Suchergebnisse

Comunicação apresentada no World Congress of Environmental and Resource Economists 4th Edition, Montréal, Canada, 2010 ; The present paper is the first to simultaneously include rules and parameters that try to parallel the EU ETS in the laboratory. To study the adequacy of the institution chosen for the EU ETS is our goal as well as testing the impact of changing the initial allocation rule: auctioning instead of grandfathering, in two different experimental treatments. The use of auctions as a rule for the initial allocation method for CO2 emission permits, in the next stages of the EU ETS (European Union Emissions Trading Scheme) is a subject the European Commission and its Member-States are currently discussing and evaluating. This paper is the first to experimentally test the Ausubel (2004) auction for the case of CO2 emission permits in the EU ETS, a theoretically efficient dynamic design for multiple units with results equivalent to the Vickrey auction. Our experimental results suggest that the Ausubel auction does not allocate CO2 emission permits efficiently but at the end total abatement cost minimization is still achieved in the auctioning treatment. The importance of the secondary market, and its functioning rules, is highlighted in this experimental treatment. Moreover, we conclude efficiency is the same whether emission permits are initially auctioned or grandfathered. ; info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

Global warming is a major issue on international political agendas regardless of the uncertainties and divergences still remaining on the real dimension of the problem. Scientific community disagreement on its true consequences for human life is even bigger but public opinion urges for action. Anthropogenic greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions became the target and its mitigation compulsory, as they are pointed as key responsible for the sudden and severe global climate change we are facing. Therefore, to choose the best policy instrument to achieve this environmental goal while minimizing the consequences for economies competitiveness is a crucial task (.) ; info:eu-repo/semantics/draft

The effectiveness of environmental regulation can be viewed as conditioned by the action of two main agents: regulated firms and public agency. Using a questionnaire on the pulp and paper industry in Portugal, this article finds that firms' decision to comply with environmental regulations is strongly influenced by firms' information on its legal obligations; this effect is stronger for smaller firms. Moreover larger/younger firms are less likely to comply with environmental regulations than smaller/older firms. Regarding the public agency's behavior, the authors find that greater monitoring efforts are directed toward larger/younger firms and toward those firms most likely to cause higher pollution levels. (JEL K32, Q28)

The Millennium Development Goals and the 17 Global Goals for Sustainability Development have been acting as a global and inclusive framework for the implementation of a new and sustainable development model (United Nations, 2015). Higher Education Institutions (HEI) are a privileged space for the analysis of the necessary conditions for a sustainable future, and can represent a crucial role in providing the theory and practice of sustainability, by reducing their own impacts (UNEP, 2013) and extending their engagement to the activities that support and extend teaching and research: i) the management of campi and operations; ii) campus planning, design, construction and rehabilitation of buildings and infrastructures; iii) purchasing practices; iv) mobility and v) involvement with the community (Leal Filho et al., 2015). But, HEI face important sustainability challenges over resource use, being Energy one of the most significant. This paper focus on the energy consumption, and associated indicators, over a 10-year period, in a HEI in Portugal. Although literature on sustainable consumption of energy in HEI is not abundant, two studies stand out, Altan (2010) and Lo (2013). Altan (2010) analyse the energy efficiency of several types of interventions (technical, non-technical and management) in UK HEI, while Lo (2013) does a similar study for eight Chinese HEI, stressing the role played by stakeholders, such as administrators, governmental agencies, networks, students and non-governmental organizations. This paper adds to this literature by enriching benchmark data on: energy consumption in HEI, the efficiency of technical, non-technical and management energy interventions, and by providing evidence of the need for the development of new indicators in a context of continuous and rapid change of future demands for higher ...

Poverty and hunger, a contemporary story analyzes poverty and hunger, current problems seen in a space-time dimension, bringing together multidisciplinary approaches from 29 researchers from the IHC and other research centers.

Considering political, economic, social, cultural and environmental dimensions, it aims to stimulate critical thinking about environmental degradation, inequality and social discrimination, while also considering issues such as racism, the over-exploitation of humans and non-humans, gender issues, pollution and climate change.

Published within the scope of the current programmatic project of the IHC and organized in three parts, this work identifies and reviews some of the most relevant themes for an understanding of the phenomena of poverty and hunger in contemporary Portugal. - Pobreza e fome, uma história contemporânea analisa a pobreza e a fome, problemas atuais olhados numa dimensão espácio-temporal, reunindo abordagens pluridisciplinares de 29 investigadores do IHC e de outros centros de investigação.

Considerando dimensões políticas, económicas, sociais, culturais e ambientais, ele visa estimular o pensamento crítico sobre a degradação ambiental, a desigualdade e a discriminação social, ao mesmo tempo considerando questões como o racismo, a sobre‑exploração de humanos e não‑humanos, as questões de género, a poluição e as alterações climáticas.

Publicada no âmbito do atual projeto programático do IHC e organizada em três partes, esta obra identifica e revê alguns dos temas mais relevantes para uma compreensão dos fenómenos da pobreza e da fome no Portugal contemporâneo.

