Climate change is the worst long-term security issue humans has ever faced. The discourse around the problems and solutions connected to it are predominantly coming from the Global North. On the other hand, it is the Global South who are experiencing the impacts of a changing climate, in the form of floods, droughts, heatwaves, and lack of food, water, and energy. This asymmetrical relationship has rendered the Global South the vulnerable subjects in the current governmentality regime of climate change. Through a governmental lens, this paper analyses the similarities and differences in how climate change as a security and IR issue is problematized, and especially what solutions are seen as viable, across and between the North-South divide. This understudied relationship and its implications, is in this paper exposed and tackled. It shows that the Global North are slowly shifting the responsibility of coping with climate change away from the large GHG emitters, and on to the individuals in the Global South that are worst affected by the consequences of a changing climate. The recently updated NDCs within the Paris agreement supports this view and make up a key part of this paper.

The private sector has an increasingly important role in limiting the temperature rise to below the crucial 1.5°C of the Paris Agreement. In order to assess how well a portfolio is aligned to the goals of the Paris Agreement, benchmarks need be used. The creation of benchmarks is complex and varying methodologies with associated opinions exist. The purpose of this thesis is to examine two different approaches for creating benchmarks; Single scenario and Warming function. The usability of the benchmarks is examined from the perspective of a financial institution. The methodology is based on a literature review of earlier research. Using empirical data the different methods are tested in a smaller Case study and on a larger data set. The results give insights in different advantages and disadvantages of the methods. Using a Single scenario approach allows for a more granular analysis, however it is criticized for being misleading as the result is easily manipulated. The Warming function is less granular, as almost all companies in the empirical data are assessed against the same benchmark - creating unfair results for companies active in sectors with different demands on emission reduction. In order to gain sectoral granularity the Warming function methodology need to be investigated further. By lowering the demands on the final benchmarks, the adaptation to different sectors can increase inthe Warming function approach. / Den privata sektorn har en växande roll i kampen för att begränsa den globala uppvärmningen till Parisavtalets kritiska gräns på 1,5°C. För att utvärdera hur väl ett företag presterar klimatmässigt jämfört med kraven i Parisavtalet behövs jämförelsemått. Skapandet av jämförelsemått är komplext och en mängd olika metodologier existerar med olika grader av popularitet. Syftet med denna uppsats är att undersöka två olika tillvägagångssätt för att skapa jämförelsemått; Single scenario och Warming function. Användarbarheten av metodologierna utvärderas från perspektivet av en finansiell institution. Metodologin baseras på en litteraturstudie av tidigare undersökningar. Warming function och Single scenario utvärderas i en mindre fallstudie och i tester på ett större data set med hjälp av empiriska data. Resultatet ger insikter i olika för- och nackdelar med metoderna. Att använda Single scenario tillåter en mer granulär analys, dock kritiseras denna metod för att vara missledande då de slutgiltiga resultaten är enkla att manipulera. Warming functio när mindre granulär då de flesta företagen utvärderas mot samma jämförelsemått vilket skapar orättvisa resultat för företag som är aktiva i sektorer med olika höga krav på utsläppsminskning. För att öka granulariteten måste metodologin för Warming function undersökas djupare. Genom att sänka kraven på de slutgiltiga jämförelsemåtten kan sektoranpassade jämförelsemått öka i Warming function.

