ENGLISH ABTRACT: This study considers the policy options for the accelerated decarbonisation of travel and tourism (or ‘travelism’) over the next four decades. The concept of ‘travelism’ approaches aviation, travel and tourism as an integrated value chain. The value chain’s carbon footprint and possible mitigation options (or ‘wedges’) are analysed through the lenses of the three pillars of sustainable development (i.e. social, environmental and economic values), which represent the core of a conceptual model for green, low-carbon travelism growth. This model provides a systems perspective on the ‘what’, ‘why’ and ‘how’ of the envisioned low-carbon transformation. Travelism is both a vector and victim of climate change, and simultaneously makes a significant economic and social contribution to society at large. ‘Doing nothing’ to face up to the challenges of climate change is therefore not an option, nor is the ‘slowing down’ of travelism demand. Yet, the approaching clash of trajectories between business-as-usual travelism growth and climate stabilisation goals provides strong motivation for ‘decoupling’ (i.e. decarbonising travelism). Travelism has to contribute its fair share to keeping global temperature increase to below 2 °C above pre-industrial levels, while allowing development to proceed sustainably. Consequently, mitigation ‘wedges’ are identified for three travelism sub-clusters with quantifiable carbon footprints (i.e. accommodation, land transport and air transport). A combination of public policy approaches (i.e. information-based, incentive-based and directive-based) are identified that can help to overcome implementation barriers for those cost-efficient mitigation options with significant carbon abatement potential and other sustainable-development co-benefits. In the accommodation cluster, green building design, energy-efficiency measures and renewable-energy deployment are priorities. In the land transport cluster, passenger modal shifts, more efficient vehicles and low-carbon fuels as well as improved public transport in ‘green cities’ represent the most promising mitigation options. In both these clusters, integrated planning and alignment with other policy domains, best-practice sharing, consumer education, vertical supply chain partnerships and a mix of government incentives and regulatory standards are required. In the air transport cluster, mitigation options related to operational, infrastructural and technology-driven efficiency improvements represent the ‘low-hanging fruit’ for the next two decades. However, once this emissions reduction potential has been optimised, only two (known) game changers remain: firstly, the development and commercialisation of secondgeneration (i.e. sustainable) drop-in biofuels as substitute for high-carbon kerosene jet fuel, and, secondly, the introduction of a market-based mechanism (MBM). Based on the analysis of the technical and financial feasibility, sustainability and scalability of the biofuels mitigation wedge, it is concluded that there is no either/or choice between drop-in biofuels and MBMs. A risk management approach requires pursuance of both. Creating a global aviation biofuels industry will be no small endeavour, though. It will require a package of public policies, funding and partnerships at various stages of the technology life cycle and throughout a long value chain. Besides carbon abatement, local economic development and job creation co-benefits in developing and emerging economies are also achievable. An MBM for aviation emissions should ideally be designed as a global, ‘open’ emissions-trading scheme that (i) provides a progressive price incentive for the uptake of sustainable biofuels as well as pursuance of the other mitigation options, and (ii) creates flexibility for the aviation sector to offset its unavoidable emissions with lower-cost emissions reductions from other economic sectors.

As the global warming brings more and more disasters, controlling greenhouse gas emission is one of the main global crucial issues nowadays. As one of the main emitters in the world, China faces more and more international pressure to reduce the emission, so it is urgent to make the transition to a low carbon economy.At the same time, China has been going through the fast urbanization process as shown in the “Northam Curve”, and the current urbanization mode requires the demand of the carbon-intensive consumption, and could lead to the massive carbon emission as well. However, it is contradictory to the long-time sustainable development in China. So, under the current condition, the reduction plan needs to be fit in the Chinese demand, so it is very crucial, and requires innovation and creation to analyze the reduction factor and find the balance point between the urbanization and low carbon development mode. Regarding to the different urbanization rate and economic development modes characters between the East, Central, West part of China, this thesis uses inductive and deductive method to study. Firstly, it chooses one province from each region to investigate. Then it integrated urbanization factor into Kaya equation to study different factors impacts on the carbon dioxide emission in the three sample provinces. It also selected the co-integration econometrics method to study the equilibrium relationship between the carbon dioxide emission and other main factors. Through analyzing the current reduction plan, it explains and forecasts the possible emission in 2015. The result suggests that the anticipated carbon dioxide emission might be able to achieve under the transition to a low carbon economy mode. Different regions should have their own feasible plans through controlling the urbanization rate, slowing the economic development rate and through reducing the energy intensity, improving the energy structure.

