title: The role of law in climate change mitigation in oil and gas production

authors: Abraham-Dukuma, Magnus Chimuenya

subjects: Energy governance

abstract: Scientific evidence and ideas about climate change suggest the need for a global energy shift from oil and fossil fuels to renewables and other forms of clean energy. This transition will not be possible without understanding the dynamics and legal frameworks in petroleum-producing countries. More so, the current significant position of oil and fossil fuels in the global energy mix justifies the need to inquire into sustainability practices in the oil and gas industry, while the energy transition continues to gain momentum. Against this background, this thesis examines the role of law in climate change mitigation in oil and gas production to identify some characteristics of an effective regime for abating upstream gas flaring, venting, and fugitive emissions. It adopts a qualitative analytical approach consisting of conventional legal analysis, comparative analysis, and the theory of regulation to study the applicable regimes in twelve major petroleum-producing countries to obtain insights of a general nature. It also discusses some industry measures and private corporate initiatives of oil and gas companies as part of the overarching governance structure for mitigating upstream greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Findings from the comparative analysis put forward the necessity of adopting sector-specific and dedicated prescriptive regulatory arrangements and market-based instruments that send strong price signals to incentivise large-scale emissions reduction in petroleum production. The study also suggests the need for complementarity between state and industry regulatory approaches to incentivise innovative strategies to reduce upstream GHG emissions significantly. These considerations constitute a hybrid design that regulators can consider while undertaking law reforms on the topic. However, political will, dependency, rent-seeking, and corruption are some political-economy issues that most petroleum-producing states must address to ensure the effective regulation of upstream GHG emissions and, by extension, support profound energy transition.

text: The role of law in climate change mitigation in oil and gas production Scientific evidence and ideas about climate change suggest the need for a global energy shift from oil and fossil fuels to renewables and other forms of clean energy. This transition will not be possible without understanding the dynamics and legal frameworks in petroleum-producing countries. More so, the current significant position of oil and fossil fuels in the global energy mix justifies the need to inquire into sustainability practices in the oil and gas industry, while the energy transition continues to gain momentum. Against this background, this thesis examines the role of law in climate change mitigation in oil and gas production to identify some characteristics of an effective regime for abating upstream gas flaring, venting, and fugitive emissions. It adopts a qualitative analytical approach consisting of conventional legal analysis, comparative analysis, and the theory of regulation to study the applicable regimes in twelve major petroleum-producing countries to obtain insights of a general nature. It also discusses some industry measures and private corporate initiatives of oil and gas companies as part of the overarching governance structure for mitigating upstream greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Findings from the comparative analysis put forward the necessity of adopting sector-specific and dedicated prescriptive regulatory arrangements and market-based instruments that send strong price signals to incentivise large-scale emissions reduction in petroleum production. The study also suggests the need for complementarity between state and industry regulatory approaches to incentivise innovative strategies to reduce upstream GHG emissions significantly. These considerations constitute a hybrid design that regulators can consider while undertaking law reforms on the topic. However, political will, dependency, rent-seeking, and corruption are some political-economy issues that most petroleum-producing states must address to ensure the effective regulation of upstream GHG emissions and, by extension, support profound energy transition.

year: 2021

title: On the gas exchange and isofluxes of New Zealand mosses

authors: Ng, Tania Zi Xin

subjects: Moss

abstract: The stable isotopic composition of plant tissue reflects the biophysical and biochemical processes that occur during water uptake and cellulose synthesis. Stable isotope techniques in plant science have primarily focused on vascular plants; however, there is a growing interest in the stable isotopic composition of nonvascular plants, especially for paleoclimate reconstruction. The stable carbon isotopic composition of plant organic matter provides information of when a plant was photosynthetically active, while the stable oxygen isotopic composition can infer the environmental conditions that favoured photosynthesis. Presently, little is known about the relationship between the stable oxygen isotopic composition of moss tissue and the environment due to the complexity of the isotopic fractionation processes involved. This thesis offers insight on the oxygen isotopic composition of moss tissue and phyllid water through three separate studies and addresses the possible isotopic fractionation processes that may influence the stable isotopic composition observed.

