This thesis examines the economic and environmental impacts that precision agriculture technologies (PATs) can have on the carbon footprint of a grain farm. An analysis is offered using two manuscripts. The first examines the impacts of three PATs and compares the findings to a conventional farming method. It was found that all three PATs investigated showed a potential Pareto improvement over conventional farming. The second manuscript expanded the model used previously to in order to develop a process to construct a carbon efficient frontier (CEF). The model employed examined uniform and variable rate technologies. In addition to the CEF, a marginal abatement cost curve was constructed. Using these curves in a complementary fashion, more accurate information on the adaptive behavior of farmer technology adoption can be gleaned. the information gleaned for the two manuscripts can give both producers and policy makers the analytical tools needed to make more information decisions with regard to economic and environmental feasibility of PATs.

This dissertation addresses the crucial problem of how environmental policy uncertainty influences investments in energy technological change. The rising level of carbon emissions due to increasing global energy consumption calls for policy shift. In order to stem the negative consequences on the climate, policymakers are concerned with carving an optimal regulation that will encourage technology investments. However, decision makers are facing uncertainties surrounding future environmental policy. The first part considers the treatment of technological change in theoretical models. This part has two purposes: (1) to show-through illustrative examples-that technological change can lead to quite different, and surprising, impacts on the marginal costs of pollution abatement. We demonstrate an intriguing and uncommon result that technological change can increase the marginal costs of pollution abatement over some range of abatement; (2) to show the impact, on policy, of this uncommon observation. We find that under the assumption of technical change that can increase the marginal cost of pollution abatement over some range, the ranking of policy instruments is affected. The second part builds on the first by considering the impact of uncertainty in the carbon tax on investments in a portfolio of technologies. We determine the response of energy R&D investments as the carbon tax increases both in terms of overall and technology-specific investments. We determine the impact of risk in the carbon tax on the portfolio. We find that the response of the optimal investment in a portfolio of technologies to an increasing carbon tax depends on the relative costs of the programs and the elasticity of substitution between fossil and non-fossil energy inputs. In the third part, we zoom-in on the portfolio model above to consider how uncertainty in the magnitude and timing of a carbon tax influences investments. Under a two-stage continuous-time optimal control model, we consider the impact of these uncertainties on R&D spending that aims to lower the cost of non-fossil energy technology. We find that our results tally with the classical results because it discourages near-term investment. However, timing uncertainty increases near-term investment.

As concern grows about energy and environment issues, energy and environmental modeling and related policy analysis are critical issues for today's society. Polluting firms such as coal power plants play an important role in providing electricity to drive the U.S. economy as well as producing pollution that damages the environment and human health. This dissertation is intended to model and estimate polluting firms' production using nonparametric methods. First, frontier production function of polluting firms is characterized by weak disposability between outputs and pollutants to reflecting the opportunity cost to reduce pollutants. The StoNED method is extended to estimate a weak disposability frontier production function accounting for random noise in the data. The method is applied to the U.S. coal power plants under the Acid Rain Program to find the average technical inefficiency and shadow price of SO2 and NOx. Second, polluting firms' production processes are modeled characterizing both the output production process and the pollution abatement process. Using the law of conservation of mass applied to the pollution abatement process, this dissertation develops a new frontier pollutant function which then is used to find corresponding marginal abatement cost of pollutants. The StoNEZD method is applied to estimate a frontier pollutant function considering the vintage of capital owned by the polluting firms. The method is applied to estimate the average NOx marginal abatement cost for the U.S. coal power plants under the current Clean Air Interstate Rule NOx program. Last, the effect of a technical change on marginal abatement costs are investigated using an index decomposition technique. The StoNEZD method is extended to estimate sequential frontier pollutant functions reflecting the innovation in pollution reduction. The method is then applied to estimate a technical change effect on a marginal abatement cost of the U.S. coal power plants under the current Clean Air Interstate Rule NOx program.

This thesis employs a parametric input distance function that incorporates both desirable and undesirable outputs to provide a more complete representation of the production technology. Based on the Shephard (1970) theory of duality, we derive the shadow prices of undesirable outputs in the Czech energy sector on the data over the period 2002 - 2007. The medians of our shadow prices estimates are 8374, 1198, 2805, 6051 and 8549 € per ton of PM, SO2, NOx, CO and VOC, respectively. We decompose shadow prices estimates and test the hypotheses that the marginal abatement cost decline over time; that marginal abatement cost rice with the declining emission level; and that marginal abatement cost rice with declining emission rate. Key Words: shadow prices, distance function, undesirable outputs, marginal abatement cost JEL classification: C61, D24, Q53

