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on Environmental Economics |
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Issue of 2018‒11‒12
sixty-one papers chosen by Francisco S. Ramos Universidade Federal de Pernambuco |
| By: | Borner, J.; Bruckner, M.; Flach, R.; Soares-Filho, B.; Wunder, S. |
| Abstract: | Green growth strategies and bioeconomic technological innovation affect global demand and supply of agricultural and forestry-based commodities. What trade-mediated impacts has this fledging transformation on land-use change at ecologically sensitive tropical forest margins? Standard global trade models only provide impact assessments at aggregate regional scales, implicitly assuming either perfect or zero environmental enforcement. However, emerging empirical impact evaluations suggest that conservation policies only partially constrain illegal land conversion with highly variable effectiveness in space. We present a spatially explicit cropland allocation tool simulating imperfectly functioning conservation policies. We shock cropland allocation with a land demand scenario derived from a multi-regional input-output model to assess land-use spillovers under two common policy scenarios of imperfect environmental enforcement under spatial heterogeneity: (1) protection of specific flagship biomes through protected area networks or (2) cost-efficient enforcement in accessible zones immediately threatened by illegal agricultural expansion. Both scenarios result in land use spillover effects, but combining the two strategies does not generally perform better than flagship biome protection alone. Outcomes depend on country-specific spatial distributions of returns to cropland expansion, law enforcement costs, and environmental service provision. In closing, we discuss the implications of our findings for land-use governance in a globalized bioeconomy. Acknowledgement : This work was supported by the Robert Bosch Foundation, the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, and is part of CIFOR s Global Comparative Study on REDD+ |
| Keywords: | Environmental Economics and Policy |
| Date: | 2018–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iaae18:277223&r=env |
| By: | Renner, Sebastian; Lay, Jann; Greve, Hannes |
| Abstract: | We analyse the effects of environmental taxes on welfare and carbon emissions at the household level for the case of Mexico. The integrated welfare-environmental analysis, which is based on a censored energy consumer demand system, extends previous work in two ways. First, the estimation of a full matrix of substitution elasticities allows us to test the necessity of incorporating second-order effects into the welfare analysis. Second, the substitution elasticities derived from the demand system are used to estimate the shortrun CO2 emission-reduction potential. We find that first-order approximations of welfare effects provide reasonable estimates, particularly for carbon taxes. Analog to evidence in other low- and middle-income countries, the taxation of all energy items is found to be regressive, with the exception of motor fuels. The inclusion of CH4 and N2O in a carbon tax regime comes with particularly regressive impacts because of its strong effects on food prices. The analysis of the emission implications of different tax scenarios indicates that short-run emission reductions at the household level can be substantial - though the effects depend on how revenue is recycled. This effectiveness combined with moderate and manageable adverse distributional impacts renders the carbon tax a preferred mitigation instrument. Considering the large effect of food price increases on poverty and the limited additional emission-saving potential, the inclusion of CH4 and N2O in a carbon tax regime is not advisable. |
| Keywords: | climate policy,energy policy,Mexico,poverty,distributional effects |
| Date: | 2017 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:gigawp:301&r=env |
| By: | Weinand, Jann; McKenna, Russell; Karner, Katharina; Braun, Lorenz; Herbes, Carsten |
| Abstract: | This paper analyses the current technical potential for utilising excess heat from German biogas plants, in order to supply local settlements through district heating. Based on a survey of around 600 biogas plant operators, the fractions of excess heat in these plants are analysed. A heuristic is developed to match biogas plants (heat sources) with local settlements (sinks) in order to determine a least-cost district heating supply for residential buildings. Two criteria are employed, namely the CO2 abatement costs and the payback period, which represent the macro- and microeconomic perspectives respectively. Based on the survey, a mean fraction of 40% excess heat is determined, which is in agreement with other empirical studies. Extrapolating this fraction to the German biogas plant stock leads to technically feasible CO2 savings of around 2.5 MtCO2/a. Employing the criteria of CO2 abatement costs and payback period yields about 2 MtCO2/a below CO2 abatement costs of 200 €/tCO2 and below a payback period of 9 years respectively. This represents about 0.25% of the total German CO2 emissions in 2016 or around 2.5% of all CO2 in residential buildings. If threshold values of 80 €/tCO2 and 5 years are employed, to reflect the German government's suggested external cost of carbon and an expected payback period from an investor's point of view respectively, the carbon reduction potential is about 0.5 MtCO2 and 0.75 MtCO2 respectively. These potentials are concentrated in around 3,500 of 11,400 municipalities, where district heating from biogas plants could reduce CO2 emissions per capita by an average of 250 kgCO_2/a and cover 12% of the total heating demand. |