<p dir="ltr">This thesis investigated the international trade dynamics of wood pellets within the context of renewable energy transitions amid climate change concerns. In the first chapter, by employing gravity models with different estimators and specifications, we analyzed the determinants of trade flows of wood pellets. Additionally, we forecasted the future trade values of wood pellets under five shared socioeconomic pathways (SSP) scenarios. Our results showed the effects of some factors such as GDP of exporters, contiguity, and the distance between the two trading countries, were consistent with the economic theory. On the other hand, some other factors exhibited unexpected effects or conflicting results across the models. Regarding projections under five SSP scenarios, our results indicated substantial growth in trade flows, although potential overestimations are acknowledged due to the imposed assumptions. SSP3, which reflects a nationalistic scenario, is projected to have the smallest trade flows, while SSP5 anticipates the highest trade flows due to diminishing inequality and high GDP growth. Also, regional shifts in trade patterns were forecasted, with East Asia and Southeast Asia gaining prominence in imports and exports, respectively. Conversely, Europe’s imports and exports as well as North America’s exports are expected to decrease their shares in the global trade. Overall, our findings emphasize the complexity of trade determinants and underscore the need for nuanced forecasting methodologies to anticipate future trade dynamics accurately amidst evolving global scenarios of wood pellet trade.</p><p dir="ltr">The second chapter evaluated the effects of the Paris Agreement on the international trade of wood pellets. The growing concern about climate change has encouraged the global communities to take actions toward climate-change mitigation. As a form of such efforts, the Paris Agreement was signed in 2015 by 196 parties around the world and went into force in 2016. As a means to mitigate climate change, wood pellets have been used as fuels alternative to fossil fuels. Traditionally, Europe was the primary importer of wood pellets, mostly sourced from the United States and Canada. In the last decade, there has also been a significant uptake in East Asia, indicating shifting trade patterns and market dynamics in the wood pellet industry. This study employed an event-study framework to analyze the impact of the Paris Agreement on the global trade of wood pellets from 2014 to 2019, using import and export data at the regional level. Our results revealed distinct patterns in responses to the Paris Agreement in terms of adjustment speed and magnitude. Europe exhibited a rapid increase in both imports and exports immediately after the Paris Agreement. East Asia demonstrated a delayed yet substantial rise in imports, particularly after 2018. North America also swiftly expanded exports, following the agreement, while Southeast Asia emerged as an important exporter, particularly in supporting the East Asian market from 2017 onwards. We also found an increase in exports of non-pellet wood fuels from Africa. This finding indicates that international climate agreements not only contribute to the overall expansion of the global market of wood pellets but also reshape the market by involving more countries in international efforts to mitigate climate change.</p>

The Swedish government is legally obliged to conduct climate policy work that will protect nature and humanity from the harmful effects of climate change. Obligations related to the environment arise under Swedish domestic law, European law and international law. This thesis investigates the possibilities for the Swedish public to initiate climate change litigation against the Swedish government due to insufficient climate actions. I examine three climate change litigation approaches from selected jurisdictions, including Germany, the Netherlands, Norway and the United Kingdom. By transposing the three litigation approaches into the Swedish legal order I seek to discuss the possibilities for the public to challenge the Swedish state's responsibility in climate matters. This thesis claims that the possibilities for the concerned public to address climate change are restricted. International obligations derived from the European Convention on Human Rights and the Aarhus Convention have given individuals substantive rights and procedural rights in matters related to the environment. However, the implementation of the international obligations are not always enshrined in the national law.

The first chapter of this thesis discusses the recent development of climate change law. It explores the reason as to why it is at the centre of a global debate, which is predominantly due the increasingly pronounced consequences of climatic changes on human society and the environment. Furthermore, it describes the most important requirements in tackling the issues presented by international climate change treaties. This includes the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, acting as a base for the whole international climate change regime, the Kyoto Protocol as a legal tool with specified emission targets and most recently, the Paris Agreement, which serves as an independent international treaty however is still under the guidance of the framework convention. The author predicts that the Paris Agreement will determine the future direction of this legal field and therefore puts particular focus on this treaty in the first chapter of the thesis. The paper aims to uncover its weaknesses - questioning the enforceability of some of the measures that rely on the autonomy of states to implement and the lack of ambition in some of its targets. The second chapter expands on one of the key issues related to the main topic. The author emphasizes how the importance of environmentally friendly...

This Master Thesis deals with the issue of transition to low-carbon energy in the European Union, with an example of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The topic is divided into three parts. Firstly, the energy sector in the EU is described in the context of environmental targets, institutional framework, international Paris agreement and electricity price factors. Secondly, the British concept of transition to low-carbon energy is described, following a similar line from the first chapter. Last but not least, the third section uses the data and information provided in the first two sections to create a complex picture. Compatibility of the British concept with the EU policies is discussed, furthermore the meaning of Paris agreement for the British model is described, then the consequences of the British concept on the electricity prices are shown, finally the challenges for the British energy sector are considered. The main contribution of this thesis is statistical comparison of energy in the EU and UK and finding the connection between international events (Paris agreement), regional priorities (EU), national political representation and national interest groups in terms of creating energy policy in the UK.

