Andy Gouldson

• University of Leeds

This report compares the benefits of place-specific and place-agnostic approaches for the first time. It shows significantly better outcomes when places tailor their net zero delivery to the needs and opportunities of the area with the potential to contribute to levelling up. Recommendations for key next steps towards a coordinated approach are pro...

This policy brief presents lessons from Mexico City and Guadalajara, where pioneering urban cycling schemes are redefining mobility and liveability in urban Mexico. Through an inclusive approach that recognises the diverse needs of its citizens, and the varied barriers to active transport that they face, policy-makers in Mexico City and Guadalajara...

This policy brief describes the evolution of local climate adaptation processes, policies and actions in Xalapa, Mexico. By directing the implementation of a diverse set of adaptation strategies, this case study shows how the institutionalisation of local climate policies can foster incremental and more ambitious action over time. Different project...

The rationale for energy efficiency policy can be framed in terms of a variety of different benefits. This paper considers how different benefits have been used within the overall rationale for energy efficient retrofit policy in different contexts. We posit that different rationales may be used for the same policy response, and that the form of ra...

Achieving net zero emissions by 2050, as envisioned in the Paris Agreement, will require radical changes to urban form and function. Securing the necessary commitments and resources will be easier in the presence of a compelling economic case for mitigation. Focusing on Recife in Brazil, this article evaluates a wide range of low-carbon measures un...

The rapid urbanisation of the twentieth century, along with the spread of high-consumption urban lifestyles, has led to cities becoming the dominant drivers of global anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. Reducing these impacts is crucial, but production-based frameworks of carbon measurement and mitigation—which encompass only a limited part of...

A significant portion of finance for a low-carbon transition is expected to come from private sources. This may be particularly the case in the transport sector, where there is a large private sector presence and substantial investment needs, and in low-income countries, where climate action is unlikely to be the first priority for public finances....

The literature on socio-technical transitions considers how technological innovations can be established within the context of an incumbent regime that is often resistant or inflexible to change. Strategic niche management is an approach to catalysing a transition to a new regime using protected ‘niche’ spaces to enable development and experimentat...

Internationally, allocation of responsibility for reducing greenhouse gas emissions is currently based on the production‐based ( PB ) accounting method, which measures emissions generated in the place where goods and services are produced. However, the growth of emissions embodied in trade has raised the question whether we should switch to, or ama...

Research has begun to uncover the extent that greenhouse gas emissions can be attributed to cities, as well as the scope for cities to contribute to emissions reduction. But assessments of the economics of urban climate mitigation are lacking, and are currently based on selective case studies or specific sectors. Further analysis is crucial to enab...

In response to pressures from governments, investors, non‐governmental organizations and other stakeholders, many large corporations have adopted a variety of carbon and energy management practices, taken action to reduce their emissions and set targets to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. Using the case of international retailers, this articl...

Fast-growing cities in the Global South have an important role to play in climate change mitigation. However, city governments typically focus on more pressing socio-economic needs, such as reducing urban poverty. To what extent can social, economic and climate objectives be aligned? Focusing on Kolkata in India, we consider the economic case for l...

China’s commitment to the UNFCCC to peak its emissions by 2030, or sooner, signaled a long anticipated shift in China’s model of development with far reaching consequences. Cities in China, and particularly the residential sector in cities, will be charged with making significant reductions in emissions growth even as rates of urbanization continue...

Kigali has a population of 1.1 million and an economy worth RWF 2.0 trillion (USD 3.0 billion). Our research found that the total energy bill for the city was RWF 206.1 billion (USD 301.0 million), meaning that 10.1% of everything earned in the local economy is spent on energy. With 'business as usual' trends including rapid population growth, risi...

There is a growing imperative for responses to climate change to go beyond incremental adjustments, aiming instead for society‐wide transformation. In this context, sociotechnical ( ST ) transitions and social–ecological ( SE ) resilience are two prominent normative agendas. Reviewing these literatures reveals how both share a complex‐systems epist...

Cities are central to the fight against climate change, but the IPCC recently noted that many cities — and particularly those in the developing world — lack the institutional, financial and technical capacities needed to switch to low emission development paths. Based on detailed case studies of three Asian cities, this paper finds that the adoptio...

Qual é a melhor maneira de transformar uma cidade por um caminho energético mais eficiente, com base no desenvolvimento em baixo carbono? Mesmo onde há grande interesse em tal transição, existem grandes obstáculos que podem impedir as cidades de trabalhar em uma agenda a longo prazo. A ausência de uma base empírica confiável e localmente apropriada...

Recife has a population of 1.5 million and an economy worth BRL 35.60 billion (US$16.55 billion). Our research found that the total energy bill for the city was BRL 3.40 billion (US$1.45 billion) - meaning that 8.7% of everything earned in the local economy is spent on energy. With 'business as usual trends' including rapid population growth, proje...

