Environment, Enterprise and Developmenthttp://hdl.handle.net/10012/99192024-03-29T14:27:56Z2024-03-29T14:27:56ZSEGMENTATION INFORMS THE GAMIFICATION OF SUSTAINABLE FOOD CONSUMPTIONModol, Sebastienhttp://hdl.handle.net/10012/202452024-01-19T03:31:01Z2024-01-18T00:00:00ZSEGMENTATION INFORMS THE GAMIFICATION OF SUSTAINABLE FOOD CONSUMPTION
Modol, Sebastien
Food systems activities produce around 30% of global anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and are responsible for numerous environmental issues which could ultimately harm our ability to grow food reliably. One way to reduce the food system’s impacts is to transition to a more sustainable diet composed of low impact foods. The objective of this study is to identify consumers demonstrating an intention to consume sustainably produced foods, and to identify their characteristics to inform the design of targeted gamified interventions that would promote sustainable food purchasing. A survey incorporating variables from the theory of planned behaviour (e.g. attitude), socio-demographic information (e.g. age), gamification profiling variables (e.g. player typology), as well as preferred mobile applications, was developed in this study and distributed via a market survey company. Statistical analysis in the form of hierarchical clustering was used to segment and identify target markets, while contingency analysis assessed the most effective means of promoting sustainable diets. A total of four hundred and ninety surveys were distributed and three hundred and seventy-six of them were validated because they agreed to participate, were not detected as potential AI powered responses, and their responses from the theory of planned behaviour were completed. Linear regression was used to assess the significance of all variables on the intent to consume a sustainable diet. Cluster analysis identified 3 potential target segments, and contingency analysis was used to detect their unique features. Two consumer segments were identified as having high potential as a target market. Individuals in this market intended to consume a sustainable diet but lacked follow through. Strong evidence towards the effectiveness of gamification of interventions was not observed due to low and medium frequency in gaming behaviours for the two target segments. Interventions distributed through mobile applications would be most effective if they were delivered through social media and included game design elements associated with Philanthropist and Free Spirit user types. The survey was confined to Ontario, therefore it may not be generalizable to other regions. Nevertheless, this study is unique in its assessment of the profiles of consumers with high intention to purchase sustainably sourced foods through a combination of the theory of planned behaviour, socio-demographic factors, gamification player types and game behaviours, as well as preferred mobile application usage.
2024-01-18T00:00:00ZSupport for the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) and Impact on Non-Renewable Energy Sector Investments in United States Public Pension FundsIssett, Melaniehttp://hdl.handle.net/10012/201612023-12-14T03:31:04Z2023-12-13T00:00:00ZSupport for the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) and Impact on Non-Renewable Energy Sector Investments in United States Public Pension Funds
Issett, Melanie
The recommendations of the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) are
expected to play an important role in advancing the transition towards a climate target-aligned
economy. However, the impact of the TCFD framework on investment decisions in sectors
vulnerable to climate-related risks, such as the non-renewable energy sector, has yet to be
studied. Applying the lens of institutional theory, this study investigates whether normative
pressures stemming from voluntary support for the TCFD influence non-renewable energy sector
investment decisions by public pension funds in the United States. This study employs a
quantitative approach to pursue three interconnected objectives. First, identify the public pension
funds in the United States that support the TCFD, and among those, identify their stage of
implementation of the TCFD’s recommendations. Second, assess whether fund size and location
are influential in determining TCFD support or implementation stage. Third, examine whether
the exposure to non-renewable energy sector investments before and after the release of the
TCFD recommendations in 2017 significantly differs depending on whether a fund supports the
TCFD or not. The study’s findings reveal that 8 of 191 sampled public pension funds in the
United States support the TCFD and are at various stages of implementation of the
recommendations. Fund size was identified as a significant predictor of both TCFD support and
stage of implementation, with larger funds more likely to be supporters and more advanced in
implementation. California and New York were the only states with public pension funds that
support the TCFD. Location, specifically whether a fund is in California or New York, emerged
as a significant predictor of TCFD implementation stage, with funds in these two states being
more advanced in implementation. Lastly, no significant differences in exposure to non-renewable
energy sector investments before and after the TCFD recommendations were released
between TCFD supporters and non-supporters were found. These findings contribute to the
literature on the implementation of the TCFD framework and its impacts on investment decision-making.
They also apply institutional theory in a new context and demonstrate that normative
pressures resulting from voluntary TCFD support have not redirected institutional investments
away from the non-renewable energy sector, despite its significant climate-related risks. These
findings may be of interest to policymakers working towards a climate target-aligned economy
and considering regulatory measures to influence institutional investment decisions. They also may be of interest to public and private pension funds seeking to understand market engagement
with the TCFD and its impact on investment decisions.
