Publications Database

Welcome to the new Schulich Peer-Reviewed Publication Database!

The database is currently in beta-testing and will be updated with more features as time goes on. In the meantime, stakeholders are free to explore our faculty’s numerous works. The left-hand panel affords the ability to search by the following:

  • Faculty Member’s Name;
  • Area of Expertise;
  • Whether the Publication is Open-Access (free for public download);
  • Journal Name; and
  • Date Range.

At present, the database covers publications from 2012 to 2020, but will extend further back in the future. In addition to listing publications, the database includes two types of impact metrics: Altmetrics and Plum. The database will be updated annually with most recent publications from our faculty.

If you have any questions or input, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

 

Search Results

Zhang, Y., & Weber, O. (2022). "Investors’ Moral and Financial Concerns – Ethical and Financial Divestment in the Fossil Fuel Industry", Sustainability, 14(4), 1952.

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Keywords
Abstract It is discussed intensively whether divestment decease sales in the fossil fuel industry or whether investors divest from the fossil fuel industry because of stranded assets. Furthermore, it is unclear what the consequences of these activities are for the fossil fuel industry. Therefore, the study explores the direction of causality between cash flow factors, such as production factors and sources of financing and sales of the fossil fuel industry using lagged regression models and applying the Granger causality test. Our sample consists of fossil fuel companies from the Carbon Underground 200 list. Because R-squared values for both lagged financial factors and lagged sales were similar, we suggest a “bi-directional causality” between the financial flow factors and sales. We conclude that divestment (because of ethical concerns) can cause lower sales and that lower sales can cause divestment because of fear of the risk of stranded assets. Because a third factor usually causes bi-directional causations, we conclude that the need for the fossil fuel industry to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is the third factor that influences both the ethical and financial motivation of divestment. Consequently, the study contributes to theoretical approaches to divestment.

Sayce, S.L., Clayton, J., Devaney, S. and van de Wetering, J. (2022). "Climate Risks and Their Implications for Commercial Property Valuations", Journal of Property Investment and Finance.

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Keywords
Abstract

Purpose

The authors outline a framework that captures the channels through which physical climate risks could affect cash flows and pricing of income-producing real estate. This facilitates detailed consideration of how the future performance of real estate investments could be affected by such risks.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a literature-based investigation that draws on work commissioned by UNEP-FI (Clayton et al., 2021a, b). It extends this work to consider in more detail the channels through which climate risks may impact property performance and the implications for the valuation community.

Findings

Recent empirical studies have identified more instances where pricing is reflecting both current and anticipated climate risks. Market valuations cannot properly incorporate climate risk without clear evidence that it is priced by market participants, but valuers can advise clients on the potential for future impacts.

Research limitations/implications

While inferences can be made from studies of residential real estate, more research on commercial real estate pricing and climate risk is required to assist valuers and their clients, as well as other stakeholders in the real estate market.

Practical implications

Differences between a Market Value and an Investment Value context are considered, and how valuers could and should account for climate risk in each setting is discussed with reference to existing professional standards and guidance.

Originality/value

The article synthesises a wide range of literature to produce a framework for the channels by which real estate values could be influenced by climate risk.

Anctil, F., Aitken, S., Berkes, F., Bernstein, S., Bleau, N., Bourque, A., Henriques, I., Potvin, C. and Sharma, D. (2017). "Stimulating a Canadian Narrative for Climate Action", FACETS, 2(1), 131-149.

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Keywords
Abstract This perspective documents current thinking around climate actions in Canada by synthesizing scholarly proposals made by Sustainable Canada Dialogues (SCD), an informal network of scholars from all 10 provinces, and by reviewing responses from civil society representatives to the scholars’ proposals. Motivated by Canada’s recent history of repeatedly missing its emissions reduction targets and failing to produce a coherent plan to address climate change, SCD mobilized more than 60 scholars to identify possible pathways towards a low-carbon economy and sustainable society and invited civil society to comment on the proposed solutions. This perspective illustrates a range of Canadian ideas coming from many sectors of society and a wealth of existing inspiring initiatives. Solutions discussed include climate change governance, low-carbon transition, energy production, and consumption. This process of knowledge synthesis/creation is novel and important because it provides a working model for making connections across academic fields as well as between academia and civil society. The process produces a holistic set of insights and recommendations for climate change actions and a unique model of engagement. The different voices reported here enrich the scope of possible solutions, showing that Canada is brimming with ideas, possibilities, and the will to act.