| Date: | 2018 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:kitiip:31&r=env |
| By: | Hanan Ishaque (Alpen-Adria University Klagenfurt) |
| Abstract: | The use of renewable energy (RE) sources contributes to the sustainable development goals of climate change mitigation and access to clean and affordable energy. To diversify the electricity mix, reduce reliance on fossil-fuels and abate powers sector CO2 emissions, the Government of Pakistan developed a policy to incentivize RE deployment by offering upfront feed-in tariffs (FIT). This paper attempts to estimate the cost of CO2 emission abatement with RE incentives for solar and wind power plants for the period 2015-2020. The implicit cost of CO2 abatement defined as the ratio of net cost of RE to CO2 emissions avoided is estimated to be $116/tCO2 for wind and $78/tCO2 for solar power. The payment to generators guaranteed by FITs is a major determinant and explains the difference between the implicit abatement costs of solar and wind power. These estimates, however, are sensitive to the resources displaced by RE and the fuel prices. This study provides a framework to the policymakers for analysis of RE incentives recognizing the dynamic nature of the abatement cost metric and discusses policy implications in the light of the results. |
| Keywords: | CO2 abatement cost, renewable energy, feed-in tariff, Pakistan |
| JEL: | C54 E60 O13 |
| Date: | 2018–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:sek:iacpro:8209672&r=env |
| By: | Francesco Lamperti (Université Panthéon-Sorbonne - Paris 1 (UP1)); Giovanni Dosi (Laboratory of Economics and Management); Mauro Napoletano (Observatoire français des conjonctures économiques); Andrea Roventini (Laboratory of Economics and Management (LEM)); Sandro Sapio (Universita degli studi di Napoli "Parthenope" [Napoli]) |
| Abstract: | In this work, we employ an agent-based integrated assessment model to study the likelihood of transition to green, sustainable growth in presence of climate damages. The model comprises heterogeneous fossil-fuel and renewable plants, capital- and consumption-good firms and a climate box linking greenhouse gasses emission to temperature dynamics and microeconomic climate shocks affecting labour productivity and energy demand of firms. Simulation results show that the economy possesses two statistical equilibria: a carbon-intensive lock-in and a sustainable growth path characterized by better macroeconomic performances. Once climate damages are accounted for, the likelihood of a green transition depends on the damage function employed. In particular, aggregate and quadratic damage functions overlook the impact of climate change on the transition to sustainability; to the contrary, more realistic micro-level damages are found to deeply influence the chances of a transition. Finally, we run a series of policy experiments on carbon (fossil fuel) taxes and green subsidies. We find that the effectiveness of such marketbased instruments depends on the different channels climate change affects the economy through, and complementary policies might be required to avoid carbon-intensive lock-ins. |
| Keywords: | Climate change; Agent based models; Transition; Energy policy; Growth |
| JEL: | C63 Q40 Q50 Q54 |
| Date: | 2018–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:spo:wpmain:info:hdl:2441/5vt1fet9fq9o5pkgj2qh2vn1cm&r=env |
| By: | Grozavu, Adrian; Mihai, Florin-Constantin |
| Abstract: | Changes in the contemporary world materialized in particular through population growth and mobility, urbanization, and economic expansion also result in an increased exposure of people and assets to extreme events and impose, implicitly, adequate management of induced risks. The occurrence of natural and anthropogenic risk phenomena, known as hazards, puts a heavy tribute on disaster-sensitive human communities regardless of their level of development. The magnitude of the disasters and their increasing frequency and severity imply the need for their approach by the entire world community and for global action. Knowledge of risks becomes a sine qua condition in carrying out impact studies, risk prevention plans, spatial planning plans, and, in general, a condition for effective management of natural resources or sustainable development projects. |
| Keywords: | risks analysis, natural hazards, pollution, climate change,anthropogenic hazards, vulnerability, exposure |
| JEL: | H12 K32 L97 O13 O18 O44 O50 Q5 Q52 Q53 Q54 Q56 R41 R58 |
| Date: | 2018–10–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:89631&r=env |
