Sebastian Thomas | Curtin University (original) (raw)

Papers by Sebastian Thomas

The oceans are facing greater pressures now than at any other time in human history. Marine prote... more The oceans are facing greater pressures now than at any other time in human history. Marine protected areas (MPAs), nested within a wider approach of ecosystem-based management, have consistently emerged as one of the most important tools in halting the oceans’ decline and promoting their recovery. The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Aichi Target 11 calls for at least 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas to be conserved through effectively and equitably managed, ecologically representative and well connected systems of protected areas by 2020; unfortunately, most of the Parties are not on track to meet this commitment. To contribute to this effort, this paper details six strategies that can accelerate MPA establishment and create resilient MPA management models around the world. These strategies (build public-private partnerships to change how MPAs are designed and financed; strengthen links between MPAs, local communities and livelihood needs; manage MPAs to enhance car...

Remote Sensing Applications: Society and Environment, 2021

Abstract Mangrove forests play a crucial role in the carbon cycle and mitigate climate change by ... more Abstract Mangrove forests play a crucial role in the carbon cycle and mitigate climate change by reducing carbon dioxide emissions. However, mangrove ecosystems have declined dramatically in most regions due to natural and human factors, resulting in the release of substantial amounts of carbon dioxide. ‘Blue carbon’ conservation and restoration initiatives seek to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and support adaptation in mangrove areas. Various methods are employed to estimate, map, and monitor the extent and dynamics of mangrove biomass and carbon stocks, and these play a critical role in sustainable management and the climate policy and market instruments which can provide financial support for ecosystem conservation and restoration. This paper presents a comprehensive review of different mapping and monitoring methods applied from 2010 to 2020 for carbon stocks in mangrove forests, and highlights the limitations of previous studies. Destructive sampling, use of allometric equations, and remote sensing technologies are described and assessed. Passive and active sensors at various spatial resolutions (1 m–30 m), and supervised and unsupervised classification methods, are discussed. A novel aspect of this paper is the assessment of monitoring methods and the uncertainty of carbon stock estimation in mangrove forests. The study discusses the advantages and drawbacks of existing methods for mangrove carbon stock measurement and provides recommendations for effective application of blue carbon studies in global markets.

Journal of Political Ecology, 2011

Climate change and the emerging carbon-constrained economy of the 21st Century present new challe... more Climate change and the emerging carbon-constrained economy of the 21st Century present new challenges and opportunities for countries of the Middle East and North Africa. This paper discusses the potential for Libya to participate in the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), the main flexibility mechanism of the Kyoto Protocol, which is designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote sustainable development. The paper considers the interaction of Libya's history and socio-cultural characteristics with global policy dynamics and economic forces. Libya's geography presents considerable potential in terms of CDM project opportunities, yet key developments would be required before these could be exploited. The nature of Libya's political system and social structures suggest that these developments are unlikely to occur while the Qadhafi regime endures, and therefore that Libya will not be able to engage successfully with the CDM and international mitigation activities i...

Annals of Tropical Research, 2011

In this introduction to the Annals of Tropical Research special issue on natural resource based c... more In this introduction to the Annals of Tropical Research special issue on natural resource based carbon offsets a framework is provided for describing the architecture of global climate policy instruments and market mechanisms, and the relationships between these components of the international climate change mitigation and adaptation landscape is discussed. The principal constraints and enabling factors for natural resource based offset projects are identified as issues of capacity, finance, governance and regulation. These concerns provide the rationale for a proposed research agenda, comprising conceptual research and capacity building, both of which can be enacted through the implementation of pilot project activities.

Annals of Tropical Research, 2011

This article examines reasons for the lack of Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) projects register... more This article examines reasons for the lack of Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) projects registered in Pacific Island Countries (only two of the 1699 projects registered as of 1 July 2009 were located in such countries) and assesses the potential for new project development in the region. Two groupings of CDM projects are analyzed. First, features of the eight CDM projects located in Small Island Developing States and Territories that were registered as of 1 July 2009 are examined to identify what factors have characterized successfully registered CDM projects. (No new projects have been registered in SIDS since this date, although there are more projects currently being validated.) Second, the 122 agricultural-based CDM projects registered as of 1 July 2009 are analyzed to consider how agricultural and bioenergy projects – which seem the most suitable form of CDM projects for the Pacific Islands region – can be best developed in the region. Analysis reveals that agricultural CDM pr...

Annals of Tropical Research, 2011

The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) is the principal source of carbon offsets in the global mar... more The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) is the principal source of carbon offsets in the global market, and is intended to be a key driver of sustainable development and technical transformation in developing countries. The distribution of CDM projects by country has been skewed, with over 75% of registered projects having taken place in just four countries, namely China, India, Brazil and Mexico. A change in this pattern of development may be occurring, however, as smaller developing countries become increasingly active in the carbon market. An example of this is the rapid rise in the number of CDM projects based in Vietnam since early 2009. This paper investigates factors contributing to the growth of CDM projects in Vietnam and describes some of the key features of the projects that have been developed. Hydropower projects are found to dominate new CDM project development in Vietnam. It is suggested that CDM project development in Vietnam may be a tool to support domestic energy se...