Weber, O. (2016). "Equator Principles Reporting: Factors Influencing the Quality of Reports", International Journal of Corporate Strategy and Social Responsibility, 1(2), 141-160.

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Keywords
Abstract This study analyses the reporting of Equator Principles Financial Institutions (EPFI). The Equator Principles are a voluntary code of conduct, providing guidelines for assessing, managing, and reporting environmental and social impacts in project finance. The objective of the study is: 1) to understand, whether EPFIs follow the Equator Principles reporting guidelines; 2) to assess the quality of the mandatory reports of the EPFIs; 3) to analyse causes for differences in reporting. Because the Equator Principles are a voluntary code of conduct, or a so-called soft law, the research has been based on institutional theory. Our results suggest that though EPFIs follow the reporting guidelines, only about 5% disclose all the information required by the guidelines and consequently achieve the highest score with respect to their reporting quality. Furthermore, differences in reporting quality are mainly caused by the size of the EPFIs. The larger the EPFI with respect to its total assets the higher is the reporting quality. We conclude that further mechanisms, such as standardisation and assurance, are needed to guarantee transparent reporting of environmental and social project risks.

Li, X. and McMillan, C.J. (2014). "Corporate Strategy and the Weather: Towards a Corporate Sustainability Platform", Problems and Perspectives in Management, 12(2), 200-214.

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Keywords
Abstract The effect of weather and climate variation on complex manufacturing and the retail sector and their operations can be significant, unpredictable, and costly. This paper provides a novel conceptual framework for a sustainability platform for competitive advantage. It encompasses metrics of performance, business processes, and product and process innovation to encapsulate risk of weather conditions. A sustainable platform requires deep collaboration across the entire eco-system: the supply chain, the life cycle of production, processes, and managerial functions, and distribution end-points, including recycling and disposal. Sustainability platforms and their implications in practice are discussed.

Bazely, D., Henriques, I., Hewitt, N., Klenk, N., Lipsig-Mumme, C., MacLellan, J., Smith, A. and Yan, N. (2012). "The Effects of Climate Change on the Distribution of Invasive Alien Species in Canada: A Knowledge Synthesis of Range Change Projections in a Warming World", Environmental Reviews, 20, 1-16.

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Keywords
Abstract The interactive effects of climate change and invasive alien species (IAS) pose serious threats to biodiversity, ecosystems and human well-being worldwide. In particular, IAS are predicted to experience widespread changes in distribution in response to climate change, with many expanding their ranges into new areas. However, the two drivers of global change are seldom considered together in policy and management. We conducted a knowledge synthesis to assess the state of research on IAS range shifts under climate change in Canada. We found that the study of IAS distribution changes caused by climate change is a relatively new field of inquiry that integrates research in the areas of ecology, conservation biology, and environmental sciences. The multidisciplinary dimensions of the issue are largely overlooked in the scholarly literature, with most studies having a purely natural science perspective. Very little original research has occurred in the field to date; instead literature reviews are common. Research focuses on modeling range changes of current IAS threats, rather than predicting potential future IAS threats. The most commonly studied IAS already occur in Canada as native species that have spread beyond their range (e.g., lyme disease, mountain pine beetle, smallmouth bass) or as established invaders (e.g., gypsy moth). All of these IAS are expected to expand northward with climate change, resulting in widespread negative impacts on forest and freshwater biodiversity, carbon sequestration, and public health. Many barriers to predicting IAS range change under climate change are identified in the literature, including the complexity of the issue, lack of ecological data, and failure to integrate climate change – IAS interactions into research, policy, and management. Recommendations for increased research and monitoring, and the need for policy and management reform predominate in the literature.