Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1981. / Typescript. Vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 121-130).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2009. / Title from first page of PDF file. Includes vita. Includes bibliographical references (p. 270-286).

Bibliography. / Title from title page of source document (viewed May 10, 2006). "Sustainable development studies"--T.p.

Thesis (Ph. D.) -- University of Maryland, College Park, 2003. / Thesis research directed by: Government and Politics. Title from t.p. of PDF. Includes bibliographical references. Published by UMI Dissertation Services, Ann Arbor, Mich. Also available in paper.

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Over the coming decades, renewable energy sources, namely wind and solar, will need to play a larger role in our nation’s energy mix as we seek to lower greenhouse emissions and respond to renewable energy policies and the EPA’s Clean Power Plan. This thesis assesses the role of wider-area power system operations in the U.S. as a powerful solution in supporting the integration of these weather-driven, variable energy resources that pose substantial challenges to grid reliability. The expansion and integration of organized electricity markets and transmission networks over wider geographic areas can (1) help reduce net-variability in wind and solar power generation while improving reliability; (2) provide an outlet for over-generation while reducing curtailment; (3) improve resource utilization while enabling resource sharing and lowering electricity costs; and (4) enable low-cost pollution reduction by providing a cheap alternative to fossil-fuel generation. Through power industry assessment, case-study analyses, and modeling research using NOAA’s National Energy with Weather System Simulator to compare scenarios of regional expansion versus a nation power system, this paper evaluates the feasibility and role of wide-area expansion and integration in achieving higher levels of variable renewable energy than our current system is capable of supporting.

This research examines the role of the abatement subsidy as a potential environmental policy option under various scenarios. This is achieved through a combination of theoretical and empirical analyses. The main motivation for this work stems from the existing literature on the abatement subsidy where its role seems to be a negative one from a policy standpoint. The reason for this is that in oligopoly models with free-entry the abatement subsidy encourages new firms into the market via higher profits thereby raising the level of total emissions in the industry, even though at the same time it lowers each firm's emissions. The overarching findings indicate that the abatement subsidy might play a role in environmental policy. The theoretical component of the work employs a symmetric free-entry Cournot oligopoly model both in a closed-economy and international settings. The key findings from these are that the subsidy lowers per-firm emissions and total industry emissions, and that the subsidy is welfare-enhancing when implemented multilaterally. As for the empirical component of the work, the analyses suggest that the subsidy is associated to lower per-firm emission levels and that the number of firms variable is not statistically significant.

The environmental and development challenges facing South Africa are closely linked with the political and economic inequalities of the past. The achievement of sustainable. development will require social and political change. Protection and conservation of the environment, improving environmental knowledge and understanding, the participation of all citizens, effective environmental management, inclusive and implementable policies and legislation, are all necessary components of sustainable development. These requirements are in line with the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development and Agenda 21, a programme of action coming out of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED 1992) This study explores the environmental perceptions and knowledge of some representative Eastern Cape political leaders. The aim of the study was to share views on environmental issues, concerns and strategies that might lead to improved environmental understanding, informed policy change and effective environmental management. Different environmental ideologies were also explored because of the political and ideological nature of the concepts 'environment' and 'education'. Data was collected from semi-structured interviews undertaken with ten political leaders in the Eastern Cape Province Legislature. The study revealed a general awareness and understanding of environmental issues with unsupported indepth knowledge and detailed information. The political, development, social and economic dimensions of the environment were emphasised more than the ecological and physical aspects. The need for environmental information, policies and legislation was recognised. Both formal and non-formal environmental education were emphasised. The need to redefine environmental education and make it more relevant, problem solving and action oriented was also emphasised. The challenge is to improve environmental understanding and making environmental information available to political leaders, government officials and citizens in general.

My research asks how and why some developing countries have adopted ambitious climate policies, while others have not. As developing countries have no international obligations and little domestic public support for undertaking climate change action, it is puzzling to see them taking substantial steps to counteract global warming. I argue that such policies are due to a strong pro-climate policy group, which arises because of the interaction of international institutions and a shift in domestic politics. Specifically, international institutions helped to cultivate a pro-climate policy group through international socialization and economic incentives between the late 1990s and early 2000s. The changes in domestic politics after the mid-2000s, particularly policy decision makers’ rising energy and environmental concerns, strengthened the power of the pro-climate policy group. Due to the interplay of international institutions and the development of domestic actors, the pro-climate policy group was able to advance their interests in climate policymaking process and advocated for a proactive climate policy.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T12:55:09Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T14:05:56Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / Dissertação (Mestrado) / IPEN/D / Instituto de Pesquisas Energeticas e Nucleares - IPEN-CNEN/SP