Nature Precedings, 2010

Carbon offset projects in developing countries are one of the principal mechanisms designed to re... more Carbon offset projects in developing countries are one of the principal mechanisms designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote sustainable development yet have critical limitations in both areas. Here we present a framework for categorizing carbon offset projects according to four general approaches to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions: (1) efficiency ('Brown'); innovation ('Red'), terrestrial sequestration ('Green') or sequestration in aquatic environments ('Blue'). Analysis of the 6109 CDM projects currently in the CDM "pipeline" reveals that 99% are Brown or Red, and only 1% are Green or Blue, yet Green and Blue projects typically offer a far greater range of benefits for ecosystems and society. The analysis concludes that the designers of emissions trading schemes should endorse Green and Blue offset projects as preferred forms of emissions offsetting, and that firms using offsets for compliance purposes be required t...

Journal of Cleaner Production, 2018

The subjectivity, complexity, and often competing interests of sustainable development have limit... more The subjectivity, complexity, and often competing interests of sustainable development have limited the effectiveness of integrating these important ideas into mainstream business strategy. With the adoption of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in January 2016, there are now global sustainability benchmarks that apply across diverse sectors and national contexts, allowing public and private organizations to orient and evaluate their activities, strategies, and business outcomes. However, it is not directly apparent where the advantage for business lies in pursuit of these actions within the prevailing economic paradigm, highlighting the need for new analytical frameworks and tools. Industrial ecology (IE) has been successfully used in engineering practice for decades and has been suggested as a method that can provide the concepts and methods necessary to bridge the gap between traditional business practice and sustainable development. To test this, literature bridging the fields of industrial ecology, business strategy, and sustainable development was collected and analyzed using the textual analysis software Leximancer TM. The analysis showed that while the SDGs are primarily aimed at the national level, they also hold relevance for business through innovation, partnerships, and strategic positioning, inter alia. The analysis found that the integration of IE and business strategy is highly relevant for three of the SDGs, but captures elements of all 17 to varying degrees. IE has a strong focus on innovation and its potential in new markets, products, and business models. IE is also consciously aimed at the efficient use of energy and resources, ideas that are relevant to mitigating, adapting, and building resilience in a changing future, but are also relevant to traditional concepts of business strategy and competitive advantage. This paper shows that through the combination of IE and strategic management theory, commercial organizations can positively contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals while building competitive advantage. Highlights • Systematic review of literature with a thematic and conceptual analysis using Leximancer™. • Industrial ecology principles are shown to lead to competitive advantage in line with Sustainable Development Goals. • The study establishes a baseline for quantitative analysis of the strategic benefits of IE principles.

Energy Research & Social Science, 2018

Energy transition is often described as the shift from deterritorialised models developed in tand... more Energy transition is often described as the shift from deterritorialised models developed in tandem with the rise of capitalism towards a paradigm based on small-scale infrastructures and short supply chains. In this new paradigm the local dimension is pivotal. This paper takes a self-reflective stance on situated research conducted with local communities in Italy, Indonesia and Australia. The three rural communities are characterised by community ownership of energy production sites (past, current, and future ownership respectively), and by the copresence of alternative visions of energy sustainability among the locals. Drawing on the research experiences the paper reflects on the interrelated methodological, epistemological, and practical challenges encountered. Immersive and participatory approaches enabled the research teams to avoid prescriptive approach to the research, to access local understandings of energy and sustainability, and to gain insights into local interactions between multiple forms of knowledge and power. Across the three cases, methodological and epistemological challenges call for a careful consideration of the role of research and its interaction with power dynamics, capacity of collecting voices and knowledges, and democratization goals. Such challenges are discussed taking into account the "transferability" of methods and approaches across space, time and related project specificities.

Ecological Economics, 2014

Blue carbonthe carbon stored and sequestered in mangrove forests, seagrass meadows, and tidal sal... more Blue carbonthe carbon stored and sequestered in mangrove forests, seagrass meadows, and tidal salt marshesis considered a cost-effective means to achieve positive climate change mitigation and adaptation outcomes. Blue carbon is therefore of considerable interest to the scientific and policy communities, and is frequently discussed in relation to carbon markets and climate finance opportunities. This paper identifies peer-reviewed and 'gray literature' documents that discuss blue carbon in the context of finance and market mechanisms. The document set is analyzed both quantitatively and qualitatively, and the principal scientific, economic, regulatory, social, and management issues that emerge are discussed. The study reveals that (1) the blue carbon literature is dominated by technical and policy commentary, with a dearth of research into practical social considerations and a stark absence of private sector perspectives; (2) there is confusion over the nature and role of important concepts including private and public sector finance and instruments; and (3) understanding of the important issues of investment priorities and risk considerations is also limited. This paper therefore identifies gaps in the blue carbon literature, clarifies critical concepts and issues, and proposes novel pathways for blue carbon research and project development.