| By: | Justin Leroux; Daniel Spiro |
| Abstract: | Arctic oil extraction is inconsistent with the 2°C target. We study unilateral strategies by climate-concerned Arctic countries to deter extraction by others. Contradicting common theoretical assumptions about climate-change mitigation, our setting is one where countries may fundamentally disagree about whether mitigation by others is beneficial. This is because Arctic oil extraction requires specific R&D, hence entry by one country expands the extraction-technology market, decreasing costs for others. This means that, on the one hand, countries that extract Arctic oil gain if others do so as well. On the other hand, as countries may disagree about how harmful climate change is, they may disagree whether an equilibrium where all enter is better or worse than an equilibrium where all stay out. Less environmentally-concerned countries (preferring maximum entry) have a first-mover advantage but, because they rely on entry by others, entry in equilibrium is determined by the preferences of those who are moderately concerned about the environment. Furthermore, using a pooling strategy, an environmentally-concerned country can deter entry by credibly “pretending” to be environmentally adamant, and thus be expected to not follow. A rough calibration, suggests a country like Norway, or prospects of a green future U.S. administration, could be pivotal in determining whether the Arctic will be explored. |
| Keywords: | Arctic Region,Oil Exploration,Climate Change,Geopolitics,Unilateral Action, |
| JEL: | D82 F5 O33 Q3 Q54 |
| Date: | 2018–08–15 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cir:cirwor:2018s-26&r=env |
| By: | Malcolm Baker; Daniel Bergstresser; George Serafeim; Jeffrey Wurgler |
| Abstract: | We study green bonds, which are bonds whose proceeds are used for environmentally sensitive purposes. After an overview of the U.S. corporate and municipal green bonds markets, we study pricing and ownership patterns using a simple framework that incorporates assets with nonpecuniary utility. As predicted, we find that green municipal bonds are issued at a premium to otherwise similar ordinary bonds. We also confirm that green bonds, particularly small or essentially riskless ones, are more closely held than ordinary bonds. These pricing and ownership effects are strongest for bonds that are externally certified as green. |
| JEL: | G12 Q52 Q53 Q54 |
| Date: | 2018–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:nbr:nberwo:25194&r=env |
| By: | Marwil J. Dávila-Fernández; Serena Sordi |
| Abstract: | In a recent article published in Ecological Economics, Guarini and Porcile (2016) expanded the Balance-of-Payments Constraint (BoPC) growth model in order to address the challenges posed by greenhouse gas emissions suggesting a way in which environmental variables can be included in the structure of this family of models. Building on their set up, we incorporate how people with di¤erent environmental attitudes or sentiments influence each other and contribute to the design of environmental policies. We detail the concept of transition probabilities for the agent's switching from pro- to anti-enviromental positions and vice-versa and discuss the macroeconomic results that follow. Numerical simulations allow us to investigate in more detail the implications of the validity of Porter's hypothesis as well as decoupling conditions. |
| Keywords: | Sustainability, Open economy, Environmental innovation, Porter's hypothesis, Thirwall's Law. |
| JEL: | E12 F43 Q55 Q56 Q57 |
| Date: | 2018–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:usi:wpaper:784&r=env |
| By: | Carauta, M.; Guzman-Bustamante, I.; Meurer, K.; Hampf, A.; Troost, C.; Rodrigues, R.; Berger, T. |
| Abstract: | This study focuses on evaluating the full distribution of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions related to agricultural land-use change in Mato Grosso, Brazil, both from a farmer and policy perspective. By combining three simulation models as well as data from field experiments, we present a novel Integrated Assessment approach that evaluates a large set of production systems, management practices, technologies, climatic conditions, and soil types with very high spatial resolution. The main component of our application is a multi-agent mathematical programming simulator that links socio-economic and biophysical constraints at farm-level and, hence, simulates farmer decision-making and policy response. We estimate the GHG emissions related to the full range of farm production systems and sources, such as inputs, machinery production, diesel consumption, soil processes, land use change (soil organic carbon and carbon stock from vegetation) and enteric fermentation. The results of our simulations indicate that GHG emissions in Mato Grosso are very sensitive to alternative land use change scenarios. The largest source of GHG emissions from crop and eucalyptus production is the use of farming inputs, while for cattle production it is the emission from enteric fermentation. Final simulation results regarding farmer policy response will be presented at the ICAE conference. Acknowledgement : This research was financed by the CarBioCial project of the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research. We thankfully acknowledge the scholarships awarded by the Brazilian Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES) [grant number BEX-10421/14-9]. We are grateful to Embrapa Agrossilvipastoril and IMEA for the technical materials and knowledge provided. Special thanks to Eric B necke and Uwe Franko for their support on the parameterization of CANDY simulations. The simulation experiments were performed using the computational resources of bwUniCluster funded by the Ministry of Science, Research and the Arts and the Universities of the State of Baden-W rttemberg, Germany. |
