Faculty Archives - Sustainable Energy

Alexandra Mallett Talks to the Capital Current about Climate Change and the Municipal Election

cuthemeedtr5 — Fri, 21 Oct 2022 19:06:37 +0000

Alexandra Mallett Talks to the Capital Current about Climate Change and the Municipal Election

October 21, 2022

Change is in the municipal government’s hands

Dr. Alexandra Mallett, an associate professor at �Ӱ�ԭ�� University with a focus on sustainable energy and climate policy, emphasized the power municipal governments hold in combating climate change.

“The first thing that needs to happen is [a] common vision, and that’s what you can do with your city councillors,” Mallett said.

“They can start advocating on your behalf with respect to the province and the federal level so that you can actually work together and leverage funds from different levels of government.”

Mallett has been involved in climate negotiations but said that she has seen the most change made through municipal actions.

“We can all do our individual part, but at the end of the day in order to make corporations change, governments change et cetera, we need to see action happening,” Mallett said. “And where I have seen it a lot is at the municipal level.”

The post Alexandra Mallett Talks to the Capital Current about Climate Change and the Municipal Election appeared first on Sustainable Energy.

Alexandra Mallett Publishes Article in Energy Strategy Reviews

cuthemeedtr5 — Wed, 28 Sep 2022 13:14:07 +0000

Alexandra Mallett Publishes Article in Energy Strategy Reviews

October 21, 2022

Faculty

SE Policy

Alexandra Mallett

Prosanto Pal

Highlights

Innovation is needed for decarbonization of the iron and steel industry in a sustainable way.
The adoption of technologies that significant reduce carbon emissions in countries like India serve as important pathways towards decarbonization.
Frontrunner Indian steel firms are taking proactive steps to produce their steel more sustainably but these efforts alone are inadequate to effectively transform the sector.
International collaboration and national government efforts, have the potential to catalyze such systemic changes.

Abstract

There is growing acknowledgement that industrial processes including the production of iron and steel are a pivotal area ripe for technological change if we are to effectively decarbonize, while concurrently industrialize countries of the Global South in a sustainable way. Innovation is an important element in advancing green (decarbonizing and reducing the environmental footprint) steel production. A narrow view of green steel production points to incremental changes that reduce carbon and other environmental footprints. However, insights from innovation systems and transformative innovation policy highlight the role of of decarbonization pathways, arguing that greening steel will not come about without industrial transformation. This requires an overarching, systematic approach that broadens innovation to effectively transform industry towards decarbonization. Public policies provide mechanisms through which to realize these changes. We turn to the production of steel by large firms in India to ask: what technological innovation efforts are underway? What about the role of technology and innovation cooperation? Regarding the directionality of these pathways, to what extent could these efforts lead to green transformation of the production of steel in India?

Drawing from interviews with informants with knowledge of this sector, and various government and industry documents, we found that there is a disconnect between what steel majors and government actors are doing in India – pursuing various activities and policies but doing so in a piecemeal fashion and not pivoting enough towards net zero – and the systemic approach that scholars indicate is fundamental to effectively green the steel sector. Secondly, in contrast to studies that argue that the bulk of international technology cooperation initiatives on R&D are led by the public sector, with the private sector becoming involved at latter stages, various Indian steel majors are actively working on international technology cooperation on R&D. Frontrunner India steel firms are taking proactive steps to produce their steel more sustainably. However, current efforts – principally led by the private sector and where the market for green steel is basically non-existent – to make the sector more sustainable are inadequate. We suggest that governments must play a larger role in promoting innovation to realize the green transformation of steel production in India. International collaboration and technology diffusion combined with national government efforts, which allow for the ‘opening up’ of innovation policy, have the potential to catalyze such systemic changes.

The post Alexandra Mallett Publishes Article in Energy Strategy Reviews appeared first on Sustainable Energy.

Alexandra Mallett Talks to Francopresse about Renewable Energy in the Far North

cuthemeedtr5 — Thu, 08 Sep 2022 13:40:37 +0000

Alexandra Mallett Talks to Francopresse about Renewable Energy in the Far North

October 21, 2022

Faculty

SE Policy

LE LUNDI 29 AOÛT 2022 13:00 SCIENCES ET ENVIRONNEMENT

Les énergies renouvelables électrisent le Grand Nord

MARINE ERNOULT
FRANCOPRESSE

Ces projets témoignent de l’essor récent des énergies renouvelables dans les TNO, mais aussi au Yukon et au Nunavut.

Alexandra Mallett, professeure agrégée à l’École de politiques publiques et d’administration de l’Université �Ӱ�ԭ�� d’Ottawa, explique que «l’élection des libéraux en 2015 a été un catalyseur. Ils ont mis l’accent sur la transition énergétique dans le Grand Nord, car ils priorisent la réduction des émissions de gaz à effet de serre dans les communautés éloignées et autochtones».

Rien que dans le publié en décembre 2020, 300 millions $ sont consacrés aux sources d’énergies propres dans les communautés rurales et éloignées.

«Le fédéral a compris qu’il s’agissait d’une clé pour la réconciliation avec les Premières Nations, une manière pour elles de se réapproprier leur destinée», selon Alexandra Mallett.

Greg Poelzer abonde dans le même sens : «En termes de réconciliation économique et de partage des ressources, les énergies vertes représentent la plus importante perspective des prochaines décennies. C’est une source de revenus fiable et continue».