2015 IEEE PES Asia-Pacific Power and Energy Engineering Conference (APPEEC), 2015

Energy Storage Systems (ESS) provide a solution allowing higher levels of Renewable Energy (RE) i... more Energy Storage Systems (ESS) provide a solution allowing higher levels of Renewable Energy (RE) integration into electricity systems, as the intermittency of RE power output can be addressed with storage solutions. This paper evaluates the value propositions of commercially available ESS for wind farms in Australia, focusing on power applications as a relevant market segment of the energy storage industry. Specifically, the ESS application analyzed in this paper is wind farm power output smoothing. First, a general techno-economic model is developed which considers the technical, economic, and regulatory aspects pertaining to ESS and wind farm connections. This model is then used to compare five technological ESS alternatives for meeting technical requirements associated with the wind farm operation. The comparison is performed using an Australian wind farm as a case study. The analysis shows that along with the investment costs of an ESS technology, the regulatory framework is a pivotal factor governing the value proposition of an ESS.

Journal of Political Ecology, 2011

Blue carbon refers to carbon stored or sequestered in marine and coastal ecosystems including man... more Blue carbon refers to carbon stored or sequestered in marine and coastal ecosystems including mangrove forests, tidal salt marshes and seagrass meadows, as well as coral reefs and oceanic carbon sinks in the form of marine algae. These habitats provide important ecosystem services (spawning habitat, defence against storms, nutrient cycling, pollination) and economic resources (livelihoods, and provision of food, materials and medicines) yet are largely unregarded in international climate change mitigation and adaptation frameworks. While there is considerable enthusiasm in the scientific and policy communities over the potential of blue carbon finance to support sustainability initiatives and local development, efforts to enact blue carbon project activities are severely constrained by a range of economic and social factors. Advocates of blue carbon consistently fail to understand the importance of blue carbon as an economic commodity, focusing largely on scientific uncertainty and governance issues. In order to integrate blue carbon offset activities into global policy mechanisms, scientific methods are required to quantify the carbon storage and sequestration benefits of blue ecosystems. To facilitate the participation of communities in blue carbon project activities, critical and theoretical social science perspectives are needed to understand the constraints, opportunities, and drivers of engagement. Securing necessary financial resources and market engagement requires recognition of investment priorities and commercial imperatives. This study therefore requires the application of a transdisciplinary framework to explore the multi-dimensional nature of the emerging localinternational carbon value network. Integrating a number of journal articles as key chapters, the thesis first considers the broad political economy of carbon in global markets, and then investigates the blue carbon value chain (or network) as a case study. This value network extends from 'producers' to 'end users', and the thesis examines the roles of actors and stakeholders using the tools and theoretical perspectives of institutional and ecological economics, political ecology, systems dynamics, and development studies. Understanding the institutional systems in which ecosystem-based carbon offsets operate, and the motivations of and constraints on the actors in those systems, will help to identify policy interventions and reforms that will facilitate the development and implementation of blue carbon activities. The complex challenges of the 21 st Century imply that transition to a resilient and sustainable global society will require new understandings of wealth and economic value, and new approaches to environmental governance. Blue carbon can be considered a 'proxy' for a range of outcomesadaptation to climate change effects, support of food security and community development, and the building of social-ecological resilience in marine managed areas. As such, blue carbon is an ideal iv case study of the emerging models of local-to-global, multi-stakeholder, and cross-institutional business initiatives and development activities. This thesis develops a novel theoretical approach to carbon-oriented environmental management in the context of climate change policy and global markets, contributing to emerging theoretical perspectives and the development of innovative approaches to marine resource management and sustainable enterprise. Declaration by author This thesis is composed of my original work, and contains no material previously published or written by another person except where due reference has been made in the text. I have clearly stated the contribution by others to jointly authored works that I have included in my thesis. I have clearly stated the contribution of others to my thesis as a whole, including statistical assistance, survey design, data analysis, significant technical procedures, professional editorial advice, and any other original research work used or reported in my thesis. The content of my thesis is the result of work I have carried out since the commencement of my research higher degree candidature and does not include a substantial part of work that has been submitted to qualify for the award of any other degree or diploma in any university or other tertiary institution. I have clearly stated which parts of my thesis, if any, have been submitted to qualify for another award. I acknowledge that an electronic copy of my thesis must be lodged with the University Library and, subject to the General Award Rules of The University of Queensland, immediately made available for research and study in accordance with the Copyright Act 1968.

Nature Climate Change, 2012

Global Environmental Change, 2014

ABSTRACT Carbon market and climate finance schemes (e.g. the CDM, REDD+ and the Green Climate Fun... more ABSTRACT Carbon market and climate finance schemes (e.g. the CDM, REDD+ and the Green Climate Fund) are being investigated for their ability to achieve enhanced sustainability outcomes in terrestrial forests, lowland grasslands and marine ecosystems, all which store large amounts of carbon (C). To date however climate policy discourse has largely overlooked the conservation of existing C stored in mountain grasslands and shrublands. These ecosystems provide critical ecological goods and services to humanity yet are increasingly at risk from anthropogenic stressors including agricultural intensification, mining and climate change. The absence of a global estimate for these C stocks is likely to be one reason for their exclusion from climate change policy discussions, both on a political and scientific basis. This represents a missed opportunity in two respects: firstly, by conserving and restoring existing C stocks the impacts of climate change can be lessened; and secondly, carbon finance and climate finance might provide the necessary financial support to address the aforementioned stressors. In this paper we use spatial analysis and estimate there to be between 60.5 Pg C and 82.8 Pg of C contained within biomass and soils of the world’s mountain grasslands and shrublands. To put this in perspective, globally tropical Savannas and grasslands, temperate forests and tropical peatlands are estimated to contain 326–330 Pg C, 159–292 Pg C and 88.6 Pg C respectively. Our review of existing empirical studies and of United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) national greenhouse accounts suggests that this C is not reliably accounted for in international carbon budgets. Our estimate is the first to provide a global point of reference, useful in developing future research and in climate policy discussions. We conclude by briefly discussing how climate finance might be leveraged to support the sustainable management of these C stocks, and in so doing uphold the other important socioeconomic benefits provided to humanity.

