@phdthesis{Ezeamama2021, author = {Ezeamama, Anayo}, title = {Evaluating policy impacts of minimum energy performance standards (MEPS) on Nigeria's Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) to the Paris Agreement}, doi = {10.26127/BTUOpen-5459}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:co1-opus4-54598}, school = {BTU Cottbus - Senftenberg}, year = {2021}, abstract = {The Nigerian government has commenced the development of minimum energy performance standards (MEPS) as part of measures to achieve the energy and emissions savings target established in Nigeria's Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) to the Paris Agreement. It is expected that the implementation of MEPS will also help to address the challenges of unreliability of electricity supply and facilitate the desired energy-efficient appliance market transformation. The MEPS currently covers the three most energy-consuming electrical products in households (lighting, refrigerators, and air conditioners). This research relied on data collected from the survey of 384 households in the case study area of Enugu to study the policy impacts of the current MEPS and identify the potential for its improvement. The research also, empirically, investigated policy and institutional barriers against appliance energy efficiency improvement in the country. Three different policy scenarios were conceptualized to model the policy impacts of current MEPS: a scenario assuming no MEPS or a business-as-usual (BAU) scenario, a policy scenario (PS) that considers the current MEPS, and an aggressive policy scenario (APS) that assumes the scaling up of the current MEPS to more stringent levels. The policy analysis modeling system (PAMS) was adopted to study the impacts of MEPS considering a policy implementation period of 2019 through 2030. The United Nations' integrated policy framework was also adopted as evaluation criteria to identify policy gaps in the existing policy measures and the identification of possible policy overlaps was conducted using content analysis. Based on the results, the implementation of the current standards would reduce annual residential electricity demand in the surveyed households by 37\% compared to BAU. National-level policy impacts show that the implementation of more stringent MEPS would contribute about 11.3\% of the national emissions reduction target reached in Nigeria's NDC. The research also finds out that key policy instruments (such as financial incentives) are still in their planning stages. Furthermore, the result from the content analysis reveals that the assigned institutional roles for the advancement of end-use energy efficiency are in some cases, not based on the statutory mandates of the respective institutions which create room for possible overlaps. To close the existing energy efficiency gaps and achieve effective energy-efficient appliance market transformation, the research underscores the need for a large-scale appliance market assessment to understand current baseline efficiency levels which will guide future policy designs and ensure that MEPS remain effective. The research also recommends key possible frameworks that can guide the design and implementation of financial incentive instruments to make energy-efficient investments more attractive.}, subject = {Mindeststandards f{\"u}r die Gesamtenergieeffizienz; Auswirkungen der Politik; Nationally Determined Contribution; Pariser Abkommen; Haushaltsger{\"a}te; Minimum Energy Performance Standards; Policy impacts; Nationally Determined Contribution; Paris Agreement; Appliances; Nigeria; Klimaabkommen von Paris; Energieeffizienz; Emissionsverringerung; Elektrisches Haushaltsger{\"a}t; Elektrizit{\"a}tsversorgung}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{NyambiAnaka2018, author = {Nyambi Anaka, Regina Edawa}, title = {Forest conservation and management practices in Cameroon: Case study of Bimbia-Bonadikombo Community Forest and Takamanda National Park}, doi = {10.26127/BTUOpen-5011}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:co1-opus4-50112}, school = {BTU Cottbus - Senftenberg}, year = {2018}, abstract = {Cameroon's forest is one of the richest ecosystems in the Congo Basin and in Africa as a whole in terms of its biodiversity. These forest types are currently subjected to multiple categories of threats. By enacting a new forestry law in 1994, the government of Cameroon intended to intensify efforts toward the protection and conservation of this rich biodiversity. This study aimed to compare two forest management systems, a state management system (the case of Takamanda National Park) and a community-based management system (the case of Bimbia- Bonadikombo Community Forest), to determine which management system better conserves and protects the forest against biodiversity loss. The study applied a methodological