• Energy Research
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Islands are often considered excellent socio-ecological laboratories for testing the rapidity of global change since they experience the climate effects of sea-level rise faster than other areas. The Azores are a Portuguese volcanic archipelago located on the junction of the three tectonic plates: the Eurasian, the African and the North American plates. São Miguel, the main island of the Azores archipelago, hosts three active volcanoes, but the last significant volcanic eruption was the Capelinhos volcano on the island of Faial in 1957. Hence, the Azores offers the opportunity to assess insular risk awareness, facing both telluric and climate-related hazards. The key research question emerges from their natural situation: how does the local population perceive the threat of the natural hazards that occur in Azores? Because risks are socially constructed and depend on the uniqueness of territories, risk mitigation strategies must focus on the individual experiences of local dwellers, as a relationship between risk awareness and such strategies may be expected. To analyze this relationship, a web-based survey with a questionnaire including these variables was administered to a sample of Azoreans. The study aimed to assess risk awareness of the Azorean population and find a relationship between this and reported mitigation strategies. The results gave a preliminary insight into Azorean risk awareness of natural hazards and showed a significant positive relationship between risk awareness-raising activities and reported mitigation strategies. This is relevant information for municipalities and regional governments of areas with similar risk exposures, showing that, although risk awareness alone is not enough for measures to be implemented, it may be an important motivational first step for this to occur.

O presente trabalho tem como âmbito identificar e descrever comportamentos, atitudes e ações no contexto da hotelaria enquanto medidas cooperativas para a sustentabilidade ambiental, retirando-se perspetivas do lado do cliente e do lado do gestor. A sustentabilidade é um tema que tem ganho uma relevância cada vez maior a nível nacional e mundial, a crescente preocupação com o estado do planeta proporciona uma reflexão maior sobre as ações humanas no quotidiano que, neste sentido, devem minimizar os impactos por meio de produtos, serviços, procedimentos e técnicas relacionadas com um desenvolvimento ambiental mais sustentável. Através da revisão de literatura foi possível identificar e caracterizar elementos importantes para formulação da questão de investigação, servindo como meio conceptual dos conceitos abordados ao longo desta dissertação e dando significado às questões abordadas. De forma a responder às questões de investigação, este estudo explorou por intermédio de questionários a opinião de 320 indivíduos sobre a sustentabilidade ambiental na indústria hoteleira. Simultaneamente investigou através de entrevistas ao corpo de administração de 2 hotéis, 2 grupos hoteleiros e 1 alojamento local as motivações e dificuldades para adotar medidas sustentáveis nas suas unidades. Com efeito, os resultados permitiram concluir que a sustentabilidade ambiental tem vindo a ganhar uma importância maior na vida dos inquiridos e acarreta também uma importância considerável para indústria hoteleira, não obstante entendeu-se que os inquiridos ainda consideram outras comodidades mais importantes na seleção de um hotel ou alojamento local em relação às medidas ambientais sustentáveis praticadas pela unidade, ao mesmo tempo, vii chega-se à conclusão que a gestão hoteleira tem atuado sobre a proteção ambiental dos seus estabelecimentos, mas que o modo como implementam medidas varia de acordo com as estratégia de mercado que estabelecem. The present work aims to identify and describe behaviors, attitudes and actions in the context of hospitality as cooperative measures for environmental sustainability in order to get perspectives from the client side and the manager side. Sustainability is a topic that has gained increasing relevance at national and global level, the growing concern with the state of the planet provides a greater reflection on human actions in daily life, which, in this sense, should minimize impacts through products, services, procedures and techniques related to more sustainable environmental development. Through the literature review, it was possible to identify and characterize important elements that helps formulating the research question, serving as a conceptual means of the concepts covered throughout this dissertation and giving meaning to the issues addressed. In order to answer the research questions, this study explored, through questionnaires, the opinion of 320 individuals about the environmental sustainability in the hotel industry. At the same time, through interviews with the board of directors of 2 hotels, 2 hotel groups and 1 local accommodation, it was investigated the motivations and difficulties about adopting sustainable measures in their units. In fact, the results allowed to conclude that environmental sustainability has been gaining a greater importance in the life of the respondents and also entails considerable importance for the hotel industry, although it was understood that the respondents still consider more important other facilities while selecting a hotel or local accommodation in relation to the sustainable environmental measures practiced by the unit, at the same time, it is concluded that the hotel management has been acted on the environmental protection of its x establishments, but the way they implement measures varies according to the strategies that they establish.