The concept of resilience – drawn from psychology and developed through the 1960s and 1970s as a ... more The concept of resilience – drawn from psychology and developed through the 1960s and 1970s as a critical feature of ecology studies – is now well established in the social-ecological systems literature as a key topic in research on climate change impacts and extreme events. The conceptual frameworks and evidence-based models for fostering resilience that have emerged from the biophysical and social sciences represent valuable resources for policy makers and organisational managers facing episodic and long-term impacts to communities and firms, including extreme weather events, supply chain disruptions, threats to public health, resource scarcity, and demographic shifts. Despite the utility of resilience concepts and frameworks, and their likely importance in a climate changing world, the field of organisation studies has only just begun to explore these topics. There is a need not only for applied resilience research in organisation and development sciences, but effective educational tools to communicate resilience concepts and systems. This paper presents a framework that draws together existing research on factors that constrain and facilitate organisational resilience in the context of climate change. This framework is used as the foundation of a new digital learning simulation, the Resilience Game. The Resilience Game is a novel tool for building understanding of resilience concepts, and experimenting with strategic decision-making. The Resilience Game is set in a fictional country with engaging narratives, and is run via a computer interface. Teams of players manage their respective organisations through a period of years to decades (depending on game settings) during which the organisation’s facilities, personnel, and other assets are affected by climate change events. The organisations include commercial firms from the resources, energy, agriculture, transport, retail, and service industry sectors, plus government agencies, an indigenous community, and a town council. Each organisation has certain characteristics, based on the IPAT concept (total impact being a product of population, affluence, and technology), and each team makes decisions every year on how they will allocate resources and prioritise investment (for instance through expanding facilities, building the workforce, saving, diversifying, or investing in research and capacity development). Over the years or ’rounds’, climate events will have impacts on the firm’s facilities and resources; these impacts will be mitigated or exacerbated depending on the strategic choices players have made. Important outcomes from this research are the development of an education and communication tool that allows players to experience what resilience means and how it can be

Nature Climate Change, 2012

Complex and variable ecological and social settings make the programme on reducing emissions thro... more Complex and variable ecological and social settings make the programme on reducing emissions through avoided deforestation, forest degradation and other forestry activities in developing countries (REDD+) a challenging policy to design. The total value to society of each type of REDD+ outcome is dependent on the fundamentally different risk profiles of alternative forest-management approaches and their scope and potential for

Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, 2012

This paper addresses synergies between the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the Clean Deve... more This paper addresses synergies between the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), and considers how the CDM can facilitate the MDGs in Pacific Island Countries (PICs). To date, only 6 CDM projects have been registered in PICs, highlighting the 'lose-lose' business case that applies to this type of project development. This paper identifies constraints on and opportunities for CDM project development in PICs, and proposes a range of specific policy reform measures that could alter existing negative investment profiles. Key findings are that small-scale agricultural projects providing renewable energy from existing sources of biomass (currently seen as waste) are ideal candidates for CDM investment in PICs, and that the single most important reform to facilitate CDM activity and contribute to achieving the MDGs would be the implementation of a regional approach to CDM administration, in which a regional body became the designated CDM Authority for all states in the region. This would offset investment risk, improve governance transparency, and facilitate a targeted approach to sustainable development activities in the Pacific region.

Land Use Policy, 2010

Of the more than 1600 Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) projects that are currently registered wi... more Of the more than 1600 Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) projects that are currently registered with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), only four are afforestation or reforestation projects. This paper asks why there are so few CDM afforestation or reforestation (CDM A/R) projects given the many economic, social and environmental benefits that such activities potentially offer. The authors discuss the question from two perspectives: namely the constraints to the development of CDM A/R projects and the features of 'successful' CDM A/R projects. Constraints to the development of CDM A/R projects include financial, administrative and governance issues. Analysis of the four registered CDM A/R projects suggests that 'successful' CDM A/R applications are likely to be characterized by the following: initial funding support; design and implementation guided by large organizations with technical expertise; occur on private land (land with secured property rights attached); and most revenue from Certified Emission Reductions (CERs) is directed back to local communities. It is argued that the CDM needs to be reformed to support the development of more CDM A/R projects, particularly with regards to incorporating greater flexibility, simplifying the methodological and documentation procedures of CDM registration, and redefining the role of the UNFCCC in CDMs from one of adjudication to one of facilitation.

