The study set out to understand and demonstrate the role the ICT sector could play as a critical enabler in the transition and progress towards an energy– efficient, low carbon economy. More specifically, the study of sustaining ICT for sustainability has twofold intent: (2) to investigate the direct footprint of ICT sector and explore how it can be tackled through adopting sustainable design–based solutions; and (2) to highlight the enabling potential of ICT sector to mitigate climate change and massively improve energy efficiency across the economy, identifying and quantifying the global ICT impacts and opportunities in the context of energy and carbon emissions savings. To achieve the aim of this study, a pertinent and extensive literature review covering theoretical, empirical, and critical scholarship was performed to investigate the phenomenon. The study draws on a variety of sources to survey the unsustainability of ICT sector pertaining to energy–intensive consumption and explore potential solutions through espousing environmental design practice, and also to examine the role of ICT in delivering energy–efficient solutions through its products and services. Validity was ensured through using quality academic and industry literature as well as relevant studies carried out by a range of eminent researchers, experts, and stakeholders (i.e. NGOs, research centers). Findings highlight the unsustainability of ICT sector regarding energy– intensive consumption and concomitant GHG emissions associated with its products and services. Of the whole lifecycle, the use phase of ICT is the most critical. Data centers and telecom networks devour energy. Planned obsolescence entrenched in software design shorten upgrade cycle, which makes software utilities a planet killer as to energy consumption. Alternative sustainable design–based solutions entail using renewable energy and most efficient energy required over ICT’s life cycle – de–carbonization strategy. Also, digitization is an effective strategy for ICT sector to slash energy use per unit. To reduce the footprint of data centers and telecom networks, design solutions vary from hardware and software to technological improvements. Designing out built–in obsolescence in software technology is a key factor in the energy equation. As for the enabling role of ICT, the findings are highly illuminating. The ICT sector must step up its efforts in reducing its direct footprint in order to claim a leadership role in an energy–efficient, low carbon economy. Although the ICT sector’s own emissions will increase because of global growing demand for its products and services, the real gains will come from its enabling potential to yield substantial energy efficiency improvements and emissions reductions across the economy. The sheer scale of the climate change challenge presents smart development mitigation opportunities for ICT sector to deliver environmentally sustainable solutions. The largest identified opportunities are: dematerialization; intelligent transport and logistics; intelligent buildings; smart power supply; and efficient industrial processes and systems. This study provides a novel approach into sustainable design in ICT, underlining unsustainable design practices in ICT sector. Review of the literature makes an advance on extant reviews by highlighting the synergic relationship between ICT design, sustainability, and the economy. / +46 704 35 21 35

This Master’s thesis is related to corrosion degradation processes on metal surfaces exposed in different environments. The theoretical part is concern with basic principles in electrochemical and atmospheric corrosion. Practical part describes experimentation of corrosion process of aluminium (99,5) and low carbon steel (11321) in two different atmospheric environments. The conclusion of thesis includes evaluations of the results from practical part and comparison with the theoretical part.

Методом ориентационной микроскопии (EBSD) исследованы структурно-текстурные состояния бесшовных труб из сталей 08ХМФЧА, 25ХМФБ,10Х13Н3МФБ, после горячей прокатки и термических обработок. Установлено, что все структуры (феррит, бейнит, мартенсит) в изделиях как после горячей деформации, так и после термических обработок, характеризуются наличием выраженной кристаллографической текстуры, которую наиболее точно можно определить, как аксиальную, ось которой <111> является параллельной касательной к диаметру трубы. Показано, что процесс формирования текстуры также, как и наблюдающаяся в процессе термической обработки текстурная наследственность, определяются следующими правилами отбора определенных ориентаций α-фазы при γ-α-превращении: 1) наличием стабильных деформационных ориентировок аустенитных зерен; 2) специальными разориентациями (границами) между зернами γ–фазы, на которых начинается превращение; 3) ориентационными соотношениями, реализующимися при превращении; 4) термическими напряжениями, возникающими в изделии при его охлаждении. Последние являются ответственными за формирование специфической кристаллографической текстуры γ-α-превращения в бесшовных стальных трубах. / Microstructure and texture in seamless 0.08C–Cr–Mo–V; 0.25C–Cr–Mo–V–Nb; 0.08–13Cr–3Ni–Mo–V–Nb steel pipes were studied in as rolled and heat treated states using orientation EBSD microscopy. It was found that all types of microstructure (ferrite, martensite, bainite) as well as after hot rolling and after heat treatment have well defined axial crystallographic texture where <111> direction is predominately perpendicular to pipe surface. It was shown that texture formation in heat treated states is inherited due to following factors important for rules of orientation selection during γ to α phase transformation: 1) occurrence of stable orientation of austenite grains resulted from straining; 2) special misorientation (boundaries) of austenite grains where transformation starts; 3) orientation relationships known for phase transformation; 4) thermal stresses in product formed during cooling. The last can be considered as factor defining special texture in steel seamless pipes.