A growing body of literature suggests that an economic case may exist for investment in large-scale climate change mitigation. At the same time, however, investment is persistently falling well short of the levels required to prevent dangerous climate change, suggesting that economically attractive mitigation opportunities are being missed. To unde...

The IEA has estimated that over the next four decades US$31 trillion will be required to promote energy efficiency in buildings. However, the opportunities to make such investments are often constrained, particularly in contexts of austerity. We consider the potential of revolving funds as an innovative financing mechanism that could reduce investm...

The IEA has estimated that over the next four decades US$31 trillion will be required to promote energy efficiency in buildings. However, the opportunities to make such investments are often constrained, particularly in contexts of austerity. We consider the potential of revolving funds as an innovative financing mechanism that could reduce investm...

Following a series of extreme air pollution events, the Chinese government released the Air Pollution Prevention and Control Action Plan in 2013 (China’s State Council 2013). The Action Plan sets clear goals for key regions (i.e. cities above the prefecture level, Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Province, the Yangtze River Delta and the Pearl River Delta) an...

What is the best way to shift a city to a more energy efficient, lower carbon development path? Even where there is broad interest in such a transition, there are major obstacles that often prevent cities from acting on such a far-reaching agenda. Focusing on urban Iskandar Malaysia, "Policy Options for a Low Carbon Society: Johor Bahru and Pasir G...

There is widespread interest in the ability of retrofit schemes to shape domestic energy use in order to tackle fuel poverty and reduce carbon emissions. Although much has been written on the topic, there have been few large-scale ex post evaluations of the actual impacts of such schemes. We address this by assessing domestic energy use before and...

Cities are engines of economic growth and social change. About 85% of global GDP in 2015 was generated in cities. By 2050, two-thirds of the global population will live in urban areas. Compact, connected and efficient cities can generate stronger growth and job creation, alleviate poverty and reduce investment costs, as well as improve quality of l...

There is increasing interest in the potential of cities to contribute to climate mitigation. Multiple assessments have evaluated the scale and composition of urban GHG emissions, while others have evaluated some aspects of urban mitigation potential. However, assessments of mitigation potential tend to be broadly focused, few if any have evaluated...

Cities are engines of economic growth and social change. About 85% of global GDP in 2015 was generated in cities. By 2050, two-thirds of the global population will live in urban areas. Compact, connected and efficient cities can generate stronger growth and job creation, alleviate poverty and reduce investment costs, as well as improve quality of l...

The assumption that climate mitigation can only be afforded at a particular level of income is implicit in global climate negotiations. This suggests that middle-income countries may reach a tipping point in their development process where low-carbon investment becomes more viable. In order to avoid dangerous levels of climate change, this tipping...

We evaluate the economic case for low carbon investment in a developing world city. Cost-effective measures could reduce emissions by 24.1% relative to BAU levels. These pay for themselves in o1 year and generate savings throughout their lifetime. Further savings come from reduced expenditure on energy infrastructure, subsidies. Limitations on clim...

Existing approaches to delivering infrastructure are repeatedly criticised for returning poor value for money to the taxpayer and being too narrow to capture the wide range of benefits infrastructure provides to the economy, society and environment. Austerity provides a further stimulus to innovate new ways of delivering, funding, valuing and manag...

This paper is the first large scale, quantitative study of the impact of corporate carbon management practices on corporate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Using data for 2009 and 2010 from the Carbon Disclosure Project survey, we find little compelling evidence that commonly adopted management practices are reducing emissions. This finding is unex...

This paper presents the key findings from an analysis of the climate change practices and performance, from the mid-1990s through to the present day, of (a) the UK supermarket sector, (b) the world’s twenty-five largest retailers. It summarises the overall trends in relative and absolute performance from the retail sector, compares the performance...

This paper starts from the premise that our understanding of the extent to which, and of the conditions under which, we might rely on new or neoliberal forms of governance beyond the state to deliver particular public interest objectives is limited, especially when they seek to instigate changes in corporate behaviour. In response, we briefly explo...

Although in recent years great emphasis has been placed on global agreements and national commitments on climate change, ultimately action on mitigation and adaptation must take place at the local level. Many local authorities have to face questions of whether they should develop policies on climate change, and if so, on what evidence should polici...

In this paper, we conduct a comparative analysis of the results of five recently completed studies that examined the economic case for investment in low-carbon development in five cities: Leeds in the UK, Kolkata in India, Lima in Peru, Johor Bahru in Malaysia and Palembang in Indonesia. The results demonstrate that there is a compelling economic c...