With the growth of population and development of the global economy, the unrestrained use of natural and energy resources have seriously influenced environment and economy of world. Many people start to realize the serious environmental problems that come from the high energy utilizations, especially of high carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. So Low-Carbon Economy has become focus of attention around the world; it also has become every country‟s strategic goals for future development under this global situation.As the biggest country of CO2 emissions in the world, China‟s development of Low-Carbon Economy is increasingly influencing the economy and environmental development in the world, and the country has faced more and more pressure after United Nations Climate Change Conference, 2009. Transition to Low-Carbon Economy is essential road for China, whether respond to the threat of climate change or balance domestic economic development with environmental sustainability. However, China also faces lots of challenges and pressure in the process of transition to Low-Carbon Economy.This thesis combines quantitative method with qualitative methods to do a research about driving force and challenges of developing Low-Carbon Economy in China. Firstly, it discusses the driving forces for China to develop Low-Caron Economy from two aspects-pressures and benefits. Secondly, it investigates challenges that China is likely to face in Low-Carbon Economy development from energy and economic aspect. Finally, it uses cause and effect diagram to explain the bottlenecks of Low-Carbon Economy development in China.Our conclusion is that China faces the bottleneck between challenges and driving force to develop Low-Carbon Economy. And this situation was caused by national actual situations and conditions in China. This explains also why China requested in Copenhagen Conference that “developing countries take appropriated measures to emission control and reduction in terms of receiving the funding and technology support from developed countries. Those emission reduction actions should be done according to the national actual situations and conditions.”

There is need for increased production of electricity from renewable energy technologies. The transition to a low-carbon economy, whilst achieving energy security and meeting the Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7) is an ongoing challenge for many countries. Local communities instituting an energy co-operative model may be instrumental to reducing greenhouse gas emissions to attain the 2030 goal. Renewable energy co-operatives (RECs) are one approach that can contribute to environmentally and socially equitable energy transitions in order to meet the SDG7. This thesis examines the factors that affect the success of RECs within Ontario to better discern how RECs are set up and how government policy affects their development. The main research question of this study is “How can Ontario’s renewable energy co-ops grow, experience long-term viability, be updated or expanded?” This thesis argues that the quest towards energy transition, a low-carbon economy and to achieve both the federal and provincial targets by 2030 should take on a multi-stakeholders approach. In theory, this should reflect community desires, goals and energy equity since a community should have its own supported role in energy generation towards the whole of Ontario. With the absence of provincial support from the removal of the Feed-In Tariff (FIT) program in 2017, it is now imperative that municipal governments become involved in REC developments within their community. The methodological approach of this thesis uses a combination of the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) and sustainability analyses in order to interpret the data collected from semi-structured interviews with co-ops and policymakers as well as their websites and reports. This study examines the support structures and barriers for the growth of RECs in Ontario and how their growth can contribute to the SDG7. Through document review and interviews with representatives from the co-ops, I discovered that barriers include unstable government policy, inadequate funding, and a lack of support from financial institutions due to the smaller size of the projects developed by power co-ops. Comparisons with REC policy and progress in European countries show Ontario can do more to support RECs. This thesis concludes that one of the many available options for Ontario to contribute substantially to the transition to a low-carbon-economy is through applying the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change and the SDG7 by supporting citizen-led initiatives like RECs and to encourage large financial institutions to invest in their communities.