Every year, over 130 million people go on ski vacations worldwide. Half of them visit the biggest skiing hotspot in the world – the Alps. However, climate change now poses a significant threat to prosperity and income there, as winters are becoming shorter, infrequent and less reliable. By the end of this century, 70% less snow is projected for altitudes below 1500 m. This thesis discusses how executives assess exogenous threats, particularly the risks from climate change, and provides action plans for high and low altitude resorts to remain profitable. A quantitative survey across potential tourists and eleven semi-structured interviews with industry experts and resort executives served as primary research to enrich current knowledge. Interviews revealed that when executives have high conviction about climate change, their product offering becomes more diversified making the resort more resilient to threats. Yet, destinations universally invest in snow production equipment. Alpine tourists, including current non-skiers, show ongoing interest in skiing activities, so this is an expedient investment. Nevertheless, climate change creates a disparate impact for ski resorts. Low altitude resorts will struggle to remain profitable as costs for technical snow production rise with every increase in temperature. Thus, they should maintain some ski alpine offerings at higher elevations and invest in novel markets with additional attractive activities for resorts at lower elevations. High altitude resorts will profit from climate change, as tourists will retreat to snow reliable resorts. Hence, these resorts should maintain sustainable competitive advantages by investing in snow reliability, accommodation capacities and infrastructure. Anualmente, mais de 130 milhões de pessoas saem de férias de esqui em todo o mundo. No entanto, as alterações climáticas representam, agora, uma ameaça significativa à prosperidade e ao rendimento do local. Até o final deste século, as projeções apontam para uma redução de 70% da neve para altitudes abaixo de 1500 m. Esta tese examina como os executivos avaliam as ameaças exógenas, particularmente os riscos das alterações climáticas, e apresenta planos de ação para que os resorts de alta e baixa altitude permaneçam lucrativos. Uma pesquisa quantitativa com mais de 300 respostas de potenciais turistas e onze entrevistas semiestruturadas com especialistas do setor e executivos de resorts serviu como pesquisa primária. As entrevistas revelaram que, quando os executivos têm grande convicção sobre as alterações climáticas, a sua oferta de produtos torna-se mais diversificada, tornando o resort mais resistente às ameaças. No entanto, as mudanças climáticas criam um impacto díspar para as estações de esqui. Os resorts de baixa altitude vão ter dificuldades em permanecer lucrativos, pois os custos para a produção técnica de neve aumentam a cada incremento de temperatura. Assim, eles devem manter algumas ofertas de esqui alpino em altitudes mais altas e investir em novos mercados com atividades atraentes adicionais para resorts em altitudes mais baixas. Os resorts de alta altitude vão beneficiar das alterações climáticas, pois os turistas vão retirar-se para resorts de maior fiabilidade de neve. Portanto, estes devem manter vantagens competitivas sustentáveis investindo na confiabilidade da neve, capacidade de acomodação e infra-estruturas.

There is a gap in most countries’ legal frameworks regarding their ability to connect vacant land and urban gardens. Hence, research is needed to understand how regulation on vacant land might be designed to promote a more sustainable purpose to it. Urban gardens are a type of urban agriculture that could be potentiated by such regulation. The aim of this paper is to show how that can be done through the Municipal Master Plans (MMP) legal and regulatory framework for the Portuguese case, by reviewing worldwide good practices on vacant land restorations for urban sustainable development. The paper comprises a literature review on good practices adopted in different countries regarding vacant lot restoration. The evaluation of good practices is built on the achievement of the three pillars of sustainability. Five Portuguese MMP were used, as empirical data, to support the design of a new legal and regulatory framework. The goal is to enhance the sustainable destination of vacant land by converting it into urban gardens. The analysis of these MMPs demonstrated that they disregard urban gardens as a tool to promote urban sustainability in spite of global trends to make urban territorial planning and management instruments greener. An additional outcome of this paper is to categorise different types of vacant land in the five municipalities under analysis according to their suitability for urban garden conversion. The design of the legal framework enhancing the conversion of vacant land into urban garden will contribute to the 2030 international agenda goals’ achievement. The proposal would create an innovative legal framework in the case of Portugal that could be replicated by other countries.