Alexandra Mallett est professeure agrégée à l’École de politiques publiques et d’administration de l’Université �Ӱ�ԭ�� d’Ottawa. PHOTO : COURTOISIE

D’après les deux chercheurs, les communautés autochtones sont devenues des leadeurs. «Aux premières loges du changement climatique, elles ont pris conscience de l’urgence de décarboner le secteur énergétique. Ça rejoint leurs valeurs traditionnelles, et ça permet d’utiliser des ressources locales», observe Alexandra Mallett.

L’universitaire cite en exemple la biomasse qui contribue à prévenir les feux de forêt et participe à l’usage traditionnel de la terre.

Le Yukon trace la voie

Greg Poelzer estime, lui, que la sécurité de l’approvisionnement énergétique est la principale motivation des Premières Nations. «Le changement climatique n’est jamais un enjeu soulevé dans les discussions. Il y a une déconnexion entre les priorités d’Ottawa et celles du Nord, où l’électricité est une question de vie ou de mort», affirme-t-il.

Il explique que, si l’électricité et le chauffage produits à partir de renouvelables sont «moins chers, plus fiables et plus accessibles que le diésel et le mazout», la transition est soutenue par la population, «fatiguée des prix exorbitants d’hydrocarbures importés de l’autre bout du pays».

Les énergies renouvelables sont certes en plein essor, mais restent marginales aux dires des spécialistes interrogés. «Les projets mettent du temps à voir le jour, car les consultations sont longues et les défis logistiques pour amener le matériel, énormes», révèle Alexandra Mallett, qui constate par ailleurs de grandes disparités entre les territoires.

Le Yukon fait figure d’exemple. En 2019, les barrages fournissaient déjà 80 % de l’électricité. Avec l’ambition d’être , les autorités ont modifié en profondeur la règlementation et débloqué des fonds pour faciliter l’émergence de projets autres que l’hydroélectricité. Une centaine d’initiatives autochtones sont en cours.

The post Alexandra Mallett Talks to Francopresse about Renewable Energy in the Far North appeared first on Sustainable Energy.

Alexandra Mallett Selected as Alternate Member for IAI’s Scientific Advisory Committee

cuthemeedtr5 — Fri, 17 Jun 2022 19:10:06 +0000

Alexandra Mallett Selected as Alternate Member for IAI’s Scientific Advisory Committee

October 21, 2022

Faculty

SE Policy

SPPA Professor Alexandra Mallett been selected as an alternative member for the for Global Change Research .

The IAI is a regional intergovernmental body that focuses on coordination around research underway regarding global change in the Americas and the SAC provides recommendations about the Science agenda, long term plans of the Institute and annual program. The SAC also leads the peer review process of proposals sent to the IAI.

The SAC is composed of ten members elected by the CoP. These members are scientists recognized internationally for their expertise in a variety of disciplines relevant to global change research.

As the main scientific advisory body of the IAI, it makes recommendations to the Conference of the Parties regarding the Science Agenda, long-range plans and annual program of the Institute. The SAC also leads the peer-review system for scientific proposals and results of IAI funded programs.

The post Alexandra Mallett Selected as Alternate Member for IAI’s Scientific Advisory Committee appeared first on Sustainable Energy.

Alexandra Mallett Publishes Article in The Extractive Industries and Society

cuthemeedtr5 — Wed, 22 Dec 2021 19:40:31 +0000

Alexandra Mallett Publishes Article in The Extractive Industries and Society

October 21, 2022

Faculty

SE Policy

Environmental impacts of mining in Brazil and the environmental licensing process: Changes needed for changing times?

Alexandra Mallett, Erica Lima, Barros Franca, Italo Alves, and Lisa Mills

Abstract

Brazil, a key mining producer globally, has a comprehensive system of environmental laws and institutions. Nevertheless, their effectiveness has been questioned. We examined the perception of regulatory effectiveness of the environmental licensing process for mining from a range of actors involved in these processes in Brazil. Firstly, we found that in line with past research, participants characterized the environmental licensing system as being beset by administrative and legal complexity, a lack of systematization of these processes, and insufficient resources being devoted to enforcement. The workload of environmental agency officers was also noted as a problem as was political influence. In addition, informants raised concerns around environmental agency officers being personally liable for environmental crimes. Furthermore, although interviewees noted that public hearings, environmental impact documents and having the Public Prosecutor’s Office (PPO) as a resource were useful state-led ways to mitigate environmental risks from mining, they highlighted longstanding issues around the effectiveness of the hearings and the quality and quantity of the environmental impact documents. These findings are important because despite having comprehensive environmental laws and institutions in place for decades including the presence of a dedicated actor – the PPO – past problems with environmental regulation of mining in Brazil continue.

The post Alexandra Mallett Publishes Article in The Extractive Industries and Society appeared first on Sustainable Energy.

Faculty Archives - Sustainable Energy

Alexandra Mallett Talks to the Capital Current about Climate Change and the Municipal Election

Change is in the municipal government’s hands

Alexandra Mallett Publishes Article in Energy Strategy Reviews

Green transformation in the iron and steel industry in India: Rethinking patterns of innovation

Highlights

Abstract

Alexandra Mallett Talks to Francopresse about Renewable Energy in the Far North

Alexandra Mallett Selected as Alternate Member for IAI’s Scientific Advisory Committee

Alexandra Mallett Publishes Article in The Extractive Industries and Society

Environmental impacts of mining in Brazil and the environmental licensing process: Changes needed for changing times?

Abstract