| Keywords: | Crop Production/Industries |
| Date: | 2018–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iaae18:277118&r=env |
| By: | Hellmich, Meike |
| Abstract: | The resource area is limited across the globe. Sustainable land management is not only necessary against the background of climate change for the purpose of satisfying the various interests in the area. Climate protection measures, alongside climate adaptation measures such as flood water retention areas, need to be combined with existing requirements for the area. The starting point of the dissertation is that spatial planning can play a key role by observing sustainable land management from a cross-sectoral perspective, against the background of climate change. In view of the most effective planning, it is first necessary to highlight the regional governance of spatial planning as regards land management on the different levels of administration as well as identifying the opportunities and limitations of the planning. The present study defines spatial planning as formal regional planning and informal spatial developments. Spatial planning therefore also comprises informal planning structures and processes alongside the formal planning processes in the multi-level system of spatial planning. It is by means of the multi-level system of spatial planning that planning provisions are made on the various levels of administration and transferred to the next level. Spatial planning works on various benchmark levels as part of this principle of countervailing influence. Spatial planning attempts to unite various sectors and demands on the area and to protect and secure protected objects as well as resources in the long-term. |
| Keywords: | Community/Rural/Urban Development, Environmental Economics and Policy, Land Economics/Use |
| Date: | 2018–11–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:jhimwo:279790&r=env |
| By: | Oumer, A.; Burton, M. |
| Abstract: | Sustainable agricultural intensification practices (SAIPs) have been promoted to improve environmental services and farm productivity. However, whether implementations of SAIPs in isolation or in combinations increase economic efficiency of smallholder farmers is unclear. This study investigates the effects of SAIPs on costs and cost efficiency using stochastic frontier modelling techniques with an application to Ethiopian maize production. The econometric approaches account for heterogeneity across farms and heteroscedasticity in the variance of cost inefficiency. The results reveal that combinations of SAIPs appear to reduce cost and cost inefficiency variability but not when they are implemented in isolation. The average cost efficiency of the sample farms was about 80% indicating the presence of considerable room for improvement. Other factors that significantly change economic inefficiency are also discussed. Overall, the results demonstrate the relevance of exploiting synergistic effects of SAIPs in the wake of ever increasing cost of fertilizer, soil degradation and climate variability and enrich the discussion regarding the need to implement a portfolio of these practices rather than in isolation. Policies should support promotion of suites of SAIPs as packages and tackle factors hindering economic efficiency to enhance food security and incomes of smallholder farmers in developing countries. Key words: cost efficiency, sustainable agricultural intensification practices, soil degradation, climate variability, stochastic cost frontier, smallholder farmers, Ethiopia Acknowledgement : We gratefully acknowledge the Australian Government through Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) for funding this research. Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR) and the International Wheat and Maize Improvement Centre (CIMMYT) are acknowledged for access to raw data. The Ethiopian National Meteorological Agency (ENMA) is also greatly acknowledged for access to climate data. We thank farmers, supervisors, enumerators and other technical staff and researchers from various partner institutions who contributed to the data collection process. All remaining errors are ours. |
| Keywords: | Food Security and Poverty |
| Date: | 2018–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iaae18:277361&r=env |
| By: | Smith, V.; De Pinto, A.; Robertson, R. |