framework that made use of selected indicators and criteria to evaluate the extent of sustainability of the two forest management systems and challenges faced in implementing them. Both quantitative and qualitative results were realized through the administration of questionnaires, semi-structure interview and in-depth contents analysis of Law No.94-1 of 20th January 1994 that lays down forestry, wildlife and fisheries regulations and the 1996 Environmental Management Law that directs Cameroon's compliance to the international standard of protecting the environment.Results indicated that community-based system of forest management is a much more sustainable approach of forest management than a state management system. Based on the criterion of cultural values attributed to natural resources in the community-based management zone (Bimbia- Bonadikombo Community Forest), 78.2\% of the local communities were more willing to protect biodiversity as opposed to 48.3\% from state management zone (Takamanda National Park). This study found that the level of participation in the community-based management system was much more inclusive and transparent. On the other hand, in the state management system, a high level of corruption, lack of transparency, delayed and irregular salaries of forest guards and minimal participation of local communities in forest management decision-making was noted and likely responsible for the ineffectiveness and unsustainable management efforts in this system. The study recommends the adoption and implementation of a more inclusive, transparent and accountable management in the state managed system (Takamada national park), particularly the full involvement of respected Elites, Chiefs and Traditional Councils.}, subject = {Conservation; Biodiversity; Forest Management; Cameroon; Sustainability; Naturschutz; Biodiversit{\"a}t; Wald; Kamerun; Nachhaltigkeit; Kamerun; Forstwirtschaft; Biodiversit{\"a}t; Nachhaltigkeit}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Gliem2022, author = {Gliem, Silvia}, title = {Shaping the customer-provider relationship in service : frontline employees as key drivers for the improvement of service productivity}, doi = {10.26127/BTUOpen-6306}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:co1-opus4-63067}, school = {BTU Cottbus - Senftenberg}, year = {2022}, abstract = {Between 2000 and 2015, the services sector grew by 23\% in OECD countries, with around two-thirds of the working population employed in this sector. In the European Union, 72.1\% of the labor force worked in the services sector in 2018. With a growing global population, the demand for services is also increasing, making increasing service productivity an important research goal. Public and private service companies are subject to different incentive structures that influence their approach to productivity. Public service enterprises, especially in the social, health, and education sectors, play a critical role in society. Improving public service productivity is therefore essential. Two research questions are addressed: What factors have the greatest impact on the performance of service workers? How can performance improvement be expressed by managing the influencing factors of frontline employees? By focusing on frontline employees, this dissertation recognizes their essential role in increasing service productivity. The goal of the thesis is to gain insight into the factors that influence their productivity in public service. The dissertation reviews service productivity models in detail. Differences and connections between the various models and schools of models are discussed. Gr{\"o}nroos and Ojasalo's model of service productivity is selected as the theoretical framework for the empirical study to examine the factors influencing frontline employees. The systematic selection of influencing factors as well as the evaluation of previous research on these factors, reveals research gaps, which are translated into hypotheses. The majority of the data for the empirical part comes from public service companies. The designed questionnaire serves as a starting point for the development of a scale for empirical validation for one part, a component of the Gr{\"o}nroos-Ojasalo model. The research results offer a basis for action for practitioners who want to achieve productivity improvements.