Essays dieser Dissertation behandeln Themen aus dem Bereich der Entwicklungs- und Umweltökonomie. Alle Essays analysieren wie die Produktion von CO2 Emissionen beeinflusst oder reguliert werden kann. Das Treibhausgas CO2 ist eine der größten Externalitäten der Geschichte menschlicher Entwicklung. Die einzelnen Essays zeigen wie lokale Klimaveränderungen das menschliche Wohlbefinden beeinflussen und welche monetären Kosten mit einem Anstieg der Durchschnittstemperatur in Lateinamerika verbunden sind. Außerdem betrachten die Essays Hauptdeterminanten von CO2 Emissionen auf haushalts- oder nationalem Niveau, und bestimmen den Erfolg aktueller Klimapolitik um CO2 Emissionen zu reduzieren. Das letzte Essay betrachtet die momentane und zukünftige Verteilung von CO2 Emissionen wenn verschiedene Politikszenarien realisiert werden würden. Das erste Essay befasst sich mit dem Effekt von klimatischen Veränderungen auf das Wohlfahrtsniveau in Lateinamerika. Als Wohlfahrtsmaß kommen dabei subjektive Selbstaussagen zum Einsatz. Subjektive Wohlfahrt erfasst nicht nur Veränderungen im Einkommen, sondern auch Veränderungen in anderen Lebensbereichen wie dem Zugang zu Bildung oder Gesundheitseinrichtungen. Generell kommt die Studie zu dem Schluss, dass eine Temperatur im Bereich von 20 Grad Celsius und Niederschlag bis 247mm optimal sind. Höhere monatliche Durchschnittstemperaturen oder Niederschläge sind mit Wohlfahrtsverlusten verbunden. Eine globale Erwärmung von mehr als 2 Grad Celsius wird mit Wohlfahrtsverlusten in Lateinamerika einhergehen. Das zweite Essay analysiert Haushaltsemissionen in Form des Kohlenstoff-Fußabdrucks in Indien. Dabei liegt das Augenmerk auf dem Effekt von Einkommenswachstum und sozio- ökonomischen Veränderungen innerhalb der Haushalte. Ein höheres Haushaltseinkommen führt zu einem stärkeren Konsumverhalten aber gleichzeitig auch zu weniger CO2- intensiven Konsummustern. Dennoch kann der Mehrkonsum an CO2-armen Gütern, wie zum Beispiel Bildung, den Anstieg der Haushaltsemissionen, aufgrund höheren Einkommens, nicht kompensieren. Das dritte Essay betrachtet in wie fern aktuelle internationale Klimapolitik einen Einfluss auf CO2 Emissionen genommen hat. Dabei zeigt sich, dass Länder, welche Verpflichtungen im Rahmen des Kyoto Protokolls eingegangen sind, im Durschnitt 6.5% weniger CO2 emittiert haben, als vergleichbare Länder mit ähnlichem Einkommens- und Bevölkerungswachstum aber ohne Verpflichtungen. Das vierte Essay geht auf die Hauptdeterminante des CO2 Emissionswachstums ein, nämlich Einkommen. Dabei wird aber nicht nur der Effekt von Veränderungen im Einkommen, sondern auch der Effekt von Veränderungen in der Einkommensverteilung auf CO2 Emissionen untersucht. Einkommensungleichheit wirkt sich abhängig vom gegenwertigen Ungleichheitsniveau auf CO2 Emissionen aus. Für Länder mit einer hohen Einkommensungleichheit ist der Effekt positiv, das heißt mit sinkender Einkommensungleichheit sinken CO2 Emissionen. Für Länder mit niedriger Ungleichheit ist der Effekt negativ. Ein weiterer Abbau der Einkommensungleichheit würde dort mit steigenden CO2 Emissionen einhergehen. Das fünfte Essay befasst sich mit der globalen Verteilung von pro Kopf CO2 Emissionen. Dabei geht es darum inwiefern der Energiemix und der sektorale Aufbau einzelner Volkswirtschaften zu dieser ungleichen Verteilung von pro Kopf CO2 Emissionen beigetragen haben. Der Abbau schwerer Industrie in OECD Ländern und der verstärkte Einsatz von Kohle in nicht-OECD Ländern haben dabei zu einem Rückgang der globalen Ungleichheit in CO2 Emissionen geführt. Langfristig gesehen kann es sein, dass die Emissionsungleichheit ab 2040 wieder steigen wird. Jedes Essay trägt in seinem Feld zur betreffenden Literatur bei. Die Essays analysieren wie jegliche ökonomische Aktivität (hauptsächlich Konsum) CO2 Emissionen verursachen, welche wiederum für Veränderungen im Klima verantwortlich gemacht werden. Diese Veränderungen im Klima gehen mit lokalen Wohlfahrtsverlusten einher. Nationale Politikmaßnahmen wie zum Beispiel Maßnahmen zur Einkommensumverteilung können einen ambivalenten Einfluss auf CO2 Emissionen haben. Politikmaßnahmen um das Konsumverhalten und Konsummuster zu beeinflussen könnten ein effizientes Mittel zur Regulierung von CO2 Emissionen in reichen Ländern darstellen. Generell könnten internationale Klimapolitikmaßnahmen nationale Politikmaßnahmen katalysieren.

