Environmentally-Extended Economic Models: Development and Application to Carbon Pricing and Technology Change in Alberta, Canada
Abstract
This thesis develops a detailed environmental-economic model of the province of Alberta.
Methods are developed for utilizing a variety of statistical data sources to develop disaggregate
provincial input-output models based on the national Canadian model. The model is extended to
include physical flows of water, energy, and greenhouse gas emissions. A new approach to
distributing physical flows is developed that considers physical flows as derived demands to
satisfy the needs of utility maximizing industrial and household activities. This framework is
applied to analysis of carbon pricing at the provincial scale and results presented. Detailed
representations of household consumption and electricity generation are utilized to better assess
the effects of carbon pricing and where redistributive measures should be applied. The model is
then applied to assessment of three technology change scenarios: a shift in the provincial
electricity generation mix, a transition to a fully electric private automobile fleet, and a partial
change in the non-residential construction industry to reduce concrete use and increase use of
wood in construction.
Description
Keywords
Economics, Sociology--Transportation, Urban and Regional Planning, Statistics, Energy, Engineering--Civil
Citation
Hawkins, J. (2016). Environmentally-Extended Economic Models: Development and Application to Carbon Pricing and Technology Change in Alberta, Canada (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca. doi:10.11575/PRISM/25918