| Abstract: | This study examines the empirical importance of the effects of the risk environment on the impacts of climate change on farm land allocations and consequent effect on agricultural output in Zambia. We use a discrete-choice model consistent with a mean-variance utility function to model farm-level land allocations among alternative crops. Results indicate that risk-reducing decisions reinforce the trend to shift away from maize production in response to climate change impacts on mean temperatures and precipitation. The opportunity cost of these decisions is explored through a simulation scenario in which yield variability is reduced to zero. Important conclusions can be derived from this analysis. First, when the economic effects of climate change are considered, decision-making under uncertainty and risk should be at the forefront of the problems that issues that need to be addressed. Second, concentrating on farm-level effects of responses to climate change is not sufficient. To understand the economy wide consequences of climate change, the aggregate effects of individual decisions should be assessed. Third, results indicate that increased efforts in risk management and in policies aiming at reducing risk can lead to significant positive outcomes. Acknowledgement : This work was supported by a grant from the Bureau of Food Security at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). This work was implemented as part of the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS), which is carried out with support from CGIAR Fund Donors and through bilateral funding agreements. For details please visit donors. The authors take sole responsibility for the opinions expressed within this study. |
| Keywords: | Crop Production/Industries |
| Date: | 2018–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iaae18:277315&r=env |
| By: | Zasada, I.; Weltin, M.; Zoll, F.; Benninger, S.L. |
| Abstract: | Urban agriculture (UA) is regarded as an emerging tool and strategy for sustainable urban development as it addresses a wide array of objectives, such as climate change adaptation, social equality, food security or the restauration of environmental and living conditions. This is particularly important in the case of rapidly growing cities and metropolitan regions of developing and transition countries. Therefore it gains increasing attention among the academic and planning community. We have carried out a survey among 120 gardeners in residential neighbourhoods of the city of Pune (India). We investigated prevailing UA cultivation practices, socio-economic situations, motivation, knowledge and networking of individual household and external framework conditions to analyse the contributions to the environmental, economic and socio-cultural dimensions of urban sustainability. An analytical framework using composite indicators with index values was applied to enable comparability between the two UA types of terrace / rooftop and backyard / kitchen gardens. Our results show that both types contribute differently to urban sustainability at indicator level, but rather similarly at the aggregated level of the sustainability dimension. Sustainability benefits can be expected for the environmental and socio-cultural side, especially for urban biodiversity conservation and aesthetic green urban spaces, but less for economic contributions. Acknowledgement : The authors would like to thank FLOW social sciences research organization for their kind support to conduct the survey among urban gardeners. This work was supported by a fellowship within the Postdoc-Program of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). |
| Keywords: | Community/Rural/Urban Development |
| Date: | 2018–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iaae18:276992&r=env |
| By: | Requillart, V.; Irz, X.; Jensen, J.; Leroy, P.; Soler, L.-G. |
| Abstract: | We investigate the effects of promoting simple climate-friendly diet recommendations in Denmark, Finland and France, with the objectives of identifying recommendations that lower greenhouse gas emissions, improve public health, and are cost-beneficial. The simulation approach combines a behavioural model of consumption adjustment to dietary constraints, a model of climate impact based on the life-cycle analysis of foods, and an epidemiological model calculating health outcomes. The five recommendations considered in the analysis focus on consumption of fruits and vegetables, red meat, all meat and all animal products, as well as the greenhouse gas emissions arising from the diet. The results show that trade-offs between climate and health objectives occur for some recommendations in all countries, and that substitutions may result in unintended effects. However, we identify some recommendations that would raise sustainability in its climate and health dimensions, while delivering value for money and increasing social welfare. In particular, promoting consumption of fruits and vegetables through campaigns of the five-a-day type is found to be cost-beneficial in all three countries. By contrast, targeting consumption of meat, consumption of all animal products, or the climate footprint of diets through social marketing campaigns is only found to be desirable in some country-specific contexts. Acknowledgement : Financial support from the ANR French National Research Agency, project ANR-011-ALID-002-02 OCAD, and from the ERANET-SUSFOOD call (Project SUSDIET- Daniel & Nina Carasso Foundation) is gratefully acknowledged. |