In this paper, we conduct a comparative analysis of the results of five recently completed studies that examined the economic case for investment in low-carbon development in five cities: Leeds in the UK, Kolkata in India, Lima in Peru, Johor Bahru in Malaysia and Palembang in Indonesia. The results demonstrate that there is a compelling economic c...

Retrofitting existing housing stock to improve energy efficiency is often required to meet climate mitigation, public health and fuel poverty targets. Increasing uptake and effectiveness of retrofit schemes requires understanding of their impacts on householder attitudes and behaviours. This paper reports results of a survey of 500 Kirklees househo...

It is often held that the UK has been something of a leader in its response to climate change, and that the USA has been more of a laggard. Whilst much of this debate relates to government policy, in this paper we consider whether this is true when it comes to corporate action on climate change. We use the retail sector to explore this question. Th...

Whilst there is much discussion about the stringency of environmental regulations and the variability of industrial environmental performance in different countries, there are very few robust evaluations that allow meaningful comparisons to be made. This is partly because data scarcity restricts the ability to make 'like for like' comparisons acros...

This chapter focuses on the use of licensing and certification as a means of increasing appropriate levels of skills provision amongst a range of low-carbon occupations in the United Kingdom. Previous work addressed the range of market and governance failures in the provision of low-carbon skills and the measures adopted to address these failures....

As concerns over climate change and resource constraints grow, many cities across the world are trying to achieve a low carbon transition. Although new zero carbon buildings are an important part of the story, in existing cities the transformation of the current building stock and urban infrastructure must inevitably form the main focus for transit...

A significant proportion of the world's greenhouse gas emissions can be attributed, directly or indirectly, to corporate activities. An increasing number of companies have set targets and have adopted initiatives to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, raising the question of what sorts of outcomes can realistically be expected from corporate act...

There are compelling reasons for policy makers to be interested in the low-carbon agenda. More than half of the world's population lives in, and more than half of the world's economic output comes from, cities. Up to 70% of global carbon emissions can also be attributed to consumption that takes place in cities. Recent research has shown that cost-...

Driven by the rising cost of energy, stakeholder pressure and the expectation that governments will continue to implement policy measures directed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions, an increasing number of companies have set targets to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. These commitments raise two important questions. The first is whether th...

What is the most effective and efficient way to decarbonize a city? There are hundreds of low carbon options available and although they present a significant opportunity to reduce energy bills and carbon footprints there is often a lack of reliable information on their performance. The higher levels of risk and uncertainty that emerge as a result...

This paper provides an overview of the literatures on corporate social responsibility (CSR) and on the governance of business, and explores the links between these two, frequently separate, debates. It concludes that while there is a general recognition in the literature of the factors that encourage companies to adopt a proactive approach to CSR,...

Through initiatives such as the Carbon Disclosure Project, investors have encouraged companies to report on their climate change-related risks and opportunities, their greenhouse gas emissions and their climate change management systems and processes. Despite the large number of companies that now report climate change-related information, investor...

Information can play a hugely important role in the governance of corporate behaviour. The provision of reliable information on the financial performance of firms underpins the operation of financial markets, and the provision of information on the environmental performance of firms has enabled both ‘governance from the inside’ (through corporation...

There are compelling reasons for local authorities - and especially cities - to be interested in the low carbon agenda: it is estimated that approximately 70% of the UK’s economy-wide emissions are under the influence of UK local authorities, and recent research has shown that, at commercial costs of capital, cost-effective and cost-neutral investm...

Achieving a successful transition to a low carbon economy, in the UK and other countries, will require sufficient people with appropriate qualifications and skills to manufacture, install, and operate the low carbon technologies and approaches. The actual numbers and types of skills required are uncertain and will depend on the speed and direction...

Are companies embracing the transition to a low carbon economy? Is business practice keeping pace with the need for change? How can policy facilitate and enable? This paper reports on new research that provides an insight into business realities today, whilst looking ahead at potential low carbon pathways for 2020 with a focus on policy options. B...

Are companies embracing the opportunities to improve their energy efficiency and reduce their carbon footprints? Is business practice keeping pace with market opportunities, government targets and with the need for change? This policy briefing reports on new research that provides an insight into current business perspectives on investment in energ...

  In this paper, we use insights derived from a critical evaluation of ecological modernisation theories to examine the origins and influence of new, market-based, forms of carbon governance. Focusing on two key examples—emissions trading in Europe and the global market in offsets—we argue that ecological modernisation theories can help us understa...

Within this paper, we examine the contribution that trust-based relationships can make to achieving better-and particularly more effective, efficient and equitable-environmental regulation. While levels of trust in regulators, regulatory processes and outcomes are often discussed, the influence of trust on different actors and on different measures...