The oceans are facing greater pressures now than at any other time in human history. Marine prote... more The oceans are facing greater pressures now than at any other time in human history. Marine protected areas (MPAs), nested within a wider approach of ecosystem-based management, have consistently emerged as one of the most important tools in halting the oceans’ decline and promoting their recovery. The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Aichi Target 11 calls for at least 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas to be conserved through effectively and equitably managed, ecologically representative and well connected systems of protected areas by 2020; unfortunately, most of the Parties are not on track to meet this commitment. To contribute to this effort, this paper details six strategies that can accelerate MPA establishment and create resilient MPA management models around the world. These strategies (build public-private partnerships to change how MPAs are designed and financed; strengthen links between MPAs, local communities and livelihood needs; manage MPAs to enhance car...

Remote Sensing Applications: Society and Environment, 2021

Abstract Mangrove forests play a crucial role in the carbon cycle and mitigate climate change by ... more Abstract Mangrove forests play a crucial role in the carbon cycle and mitigate climate change by reducing carbon dioxide emissions. However, mangrove ecosystems have declined dramatically in most regions due to natural and human factors, resulting in the release of substantial amounts of carbon dioxide. ‘Blue carbon’ conservation and restoration initiatives seek to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and support adaptation in mangrove areas. Various methods are employed to estimate, map, and monitor the extent and dynamics of mangrove biomass and carbon stocks, and these play a critical role in sustainable management and the climate policy and market instruments which can provide financial support for ecosystem conservation and restoration. This paper presents a comprehensive review of different mapping and monitoring methods applied from 2010 to 2020 for carbon stocks in mangrove forests, and highlights the limitations of previous studies. Destructive sampling, use of allometric equations, and remote sensing technologies are described and assessed. Passive and active sensors at various spatial resolutions (1 m–30 m), and supervised and unsupervised classification methods, are discussed. A novel aspect of this paper is the assessment of monitoring methods and the uncertainty of carbon stock estimation in mangrove forests. The study discusses the advantages and drawbacks of existing methods for mangrove carbon stock measurement and provides recommendations for effective application of blue carbon studies in global markets.

Journal of Political Ecology, 2011

Climate change and the emerging carbon-constrained economy of the 21st Century present new challe... more Climate change and the emerging carbon-constrained economy of the 21st Century present new challenges and opportunities for countries of the Middle East and North Africa. This paper discusses the potential for Libya to participate in the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), the main flexibility mechanism of the Kyoto Protocol, which is designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote sustainable development. The paper considers the interaction of Libya's history and socio-cultural characteristics with global policy dynamics and economic forces. Libya's geography presents considerable potential in terms of CDM project opportunities, yet key developments would be required before these could be exploited. The nature of Libya's political system and social structures suggest that these developments are unlikely to occur while the Qadhafi regime endures, and therefore that Libya will not be able to engage successfully with the CDM and international mitigation activities i...

Annals of Tropical Research, 2011

In this introduction to the Annals of Tropical Research special issue on natural resource based c... more In this introduction to the Annals of Tropical Research special issue on natural resource based carbon offsets a framework is provided for describing the architecture of global climate policy instruments and market mechanisms, and the relationships between these components of the international climate change mitigation and adaptation landscape is discussed. The principal constraints and enabling factors for natural resource based offset projects are identified as issues of capacity, finance, governance and regulation. These concerns provide the rationale for a proposed research agenda, comprising conceptual research and capacity building, both of which can be enacted through the implementation of pilot project activities.

Annals of Tropical Research, 2011

This article examines reasons for the lack of Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) projects register... more This article examines reasons for the lack of Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) projects registered in Pacific Island Countries (only two of the 1699 projects registered as of 1 July 2009 were located in such countries) and assesses the potential for new project development in the region. Two groupings of CDM projects are analyzed. First, features of the eight CDM projects located in Small Island Developing States and Territories that were registered as of 1 July 2009 are examined to identify what factors have characterized successfully registered CDM projects. (No new projects have been registered in SIDS since this date, although there are more projects currently being validated.) Second, the 122 agricultural-based CDM projects registered as of 1 July 2009 are analyzed to consider how agricultural and bioenergy projects – which seem the most suitable form of CDM projects for the Pacific Islands region – can be best developed in the region. Analysis reveals that agricultural CDM pr...

Annals of Tropical Research, 2011

The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) is the principal source of carbon offsets in the global mar... more The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) is the principal source of carbon offsets in the global market, and is intended to be a key driver of sustainable development and technical transformation in developing countries. The distribution of CDM projects by country has been skewed, with over 75% of registered projects having taken place in just four countries, namely China, India, Brazil and Mexico. A change in this pattern of development may be occurring, however, as smaller developing countries become increasingly active in the carbon market. An example of this is the rapid rise in the number of CDM projects based in Vietnam since early 2009. This paper investigates factors contributing to the growth of CDM projects in Vietnam and describes some of the key features of the projects that have been developed. Hydropower projects are found to dominate new CDM project development in Vietnam. It is suggested that CDM project development in Vietnam may be a tool to support domestic energy se...