The first study investigated the oxygen isotopic composition of evaporated water from two species of moss: Ptychomnion aciculare and Dawsonia superba. Measurements of on-line gas exchange and the isotopic composition of vapour water from the mosses were taken. Two oxygen isotope theories were applied to explain the observed oxygen isotopic composition of evaporated water. The first isotope theory was Rayleigh’s distillation theory, often used to describe the oxygen isotope variation observed in the global hydrological cycle. The second theory was the modified Craig–Gordon model, often applied to isotopic enrichment in vascular leaves. The results highlighted how the anatomical differences of the phyllid structure influences the isotopic composition of evaporated and transpired water.

The second study interpreted the stable carbon and oxygen isotopic composition of D. superba stems. This involved taking 10 mm transverse sections along the stem and analyzing the isotopic composition of each section. The results from the carbon isotope analysis indicated that the carbon isotopic composition was more depleted at the base of stem compared to the tip, suggesting soil respiration, rather than atmospheric CO₂, was the primary factor influencing the isotopic composition of the stem. Additionally, analyses of the stable oxygen isotopic composition of D. superba stem indicated seasonal variations that coincided with the seasonal shifts in the oxygen stable isotopic composition of precipitation.

The final study investigated the relationship between the isotopic composition of Sphagnum cuspidatum bulk tissue and the oxygen isotopic composition of source water was investigated under laboratory settings. The oxygen isotopic composition of moss tissue is theorized to reflect the oxygen isotopic composition of source water, offset by the biochemical fractionation constant. Four sealed growth chambers were set up and the mosses were watered with different isotopically labelled water for 6 months. S. cuspidatum was harvested, dried, and analyzed for the stable isotopic composition. The results indicated that oxygen isotopic composition of moss tissue increased by 0.17‰ for every 1‰ increase in source water, a relationship much lower than predicted by the theory. This suggested that the isotopic composition of moss tissue reflects an equilibrium process between source water and the vapour from atmospheric air.

These studies contribute theoretical and practical advancements in understanding the relationship between moss stable isotopes and the environment. The research here demonstrated the relationship between the oxygen isotopic composition of moss bulk tissue to the oxygen isotopic composition of precipitation and water sources, in both field and laboratory settings. They also provide insight into how the physiology and anatomy of moss phyllids influence the observed isotopic composition fixed in organic material.

text: On the gas exchange and isofluxes of New Zealand mosses The stable isotopic composition of plant tissue reflects the biophysical and biochemical processes that occur during water uptake and cellulose synthesis. Stable isotope techniques in plant science have primarily focused on vascular plants; however, there is a growing interest in the stable isotopic composition of nonvascular plants, especially for paleoclimate reconstruction. The stable carbon isotopic composition of plant organic matter provides information of when a plant was photosynthetically active, while the stable oxygen isotopic composition can infer the environmental conditions that favoured photosynthesis. Presently, little is known about the relationship between the stable oxygen isotopic composition of moss tissue and the environment due to the complexity of the isotopic fractionation processes involved. This thesis offers insight on the oxygen isotopic composition of moss tissue and phyllid water through three separate studies and addresses the possible isotopic fractionation processes that may influence the stable isotopic composition observed.

The first study investigated the oxygen isotopic composition of evaporated water from two species of moss: Ptychomnion aciculare and Dawsonia superba. Measurements of on-line gas exchange and the isotopic composition of vapour water from the mosses were taken. Two oxygen isotope theories were applied to explain the observed oxygen isotopic composition of evaporated water. The first isotope theory was Rayleigh’s distillation theory, often used to describe the oxygen isotope variation observed in the global hydrological cycle. The second theory was the modified Craig–Gordon model, often applied to isotopic enrichment in vascular leaves. The results highlighted how the anatomical differences of the phyllid structure influences the isotopic composition of evaporated and transpired water.

The second study interpreted the stable carbon and oxygen isotopic composition of D. superba stems. This involved taking 10 mm transverse sections along the stem and analyzing the isotopic composition of each section. The results from the carbon isotope analysis indicated that the carbon isotopic composition was more depleted at the base of stem compared to the tip, suggesting soil respiration, rather than atmospheric CO₂, was the primary factor influencing the isotopic composition of the stem. Additionally, analyses of the stable oxygen isotopic composition of D. superba stem indicated seasonal variations that coincided with the seasonal shifts in the oxygen stable isotopic composition of precipitation.