| Keywords: | Environmental Economics and Policy |
| Date: | 2018–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iaae18:277057&r=env |
| By: | Nedumaran, S.; Kadiyala, D.M.; Srigiri, S.R.; Roberto, V.; McDermid, S. |
| Abstract: | The rainfed farming in India is characterized by low productivity, frequent weather variability, policy bias, poor market and infrastructure and degraded natural resources, which leads to low farm income and farm households vulnerability. Along with these challenges, changing climate and socio-economic conditions in the future are serious threat to the rainfed farming and household farm profitability. In this paper we use the AgMIP Regional Integrated Assessment (RIA) methods which integrates climate, crop and economic modeling to assess potential impacts of climate change on economic vulnerability of farm households, average farm net returns and poverty in semi-arid region of Andhra Pradesh, India. This study used the socio-economic data from representative household survey, together with down-scaled climate data, site-specific crop model simulations. The simulation results shows that the majority of fallow-chickpea based farm households are vulnerable (68% in warmer climate and 42% in wet climate) to climate change if current production systems are used in the future. Vulnerability is not uniform across the Kurnool district and climate impacts vary across climate scenarios. Therefore, development and promotion of location specific adaptation strategies linking technologies, policies and infrastructure is need to improve the resilience and adaptive capacity of farm rainfed farm households to climate change. Acknowledgement : This research was funded by Agricultural Model Inter-comparison and Improvement Project (AGMIP, www.agmip.org) and acknowledge for the contribution on the methodology. The opinions expressed here belong to the authors, and do not necessarily reflect those of ICRISAT or CGIAR. |
| Keywords: | Crop Production/Industries |
| Date: | 2018–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iaae18:277100&r=env |
| By: | Robert Vermeulen; Edo Schets; Melanie Lohuis; Barbara Kolbl; David-Jan Jansen; Willem Heeringa |
| Abstract: | Almost 200 countries have signed the Paris Agreement: 7 a pledge to keep the global temperature rise well below 2 degrees Celsius. To realize this pledge, global greenhouse gas emissions will need to be reduced substantially. This, in turn, requires a global transition to a low-carbon economy and energy system. Such an energy transition may give rise to shocks that could be disruptive for the financial system. This Occasional Study investigates the potential financial stability impact of a disruptive energy transition for the financial sector of the Netherlands by conducting a stress test. |
| Date: | 2018–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:dnb:dnbocs:1607&r=env |
| By: | Mitter, H.; Schmid, E. |
| Abstract: | Climate information appears to be underutilized in water stress management in agriculture. A systematic analysis of potential impacts related to multi-seasonal dry spells, effective adaptation measures, and the economic value of climate information may inform decision making and facilitate the uptake and use of climate information. Hence, we have developed an integrated modeling framework consisting of a statistical climate model, a crop rotation model, a bio-physical process model, a portfolio optimization model, the computation of the economic value of climate information, and a spatial hot spot analysis and applied it to the context of water stress management in crop production in Austria. Results from the integrated modeling framework show that the average economic value of climate information ranges between 13 and 99 /ha for Austrian cropland, depending on the scenario of multi-seasonal dry spells and the farmers risk aversion level. On average, the value of climate information is highest on flat and productive soils, for root and oil crops, under more extreme dry spells, and if farmers are highly risk averse. Quantifying the value of climate information may guide data provision efforts and highlight agricultural production regions, which would particularly benefit from such information to improve water stress management. Acknowledgement : Research to this article has been supported by the research projects UncertProp Uncertainty propagation in integrated modelling approaches for global change impacts on the bio-economy (KR16AC0K13332) and COMBIRISK Combined weather related risk assessment monitor for tailoring climate change adaptation in Austrian crop production (KR15AC8K12614), both funded by the Austrian Climate and Energy Fund within the Austrian Climate Research Programme. |
| Keywords: | Environmental Economics and Policy |
| Date: | 2018–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iaae18:277099&r=env |