В работе проведен обзор основных технологий производства холоднокатаных листов низкоуглеродистых сталей для изготовления изделий методом холодной штамповки и эмалирования. Проанализированы химические составы, структура, кристаллографическая текстура образцов листов, и их влияние на возможности производства бытовых изделий (ванн, моек, поддонов). Рассмотрены вопросы улучшения качества листов низкоуглеродистых сталей, используемых для холодной штамповки и эмалирования. / The paper reviews the main technologies to produce cold-rolled sheets of low-carbon steels for the manufacture of products by cold stamping and enameling. The chemical compositions, structure, crystallographic texture of sheet samples, and their influence on the possibility of manufacturing household products (bathtubs, sinks, and pallets) are analyzed. The issues of improving the quality of low-carbon steel sheets used for cold stamping and enameling are considered.

No description available.

Die Dissertation beleuchtet die dringende Notwendigkeit, Maßnahmen zu ergreifen, um den Druck auf die Ressourcen der Erde zu mindern und nachhaltige Bedingungen für gegenwärtige und künftige Generationen zu schaffen. Zwei zentrale Strategien werden diskutiert: Die Dekarbonisierung von Energiesystemen und die Reduktion der Emissionen von Haushalten. Diese Strategien sind eng mit Fragen von Gerechtigkeit verbunden, sowohl im Zusammenhang mit einer gerechten Energiewende als auch in der Emissionsminderung von Haushalten. Die Dissertation besteht aus vier Artikeln, die diese Themen vertiefen. Die erste untersucht den Kohleausstieg in europäischen Regionen und die Wahrnehmung der Energiewende durch die davon betroffenen Menschen. Die nächsten beiden untersuchen die Emissionsreduktion auf Haushaltsebene, wobei die sozialen Realitäten der Emittenten analysiert werden, um Reduktionspotenziale zu identifizieren. Die vierte Publikation bietet einen historischen Überblick über Energiekonsummuster und zeigt vergangene und bestehenden Ungleichheiten auf. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass die Klimakrise nur unter Berücksichtigung von Ungleichheiten und Ungerechtigkeiten verstanden und angegangen werden kann. Lösungen müssen darauf abzielen, weitere Ungerechtigkeiten zu vermeiden. Die Ergebnisse der Dissertation bieten unter anderem wertvolle Erkenntnisse für Entscheidungsträger auf verschiedenen Ebenen, um eine gerechte Transformation zu klimaneutralen Gesellschaften voranzutreiben. Es wird jedoch betont, dass weitere Forschung in diesen Bereichen, einschließlich anderer fossiler Energieträger und betroffener Regionen, sowie unterschiedlicher Lebensstile, entscheidend ist, um effektive Instrumente zur Unterstützung nachhaltiger Praktiken zu entwickeln. / The dissertation underscores the urgent need to address the strain human activities place on the Earth system, emphasizing the necessity for sustainable solutions to ensure the well-being of current and future generations. Mitigating the impacts of the climate crisis requires significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, prompting a closer examination of their sources and contributors. Two primary strategies are proposed: decarbonizing energy systems and reducing household emissions. However, discussions surrounding these strategies often intersect with considerations of justice, highlighting the complex social dimensions of addressing climate change. The dissertation comprises four papers that delve into these issues. The first explores the transition away from coal in European regions, assessing perceptions of justice among affected actors. The subsequent publications focus on emissions reduction at the household level, analyzing social realities and identifying potential avenues for mitigation. The final publication provides a historical perspective on energy consumption patterns, emphasizing past and contemporary societal inequalities. Findings indicate disparities in emissions across households and individuals, necessitating urgent action to reduce per capita emissions. Moreover, sociological frameworks are employed to better understand the ecological dimensions of emissions, revealing complex relationships between social classes and environmental impact. While efforts to combat the climate crisis must prioritize justice and equity, the dissertation also underscores the need for further research. This includes examining alternative energy sources, regions disproportionately affected by climate change, as well as diverse lifestyles. Such research will be essential for developing effective strategies to support sustainable practices and address the complex social dynamics of climate action.