The final study investigated the relationship between the isotopic composition of Sphagnum cuspidatum bulk tissue and the oxygen isotopic composition of source water was investigated under laboratory settings. The oxygen isotopic composition of moss tissue is theorized to reflect the oxygen isotopic composition of source water, offset by the biochemical fractionation constant. Four sealed growth chambers were set up and the mosses were watered with different isotopically labelled water for 6 months. S. cuspidatum was harvested, dried, and analyzed for the stable isotopic composition. The results indicated that oxygen isotopic composition of moss tissue increased by 0.17‰ for every 1‰ increase in source water, a relationship much lower than predicted by the theory. This suggested that the isotopic composition of moss tissue reflects an equilibrium process between source water and the vapour from atmospheric air.

These studies contribute theoretical and practical advancements in understanding the relationship between moss stable isotopes and the environment. The research here demonstrated the relationship between the oxygen isotopic composition of moss bulk tissue to the oxygen isotopic composition of precipitation and water sources, in both field and laboratory settings. They also provide insight into how the physiology and anatomy of moss phyllids influence the observed isotopic composition fixed in organic material.

year: 2023

title: Keeping Chooks at Home in the Waikato:  Exploring Postcolonial, Feminist and  Kaupapa M ori Perspectives

authors: Burnett, Zavier

subjects: Chooks

abstract: This thesis considers the narratives of eight M ori chook keepers from the Waikato rohe, Aotearoa. The Waikato rohe has been selected due to its significant history of M ori horticultural and agricultural practises, including chook keeping. 

I build on the growing corpus of m tauranga about indigenous studies. Using a postcolonial, feminist and Kaupapa M ori theoretical framework, I undertook five semi-structured interviews and one focus r p  with M ori kaum tua. This thesis does not attempt to represent all M ori. There may be considerable difference between wh nau, hap  and iwi practices. However, the rangahau provides insights into the views of eight individuals and their experiences with chooks. I have also utilised Country Calendar (1970; 1977a; 1977b and 1980) episodes and children's pukapuka such as Nanny Mihi's Garden (Drewery 2002) for the purposes of discourse analysis. 

By listening to these stories, kaupapa including race, class and ethnicity emerge that affect the participants' everyday lives as chook keepers. The participants view chooks in a variety of ways. First, as a means of food production. By integrating chooks into their communities, the participants are able to provide a nutritious and low-cost kai source for themselves and their wh nau. This attempts to at least in part address their poverty problems. Second, as a hybridised P keh  and M ori kararehe. Third, as hysterical, comical, silly and helpless. I explore these issues within the broader context of colonial, neocolonial and anticolonial practices.

text: Keeping Chooks at Home in the Waikato:  Exploring Postcolonial, Feminist and  Kaupapa M ori Perspectives This thesis considers the narratives of eight M ori chook keepers from the Waikato rohe, Aotearoa. The Waikato rohe has been selected due to its significant history of M ori horticultural and agricultural practises, including chook keeping. 

I build on the growing corpus of m tauranga about indigenous studies. Using a postcolonial, feminist and Kaupapa M ori theoretical framework, I undertook five semi-structured interviews and one focus r p  with M ori kaum tua. This thesis does not attempt to represent all M ori. There may be considerable difference between wh nau, hap  and iwi practices. However, the rangahau provides insights into the views of eight individuals and their experiences with chooks. I have also utilised Country Calendar (1970; 1977a; 1977b and 1980) episodes and children's pukapuka such as Nanny Mihi's Garden (Drewery 2002) for the purposes of discourse analysis. 

By listening to these stories, kaupapa including race, class and ethnicity emerge that affect the participants' everyday lives as chook keepers. The participants view chooks in a variety of ways. First, as a means of food production. By integrating chooks into their communities, the participants are able to provide a nutritious and low-cost kai source for themselves and their wh nau. This attempts to at least in part address their poverty problems. Second, as a hybridised P keh  and M ori kararehe. Third, as hysterical, comical, silly and helpless. I explore these issues within the broader context of colonial, neocolonial and anticolonial practices.

year: 2006