Since the Industrial Revolution, large amounts of greenhouse gases (GHGs) have been released to the atmosphere which led to global warming and climate change. Despite the efforts from nations to limit the temperature rise to 1.5 °C, as defined in the Paris Agreement (2015), if emissions do not half until 2030, it is likely to achieve a global warming of 2.7 °C by the end of the century. Thus, the assessment of environmental performance become crucial. The objective of this thesis is, then, to measure and compare the environmental efficiency at the country level, over the period 2000-2018, being its main contribution to overcome the lack of literature studies with a global scope. To answer the research questions (How can countries be ranked in terms of their performance? What have been the best and worst performing over time?), a DEA methodology (additive model) was employed. DEA has become a wellestablished tool to judge the relative efficiency in the environmental field. A clustering analysis was also carried out to distinguish countries based on their proximity-to-target value (%), in 2018. The DEA model includes three inputs (population, energy use and GHGs emissions) and two outputs (GDP and renewables). The population and GDP are non-discretionary variables. Regarding the main findings, globally, countries have become more efficient over time. Bhutan, Kiribati, Norway, Nepal and Iceland have been the efficient countries that appear more times in the reference set of other countries, being an example of best practices. In 2018, the poorest 5 performing countries were Russia, followed by Iran, Saudi Korea, Saudi Arabia, and South Africa, being all inefficient since 2000. Despite being inefficient during most of the years, China, United States and India significantly improved their performance which was mainly explained by their higher consumption of renewables. Desde a Revolução Industrial, elevadas quantidades de gases de efeito de estufa (GEE) têm sido libertados para a atmosfera, levando ao aquecimento global e às alterações climáticas. Apesar dos esforços das nações para limitar o aumento das temperaturas em 1.5 °C, como definido no acordo de Paris (2015), se as emissões não forem reduzidas para metade até 2030, é provável atingir um aquecimento global de 2.7 °C até ao final do século. Assim, a avaliação do desempenho ambiental tornou-se crucial. O objetivo desta tese é, desta forma, medir e comparar a eficiência ambiental ao nível dos países, durante o período 2000-2018, sendo a sua principal contribuição ultrapassar a falta de estudos na literatura com um foco global. Para responder às questões de pesquisa (Como é que os países podem ser ordenados em termo do seu desempenho? Quais têm sido os países com melhores e piores desempenhos, ao longo do tempo?), a metodologia DEA (modelo aditivo) foi aplicada. O DEA tornou-se numa ferramenta bem estabelecida em avaliar a eficiência relativa no campo ambiental. A análise de clusters foi, também, desenvolvida para distinguir os países em termos da sua proximidade ao target (%), em 2018. O modelo DEA inclui três inputs (população, uso de energia, emissões GEE) e dois outputs (PIB e renováveis). A população e o PIB são variáveis não discricionárias. Face aos principais resultados, globalmente, os países têm-se tornado mais eficientes ao longo do tempo. Butão, Kiribati, Noruega, Nepal e Islândia têm sido os países eficientes que mais vezes têm aparecido como referência para os outros, sendo exemplos de melhores práticas. Em 2018, os 5 países com pior desempenho foram a Rússia, seguida pelo Irão, Coreia do Sul, Arábia Saudita e Africa do Sul, sendo todos ineficientes desde 2000. Apesar de terem sido ineficientes na maioria dos anos, a China, os Estados Unidos e a India melhoraram significativamente o seu desempenho, explicado sobretudo pelo maior consumo de renováveis.

This study examines the knowledge and involvement of consumers in sustainability goals, aiming to provide valuable insights to the textiles and clothing industry to foster their social responsibility efforts and enhance consumer interaction. By comprehending and monitoring consumer behavior, organizations can effectively implement sustainable practices and work towards achieving sustainable development goals. For this study, a questionnaire was designed to evaluate consumer concerns, behavior, self-reliance, and perspectives across four key phases of interest in sustainable consumer behavior regarding textiles—acquisition, use, maintenance, and disposal. The results show a compelling insight into the mindset of participants who prioritize budget, quality, comfort, and functionality over sustainability when acquiring new textile items. Most respondents do not participate in clothing rental or sharing and predominantly refrain from purchasing second-hand products, but they expressed a readiness to extend the lifespan of their products and displayed concern about ensuring a responsible end-of-life for their belongings. Moreover, they attach importance to textile products’ social and informational attributes and demand transparency from brands. These valuable data can guide the industry in its interactions with consumers. Scholars are increasingly committed to sustainability and its implications for practical application and policy development.

