Thesis (M. Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 198-209).

The relationship between expressed attitudes and actual behaviour in the context of sustainable development is complex (Staats et al., 2004) and difficult to apply in a policy-relevant manner (Aall and Norland 2005). The household, however, represents a key ‘unit' for understanding the environmental impact of consumption patterns and for instigating educational programmes and policy designed to change consumer behaviour (Simmons and Chambers 1998). Despite this recognition, the majority of academic research relies heavily on individualistic social-psychological approaches, which do not accurately capture behaviours that may arise by virtue of the characteristics of the household (Gronhoj 2006). Recent research indicates that the use of a household diary can be beneficial in helping to capture household environmental activities, in educating householders about their impact, and in identifying major ‘behavioural turning points', where householders may focus efforts to reduce their environmental impact (Hunter et al., 2006). In other words, the use of a diary by householders is a potentially powerful tool in encouraging and facilitating desired behavioural change. The aim of this thesis was to assess the innovative use of a household diary approach as a means of framing and collecting household environmental data, and, critically, as an educational vehicle for bringing about behavioural change, a key target of Defra and Scottish Government policy. In much the same way as we learn a language by writing it down, or as students, learn a topic by studying it, the household diary, which facilitates the recording and writing down of behaviours, presented a powerful avenue for learning about pro-environmental behaviours undertaken within households. The diary encouraged householders to question the unquestioned, invoking double-loop-learning or discursive consciousness. Developing these findings in the context of theories of action or change, it was clear that the potential to empower householders by allowing them to better grasp their environmental impact and as a consequence, recoup positive financial savings and health benefits, was great.

A Thermal loss occurs when energy is consumed and work is done by a system. The use of ElectricalAppliances in households consumes energy and causes Thermal loss which gets dissipated to itssurrounding surfaces. Harnessing these losses by using principles like Cogeneration or CombinedHeat and Power (CHP) would result in the development of new energy techniques and provide asecure and decentralized supply of Energy to the Built Environment. This study aimed at assessing theaverage Thermal losses occurring from the use of Electrical appliances in Indian households. For thepurposes of this study, a middle-class neighborhood in the capital city of Hyderabad, in the southernstate of Andhra Pradesh, India was chosen where there is an increased demand and usage ofElectricity. The method for this study was centered on a systems based approach and made use of theFourier’s Law of Conduction. As a primary step towards this study, a survey was conducted among100 dwellings with the objective of determining the, average number of people living in thehousehold, their age, total area of the household, common materials used in construction, type ofappliances which consume electricity and the average monthly consumption of electricity. As asecondary step, the data obtained from the survey was used to construct a computer based simulationmodel using PowerSim and the Fourier’s Law of Heat conduction. This computer model emulated thesystems based approach by considering the surrounding Wall & Ceiling surfaces, Floors, Window &Door surfaces as detached systems. The study revealed that of the 175kW of electricity consumed per month, 32% was dissipated tosurrounding surfaces as Thermal energy which could be harnessed for other forms of RenewableEnergy like Electricity. This would contribute to India’s efforts towards Sustainable Development andmake the households of the country a part of an energy-inclusive society by mitigating CO2 emissions.

This study examines ecotourism as a form of sustainable development in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. Tourism is one of the world’s largest industries, with ecotourism being one of the fastest growing sectors. Ecotourism can provide a superior and sustainable alternative to traditional, resource dependent industries that are prevalent in developing countries. This research offers a multi-disciplinary perspective incorporating economic, environmental and social issues surrounding the implementation of an ecotourism industry. A framework for sustainable ecotourism development is created using indicators developed by the World Tourism Organization. This framework is applied to three case studies within the Eastern Cape. The case studies demonstrate both common and uniqe opportunities and challeges for ecotourism development throughout the Eastern Cape. The end result of this project is to create a better understanding of the tourism-environment relationship, and to explore how ecotourism, and more specifically backpacking, can contribute to sustainable development. This study contributes to the literature on the use of indicators in ecotourism. A framework of indicators for sustainable ecotourism represents the final product of this research. This framework can be used by local governments and organizations to aid in the planning and management of ecotourism both in South Africa and other developing nations, and lead to improvements in both the physical and social environments. / Thesis (Master, Environmental Studies) -- Queen's University, 2009-09-22 15:44:02.927

<p>Despite some gains in economic reforms and international commitments, Ethiopia still maintains the position of one of the poorest countries in the world in the 21st century with very little power to influence the allocation of reources in the world market. The development problems in many of the sub-saharan regions are confined within the countyry including the difficulty to keep up with rapid increase in the number of primary school enrollments, which has led to a situation of compromised quality / high child mortality and HIV/AIDS, which poses additional challenges to the poor health facilities, gender and regional inequalities and sustainable debt burden. Making matters worse, Ethiopia's political instability, civil war, recurring of drought, and economic mismanagement ties the country to a severe poverty cycle.. Ethiopia has made important economic, social and political reforms with the support of the World bank and other multilateral institutions, to pave the way for the country to face the challenges posed by globalization. However, these reforms have not been sustained by effective implementation. The response to overcome the problemshas also been slow to see rapid growth. In this research paper, the writer explores the challenges regarding Ethiopia's poverty from perspective of the World Bank. The research examines the theoretical and conceptual underpinning of the World Bank's general mandate and objectives on poverty reduction, using Ethiopia as acase study.</p>

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