In the literature, some studies argue that affluence and the financial sector encourages low-carbon investments which result in lower emissions while others find that they enhance emissions. Contemporary studies barely consider agriculture, employment generation and the degree of financial development as determinants of emissions. In view of these, the thesis investigates the impact of economic and financial development on CO2 emissions in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Applying the EKC and STIRPAT framework, the study modelled three functional forms which were estimated using an unbalanced panel data of 45 SSA countries by employing static and dynamic analytical methods. The models were re-estimated for 24 low (LIC), 13 lower-middle (LMIC), six upper-middle (UMIC) and two high-income countries (HIC). The study found evidence that empirical results differ in terms of the (sub-) sample of countries, estimation methods and functional forms. In detail, the study found different CO2 emissions-economic development relationships for the income groups. However, there is evidence of a linkage between later developments of the economies with lower emissions in LIC and UMIC while this linkage does not exist in LMIC and HIC. The study also found that financial development lowers CO2 in UMIC while it enhances emissions in LIC, LMIC and HIC. Despite this, there is evidence of a linkage between later developments of financial sectors with higher emissions in LIC and HIC and a linkage between later developments of financial sectors with lower CO2 in UMIC in SSA meanwhile no linkage was found for LMIC. The study concludes that not all economic development increases the level of CO2 emissions and not all financial development limits CO2 emissions in SSA during the study period. Generally, the main contributory variables to CO2 emissions are income, trade openness, energy consumption, population density and domestic credit to private sector to GDP. The main reducing factors of CO2 emissions are agriculture and official exchange rate. The thesis recommends that SSA needs to be more responsive to a cleaner CO2 environment by moving away from the conduct of unclean development strategy to intensified green investments. / Economics / D. Phil. (Economics)

In March 2018 the European Commission published the Action Plan on Financing Sustainable Growth. One of the main objectives with the actions presented in the action plan is to reorient capital flows towards sustainable investments, i.e. to influence more investors to invest sustainably. The action plan was followed by three proposals for transparency regulation regarding an EU taxonomy on sustainability, sustainability benchmarks and sustainability disclosures. Furthermore, the action plan included actions regarding two other transparency measures – sustainability labels and sustainability ratings. The first purpose of the thesis is to investigate if transparency regulation in the EU can be used as a tool to influence investors to choose sustainable investment funds. One of the main aims of the actions presented in the Action Plan on Financing Sustainable Growth, as well as the accompanying regulation proposals, is to reorient capital flows towards sustainable investments, i.e. to influence more investors to invest sustainably. In light of this, the Commission’s three proposed transparency regulations, as well as the concept of sustainability labels and ratings, are used as a basis for the investigation. The second purpose of the thesis is therefore to critically review the three regulation proposals and the concept of sustainability labels and ratings in order to gain an understanding of how different transparency measures can influence investors to choose sustainable investment funds. The transparency regulations and measures are analysed and critically reviewed in light of their objective to influence more investors to invest sustainably. A behavioural economics perspective, as well as consumer behaviour theories and decision-making models, are applied in order to analyse the transparency regulations and measures from an external perspective. Based on the analysis there are many indicators that transparency regulation can be used as a tool to influence investors to choose sustainable investment funds. However, to what extent transparency regulation can influence investor behaviour varies depending on which transparency measures are used and how they are designed. Sustainability benchmarks seem to have the least potential to influence investor behaviour, while the EU taxonomy on sustainability and sustainability labels seem to have the best potential to influence investor behaviour.