Market based instruments have become a common feature in country policies aimed at transitioning to low carbon economies. BRICS countries are responsible for approximately two-thirds of the global average of carbon emissions. These countries are under continuing international pressure to demonstrate leadership in their carbon emission reduction efforts.This research explored the implementation of market based instruments in Brazil, China, India and South Africa as they transition to low carbon economies and determined the elements and driving forces informing the selection of market based instruments. The research sought to achieve three objectives, the first objective was to establish whether market based instruments were regarded as a policy option for low carbon transition initiatives by these four countries. The second objective was to determine the drivers and sectors informing a selection of market based instruments. The third objective was to extract lessons from these countries for South African to consider in its low carbon transition.The research outcomes included a model of the interrelationship between driving forces for decisions to adopt market based instruments, targeted sectors that would be subjected to such mechanisms and the eventual combination of instruments that gets implemented. / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / MBA / Unrestricted

The risks and opportunities that climate change presents for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) have been largely overlooked by previous research (Schaefer et al. 2011, Williams & Schaefer 2013). The subsequent lack of knowledge in this field makes a meaningful, profitable and sustainable engagement of SMEs with climate change challenging. Current research has difficulty explaining (1) why SMEs rarely engage with climate change (2) how climate change is currently communicated to SMEs and (3) how SMEs overcome the knowledge gap between business practice and climate change science (cf. Hoffman 2004, 2006, Hart 2007, Goodall 2008). In this thesis I critically examine 31 SMEs which engage with climate change knowledges, 5 Innovation-Support-Organizations (ISOs) which communicate climate change knowledges and 2 business-led communities of practice that discuss climate change-related business practices. Over a three-year period, I explore why and how business leaders approach the knowledge gap between climate change science and business practice, drawing on a variety of ethnographic research methods: (1) in-depth semi-structured and open interviews; (2) participant observations; (3) practitioner's workshops; and (4) an online survey. My research demonstrates that the participating ISOs communicate climate change in an overly simplistic way. The participating ISOs focus on persuading business leaders to engage with climate change. The participating business leaders who hear this persuasive message are already willing to engage with climate change. Their motivations to engage are lay-knowledge-dependent, derived from personal values, space and place identity. What the participating business leaders require is practical advice on how to mitigate the impact of, and adapt to, climate change, and they therefore try to overcome the limitations of current climate change communication through forming and joining communities of practice. By doing this, they can make sense of climate change in specialist niche communities and benefit from social belief systems. To enhance the number of SMEs engaging with climate change, I recommend that the participating ISOs target the personal values of business leaders and actively use these specialist niche communities niches within which the participating business leaders develop business practice to learn about climate change-related business practices themselves. Overall, my PhD shows that to create meaningful, profitable and sustainable engagement with climate change, business leaders and ISOs, as well as governments and society, need to address their "confusion and anxiety about the goals, ambitions and destinies [they] foresee" for themselves (Hulme 2013: 298).

Na última década em diversos países do mundo vem crescendo o debate para o aumento do uso da madeira, em especial para o setor da construção civil, incentivado por dois motivos principais: pela capacidade de absorção de CO2 e consequente contribuição para a economia de baixo carbono e o desenvolvimento de novas tecnologias industrializadas, predominantemente aquelas conhecidas como mass timber. Apesar de 60% do território brasileiro ser coberto por florestas e do potencial madeireiro do país, o uso da madeira como material construtivo é pouco expressivo. No entanto, em consonância com o debate mundial, o Brasil também dá indícios de desenvolvimento do setor da construção civil em madeira. Este trabalho teve como objetivo caracterizar a tendência de aumento do uso da madeira através do levantamento dos agentes envolvidos nesse processo; das ações para a promoção do uso do material e dos produtos disponíveis no mercado. Também foram identificados os obstáculos enfrentados, as motivações e as perspectivas futuras. Cabe ressaltar que a pesquisa foi realizada com foco no setor privado e com o uso da madeira predominantemente em edificações na forma de estrutura e/ou vedação. Foram utilizadas duas abordagens metodológicas: mapeamento sistêmico e estudo de caso. O