På grund av de ökade utsläppen av växthusgaser, och att forskare angett klimatförändringar som en av de mest kritiska miljöfrågor människan stött på, har frågan kring utsläpp av växthusgaser blivit ett högaktuellt ämne. År 2016 trädde Parisavtalet i kraft med syfte till att stärka de globala åtgärderna mot klimatförändringar, och hittills har 189 länder skrivit på avtalet. Med anledning av klimatförändringarna och Parisavtalet har denna studie på hur företagsledningen arbetar strategiskt med frågor för att minska utsläpp av växthusgaser på ett fallföretag genomförts. För att kunna besvara studiens frågeställningar har en fallstudie genomförts på ett moderbolag i en koncern som arbetar med tillverkning och försäljning. Data samlades in genom enkäter och telefonintervjuer med totalt sex personer i fallföretagets ledningsgrupp och andra nyckelpersoner på och kring företaget. Litteraturstudier har också genomförts för att samla in tidigare forskning relaterat till ämnet. Enkäterna och intervjuerna har gett en insyn kring hur fallföretaget arbetar med miljö och hållbarhetsfrågor på företaget och i koncernen. Något som har identifierats som ett hinder för företaget är dess fokus på hög tillväxt, vilket har lett till att miljö- och hållbarhetsfrågor har varit lågt prioriterade. Det har även till viss del setts som problematiskt av respondenterna att det inte finns en dedikerad person som arbetar aktivt med dessa frågor på företaget. I studien har teori ställts mot resultatet för att kunna se vilka hinder, utmaningar och möjligheter ett företag har när det kommer till att arbeta strategiskt för att minska utsläppen av växthusgaser. Det ges en bild av hur Parisavtalet och andra klimatpolitiska åtgärder kan påverka företag. En visuell modell presenteras som visar sambandet mellan ny miljöreglering, innovation samt information och medvetenhet. Modellen beskriver en pågående process där företag, genom att arbeta med innovation, kan sprida information kring ny teknik och öka medvetenheten om de möjligheter som finns. En spridning av information och ökad medvetenheten kan motivera och underlätta införandet nya miljöregleringar, vilket i sin tur kan främja arbetet med innovation. Det har även tagits fram konkreta förslag på hur företag ska kunna arbeta för att minska utsläppen av växthusgaser genom ett miljöledningssystem, miljöbedömningar, produktutveckling, innovation och Supply chain management. / Due to the increased emissions of greenhouse gases, and the fact that researchers have identified climate change as one of the most critical environmental issues man has encountered, the subject of greenhouse gas emissions has become highly topical. In 2016, the Paris Agreement came into force with the aim of strengthening global measures against climate change, and so far 189 countries have signed the agreement. Due to climate change and the Paris Agreement, this study on how corporate management works strategically with issues to reduce greenhouse gas emissions on a case company has been conducted. To answer the study's questions, a case study has been conducted at a parent company in a group that works with manufacturing and sales. Data was collected through surveys and telephone interviews with a total of six people in the case company's management group and other key people in and around the company. Literature studies have also been conducted to collect previous research related to the subject. The surveys and interviews have provided an insight into how the case company works with environmental and sustainability issues at the company and in the group. Something that has been identified as an obstacle to the company is its focus on high growth, which has resulted in environmental and sustainability issues getting a low priority. It has also, to some extent, been seen as problematic by the respondents that there is not a dedicated person working actively with these issues at the company. In the study, theory was set against the results to be able to see what obstacles, challenges and opportunities a company has when it comes to working strategically to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. An image has been given of how the Paris Agreement and other climate policy measures can affect companies. A visual model has been presented that shows the connection between new environmental regulation, innovation and information and awareness. The model describes an ongoing process in which companies, by working with innovation, can disseminate information about new technologies and raise awareness of the opportunities that exist. The dissemination of information and increased awareness can motivate and facilitate the introduction of new environmental regulations, which in turn can promote the work on innovation. Concrete proposals have also been made on how companies can work to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through an environmental management system, environmental assessments, product development, innovation and Supply chain management.