The undergoing digital transition of the energy sector refers to the integration of decentralized ledger technologies and data-driven solutions that have the potential to truly revolutionize its ecosystem and business practices. The aim of a decentralized, inter connected and two-way interactive energy grid can be enabled by leveraging blockchain technologies. This research investigates how blockchain technology can create and capture value from data and the new business models applied in Web 3.0 and blockchain-based environments in the energy sector. A qualitative case study research design was conducted for primary data collection and pilot projects by the European Commission were used for secondary data collection. The analysis shows local energy communities as the main blockchain application in this sector, with adjacent applications such as P2P energy trading, smart contract & metering, carbon trading and grid management. The main benefits associated are transparency, integrity, grid automation and renewable energy sources promotion, and obstacles are mainly associated with the contrasting centralized design of the current energy systems. We conclude that value is created and captured through data provenance and transparency, data monetization and tokenization, and data sharing and collaboration in blockchain platforms. New business models include the decentralization and fusion between energy production and consumption, generating a new actor known as the prosumer. Fundamental to a successful implementation of local energy communities that allow energy and asset trading between peers. A transição digital do sector energético baseia-se na integração de tecnologias de registo descentralizadas e de soluções de tratamento de dados que têm o potencial de revolucionar o seu ecossistema. O objetivo de uma rede de energia descentralizada e interconectada em ambos os sentidos, pode ser concretizado através do recurso a tecnologias blockchain. Esta investigação analisa a forma como esta tecnologia pode criar e reter valor a partir de dados e dos novos modelos de negócio associados à Web 3.0 e a ambientes baseados em blockchain neste sector. Para a recolha de dados primários, foi efetuado um caso de estudo qualitativo. Para dados secundários foram analisados os projetos-piloto da Comissão Europeia. A análise demonstra que as comunidades locais de energia são a principal aplicação da blockchain, com aplicações adjacentes como trocas de energia P2P, contratos e contadores inteligentes, comércio de carbono e gestão da rede. Os principais benefícios associados são a transparência, a integridade, a automatização da rede e a promoção das fontes de energia renováveis. Os obstáculos estão principalmente associados à estrutura centralizada dos atuais sistemas energéticos. Concluímos que o valor é criado e capturado através da proveniência, transparência, monetização, tokenização e integração de dados em plataformas blockchain. Os novos modelos de negócio incluem a descentralização e a fusão entre a produção e o consumo de energia, gerando um novo elemento neste sector, o prosumer. Fundamental para uma implementação bem sucedida de comunidades locais de energia que permitam o comércio de energia e de ativos entre pares.

Demand for electric vehicles has grown rapidly in recent years. One of the main drivers of the increase in demand is the environmental damage owed to traffic. This is because the environment is harmed by the carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions caused by a vehicle without an alternative drive system, like vehicles with a petrol engine. The problem is also well known in Germany. As a measure to reduce CO2 emissions in road traffic, the German government offers incentives in the form of monetary subsidies. Such incentives aim to motivate consumers to purchase an electric vehicle in order to reduce environmental pollution. This dissertation will investigate which factors motivate German consumers to purchase such an electric vehicle. As a tool, this study used the theory of planned behavior (TPB) by Ajzen (1991) after it was extended by Shalender & Sharma (2020) and adapted to the aims of this study. The extension added the predictors of moral norm and environmental concerns to TPB’s variables: attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control. Findings of this study show a significant effect of the five mentioned predictors on purchase behavior. Thus, this research suggests it is important to consider these factors when developing interventions to increase electric vehicle purchase. A procura de veículos eléctricos tem crescido rapidamente nos últimos anos. Um dos principais motores do aumento da procura são os danos ambientais devidos ao tráfego. Isto porque o ambiente é prejudicado pelas emissões de dióxido de carbono (CO2) causadas por um veículo sem um sistema de condução alternativo, como os veículos com motor a gasolina. O problema é também bem conhecido na Alemanha. Como medida para reduzir as emissões de CO2 no tráfego rodoviário, o governo alemão oferece incentivos sob a forma de subsídios monetários. O objectivo de tais incentivos é motivar os consumidores a comprar um veículo eléctrico, a fim de reduzir a poluição. O objectivo desta dissertação é investigar quais os diferentes factores que levam o consumidor alemão a comprar um veículo eléctrico deste tipo. Como ferramenta, este estudo utilizou a Teoria do Comportamento Planeado (TPB) de Ajzen (1991) após ter sido alargada por Shalender & Sharma (2020) e adaptada aos objectivos deste estudo. A extensão acrescentou os preditores da Norma Moral e Preocupações Ambientais às variáveis do TPB: Atitude, Norma Subjectiva, e Controlo de Comportamento Percebido. Os resultados deste estudo mostram um efeito significativo dos cinco preditores mencionados no comportamento de compra. Assim, esta investigação sugere que é importante considerar estes factores ao desenvolver intervenções para aumentar a compra de veículos eléctricos.

Apart from the many social and health problems it has caused, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a severe impact on most sectors of the economy worldwide. One of the areas where such impact is noticeable is the textile, apparel, and fashion (TAF) industry. The lockdowns and limited access to retailer outlets resulted in a considerable drop in consumption, creating problems related to the excess of stock, the decrease of sales, and the disposal of non-used items. This paper outlines the implications of the COVID-19 on the TAF sectors and European retailers. It analyzes how the current supply chains exacerbated stock control problems, and it reports on the changes in consumption during the pandemic. The worldwide restrictive measures implemented to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic were responsible for significant profit losses. Also, the decrease in consumption, caused by several geographically wide lockdowns, prompted a subsequent reduction in orders and sales, resulting in a significant number of constraints. The implementation of more environmentally friendly processes, including sustainable circularity as a competitiveness source to keep the TAF sectors in the loop and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, may help address the problems associated with the COVID-19 pandemic in the sustainability context, as reported in this paper.