Nature Precedings, 2010

Carbon offset projects in developing countries are one of the principal mechanisms designed to re... more Carbon offset projects in developing countries are one of the principal mechanisms designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote sustainable development yet have critical limitations in both areas. Here we present a framework for categorizing carbon offset projects according to four general approaches to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions: (1) efficiency ('Brown'); innovation ('Red'), terrestrial sequestration ('Green') or sequestration in aquatic environments ('Blue'). Analysis of the 6109 CDM projects currently in the CDM "pipeline" reveals that 99% are Brown or Red, and only 1% are Green or Blue, yet Green and Blue projects typically offer a far greater range of benefits for ecosystems and society. The analysis concludes that the designers of emissions trading schemes should endorse Green and Blue offset projects as preferred forms of emissions offsetting, and that firms using offsets for compliance purposes be required t...

Journal of Cleaner Production, 2018

The subjectivity, complexity, and often competing interests of sustainable development have limit... more The subjectivity, complexity, and often competing interests of sustainable development have limited the effectiveness of integrating these important ideas into mainstream business strategy. With the adoption of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in January 2016, there are now global sustainability benchmarks that apply across diverse sectors and national contexts, allowing public and private organizations to orient and evaluate their activities, strategies, and business outcomes. However, it is not directly apparent where the advantage for business lies in pursuit of these actions within the prevailing economic paradigm, highlighting the need for new analytical frameworks and tools. Industrial ecology (IE) has been successfully used in engineering practice for decades and has been suggested as a method that can provide the concepts and methods necessary to bridge the gap between traditional business practice and sustainable development. To test this, literature bridging the fields of industrial ecology, business strategy, and sustainable development was collected and analyzed using the textual analysis software Leximancer TM. The analysis showed that while the SDGs are primarily aimed at the national level, they also hold relevance for business through innovation, partnerships, and strategic positioning, inter alia. The analysis found that the integration of IE and business strategy is highly relevant for three of the SDGs, but captures elements of all 17 to varying degrees. IE has a strong focus on innovation and its potential in new markets, products, and business models. IE is also consciously aimed at the efficient use of energy and resources, ideas that are relevant to mitigating, adapting, and building resilience in a changing future, but are also relevant to traditional concepts of business strategy and competitive advantage. This paper shows that through the combination of IE and strategic management theory, commercial organizations can positively contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals while building competitive advantage. Highlights • Systematic review of literature with a thematic and conceptual analysis using Leximancer™. • Industrial ecology principles are shown to lead to competitive advantage in line with Sustainable Development Goals. • The study establishes a baseline for quantitative analysis of the strategic benefits of IE principles.

Energy Research & Social Science, 2018

Energy transition is often described as the shift from deterritorialised models developed in tand... more Energy transition is often described as the shift from deterritorialised models developed in tandem with the rise of capitalism towards a paradigm based on small-scale infrastructures and short supply chains. In this new paradigm the local dimension is pivotal. This paper takes a self-reflective stance on situated research conducted with local communities in Italy, Indonesia and Australia. The three rural communities are characterised by community ownership of energy production sites (past, current, and future ownership respectively), and by the copresence of alternative visions of energy sustainability among the locals. Drawing on the research experiences the paper reflects on the interrelated methodological, epistemological, and practical challenges encountered. Immersive and participatory approaches enabled the research teams to avoid prescriptive approach to the research, to access local understandings of energy and sustainability, and to gain insights into local interactions between multiple forms of knowledge and power. Across the three cases, methodological and epistemological challenges call for a careful consideration of the role of research and its interaction with power dynamics, capacity of collecting voices and knowledges, and democratization goals. Such challenges are discussed taking into account the "transferability" of methods and approaches across space, time and related project specificities.

Ecological Economics, 2014

Blue carbonthe carbon stored and sequestered in mangrove forests, seagrass meadows, and tidal sal... more Blue carbonthe carbon stored and sequestered in mangrove forests, seagrass meadows, and tidal salt marshesis considered a cost-effective means to achieve positive climate change mitigation and adaptation outcomes. Blue carbon is therefore of considerable interest to the scientific and policy communities, and is frequently discussed in relation to carbon markets and climate finance opportunities. This paper identifies peer-reviewed and 'gray literature' documents that discuss blue carbon in the context of finance and market mechanisms. The document set is analyzed both quantitatively and qualitatively, and the principal scientific, economic, regulatory, social, and management issues that emerge are discussed. The study reveals that (1) the blue carbon literature is dominated by technical and policy commentary, with a dearth of research into practical social considerations and a stark absence of private sector perspectives; (2) there is confusion over the nature and role of important concepts including private and public sector finance and instruments; and (3) understanding of the important issues of investment priorities and risk considerations is also limited. This paper therefore identifies gaps in the blue carbon literature, clarifies critical concepts and issues, and proposes novel pathways for blue carbon research and project development.

