{"id":{"repo_id":"mit","oai_identifier":"oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/153742"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/mit/oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/153742","repository":{"repo_id":"mit","name":"MIT","base_url":"https://dspace.mit.edu/oai/request"},"display":{"title":"The Determinants of Voluntary Carbon Emissions Targets","abstract":"This study seeks to examine whether and how firms near important emissions thresholds change their behavior to meet these targets. Emissions targets are commonly measured in two ways: absolute emissions levels and emissions intensity(absolute levels normalized by sales). To meet absolute benchmarks, firms can only reduce their actual emissions. However, to meet intensity-based benchmarks, firms can either lower their emissions or raise revenue to meet their goal. This study will characterize the differences between firms who choose these two measurements, and investigate whether and when firms shift their emissions or reporting behavior to meet their emissions targets. Furthermore, this study will characterize the capital market consequences of meeting or missing emissions targets, consider potential market-based benchmarks in addition to targets set by the firms, and test cross-sectionally when firms have stronger incentives or ability to react to these targets.","abstract_html":"This study seeks to examine whether and how firms near important emissions thresholds change their behavior to meet these targets. Emissions targets are commonly measured in two ways: absolute emissions levels and emissions intensity(absolute levels normalized by sales). To meet absolute benchmarks, firms can only reduce their actual emissions. However, to meet intensity-based benchmarks, firms can either lower their emissions or raise revenue to meet their goal. This study will characterize the differences between firms who choose these two measurements, and investigate whether and when firms shift their emissions or reporting behavior to meet their emissions targets. Furthermore, this study will characterize the capital market consequences of meeting or missing emissions targets, consider potential market-based benchmarks in addition to targets set by the firms, and test cross-sectionally when firms have stronger incentives or ability to react to these targets.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Downing, Charles"],"institution":"Massachusetts Institute of Technology","degree_name":"Master","degree_level":null,"degree_discipline":null,"degree_department":"Sloan School of Management","school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":["Verdi, Rodrigo"],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2024,"date_issued":"2024-02","date_published":"2024-02","updated_at":"2026-07-22T22:22:30Z","subjects":[],"languages":[],"rights":["In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted","Copyright retained by author(s)"],"rights_urls":["https://rightsstatements.org/page/InC-EDU/1.0/"],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/153742","outbound_label":"Handle","outbound_source":"dc:identifier.uri"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor.advisor","label":"Advisor","values":["Verdi, Rodrigo"]},{"key":"dc:contributor.department","label":"Department","values":["Sloan School of Management"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Downing, Charles"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.accessioned","label":"Dc Date Accessioned","values":["2024-03-13T13:31:04Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2024-03-13T13:31:04Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.issued","label":"Date","values":["2024-02"]},{"key":"dc:publisher","label":"Institution","values":["Massachusetts Institute of Technology"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["Thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Master","Master of Science in Management Research"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:rights","label":"Dc Rights","values":["In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted","Copyright retained by author(s)"]},{"key":"dc:rights.uri","label":"Rights URI","values":["https://rightsstatements.org/page/InC-EDU/1.0/"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier.uri","label":"Identifier URI","values":["https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/153742"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["This study seeks to examine whether and how firms near important emissions thresholds change their behavior to meet these targets. Emissions targets are commonly measured in two ways: absolute emissions levels and emissions intensity(absolute levels normalized by sales). To meet absolute benchmarks, firms can only reduce their actual emissions. However, to meet intensity-based benchmarks, firms can either lower their emissions or raise revenue to meet their goal. This study will characterize the differences between firms who choose these two measurements, and investigate whether and when firms shift their emissions or reporting behavior to meet their emissions targets. Furthermore, this study will characterize the capital market consequences of meeting or missing emissions targets, consider potential market-based benchmarks in addition to targets set by the firms, and test cross-sectionally when firms have stronger incentives or ability to react to these targets."]},{"key":"dc:description.degree","label":"Dc Description Degree","values":["S.M."]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["The Determinants of Voluntary Carbon Emissions Targets"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor.advisor":["Verdi, Rodrigo"],"dc:contributor.department":["Sloan School of Management"],"dc:creator":["Downing, Charles"],"dc:date.accessioned":["2024-03-13T13:31:04Z"],"dc:date.available":["2024-03-13T13:31:04Z"],"dc:date.issued":["2024-02"],"dc:description.abstract":["This study seeks to examine whether and how firms near important emissions thresholds change their behavior to meet these targets. Emissions targets are commonly measured in two ways: absolute emissions levels and emissions intensity(absolute levels normalized by sales). To meet absolute benchmarks, firms can only reduce their actual emissions. However, to meet intensity-based benchmarks, firms can either lower their emissions or raise revenue to meet their goal. This study will characterize the differences between firms who choose these two measurements, and investigate whether and when firms shift their emissions or reporting behavior to meet their emissions targets. Furthermore, this study will characterize the capital market consequences of meeting or missing emissions targets, consider potential market-based benchmarks in addition to targets set by the firms, and test cross-sectionally when firms have stronger incentives or ability to react to these targets."],"dc:description.degree":["S.M."],"dc:identifier.uri":["https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/153742"],"dc:publisher":["Massachusetts Institute of Technology"],"dc:rights":["In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted","Copyright retained by author(s)"],"dc:rights.uri":["https://rightsstatements.org/page/InC-EDU/1.0/"],"dc:title":["The Determinants of Voluntary Carbon Emissions Targets"],"dc:type":["Thesis"],"thesis:degree_name":["Master","Master of Science in Management Research"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-22T22:22:30Z"}