Decarbonization
The fight against climate change is one of the defining challenges of our time. Global GHG emissions must be cut by more than half by 2030 in order to avoid the most dangerous impacts of climate change. The magnitude of this challenge has been brought into stark relief by the Covid-19 pandemic, which only led to a 7% reduction in global emissions in 2020. In order to achieve global decarbonization, an interdisciplinary approach is necessary. Decarbonization consists of reconfiguring socio-economic and technical systems centered on fossil fuels and unsustainable land-use patterns in order to reduce GHG emissions.
Inspiring research
The Chair aims to improve understanding of the social, economic and political conditions favoring decarboni- zation, both in developed and developing countries, in order to catalyze global cooperation on climate change. Its research axes are:
- Evaluation of the effectiveness of decarbonization initiatives in the energy, transport and land-use sectors;
- Comparative political economy of decarbonization; and
- Measuring progress in regional and international cooperation on climate change.
Benefits for society
- Develop tools such as techno-economic models to evaluate the effectiveness of decarbonization efforts in the energy, transport and land-use sectors.
- Generate knowledge on social, economic and political aspects influencing the effectiveness of decarbonization efforts, both in developed and developing countries.
- Bridge analytical approaches for decarbonization between the social sciences, natural sciences as well as
- Measure the evolution of regional and international cooperation on decarbonization.
- Co-produce and disseminate knowledge by bringing together experts from different research traditions, government, the private sector and civil society.
Example projects
Joint Clean Climate Transport Research Partnership (JCCTRP)
The JCCTRP is an interdisciplinary research partnership focused on climate and transporta- tion policy issues in Quebec, California and other jurisdictions, with an emphasis on modeling and com- parative policy analysis. More information is available at jcctrp.org
Measuring the evolution of climate change cooperation
This project aims to improve understanding of climate change cooperation through a combination of technical policy analysis and public opinion research.
Energy transitions in East Africa
This project combines traditions of energy systems mode- ling, sustainability transitions and comparative political economy in order to better understand the decision-making process for energy transitions in East Africa.
Effectiveness of climate finance instruments
Drawing on empirical field research, this project aims to understand the effectiveness of climate finance instru- ments for the transition to low-carbon development.
United Nations Conference
The Chair will support the organization of UQAM’s dele- gation to the annual Conference of Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
Partnerships
Knowledge produced through the Chair is based on the engagement of partners at all stages of the research process, including partners in both developed and developing countries. The Chair brings together partners from the social sciences, natural sciences, engineering as well as members of government, the private sector and civil society in the co-production of knowledge.
Keywords
Decarbonization | Energy transitions | Low- carbon development | International and regional cooperation | Comparative politics | Techno-economic modelingTo find out more
Chaires stratégiques Chair in DecarbonizationChair holder
Mark Purdon, professor at the Department of Strategy, Social and Environmental Responsibility514-987-3000 poste 2594