O Acordo de Paris preconiza que cada país descreva e comunique suas ações climáticas pós-2020. Neste contexto, as Curvas de Custo Marginal de Abatimento (MACC) podem ser úteis aos países e aos tomadores de decisão, pois mostram de forma clara o custo (em unidades monetárias por massa de CO2e) para a implementação de tecnologias de mitigação de emissões de gases do efeito estufa (GEE) e o seu potencial de redução de emissões associado (em massa de CO2e). As MACC podem ser utilizadas para qualquer unidade política, como: país, cidade ou estado. Podem, também, ser aplicadas a diversas áreas, tais como: transporte, construção, poluição do ar, agricultura ou indústria. Diante desta diversidade de estudos e aplicações, o objetivo do presente trabalho foi desenvolver uma metodologia de adaptação de MACC, de estudos publicados na literatura, para qualquer unidade política ou ano de interesse. Isto permitirá a \"reutilização\" destas MACC, porém sem a necessidade da realização de novos estudos. O desenvolvimento da metodologia de adaptação prescindiu de uma meta-análise e harmonização de dados da literatura. A metodologia desenvolvida foi aplica ao Brasil, considerando os subsetores industriais de cimento e de siderurgia. Ela foi, também, implementada no software Access® (e denominada re-MACC) para que todo o processo de adaptação das MACC pudesse ser realizado automaticamente. Analisando um total de 178 tecnologias de baixo carbono para os subsetores de cimento e de siderurgia, o resultado mostrou que seria possível reduzir, em 2014, aproximadamente 52,4% das emissões de CO2e, gerando uma economia monetária de 1.835 US$/tCO2e, caso o Brasil as adotasse. A metodologia foi capaz de harmonizar dados para qualquer unidade política ou ano de interesse, todavia refinamentos são necessários para torná-la ainda mais acurada / The Paris Agreement calls on each country to describe and report on its climate actions post-2020. In this context, the Marginal Abatement Cost Curves (MACC) can be useful to countries and decision makers as they clearly show the cost (in monetary units per mass of CO2e) for the implementation of greenhouse gas (GHG) emission mitigation technologies and their associated emission reduction potential (in mass of CO2e). They can be used for any jurisdiction, such as country, city or state. They can also be applied to several areas, such as: transportation, buildings, air pollution, agriculture or manufacturing. In view of this diversity of studies and applications, the objective of the present work was to develop a methodology for adapting MACC, from studies published in the literature, to any jurisdiction or year of interest. This work allows for \"re-using\" these MACC, but without the need for new studies. The development of the methodology is based on a meta-analysis and harmonization of literature data. The methodology was applied to Brazil, considering the industrial cement and steel subsectors. It was implemented in the Access® software (and called re-MACC) so the MACC adaptation process could be performed automatically. Analyzing a total of 178 low-carbon technologies for the Brazilian industrial subsectors of cement and steel, the result showed that it would be possible to reduce by approximately 52.4% of CO2e emissions by 2014, generating monetary savings of 1,835 US$/tCO2e. The methodology proved to be capable in harmonizing the data, however further refinements are needed to make it even more accurate

O Acordo de Paris preconiza que cada país descreva e comunique suas ações climáticas pós-2020. Neste contexto, as Curvas de Custo Marginal de Abatimento (MACC) podem ser úteis aos países e aos tomadores de decisão, pois mostram de forma clara o custo (em unidades monetárias por massa de CO2e) para a implementação de tecnologias de mitigação de emissões de gases do efeito estufa (GEE) e o seu potencial de redução de emissões associado (em massa de CO2e). As MACC podem ser utilizadas para qualquer unidade política, como: país, cidade ou estado. Podem, também, ser aplicadas a diversas áreas, tais como: transporte, construção, poluição do ar, agricultura ou indústria. Diante desta diversidade de estudos e aplicações, o objetivo do presente trabalho foi desenvolver uma metodologia de adaptação de MACC, de estudos publicados na literatura, para qualquer unidade política ou ano de interesse. Isto permitirá a \"reutilização\" destas MACC, porém sem a necessidade da realização de novos estudos. O desenvolvimento da metodologia de adaptação prescindiu de uma meta-análise e harmonização de dados da literatura. A metodologia desenvolvida foi aplica ao Brasil, considerando os subsetores industriais de cimento e de siderurgia. Ela foi, também, implementada no software Access® (e denominada re-MACC) para que todo o processo de adaptação das MACC pudesse ser realizado automaticamente. Analisando um total de 178 tecnologias de baixo carbono para os subsetores de cimento e de siderurgia, o resultado mostrou que seria possível reduzir, em 2014, aproximadamente 52,4% das emissões de CO2e, gerando uma economia monetária de 1.835 US$/tCO2e, caso o Brasil as adotasse. A metodologia foi capaz de harmonizar dados para qualquer unidade política ou ano de interesse, todavia refinamentos são necessários para torná-la ainda mais acurada / The Paris Agreement calls on each country to describe and report on its climate actions post-2020. In this context, the Marginal Abatement Cost Curves (MACC) can be useful to countries and decision makers as they clearly show the cost (in monetary units per mass of CO2e) for the implementation of greenhouse gas (GHG) emission mitigation technologies and their associated emission reduction potential (in mass of CO2e). They can be used for any jurisdiction, such as country, city or state. They can also be applied to several areas, such as: transportation, buildings, air pollution, agriculture or manufacturing. In view of this diversity of studies and applications, the objective of the present work was to develop a methodology for adapting MACC, from studies published in the literature, to any jurisdiction or year of interest. This work allows for \"re-using\" these MACC, but without the need for new studies. The development of the methodology is based on a meta-analysis and harmonization of literature data. The methodology was applied to Brazil, considering the industrial cement and steel subsectors. It was implemented in the Access® software (and called re-MACC) so the MACC adaptation process could be performed automatically. Analyzing a total of 178 low-carbon technologies for the Brazilian industrial subsectors of cement and steel, the result showed that it would be possible to reduce by approximately 52.4% of CO2e emissions by 2014, generating monetary savings of 1,835 US$/tCO2e. The methodology proved to be capable in harmonizing the data, however further refinements are needed to make it even more accurate