2015 IEEE PES Asia-Pacific Power and Energy Engineering Conference (APPEEC), 2015

Energy Storage Systems (ESS) provide a solution allowing higher levels of Renewable Energy (RE) i... more Energy Storage Systems (ESS) provide a solution allowing higher levels of Renewable Energy (RE) integration into electricity systems, as the intermittency of RE power output can be addressed with storage solutions. This paper evaluates the value propositions of commercially available ESS for wind farms in Australia, focusing on power applications as a relevant market segment of the energy storage industry. Specifically, the ESS application analyzed in this paper is wind farm power output smoothing. First, a general techno-economic model is developed which considers the technical, economic, and regulatory aspects pertaining to ESS and wind farm connections. This model is then used to compare five technological ESS alternatives for meeting technical requirements associated with the wind farm operation. The comparison is performed using an Australian wind farm as a case study. The analysis shows that along with the investment costs of an ESS technology, the regulatory framework is a pivotal factor governing the value proposition of an ESS.

Journal of Political Ecology, 2011

Blue carbon refers to carbon stored or sequestered in marine and coastal ecosystems including man... more Blue carbon refers to carbon stored or sequestered in marine and coastal ecosystems including mangrove forests, tidal salt marshes and seagrass meadows, as well as coral reefs and oceanic carbon sinks in the form of marine algae. These habitats provide important ecosystem services (spawning habitat, defence against storms, nutrient cycling, pollination) and economic resources (livelihoods, and provision of food, materials and medicines) yet are largely unregarded in international climate change mitigation and adaptation frameworks. While there is considerable enthusiasm in the scientific and policy communities over the potential of blue carbon finance to support sustainability initiatives and local development, efforts to enact blue carbon project activities are severely constrained by a range of economic and social factors. Advocates of blue carbon consistently fail to understand the importance of blue carbon as an economic commodity, focusing largely on scientific uncertainty and governance issues. In order to integrate blue carbon offset activities into global policy mechanisms, scientific methods are required to quantify the carbon storage and sequestration benefits of blue ecosystems. To facilitate the participation of communities in blue carbon project activities, critical and theoretical social science perspectives are needed to understand the constraints, opportunities, and drivers of engagement. Securing necessary financial resources and market engagement requires recognition of investment priorities and commercial imperatives. This study therefore requires the application of a transdisciplinary framework to explore the multi-dimensional nature of the emerging localinternational carbon value network. Integrating a number of journal articles as key chapters, the thesis first considers the broad political economy of carbon in global markets, and then investigates the blue carbon value chain (or network) as a case study. This value network extends from 'producers' to 'end users', and the thesis examines the roles of actors and stakeholders using the tools and theoretical perspectives of institutional and ecological economics, political ecology, systems dynamics, and development studies. Understanding the institutional systems in which ecosystem-based carbon offsets operate, and the motivations of and constraints on the actors in those systems, will help to identify policy interventions and reforms that will facilitate the development and implementation of blue carbon activities. The complex challenges of the 21 st Century imply that transition to a resilient and sustainable global society will require new understandings of wealth and economic value, and new approaches to environmental governance. Blue carbon can be considered a 'proxy' for a range of outcomesadaptation to climate change effects, support of food security and community development, and the building of social-ecological resilience in marine managed areas. As such, blue carbon is an ideal iv case study of the emerging models of local-to-global, multi-stakeholder, and cross-institutional business initiatives and development activities. This thesis develops a novel theoretical approach to carbon-oriented environmental management in the context of climate change policy and global markets, contributing to emerging theoretical perspectives and the development of innovative approaches to marine resource management and sustainable enterprise. Declaration by author This thesis is composed of my original work, and contains no material previously published or written by another person except where due reference has been made in the text. I have clearly stated the contribution by others to jointly authored works that I have included in my thesis. I have clearly stated the contribution of others to my thesis as a whole, including statistical assistance, survey design, data analysis, significant technical procedures, professional editorial advice, and any other original research work used or reported in my thesis. The content of my thesis is the result of work I have carried out since the commencement of my research higher degree candidature and does not include a substantial part of work that has been submitted to qualify for the award of any other degree or diploma in any university or other tertiary institution. I have clearly stated which parts of my thesis, if any, have been submitted to qualify for another award. I acknowledge that an electronic copy of my thesis must be lodged with the University Library and, subject to the General Award Rules of The University of Queensland, immediately made available for research and study in accordance with the Copyright Act 1968.

Nature Climate Change, 2012

Global Environmental Change, 2014

ABSTRACT Carbon market and climate finance schemes (e.g. the CDM, REDD+ and the Green Climate Fun... more ABSTRACT Carbon market and climate finance schemes (e.g. the CDM, REDD+ and the Green Climate Fund) are being investigated for their ability to achieve enhanced sustainability outcomes in terrestrial forests, lowland grasslands and marine ecosystems, all which store large amounts of carbon (C). To date however climate policy discourse has largely overlooked the conservation of existing C stored in mountain grasslands and shrublands. These ecosystems provide critical ecological goods and services to humanity yet are increasingly at risk from anthropogenic stressors including agricultural intensification, mining and climate change. The absence of a global estimate for these C stocks is likely to be one reason for their exclusion from climate change policy discussions, both on a political and scientific basis. This represents a missed opportunity in two respects: firstly, by conserving and restoring existing C stocks the impacts of climate change can be lessened; and secondly, carbon finance and climate finance might provide the necessary financial support to address the aforementioned stressors. In this paper we use spatial analysis and estimate there to be between 60.5 Pg C and 82.8 Pg of C contained within biomass and soils of the world’s mountain grasslands and shrublands. To put this in perspective, globally tropical Savannas and grasslands, temperate forests and tropical peatlands are estimated to contain 326–330 Pg C, 159–292 Pg C and 88.6 Pg C respectively. Our review of existing empirical studies and of United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) national greenhouse accounts suggests that this C is not reliably accounted for in international carbon budgets. Our estimate is the first to provide a global point of reference, useful in developing future research and in climate policy discussions. We conclude by briefly discussing how climate finance might be leveraged to support the sustainable management of these C stocks, and in so doing uphold the other important socioeconomic benefits provided to humanity.