The key role of diet in both human health and environmental sustainability is well known. However, there is a lack of studies investigating the environmental impact of children’s dietary behavior. The aim of this observational study was to investigate the dietary environmental impact in a sample of primary school children living in Parma (Italy, n = 172, 8–10 years), in relation to their adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD). Children completed a 3-day food record in both winter and spring. Dietary records were processed to obtain: (i) adherence to the MD and (ii) mean daily carbon and ecological footprints. Adherence to the MD was similar in winter and spring, with almost half of the participants showing a medium MD score. Carbon and ecological footprints were higher during winter, and the main dietary contributors were red and processed meat for both indexes. A small positive correlation was observed between adherence to the MD and total carbon and ecological footprints. This study provided the first analysis of the relationship between adherence to the MD and environmental impact of primary school children. Further research is needed to better investigate the environmental impact of primary school children’s diet and the possible relationship between the MD and environmental sustainability.

Climate change is undoubtedly a serious challenge facing the world today, and as a result the preservation of the environment is at the top of the agenda for the international community and national governments. Integrated reporting is a global phenomenon driven by the necessity for better information for shareholders and stakeholders. Sustainability reports in South Africa have gained momentum since King III was released in 2009. The purpose of this study is to determine if Ferroalloy manufacturers disclose their carbon emissions in their integrated reports. A literature study was done and content analysis was used to analyse the integrated reports of Ferroalloy manufacturers. On average the integrated reports of Ferroalloy manufacturers comply 41% according to GRI requirements. Governance related points measured complied on average 51%, while internal standards measured 71%. 86% of organisations make use of external standards to report their emissions on. Direct emissions obtained on average 42% as per GRI G4 requirements, while indirect emissions obtained a score of 50%. Emissions that may occur as a result of the usage of organisations products were reported on at only 11% according to the GRI G4 requirements. / MBA, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Climate change is undoubtedly a serious challenge facing the world today, and as a result the preservation of the environment is at the top of the agenda for the international community and national governments. Integrated reporting is a global phenomenon driven by the necessity for better information for shareholders and stakeholders. Sustainability reports in South Africa have gained momentum since King III was released in 2009. The purpose of this study is to determine if Ferroalloy manufacturers disclose their carbon emissions in their integrated reports. A literature study was done and content analysis was used to analyse the integrated reports of Ferroalloy manufacturers. On average the integrated reports of Ferroalloy manufacturers comply 41% according to GRI requirements. Governance related points measured complied on average 51%, while internal standards measured 71%. 86% of organisations make use of external standards to report their emissions on. Direct emissions obtained on average 42% as per GRI G4 requirements, while indirect emissions obtained a score of 50%. Emissions that may occur as a result of the usage of organisations products were reported on at only 11% according to the GRI G4 requirements. / MBA, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015