2023-12-13T00:00:00ZUnderstanding the Impact of COVID-19 on the Livelihood Resilience of Small-Scale Fisheries: A Comparative AnalysisAbdelbaset, Mahahttp://hdl.handle.net/10012/201122023-11-22T03:30:55Z2023-11-21T00:00:00ZUnderstanding the Impact of COVID-19 on the Livelihood Resilience of Small-Scale Fisheries: A Comparative Analysis
Abdelbaset, Maha
Small-scale fisheries (SSFs) serve as a vital economic cornerstone in many nations, and play a pivotal role in reinforcing food security and eradicating poverty. Despite their significance, SSF systems and the communities they support remain vulnerable, marginalized, and often overlooked. The emergence of COVID-19 and the subsequent lockdowns and restrictions further exacerbated the vulnerability of these small-scale fisheries. These measures effectively halted the routine activities of fishers and traders, resulting in a sharp decline in daily catch, market disruptions, and the inability of households to secure essential food supplies. Additionally, this crisis laid bare the pre-existing vulnerabilities within small-scale fisheries, shedding light on the system's lack of adaptive capacity and resilience among its actors. This study explores the resilience of livelihoods within small-scale fisheries, utilizing the pandemic impacts as a critical stressor pushing the system's actors to their threshold. The aim of this study is to understand the impact of COVID-19 on the livelihood resilience of small-scale fisheries, and to identify the key adaptive responses and factors leading to their successful implementation.
To achieve this aim, I assess the impact of COVID-19 on the livelihood resilience of small-scale fisheries communities employing a comparative analysis of six case studies. These case studies feature six countries that experienced substantial impact on their SSFs, namely Malaysia, India, Bangladesh, South Africa, Senegal, and Canada, all of which are integral components of the Vulnerability to Viability (V2V) Global Partnership Research Project funded by SSHRC. The case study analysis was grounded in the Social-Ecological Regime Shifts Analytical Framework. This framework consists of six elements that are essential to address when analyzing a social-ecological system experiencing a regime shift due to an external stressor. The outcomes of the comparative analysis offer an in-depth understanding of how COVID-19 has impacted the various actors within SSF value chains and their responses to this unprecedented disruption. Additionally, the analysis helps determine the scales within the system that reached critical thresholds, providing valuable insights for suggested interventions to mitigate these impacts. Furthermore, the analysis identifies the actual scales of intervention tackled by governments and communities.
By comparing the suggested and the actual scales of intervention, the study identifies the five key adaptive responses that have been most effective, namely, consumer-base shift in fish marketing, Alternative Seafood Networks (ASNs), Government aid, sensitive regulations, and community-based approaches. Moreover, the study identified factors leading to the success or failure of these strategies. These factors facilitate long-term interventions such as adaptability, alternatives, knowledge, and tools. These findings contribute to the best practices in governance, coping, and adaptation strategies that can bolster the adaptive capacity of Small-Scale Fisheries. Furthermore, the outcomes inform policymakers, stakeholders, and governments of the essential factors to transform to adaptive governance. This research enhances our understanding of the vulnerabilities exposed by the pandemic and what contributes to the resilience and sustainability of these vital systems and the communities that depend on them.
2023-11-21T00:00:00ZNudging Toward Sustainability: A Pilot Study on Promoting Pro-Environmental Behavior and Reducing Carbon Emissions in a Net-Zero Carbon BuildingYousuf, Mohamedhttp://hdl.handle.net/10012/200372023-10-14T02:30:46Z2023-10-13T00:00:00ZNudging Toward Sustainability: A Pilot Study on Promoting Pro-Environmental Behavior and Reducing Carbon Emissions in a Net-Zero Carbon Building
Yousuf, Mohamed
As the building industry grapples with the challenges of sustainability and climate change, the role of individual behavior in resource and energy conservation practices has received less attention than technical options. This pilot study aims to address this gap by investigating the effectiveness of "nudges," or targeted information interventions, in promoting pro-environmental behavior and reducing carbon emissions in a net-zero building in Ontario, Canada. Using a carbon footprint methodology and marginal emission approach, the study looks at the interplay between human and physical factors in driving sustainable behavior. By expressing carbon emissions as a function of time and applying socio-psychological frameworks to guide effective intervention strategies, this research study contributes to the growing body of literature on sustainable building practices and carbon reduction. The study also offers insights into the potential for nudges to be used as a tool for promoting sustainable behavior and reducing carbon emissions in buildings.
2023-10-13T00:00:00Z