The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of alternative cropping systems on farm net returns, and nitrate-N and sediment yields in Thomas Brook Watershed (TBW). The study involved integrated bio-physical and economic optimization modelling. Crop yield and nitrate-N pollution response functions were estimated and then used in trade-off analysis between farm returns and environmental quality improvement. Five crop rotation systems were evaluated for seven fertilizer levels under conventional tillage (CT) and no-till systems (NT). Nitrate-N leached, as well as estimated maximum economic rate of N (MERN) fertilizer level and marginal abatement costs depended on crop type, rotation system, and tillage type. The most cost effective cropping systems that met restrictions on Health Canada maximum limit on nitrate-N in water included corn-corn-corn-alfalfa-alfalfa under NT for corn-based cropping systems, potato-winter wheat-carrot-corn under CT for vegetable horticulture-based and potato-barley-winter wheat-potato-corn under NT for potato-based cropping systems.

Cette thèse est une évaluation du potentiel d'atténuation technique et économique global dans l'agriculture Chinoise et des conditions nécessaires à la formation d’un prix du carbone dans ce secteur. Le champ de recherche inclut les émissions venant de terres cultivées et en particulier celles liées à l'utilisation d'engrais azotés synthétiques. Il s'articule autour de la construction d'une courbe de coûts marginaux de réduction (MACC), qui offre un cadre rationnel pour combiner les données biophysiques et économiques afin de refléter les coûts d'atténuation. Cet outil permet d'agréger le potentiel d'atténuation découlant de l'application d'un sous-ensemble de mesures coût-efficacité en dessus d'un niveau de référence désignée. Une analyse des politiques climatiques chinoises révèle que l'agriculture est presque absente de la stratégie nationale d'atténuation. Nous avons donc l'intention d’examiner la faisabilité du point de vue technique, économique et politique, d’intégrer l'agriculture dans les politiques domestiques d’atténuation. En premier lieu, la tendance et les méthodes de calcul des émissions sont évaluées afin de déterminer une approche rigoureuse permettant de construire des scénarios de référence à partir de prévisions des activités ‘business-as-usual’ pour 2020. Deuxièmement, nous identifions neuf mesures d'atténuation des sols cultivés, nous évaluons leur taux d'abattement et leur applicabilité future au-delà du scénario de base pour obtenir un potentiel total d'atténuation techniquement faisable. Leur traduction en potentiel économique est alors faite en comparant les coûts de mise en œuvre des différentes options d'atténuation relatives aux pratiques agricoles conventionnelles. Les résultats des MACC montrent que l’agriculture offre un potentiel d'atténuation important, qui pourrait compenser environ un tiers des émissions de référence et dont un tiers pourrait être réalisé au coût négatif pour les agriculteurs. Nous examinons enfin l’utilisation des instruments économiques pour réduire les émissions au moindre coût dans le secteur agricole. Compte tenu des obstacles institutionnels, comportementaux et sociaux, nous suggérons fortement d’engager une réforme dans le système des subventions d'engrais afin d'envoyer un signal politique clair aux agriculteurs. L’utilisation de l’intensité du carbone comme référence normalisée est recommandé pour améliorer et élargir l'accès aux projets de compensation, et peut aussi préparer le terrain pour un possible programme expérimental d'échange de quotas d’émissions dans l'agriculture. En cohérence avec la priorité de protéger la sécurité alimentaire en Chine, des études de cas sur la production régionale de céréales sont introduites dans toutes ces étapes, y compris l'analyse de l'intensité des gaz à effet de serre de la production dans chaque province, le potentiel régional de réduction des émissions liées à l'utilisation d’engrais azotés ainsi que la disparité de coûts de mise en œuvre dans certaines régions. / This thesis is an evaluation of the overall technical and economic mitigation potential in China agriculture and the conditions of putting a carbon price in this sector. The research scope is cropland emissions and particularly those related to synthetic nitrogen fertilizer use. The thesis is articulated around the construction of a bottom-up marginal abatement cost curve (MACC) which offers a rational framework for combining biophysical and economic data to reflect mitigation costs. This tool allows the aggregation of the mitigation potential arising from the application of a subset of cost-effective measures above a notional baseline level. An analysis of Chinese climate policies reveals that agriculture is nearly absent in the current national mitigation strategy. We therefore intend to assess the technical, economic and political feasibility of integrating agriculture into domestic mitigation policies. In the first place, the emissions trends and calculation methods are assessed to determine a rigorous approach to build baseline scenarios from projected business-as-usual activities to 2020. Secondly, we identify nine cropland mitigation measures, evaluate their abatement rates and future applicability beyond the baseline scenario to conclude a total feasible technical mitigation potential. The translation to the economic potential is then made by comparing the implementation costs of different mitigation options relative to conventional farming practices. The MACC results show that agriculture provides significant mitigation potential to be able to offset about one-third of baseline emissions and realisation of one-third of the potential is cost-negative for farmers. We finally examine the conditions of using economic instruments to reduce emissions at the lowest cost for the agricultural sector. Given the institutional, behaviour and socials obstacles, we strongly suggest a reform in agriculture fertilizer subsidies to send a clear political signal from central planning. Scaling-up offset projects using carbon intensity as the standardized baseline is recommended and can prepare the grounds for a possible experimental emission trading programme in agriculture. In light with the top priority of safeguarding food security in China, cases studies on regional cereal production are carried out in all these steps, including the analysis of provincial greenhouse gas intensity of production, regional abatement potential related to synthetic nitrogen fertilizer use as well as implementation cost disparities in certain regions.