mapeamento sistêmico foi composto pelo levantamento bibliográfico e pesquisa documental, que num primeiro momento identificou quem são os principais agentes envolvidos e posteriormente, levantou dados sobre sua atuação e produção. Como resultado, foram identificadas 42 instituições e 66 empresas, além de 24 produtos entre sistemas, subsistemas e componentes construtivos e 20 ações de promoção da madeira, entre eventos, programas e mídia. Posteriormente foram selecionados 22 agentes, com base na expressividade em sua área de atuação, entre empresas e instituições, para a aplicação de entrevistas semi-estruturadas visando levantar as motivações e entraves do setor. Com isso foi possível verificar o aumento do número de empresas atuantes com tecnologias construtivas em madeira, e da variedade de produtos disponíveis no mercado, com destaque para as tecnologias industrializadas, assim como de ações para a promoção da madeira, particularmente no ano de 2017. Constatou-se ainda que o fenômeno trata-se não do aumento do uso da madeira em si, mas das tecnologias em produtos industrializados e que existe uma aproximação entre o setor florestal e da construção civil, o que é fundamental para o pleno desenvolvimento da cadeia produtiva. E por fim, apesar de haverem diversos entraves a serem sobrepostos, a expectativa é de que os produtos industrializados em madeira tenham uma participação cada vez maior na construção civil brasileira nos próximos anos. / Over the last decade the debate about the rise of use of wood, specially in the construction sector, is growing because of two main reasons: the potential to stock CO2 and consequently to contribute to a low carbon economy and the development of industrialized technologies, predominantly those known as mass timber. Even though roughly 60% of the Brazilian territory is covered by forests and the potential of the forestry sector the use of wood as a construction material is incipient. Nevertheless in consonance with a global trend, there are evidences indicating the development of the timber construction industry in Brazil. This research aimed to characterise this trend through the identification of the main stakeholders, the initiatives to promote wood and the available products on the market. Also, matters related to obstacles, motivations and future perspectives were also analysed. It is important to highlight that the research focused on the private sector with the use of wood predominantly on buildings as structure and/or sealing. To accomplish it two methods were used: systemic mapping and study case. The systemic mapping consisted on both the research through the scientific literature and documents (i. e. catalogs, data available on websites) which identified 42 institutions, 66 companies, 24 different products among construction systems and components, and also 20 wood promotion actions (i. e. conferences, programs, media). Afterwards 22 stakeholders among companies and institutions were selected based on the relevance of their activities. Then semi-structured interviews were conducted to collect data about the difficulties, motivations and perspectives of the timber construction sector. As a result it was identified a rise on the quantity of companies, variety of products available on the market (specially engineered wood products) and wood promotions initiatives, particularly on the year of 2017. The study revealed that the development is not about the use of wood itself, but instead highly industrialized products. There is also the approximation between the forest and civil construction sector, which is essential for the full development of the production chain. Besides, despite the many obstacles found, it is expected for the next years a consistent growth of engineered wood products in Brazilian civil construction sector.

La thèse vise à développer un cadre pour mesurer l'alignement des portefeuilles financiers avec les objectifs climatiques, prenant comme point de départ à la fois la théorie traditionnelle du portefeuille moderne et les cadres d'analyse des risques financiers, ainsi que la science du climat. Il s'agit de la première tentative d'élaboration de points de repère scientifiques pour le portefeuille financier. Le cadre utilise comme point de départ le concept de «diversification optimale» basé sur la théorie moderne du portefeuille et l'hypothèse de marché efficace. Selon cette théorie, les stratégies optimales impliquent l'achat du «portefeuille de marché». Il postule que cette stratégie ne peut toutefois pas être alignée sur une stratégie de portefeuille alignée avec un scenario 2 ° C. Une telle stratégie de portefeuille basée sur la science peut toutefois avoir un sens pour les institutions financières qui considèrent des objectifs multiples (financiers et non financiers) ou des institutions financières qui pensent que les marchés évaluent mal les risques financiers associés à la transition vers une économie 2°C. Les stratégies associées à 2°C peuvent surperformer le marché. Sous l'hypothèse que la transition vers une économie bas-carbone présente un facteur de risque, pour lequel la thèse fournit une série de preuves théoriques, les stratégies de portefeuille peuvent chercher à acheter le «marché à 2 ° C» en cherchant et gérant une «diversification optimale». Le modèle étend ainsi la logique de la diversification pour réduire le risque, inhérent à la théorie moderne