At the end of 2016, the Swedish petroleum and biofuel company Preem applied for an environmental permit to convert high-sulfur bunker oil to low-sulfur petrol and diesel at Preemraff Lysekil. Something that required an expansion of the refinery. The process ended abruptly in September 2020 when Preem chose to withdraw their application. In connection with the process, two actor coalitions were formed, with one being for an expansion and the other against. Both coalitions had the explicit goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and preventing climate change. The difference, however, was their view on whether this could be achieved thanks to an expansion of Preemraff Lysekil, or if it could only happen without it. Through their actions the coalitions have tried to influence the policy process in a direction that is desirable for them. This study aims to systematically map the coalitions and their actions and contribute to a deeper understanding of their actions and impact on the process of the planned expansion project of Preemraff Lysekil. The study is designed as a qualitative case study and is based on The Advocacy Coalition Framework (ACF), which can be used to explain and understand beliefs and policy change when multiple actors are involved in a policy process. According to the ACF, actors who share similar policy core beliefs come together in coalitions to increase the chances of policy change. The study also uses urban regime theory to understand the informal and unspoken agenda between Preemraff Lysekil and Lysekil municipality. The results from previous research show several common denominators with the Preemraff Lysekil case. The analysis shows that the actors who were against an expansion had similar deep core beliefs and consistent policy core beliefs, they also had a consensus on how the policy change should be implemented. They have tried to influence the process by appealing court decisions and tried to get the Swedish government to take over the assessment of the application, which also happened. The analysis shows that the actors who were in favor of an expansion had more dispersed deep core beliefs but were consistent in their policy core beliefs and secondary beliefs. They have made attempts to stop the government from taking over the case from the court. As these attempts have been unsuccessful, they instead tried to get the government to allow an expansion. By using different forms of resources, both coalitions have tried to get the public and decision-makers to support their own proposal for policy change, with varying results. What ultimately led Preem to withdraw the application is not clarified. Maybe the pressure from those who were against an expansion became too powerful, maybe the COVID-19 pandemic left such a big mark on international production chains and the global market that an expansion was no longer profitable. There is also a possibility that Preem's decision is based on both parts, but we will probably never know.

Peut-on contraindre un État à sauver l'environnement? Si les récents jugements rendus en droit interne semblent vouloir répondre à cette question par l'affirmative, cela n'est pas évident en droit international. Érigée autour de ce plafond de verre hérité du traité de Westhphalie, la sphère juridique internationaliste se voit confrontée aux limites qu'elle s'est elle-même imposée : l'impossibilité de contraindre un État à agir contre sa volonté. Dans le but de brider les actions de ces entités supranationalement toutes puissantes dans leur propre domaine de compétence, maintes conventions environnementales ont été conclues. Au sein d'un processus de fabrication normatif contrôlé par le sujet et l'auteur de la disposition à venir, les organisations internationales se rendent compte de leur impuissance devant la difficulté de convenir d'une surveillance intrusive et de sanctions rigides, en somme d'un mécanisme de contrôle des obligations efficace. La surpuissance de l'État n'est pas pour autant synonyme d'invincibilité sur la scène internationale, en ce que divers moyens ne cessent d'apparaître dans l'optique de mener à une gouvernance environnementale mondiale désirée depuis des décennies. / Can we compel a State to save the environment? Whereas recents judgements made in domestic law seems to want to answer to this question in an affirmative way, it is not as clear in international law. Erected around the Westhpalian-inherited glass ceilling, the international legal sphere is confronted to limits that were self-imposed : the impossibilty to constrain a State to act against its will. In an attempt to restrain the acts of those supranational all-mighty entities in their competencies, many environnemental agreements were made. Inside a process of manufacturing new norms that is controled by the subject and the author of the future provision, the international organizations are aware of the fact that they are powerless. Especially regarding the difficulty to strike a intrusive surveillance or rigid sanctions, in sum anything that is included in an effective compliance mechanism. The State's supreme power is not tied with an invincibility on the international scene, as diverses means to lead to global environnemental governance are starting to emerge.

The United Nations climate change conferences are the utmost platform for climate change negotiations and are convened under an international treaty known as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The causes of greenhouse gas emissions are deeply embedded in the economic and social activity on a global scale and yet, developing countries are expected to evolve into developed countries without straining the environment further. Knowledge of the interest of the participants at the COP is limited since no other research projects have measured it quantitively and at a large scale. This thesis aims to examine the professional interest in adaptation of delegates to the UNFCCC relative to other issue areas (mitigation and financing) and if there has been a shift in focus pre- and post-Paris Agreement. This thesis uses quantitative survey data gathered by The International Negotiations Survey (INS) together with two external indexes and data regarding CO2 emissions per capita for each country. While the chosen indexes to some extent overlap, they both contribute to the analysis by allowing to (1) measure the economic and social development of a country (HDI), (2) measure a country´s vulnerability to climate change (ND-GAIN). The results in this thesis show that there is a difference in interest among respondents that represent different HDI-categories. Results show that when comparing interest in adaptation to the external indexes, the more vulnerable a country is to the effects of climate change according to their ND-GAIN score the more interested their delegates are in adaptation. The results also indicate that respondents that represent countries that are most capable of addressing the effects of climate change show the least interest in doing so.