Whether it is based on current emissions data or future projections of further growth, the building sector currently represent the largest and singular most important contributor to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions globally. This notion is also supported by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change based on projection scenarios for 2030 that emissions from buildings will be responsible for about one-third of total global emissions. As such, improving the energy efficiency of buildings has become a top priority worldwide. A significant majority of buildings that exist now will still exist in 2030 and beyond; therefore the greatest energy savings and carbon footprint reductions can be made through retrofit of existing buildings. A wide range of retrofit options are readily available, but methods to identify optimal solutions for a particular abatement project still constitute a major technical challenge. Investments in building energy retrofit technologies usually involve decision-making processes targeted at reducing operational energy consumption and maintenance bills. For this reason, retrofit decisions by building stakeholders are typically driven by financial considerations. However, recent trends towards environmentally conscious and resource-efficient design and retrofit have focused on the environmental merits of these options, emphasising a lifecycle approach to emissions reduction. Retrofit options available for energy savings have different performance characteristics and building stakeholders are required to establish an optimal solution, where competing objectives such as financial costs, energy consumption and environmental performance are taken into account. These key performance parameters cannot be easily quantified and compared by building stakeholders since they lack the resources to perform an effective decision analysis. In part, this is due to the inadequacy of existing methods to assess and compare performance indicators. Current methods to quantify these parameters are considered in isolation when making decisions about energy conservation in buildings. To effectively manage the reduction of lifecycle environmental impacts, it is necessary to link financial cost with both operational and embodied emissions. This thesis presents a novel deterministic decision support system (DSS) for the evaluation of economically and environmentally optimal retrofit of non-domestic buildings. The DSS integrates the key variables of economic and net environmental benefits to produce optimal decisions. These variables are used within an optimisation scheme that consists of integrated modules for data input, sensitivity analysis and takes into account the use of a set of retrofit options that satisfies a range of criteria (environmental, demand, cost and resource constraints); hierarchical course of action; and the evaluations of ‘best’ case scenario based on marginal abatement cost methods and Pareto optimisation. The steps involved in the system development are presented and its usefulness is evaluated using case study applications. The results of the applications are analysed and presented, verifying the feasibility of the DSS, whilst encouraging further improvements and extensions. The usefulness of the DSS as a tool for policy formulation and developments that can trigger innovations in retrofit product development processes and sustainable business models are also discussed. The methodology developed provides stakeholders with an efficient and reliable decision process that is informed by both environmental and financial considerations. Overall, the development of the DSS which takes a whole-life CO2 emission accounting framework and an economic assessment view-point, successfully demonstrates how value is delivered across different parts of the techno-economic system, especially as it pertains to financial gains, embodied and operational emissions reduction potential.