}, subject = {Service productivity; Frontline employee; Service quality; Service productivity model; Dienstleistungsproduktivit{\"a}t; Kundenkontaktmitarbeiter; Dienstleistungsqualit{\"a}t; {\"O}ffentliche Dienstleistung; Produktivit{\"a}t; Qualit{\"a}t; Angestellter; Kunde}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Gaillard2014, author = {Gaillard, B{\´e}n{\´e}dicte}, title = {Conflictive delisting process of a World Heritage Site in Germany: the case of the Dresden Elbe Valley}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:co1-opus4-30314}, school = {BTU Cottbus - Senftenberg}, year = {2014}, abstract = {This research comprises an analysis concerning the conflict between the State Party Germany to the World Heritage Convention and UNESCO in the case of the Dresden Elbe Valley. Through a historical and legal analysis, this research aims to ascertain the reasons for this conflict, as well as the impossibility of finding a compromise. First, the conflict in the core of the Dresden Elbe Valley World Heritage Site caused by the construction of the Waldschl{\"o}ßchenbr{\"u}cke, which is the object of study in this research, is anchored in its context of the City of Dresden. Thus, the object of the conflict, the Waldschl{\"o}ßchenbr{\"u}cke, is presented in its historical and geo-spatial context in order to shed light on the elements that triggered the conflict. Secondly, the conflict is anchored within the German legal context through the analysis of the legal procedures concerning the binding effects of the World Heritage Convention for the Federal Republic of Germany and the environmental concerns rendered by the construction of the Waldschl{\"o}ßchenbr{\"u}cke. Based on legal commentaries of the courts' decisions, a discussion on the non-transposition of the World Heritage concepts in the Federal Republic of Germany is implemented. Thirdly, the State Party Germany to the World Heritage Convention and UNESCO are confronted. A review of the concept of cultural landscape in the context of the World Heritage Convention, adapted to the case of the Dresden Elbe Valley, is first implemented. Subsequently, a commentary on the legally binding effects for the States Parties to the World Heritage Convention is elaborated upon, as well as a deconstruction of the step-by-step decisions from the inscription to the delisting of the Dresden Elbe Valley from the World Heritage List. Fourthly, an evaluation is developed concerning the concept of Historic Urban Landscape as an action plan capable of solving the conflict between urban development and heritage protection, and adapted to the German context. Finally, as a conclusion to this research, recommendations are drawn based on the conflict opposing UNESCO and the State Party Germany to the World Heritage Convention towards the Dresden Elbe Valley. These recommendations are addressed to the City of Dresden, the Free State of Saxony, the Federal Republic of Germany and UNESCO.}, subject = {Cultural Landscapes; Delisting of a World Heritage Site; Dresden Elbe Valley; Historic Urban Landscape; World Heritage Convention; Aberkennung einer Welterbest{\"a}tte; Dresdner Elbtal; Historische Stadtlandschaft; Kulturlandschaft; Welterbekonvention; Convention du Patrimoine Mondial; D{\´e}sinscription d'un site du patrimoine mondial; Paysage culturel; Paysage urbain historique; Vall{\´e}e de l'Elbe {\`a} Dresde; Dresdner Elbtal; Weltkulturerbe}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Acquah2025, author = {Acquah, Michael}, title = {Tracking electricity access for sustainable rural electrification management : the case of mini-grid experience in Pediatorkope Island, Ghana}, doi = {10.26127/BTUOpen-7282}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:co1-opus4-72822}, school = {BTU Cottbus - Senftenberg}, year = {2025}, abstract = {The principal aim of the study was to develop people-centered strategies for sustainable management of rural electrification that is based on the experience of a rural livelihood in Ghana. The concurrent mixed methods were used to collect both qualitative and quantitative data through interviews with sector experts, key informants and community members regarding the delivery, management and usage of electricity. The hybrid mini-grid electricity supply in Pediatorkope, an Island community in Ghana, was adopted as a case of rural electrification for this study. Seven experts (including heads of institutions, agencies and departments), seven community participants and 120 heads of households were surveyed through the administration of semi-structured questionnaire to retrieve the requisite data. Qualitative data was analyzed thematically with 2019 NVivo. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the quantitative data in this study. Analysis such as central tendency including mean, median, maximum, minimum and percentiles were covered. Multi-dimensional analysis, principal component analysis, bivariate analysis standard deviations and frequency analysis were also carried out to ascertain the details of tiers of access to electricity, demographic characteristics of participants and attributes of electricity supply. The results reveal four level of institutional engagement and five stages of policy and regulatory growth from the colonial past to the sustainable era that have shaped the development of rural electrification in Ghana. Two categories of uses of electricity were identified as basic and regular services. Furthermore, exchange value, use value and sign values were identified as important value strands for application in rural electrification. Even though the mini-grid system was designed to allow Tier 5 of electricity access, the quantitative results revealed that the highest experience of access in the community was Tier 4 with the overall access rate of 35\%. Supply side attributes such as capacity of supply, availability of supply and reliability affected access and usage of electricity in the community. Demand side issues identified were misuse of appliance and tariffs misapplication due to non-management of energy culture transition and characteristic additive nature of electricity demand and usage. The various findings based on the experience of electricity usage were consolidated in a proposed model known as multi-value mini-grid to address the identified challenges associated with the use of electricity services from the mini-grid. The multi-value mini-grid, as the name suggests, provides more than one value in a simplified model to meet the different energy needs of higher population of end-users with multiple streams of revenue generation, which enhances the financial feasibility of mini-grids and the livelihoods of the people.}, subject = {Rural electrification; Mini-grid; Sustainable livelihoods; Nationally determined contributions; Pediatorkope Island; L{\"a}ndliche Elektrifizierung; Mini-Grid; Nachhaltige Lebensgrundlagen; National festgelegte Beitr{\"a}ge; Ghana; Ghana; L{\"a}ndliche Entwicklung; Elektrifizierung; Nachhaltigkeit}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Rode2026, author = {Rode, Robert}, title = {Redefining conservation in world society : indigenous peoples' challenges to green colonialism in the UNESCO World Heritage regime}, doi = {10.26127/BTUOpen-7339}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:co1-opus4-73392}, school = {BTU Cottbus - Senftenberg}, year = {2026}, abstract = {This study explores how the globalisation of Indigenous human rights is reshaping nature conservation within the UNESCO World Heritage regime and challenging the enduring legacies of "green colonialism." Building on environmental-historical accounts of fortress conservation and on Indigenous critiques of exclusionary protected-area politics, the study expands Thomas Schmitt's cultural-geographic approach to UNESCO World Heritage by including the perspective of a global nature conservation regime in which competing conservation paradigms are negotiated. It asks (1) how the global institutionalisation of Indigenous rights norms, especially the 2007 UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, contests exclusionary conservation practices in World Heritage, and (2) how paradigm competition transforms power relations between Indigenous peoples and the institutional complex of States Parties, Advisory Bodies, and the World Heritage Centre. The analysis combines world society theory, figurational sociology, and decolonial approaches to trace shifting dependencies, normative isomorphism, and the coloniality of knowledge in World Heritage decision-making. Empirically, the dissertation employs a historical and regional comparative approach across four sites: Man{\´u} National Park (Peru), Tongariro National Park (Aotearoa/New Zealand), Lake Bogoria (Kenya), and Pimachiowin Aki (Canada). A qualitative content analysis of official UNESCO records from 1987 to 2023 (including World Heritage Committee decisions, Advisory Body evaluations, State of Conservation reports, nomination files, and management plans) is conducted. Findings show an uneven institutionalisation of Indigenous rights across cases and over time. While formal references to participation and Indigenous human rights have expanded, implementation often remains partial, reflecting a persistent decoupling between normative commitments and conservation practice. Nevertheless, the regime displays limited but notable openness to human rights-based and inclusive conservation, particularly when Indigenous actors and human rights institutions intervene. Overall, the study argues that the World Heritage regime has become a contested platform for addressing historical injustices and that its legitimacy increasingly depends on Indigenous-led approaches to the designation and management of World Heritage properties. Methodologically, it demonstrates how UNESCO's repository of official records can be used to reconstruct organisational "documentary realities" and trace institutional change comparatively.}, subject = {UNESCO World Heritage regime; Indigenous peoples; Green colonialism; Nature conservation; World society; UNESCO-Welterbe-Regime; Indigene V{\"o}lker; Gr{\"u}ner Kolonialismus; Naturschutz; Weltgesellschaft}, language = {en} }