Thesis (MS)--University of Montana, 2007. / Contents viewed on April 1, 2010 Title from author supplied metadata. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M. Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 1999. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 48-65).

Thesis (M. Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 1996. / Includes bibliographical references (leaf 76-81).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Western Ontario, 1991. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 144-148).

Thesis (doctoral)--Helsinki University of Technology, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references. Also available on the World Wide Web. Myös verkkojulkaisuna.

Thesis (M.F.A.)--Montana State University--Bozeman, 2006. / Typescript. Chairperson, Graduate Committee: David Scheerer. Includes DVD. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 37-43).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Oregon, 2006. / Typescript. Includes vita and abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 197-228). Also available for download via the World Wide Web; free to University of Oregon users.

The energy crisis of 2001, high prices for gas and electricity and worries of climate change have caused a growing awareness about energy issues in California. The problems are clear. This paper looks at the next step of finding and implementing solutions. In this case the contribution that solar photovoltaic and solar thermal generation could make toward solving the problem. This paper looks at technological change, the current state of solar energy research, current government policies on solar energy, and finally makes policy recommendations to meet the stated problem.

The social construction of climate change has been an enduring interest to media scholars. Extensive research has been done to explore how the mass media portrayed climate change and how the influence of their representations contributed to the social reality of climate change. However, most research focused on the news media in the United States and other developed countries and ignored China--the second largest greenhouse gases emitter in the world. This oversight has led to a sociological map of global climate change with the one of the biggest puzzle pieces missing. In addition, traditional news media were in the spotlight of most literature while little attention was turned to blogs--a rising power in the public discourse. This study expands the understanding of the social construction of climate change by bridging two gaps--the cross-national gap and the cross-media gap--by examining how the news media and the blogosphere in the United States and China--the top two greenhouse gases emitters--framed this arguably the most daunting challenge of the 21st century. Following framing theorists' call for using defragmented frame typologies, the design of this frame analysis derived from five traditions of research of media framing and the social construction of climate change: (1) "episodic vs. thematic" framing, (2) micro-issue salience, (3) audience-based frames, (4) attribution of responsibility and (5) skepticism towards climate change. A purposive sample using multi-stage probability sampling techniques was comprised of 638 articles from three prestige U.S. newspapers (New York Times, USA Today, and Washington Post), two official Chinese newspapers (People's Daily and China Daily), and the American and Chinese blogospheres. The results delineated distinct characteristics of media framing that mirrored the social reality of climate change in both countries. Moreover, bloggers of both countries showed varying degrees of divergence from the news media, contradicting the argument that the blogosphere has been normalized by traditional news sources. Most importantly, this study synthesized its results with earlier literature and developed the B (Bloggers' understanding) - M (Media portrayals) - S (Skepticism) theoretical model that holds great explanatory power to harmonize inconsistent knowledge about the social construction of climate change, thus opening a new research avenue and significantly advancing our understanding in this area.

Orientador: Pedro Magalhães Sobrinho / Banca: Agnelo Marotta Cassula / Banca: Carlos Barreira Martinez / Resumo: Desde a Revolução Industrial, tem-se observado um aumento significativo na concentração dos gases de efeito estufa (GEE) na atmosfera, especialmente o dióxido de carbono (CO2), que aparece como o principal "vilão" do aquecimento global. Neste contexto, o Estado de São Paulo instituiu a Política Estadual de Mudanças Climáticas (PEMC), estabelecendo o compromisso do Estado com relação às mudanças climáticas globais, notadamente o aquecimento global. Esta lei estabelece, entre outros, a meta de reduzir em 20% as emissões de gases de efeito estufa do Estado de São Paulo até 2020, tendo como base as emissões do ano de 2005. Neste trabalho é apresentado um estudo de caso do setor industrial, a partir da análise de cinco unidades fabris de uma empresa localizada no Estado de São Paulo. Inicialmente foi elaborado o inventário de emissões de GEE da empresa, e seu desenvolvimento seguiu as diretrizes do Painel Intergovernamental sobre Mudança do Clima (IPCC). São identificadas no trabalho as ações e políticas internas que podem ser desenvolvidas pela empresa estudada a fim de alcançar a meta de redução das emissões de GEE estipulada pela PEMC. Também são apresentadas as análises dos impactos ambientais e econômicos das ações sugeridas para implantação. Sugerem-se ainda as políticas que os governos federal e estadual podem estabelecer com o intuito de incentivar o setor industrial na redução das emissões / Abstract: Since the Industrial Revolution, it is being observed a higher elevation in the concentration of the greenhouse gases (GHG) in the atmosphere, specially the carbon dioxide (CO2), which is the main global warming "villain". In this context, the State of São Paulo promulgated the State Policy on Climate Change (SPCC), which has established the commitment of the State towards the global climate changes, notoriously the global warming. This act establishes, among others, a target of 20% in the reduction of greenhouse gases emissions in São Paulo State until 2020, having as a reference the emissions along 2005. This work presents a case study on industrial sector, as from the analysis of five manufacturing plants of a company located in the State of São Paulo. Firstly, the company's greenhouse gases emissions inventory was built, following the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) guidelines. After, the actions and internal policies that could be developed by the studied company in order to reach the target of reduction in the GHG emissions established in SPCC are identified. Also, are presented the environmental and financial assessment analysis of the actions recommended for implementation. Finally, are suggested the policies that the federal and state governments could establish in order to encourage industries to reduce emissions / Mestre