Localização:
Sala 12.2.21 DCSPTData de início:
Seminário de Investigação GOVCOPP | Novembro
O próximo Seminário de Investigação GOVCOPP 2025 terá lugar no dia 26 de novembro. Junte-se a nós entre as 13 e as 15 horas.
Ação Climática
26 Novembro 2025
Sala 12.2.21 (DCSPT)
13h - 15h
Grupo de Investigação SAD
“Strategic ESG investment in the energy sector: Financial Trade-offs in Europe’s low-carbon transition”
Resumo
The energy sector plays a pivotal role in shaping global climate policy, economic development, and social equity while representing a significant source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In the context of the European Green Deal and the continent’s broader decarbonization agenda, Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria have become increasingly salient in the strategic orientation of energy firms. However, the financial ramifications of ESG integration remain subject to ongoing debate.
This study examines the relationship between ESG performance and financialoutcomes among a panel of 306 publicly listed European energy companies from 2020to 2024, comprising 7,650 firm-year observations. Employing panel data econometric techniques, we analyze the impact of both aggregate and disaggregated ESG scores covering environmental, social, and governance pillars—on key financial indicators, including return on assets (ROA), return on equity (ROE), and Tobin’s Q.
The empirical results indicate that governance and social performance are positively correlated with firm profitability and market valuation. In contrast, environmental initiatives are associated with short-term financial constraints, particularly regarding equity returns. These findings underscore the nuanced trade-offs between sustainability- oriented strategies and financial performance in a sector integral to Europe’s energy transition. The study concludes with policy and managerial recommendations to alignESG investments with long-term competitiveness under the evolving EU regulatory framework. By linking ESG integration to broader goals of energy flexibility and a just transition, the study emphasizes the importance of balancing financial performance with equitable access to sustainable energy and resilience in the face of systemic change.
Grupo de Investigação CIS
Multidimensional impacts and implementation challenges of wind and solar energy investments: Insights from the R3EA project
Resumo
Investment in wind and solar energy has become a central element in global policy agendas in recent years. While their primary benefit lies in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, their impacts extend across multiple domains, including housing markets, tourism, and labor markets.
Our findings confirm that investments in wind and solar energy contribute positively to CO₂ reduction and to lowering electricity market prices – which, in turn, could play a role in shaping energy poverty outcomes. At the same time, regarding the effects of wind and solar infrastructures on other dimensions, several noteworthy findings emerge. Solar farms are associated with an increase in housing prices, whereas wind farms show more neutral effects in this regard. In contrast, wind farms are associated with higher numbers of overnight stays and increased tourism accommodation revenues, while solar farms in this domain display a more neutral impact. This comprehensive analysis is highly relevant for improving implementation processes, strengthening public acceptance, and ultimately increasing the likelihood of successful renewable energy investments. With respect to implementation, our stakeholder interviews reveal that the vast majority did not experience local opposition throughout the implementation procedure, and do not perceive it as a major barrier to deploying wind and solar projects. Nevertheless, municipal and parish council leaders pointed out the regulatory constraints imposed by certain governmental bodies as a relevant barrier to the implementation of wind and solar projects – which in some cases have delayed project implementation by several months or even years.
Grupo de Investigação TD
Pro-circular processes in Tourism: Understanding factors and practices across the sector
Resumo
Tourism is increasingly called to reduce its environmental footprint and operate within planetary limits. This presentation explores pro-circular processes - approaches that promote the responsible use, recovery, and regeneration of resources within tourism systems. Drawing on a systematic review and bibliometric analysis, the study identifies the processes and strategies used in the tourism industry, as well as the main factors shaping their implementation by tourism businesses. Together, these insights help outline current directions and challenges for integrating circular thinking into tourism practices in a practical and measurable way.
Grupo de Investigação PI2
Drivers de sustentatibilidade da bioeconomia urbana em avaliações de impacto: Resultados preliminares de uma revisão sistemática
Resumo
The transition to a sustainable bioeconomy has been central to European Union strategies, but there is still little clarity on how these ambitions translate into concrete actions in cities and to what extent such actions are evaluated by Impact Assessment instruments (EIA/AAE and related tools).
This paper presents preliminary results from a systematic review of the literature aimed at mapping the environmental, social and economic drivers associated with urban bioeconomy actions (in particular, green infrastructure, urban agriculture and bio-waste recovery) in studies that apply some type of impact assessment.
The search was conducted in the Scopus database, considering peer-reviewed articles in English that address bioeconomy strategies or actions in an urban context. After screening and full reading, 32 articles were selected that simultaneously address urban bioeconomy implementations and their impact assessment.
Content analysis identified nine groups of environmental drivers, five social drivers, and six economic drivers, which were subsequently related to the five strategic objectives of the European Bioeconomy Strategy. Preliminary results indicate a strong predominance of studies focused on waste recovery solutions, with an emphasis on reducing environmental impacts and resource footprints, improving access to healthier urban environments, and ensuring the economic viability of interventions. In contrast, aspects related to environmental justice, participatory governance, and deeper socio-ecological transformations appear sporadically. These findings suggest the need to more explicitly integrate objectives of justice, participation, and ecological limits into Impact Assessment practices applied to the urban bioeconomy.
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