du portefeuille, de la classe d'actifs au niveau sectoriel et technologique. Après le développement du modèle, le modèle a été testé par une série de compagnies d'assurance, de gestionnaires d'actifs et de gestionnaires de portefeuille. Au total, plus de 250 investisseurs institutionnels ont appliqué le modèle au moment de la publication. En outre, le modèle a été testé sur environ 10000 fonds. De plus, deux banques centrales européennes ont appliqué le modèle en interne dans le cadre d'une analyse de scénario à 2 ° C de leurs entités réglementées (fonds de pension et compagnies d'assurance). Dans le cadre d'un sondage auprès de 25 investisseurs, 88% ont déclaré que le cadre était tout aussi pertinent ou plus pertinent que les évaluations climatiques existantes, et 88% ont indiqué qu'ils étaient susceptibles ou très susceptibles d'utiliser la méthodologie pour aller de l'avant. / The thesis seeks to develop a framework to measure the alignment of financial portfolios with climate goals, taking as point of departure both traditional modern portfolio theory and financial risk analysis frameworks, as well as climate science. It represents the first attempt to develop science-based benchmarks for financial portfolios. The framework uses as the starting point the concept of ‘optimal diversification’ based on the modern portfolio theory and efficient market hypothesis. Under this theory, optimal strategies involve buying the ‘market portfolio’. It posits that a 2°C aligned, science-based portfolio strategy is not aligned with such a strategy. Such a science-based portfolio strategy, in turn, may make sense for financial institutions that consider multiple objectives (e.g. financial and non-financial) or financial institutions that think markets are mispricing financial risks associated with the transition to a low-carbon economy and that associated low-carbon, or 2°C aligned strategies can outperform the market. Under the assumption that the transition to a low-carbon economy presents a risk factor, for which the thesis provides a range of theoretical evidence, portfolio strategies can seek to buy the ‘2°C market’ by managing ‘optimal diversification’ to the 2°C aligned technology set, in addition to managing sector exposures. The model thus extends the logic of diversification to reduce risk, intrinsic to the modern portfolio theory, from asset class to sector and technology level.Following the development of the model, a range of insurance companies, asset managers, and portfolio managers tested the model. In total, over 250 institutional investors have applied the model to date. In addition, the model has been tested on around 10,000 funds. Moreover, two European central banks have applied the model internally as part of 2°C scenario analysis of their regulated entities (pension funds and insurance companies). As part of a feedback survey with 25 investors, 88% said the framework was equally or more relevant than existing climate assessments, and 88% said they were likely or very likely to use the methodology moving forward.

Na última década em diversos países do mundo vem crescendo o debate para o aumento do uso da madeira, em especial para o setor da construção civil, incentivado por dois motivos principais: pela capacidade de absorção de CO2 e consequente contribuição para a economia de baixo carbono e o desenvolvimento de novas tecnologias industrializadas, predominantemente aquelas conhecidas como mass timber. Apesar de 60% do território brasileiro ser coberto por florestas e do potencial madeireiro do país, o uso da madeira como material construtivo é pouco expressivo. No entanto, em consonância com o debate mundial, o Brasil também dá indícios de desenvolvimento do setor da construção civil em madeira. Este trabalho teve como objetivo caracterizar a tendência de aumento do uso da madeira através do levantamento dos agentes envolvidos nesse processo; das ações para a promoção do uso do material e dos produtos disponíveis no mercado. Também foram identificados os obstáculos enfrentados, as motivações e as perspectivas futuras. Cabe ressaltar que a pesquisa foi realizada com foco no setor privado e com o uso da madeira predominantemente em edificações na forma de estrutura e/ou vedação. Foram utilizadas duas abordagens metodológicas: mapeamento sistêmico e estudo de caso. O mapeamento sistêmico foi composto pelo levantamento bibliográfico e pesquisa documental, que num primeiro momento identificou quem são os principais agentes envolvidos e posteriormente, levantou dados sobre sua atuação e produção. Como resultado, foram identificadas 42 instituições e 66 empresas, além de 24 produtos entre sistemas, subsistemas e componentes construtivos e 20 ações de promoção da madeira, entre eventos, programas e mídia. Posteriormente foram selecionados 22 agentes, com base na expressividade em sua área de atuação, entre empresas e instituições, para a aplicação de entrevistas semi-estruturadas visando levantar as motivações e entraves do setor. Com isso foi possível verificar o aumento do número de empresas atuantes com tecnologias construtivas em madeira, e da variedade de produtos disponíveis no mercado, com destaque para as tecnologias industrializadas, assim como de ações para a promoção da madeira, particularmente no ano de 2017. Constatou-se ainda que o fenômeno trata-se não do aumento do uso da madeira em si, mas das tecnologias em