The concept of resilience – drawn from psychology and developed through the 1960s and 1970s as a ... more The concept of resilience – drawn from psychology and developed through the 1960s and 1970s as a critical feature of ecology studies – is now well established in the social-ecological systems literature as a key topic in research on climate change impacts and extreme events. The conceptual frameworks and evidence-based models for fostering resilience that have emerged from the biophysical and social sciences represent valuable resources for policy makers and organisational managers facing episodic and long-term impacts to communities and firms, including extreme weather events, supply chain disruptions, threats to public health, resource scarcity, and demographic shifts. Despite the utility of resilience concepts and frameworks, and their likely importance in a climate changing world, the field of organisation studies has only just begun to explore these topics. There is a need not only for applied resilience research in organisation and development sciences, but effective educational tools to communicate resilience concepts and systems. This paper presents a framework that draws together existing research on factors that constrain and facilitate organisational resilience in the context of climate change. This framework is used as the foundation of a new digital learning simulation, the Resilience Game. The Resilience Game is a novel tool for building understanding of resilience concepts, and experimenting with strategic decision-making. The Resilience Game is set in a fictional country with engaging narratives, and is run via a computer interface. Teams of players manage their respective organisations through a period of years to decades (depending on game settings) during which the organisation’s facilities, personnel, and other assets are affected by climate change events. The organisations include commercial firms from the resources, energy, agriculture, transport, retail, and service industry sectors, plus government agencies, an indigenous community, and a town council. Each organisation has certain characteristics, based on the IPAT concept (total impact being a product of population, affluence, and technology), and each team makes decisions every year on how they will allocate resources and prioritise investment (for instance through expanding facilities, building the workforce, saving, diversifying, or investing in research and capacity development). Over the years or ’rounds’, climate events will have impacts on the firm’s facilities and resources; these impacts will be mitigated or exacerbated depending on the strategic choices players have made. Important outcomes from this research are the development of an education and communication tool that allows players to experience what resilience means and how it can be

Nature Climate Change, 2012

Complex and variable ecological and social settings make the programme on reducing emissions thro... more Complex and variable ecological and social settings make the programme on reducing emissions through avoided deforestation, forest degradation and other forestry activities in developing countries (REDD+) a challenging policy to design. The total value to society of each type of REDD+ outcome is dependent on the fundamentally different risk profiles of alternative forest-management approaches and their scope and potential for

Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, 2012

This paper addresses synergies between the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the Clean Deve... more This paper addresses synergies between the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), and considers how the CDM can facilitate the MDGs in Pacific Island Countries (PICs). To date, only 6 CDM projects have been registered in PICs, highlighting the 'lose-lose' business case that applies to this type of project development. This paper identifies constraints on and opportunities for CDM project development in PICs, and proposes a range of specific policy reform measures that could alter existing negative investment profiles. Key findings are that small-scale agricultural projects providing renewable energy from existing sources of biomass (currently seen as waste) are ideal candidates for CDM investment in PICs, and that the single most important reform to facilitate CDM activity and contribute to achieving the MDGs would be the implementation of a regional approach to CDM administration, in which a regional body became the designated CDM Authority for all states in the region. This would offset investment risk, improve governance transparency, and facilitate a targeted approach to sustainable development activities in the Pacific region.

Land Use Policy, 2010

Of the more than 1600 Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) projects that are currently registered wi... more Of the more than 1600 Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) projects that are currently registered with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), only four are afforestation or reforestation projects. This paper asks why there are so few CDM afforestation or reforestation (CDM A/R) projects given the many economic, social and environmental benefits that such activities potentially offer. The authors discuss the question from two perspectives: namely the constraints to the development of CDM A/R projects and the features of 'successful' CDM A/R projects. Constraints to the development of CDM A/R projects include financial, administrative and governance issues. Analysis of the four registered CDM A/R projects suggests that 'successful' CDM A/R applications are likely to be characterized by the following: initial funding support; design and implementation guided by large organizations with technical expertise; occur on private land (land with secured property rights attached); and most revenue from Certified Emission Reductions (CERs) is directed back to local communities. It is argued that the CDM needs to be reformed to support the development of more CDM A/R projects, particularly with regards to incorporating greater flexibility, simplifying the methodological and documentation procedures of CDM registration, and redefining the role of the UNFCCC in CDMs from one of adjudication to one of facilitation.