Example environment dissertation topic 6:

Beauty salons and carbon emissions: A blue print for the reduction of green house gases produced by small and medium sized enterprises.

Anthropogenic emissions have a negative effect on the environment. Moreover, they are, according to the IPCC (2007), causing climate change. Businesses within the UK currently account for at least 40% of the greenhouse gases created within the UK and the government has set stringent targets for reducing greenhouse gases by 2050. Though the majority of government initiatives have been focused towards larger enterprises this dissertation realises that small and medium sized enterprises also have a role to play in reducing carbon emissions. Accordingly it provides primary research upon the role of hairdressing salons in the creation of greenhouse gases and offers practical solutions by which this sector can reduce its negative impact upon the environment.

Suggested initial topic reading:

• Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) (2007). Climate change 2007: The physical science base. Summary for policymakers. Geneva: IPCC.
• Lowrie, K.W. and Greenberg, M. (1997). ‘Promoting ground water pollution prevention in small businesses’, Journal of the American Water Resources Association, Vol. 33, pp. 193-204.
• Pino, S., Levinson, R. and Larsen, J. (2006). Hot climate, cool commerce: A Service sector guide to greenhouse gas management. Washington, DC: World Resource Institute.