produtos industrializados e que existe uma aproximação entre o setor florestal e da construção civil, o que é fundamental para o pleno desenvolvimento da cadeia produtiva. E por fim, apesar de haverem diversos entraves a serem sobrepostos, a expectativa é de que os produtos industrializados em madeira tenham uma participação cada vez maior na construção civil brasileira nos próximos anos. / Over the last decade the debate about the rise of use of wood, specially in the construction sector, is growing because of two main reasons: the potential to stock CO2 and consequently to contribute to a low carbon economy and the development of industrialized technologies, predominantly those known as mass timber. Even though roughly 60% of the Brazilian territory is covered by forests and the potential of the forestry sector the use of wood as a construction material is incipient. Nevertheless in consonance with a global trend, there are evidences indicating the development of the timber construction industry in Brazil. This research aimed to characterise this trend through the identification of the main stakeholders, the initiatives to promote wood and the available products on the market. Also, matters related to obstacles, motivations and future perspectives were also analysed. It is important to highlight that the research focused on the private sector with the use of wood predominantly on buildings as structure and/or sealing. To accomplish it two methods were used: systemic mapping and study case. The systemic mapping consisted on both the research through the scientific literature and documents (i. e. catalogs, data available on websites) which identified 42 institutions, 66 companies, 24 different products among construction systems and components, and also 20 wood promotion actions (i. e. conferences, programs, media). Afterwards 22 stakeholders among companies and institutions were selected based on the relevance of their activities. Then semi-structured interviews were conducted to collect data about the difficulties, motivations and perspectives of the timber construction sector. As a result it was identified a rise on the quantity of companies, variety of products available on the market (specially engineered wood products) and wood promotions initiatives, particularly on the year of 2017. The study revealed that the development is not about the use of wood itself, but instead highly industrialized products. There is also the approximation between the forest and civil construction sector, which is essential for the full development of the production chain. Besides, despite the many obstacles found, it is expected for the next years a consistent growth of engineered wood products in Brazilian civil construction sector.

A partir de uma perspectiva crítica, esta pesquisa analisa a maneira pela qual os programas políticos para mudanças climáticas e atividades compensatórias de gases de efeito estufa tornam-se realidade no território brasileiro. A pesquisa faz uma análise crítica da constituição de uma economia de baixo carbono na Amazônia, mais detidamente sobre seus desdobramentos em questões agrárias nos estados da Amazônia Legal, além de apresentar dois casos ilustrativos sobre projetos de carbono envolvendo florestas no estado do Pará. Busca-se, assim, discutir as coexistências e antagonismos nas relações que se estabelecem entre as atividades regulares de comunidades rurais seus usos econômicos e formas de convivência com a floresta amazônica (especificamente madeira e agricultura) , e a introdução dos atuais projetos de desmatamento evitado. Diante da complexidade na qual se apresenta o atual contexto das mudanças climáticas, a pesquisa se vale de uma análise que se apropria de conceitos fundamentais para geografia contemporânea, como acumulação por espoliação, desenvolvimento geográfico desigual e produção da natureza. Com isso, apresenta-se, ao longo da tese, as questões centrais a respeito de como a floresta amazônica passa a ter novos valores de uso e troca no contexto das mudanças climáticas e como sua ressignificação passa a representar novas estratégias de acumulação de capital. / From a critical perspective, this research examines the ways in which political programs on climate change and compensatory activities of greenhouse gases become reality in Brazil. The research analyzes the establishment of a low carbon economy in the Amazon, more specifically on its consequences on land issues in the Amazonian states, and present two illustrative cases of carbon projects involving forests in the state of Pará. It discusses about the coexistences and antagonisms in relations established between the regular activities of rural communities - their economic uses and ways of living together with the Amazon rainforest (specifically wood and agriculture) - and the introduction of the current projects \"deforestation avoided\". On the complexity that presents the current context of climate change, the research relies on an analysis from fundamental concepts for contemporary geography, as \"accumulation by dispossession\", \"uneven geographical development\" and \"production of nature\". Thus, it presents, along the thesis, the central question about how the Amazon forest is replaced by new use-value and exchange in the context of climate change and how their resignification comes to represent new strategies of accumulation of capital.