SFRH/BPD/72225/2010 UID/HIS/04209/2013 ; This book is the product of the 2nd World Conference on Environmental History, held in Guimarães, Portugal, in 2014. It gathers works by authors from the five continents, addressing concerns raised by past events so as to provide information to help manage the present and the future. It reveals how our cultural background and examples of past territorial intervention can help to combat political and cultural limitations through the common language of environmental benefits without disguising harmful past human interventions. Considering that political ideologies such as socialism and capitalism, as well as religion, fail to offer global paradigms for common ground, an environmentally positive discourse instead of an ecological determinism might serve as an umbrella common language to overcome blocking factors, real or invented, and avoid repeating ecological loss. Therefore, agency, environmental speech and historical research are urgently needed in order to sustain environmental paradigms and overcome political, cultural an economic interests in the public arena. This book intertwines reflections on our bonds with landscapes, processes of natural and scientific transfer across the globe, the changing of ecosystems, the way in which scientific knowledge has historically both accelerated destruction and allowed a better distribution of vital resources or as it, in today's world, can offer alternatives that avoid harming those same vital natural resources: water, soil and air. In addition, it shows the relevance of cultural factors both in the taming of nature in favor of human comfort and in the role of the environment matters in the forging of cultural identities, which cannot be detached from technical intervention in the world. In short, the book firstly studies the past, approaching it as a data set of how the environment has shaped culture, secondly seeks to understand the present, and thirdly assesses future perspectives: what to keep, what to change, and what to dream anew, considering that conventional solutions have not sufficed to protect life on our planet. ; publishersversion ; published

SFRH/BPD/72225/2010 UID/HIS/04209/2013 ; This book is the product of the 2nd World Conference on Environmental History, held in Guimarães, Portugal, in 2014. It gathers works by authors from the five continents, addressing concerns raised by past events so as to provide information to help manage the present and the future. It reveals how our cultural background and examples of past territorial intervention can help to combat political and cultural limitations through the common language of environmental benefits without disguising harmful past human interventions. Considering that political ideologies such as socialism and capitalism, as well as religion, fail to offer global paradigms for common ground, an environmentally positive discourse instead of an ecological determinism might serve as an umbrella common language to overcome blocking factors, real or invented, and avoid repeating ecological loss. Therefore, agency, environmental speech and historical research are urgently needed in order to sustain environmental paradigms and overcome political, cultural an economic interests in the public arena. This book intertwines reflections on our bonds with landscapes, processes of natural and scientific transfer across the globe, the changing of ecosystems, the way in which scientific knowledge has historically both accelerated destruction and allowed a better distribution of vital resources or as it, in today's world, can offer alternatives that avoid harming those same vital natural resources: water, soil and air. In addition, it shows the relevance of cultural factors both in the taming of nature in favor of human comfort and in the role of the environment matters in the forging of cultural identities, which cannot be detached from technical intervention in the world. In short, the book firstly studies the past, approaching it as a data set of how the environment has shaped culture, secondly seeks to understand the present, and thirdly assesses future perspectives: what to keep, what to change, and what to dream anew, considering that conventional solutions have not sufficed to protect life on our planet. ; publishersversion ; published

This study analyzes public attitudes towards environmental tobacco smoking (ETS) risks. ETS legislation and smoking behaviors using recent data from Special Eurobarometer 272 that is a unique database on public perception of ETS. Some major conclusions are drawn: (1) both smokers and non-smokers are aware of health consequences from ETS, (2) moderate and heavy smokers tend to be less concerned with seriousness of the health consequences, (3) that the belief that ETS increases the risk of a serious disease decreases the probability of being smoker, (4)ETS beliefs do not affect the quitting decision, (5) those who smoke at home appear to be aware of health consequences of ETS, (6) ETS health risk beliefs is negatively associated with the number of cigarette consumed. ; Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia ...

Demanding EU targets for renewables create challenges for governmental decisions regarding energy sources and plant sitting. In this study we explore perceptions of the Portuguese general population regarding renewable energy power plants. In particular we study how these are affected by dimensions such as home distance to the power plant and its visibility, familiarity with the different energy sources, involvement in terms of employment, and socioeconomic characteristics. We find considerable differences in perception depending on familiarity and involvement with energy sources, environmental friendliness, and specific environmental impacts. Assessment of public perceptions of renewables should thus include these different dimensions. ; The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support from FCT Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia with Grant Number ...

Research on the health status and on socio-economic inequality in the health status of Portuguese adults with 50 years of age or more is scarce, but urgent, so that policy-makers can better understand the type of burdens that this ageing process will place on social welfare policies. We use data from the Survey of Health Ageing and Retirement in Europe Wave 6 to investigate the role of gender, income and education in self-reported health status and in morbidity amongst adults aged 50+ in Portugal by means of a multivariate analysis. Results from this exploratory study reveal a negative self-perception of health status amongst older individuals; high prevalence of chronic diseases since an earlier age; high levels of depression problems reported by women; and high disability amongst the oldest old. The results also show a prevalence of chronic diseases, mental health problems, and high disability, which will challenge the Portuguese social welfare system in terms of long-term care and pensions, and will additionally require an adequate (re)organization of the healthcare supply to older adults. Furthermore, the evidence calls for a gendered perspective of health and social policy in Portugal, particularly concerning mental health.