Internationally, pressure is being exerted on governments and regulators to develop modern forms of regulation that deliver more for less, and in better ways. We discuss the ways in which one large regulator, the Environment Agency for England and Wales, has responded to such pressures by implementing risk-based approaches to regulation. After expl...

Summary The proposed paper explores plural methodological strategies in climate change. The paper investigates the possibilities and difficulties associated with bridging the gap between model- based approaches in climate change science and climate-change economics, which need validation or 'ground-truthing', and qualitative and case-study based ap...

This article examines the key contributions of the political science and systems theory based literatures on environmental governance, and uses them to analyse the governance of biodiversity in Europe. The article suggests that the key insights of the two bodies of literature are a distinction between governance frameworks and regimes on one hand,...

This paper considers the influence of a range of factors within and around the firm on business decision making relating to the environment. Within the firm, it emphasises the importance of governance structures, corporate cultures and organisational capacities. Around the firm, it stresses the importance of the incentives, imperatives and informat...

Based on a study conducted for the Environment Agency for England and Wales, we discuss the contribution that new alternative and complementary environmental policy instruments might make to the realization of the objectives of the EU's Water Framework Directive. Following a survey that identified nearly 100 examples where alternative and complemen...

Whilst ecological modernisation theory emphasizes the potential for modern societies to recognize and respond to their environmental impacts by finding new ways of governing environment–economy relations, concepts of policy learning focus on the scope for new forms of environmental policy to be generated within and transferred between different con...

Within this paper, we argue that the data released by companies through corporate environmental reports are of very limited value, particularly for analysts seeking to benchmark the environmental performance of different companies or sites. We also argue that the data published by governments through pollutant release and transfer registers (PRTRs)...

The authors sketch a framework within which the contributions to this theme issue can be understood. In particular, they discuss various frames of reference or ways of thinking that can be brought to bear on the challenges that arise in evaluating attempts to govern environmental risks. The discussion is divided into three sections. First, they dis...

In recent years there has been a great deal of discussion on the potential for a shift away from modernistic or technocratic approaches to decisionmaking on risk towards more open, inclusive, and deliberative approaches. The authors consider (a) the reasons why some companies have taken the first step in this transition by exploring the potential o...

The environmental impacts associated with the life cycle of the automobile are pronounced. Indeed, many environmentalists suggest that through its lifetime the core product of the automotive industry is the most polluting product on earth. This paper analyses the response to such criticism from one particular automotive manufacturer, the Volkswagen...

Within this paper, we consider whether it is possible to trace the links between the procedural and the substantive dimensions of corporate environmentalism using information that is in the public domain – most notably in corporate reports and in pollutant releases and transfer registers (PRTRs) such as the US Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) and the...

Within the context of broader debates on corporate social responsibility (CSR) and environmental justice (EJ), this paper examines three key questions: first, how the standards that corporations adopt at the global scale trickle down into local site-level practices; second, whether levels of corporate environmental performance vary from place to pl...

Within the context of broader debates on the potential of more open, inclusive and deliberative approaches to decision-making, this paper examines the influence that enhanced access to environmental information has had on the governance of industry in the UK. After considering the extent to which information on emissions from industrial sites is pr...

This paper seeks to contribute to the broader debate on how to promote `better regulation' by examining the origins and influence of different regulatory styles. More particularly, it examines the extent to which economic theories of cooperation can help to explain the presence of the cooperative regulatory style that has long been associated with...

Historically, the relationship between economic development and environmental protection has been seen as one of mutual antagonism. Those who have been primarily interested in the performance of the economy have generally perceived environmental protection to be a brake on growth. Conversely, those who have been principally concerned about the qual...

This paper considers the question of how ex ante predictions of the costs of complying with environmental regulations compare with ex post evaluations of actual compliance costs. This is an important issue given the emergence of requirements for regulatory impact assessment (RIA) in many policy arenas (see OECD, 1997) and the conclusion of previous...

Ecological modernisation theory has been offered as a possible solution to the environmental problems currently facing advanced industrial countries. It suggests that regulation can help to solve environmental problems whilst at the same time making industry more competitive. In theory this can be achieved if regulation encourages the development a...

Following a brief discussion of the relationship between science, technology and the environment, this paper considers the role of science and technology in the formulation and implementation of environmental policy in the UK. It suggests that scientific uncertainty, whether real or perceived, has often been enough to stall the environmental policy...

This paper begins with an examination of the role of state failure in constructing and preserving inefficient and ineffective systems of pollution control. It then assesses the characteristics, goals and mechanisms associated with integrated economic development and environmental protection as proposed by the conceptual framework of ecological mode...

The European Union (EU) White Paper on Growth, Competitiveness and Employment assigns a central role to the development of environmental technology. The motives for such a position are both environmental and economic. To promote innovation and the development and diffusion of new environmental technologies, various EU policy statements have propose...

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