| By: | Chen, Xi |
| Abstract: | Cognitive functioning is critical as in our daily life a host of real-world complex decisions in high-stakes markets have to be made. The decision-making process can be vulnerable to environmental stressors. Summarizing the growing economic and epidemiologic evidence linking air pollution, cognition performance and real-world decision making, we first illustrate key physiological and psychological pathways between air pollution and cognition. We then document the main patterns of air pollution affecting cognitive test performance by type of cognitive tests, gender, window of exposure, age profile, and educational attainment. We further extend to a review of real-world decision making that has been found to be affected by air pollution and the resulting cognitive impairments. Finally, rich implications on environmental health policies are drawn based on existing evaluations of social costs of air pollution. |
| Keywords: | Air Pollution,Cognitive Performance,Intelligence,Decision Making |
| JEL: | I24 Q53 Q51 G11 J24 |
| Date: | 2018 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:glodps:266&r=env |
| By: | Renner, Sebastian; Lay, Jann; Schleicher, Michael |
| Abstract: | We study the welfare, energy poverty, and CO2 emission implications of energy price change scenarios in Indonesia. Our analysis extends previous analyses of energy price impacts at the household level in several ways. First, by employing a household energy demand system (QUAIDS), we are able to distinguish between first- and second-order welfare effects over the income distribution. Our analysis shows considerable heterogeneity of welfare impacts. For gasoline and electricity, first-order calculations overestimate welfare effects by 10 to 20 per cent for price changes between 20 and 50 per cent. Second, our results point to the ownership of energy-processing durables as another source of impact heterogeneity. Poor households that own these goods may be hit particularly strongly by energy price increases. Third, we extend the welfare analysis beyond the money-metric utility effects and look at energy poverty, which is understood as the absence of or imperfect access to reliable and clean modern energy services. Drawing on the estimated demand function, we find that price increases have substantial effects on energy poverty. Fourth, our analysis explicitly considers the emissions effects of energy price scenarios. We find that reduced household energy demand implies a substantial reduction in emissions. The analysis thus indicates that energy prices may serve as an effective mitigation instrument but also have important adverse welfare effects. The latter can, however, be mitigated by appropriate compensation policies. |
| Keywords: | energy subsidies,climate policy,poverty,distributional effects,energy poverty |
| Date: | 2017 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:gigawp:302&r=env |
| By: | Nyoni, Bothwell; Phiri, Andrew |
| Abstract: | With escalating fears of climate change reaching irreversible levels, much emphasis has been recently placed on shifting to renewable sources of energy in supporting future economic livelihood. Focusing on South Africa, as Africa’s largest energy consumer and producer, our study investigates the short-run and long-run effects of renewable energy on economic growth using linear and nonlinear autoregressive distributive lag (ARDL) models. Working with data availability, our empirical analysis is carried out over the period of 1991 to 2016, and our results unanimously fail to confirm any linear or nonlinear cointegration effects of the consumption and production of renewable energy on South African economic growth. We view the absence of cointergation relations as an indication of inefficient usage of renewable energy in supporting sustainable growth in South Africa and hence advise policymakers to accelerate the establishment of necessary renewable infrastructure in supporting future energy requirements. |
| Keywords: | Renewable energy; economic growth; ARDL; nonlinear ARDL; South Africa; Sub-Sahara Africa (SSA). |
| JEL: | C13 C32 C52 Q43 |
| Date: | 2018–10–29 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:89761&r=env |
| By: | Tong, Q.; Swallow, B.; Zhang, L.; Zhang, J. |
| Abstract: | Rice production in China is under pressure to adapt to changing weather conditions and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. This paper explores the possibilities for achieving climate-smart agriculture among rice farmers in the Jianghan Plain of China. Data for 873 rice plots are analyzed using Stochastic Frontier Analysis to simultaneously estimate a production function and factors associated with technical efficiency. The production analysis shows the importance of climate variables to production, while use of climate-smart practices, including insurance, conservation tillage, and crop rotations all have the extra benefit of reducing technical inefficiency. However, risk aversion complicates these relationships. We found that most farmers are risk averse and that risk aversion has a negative effect on technical efficiency and U-shaped effects on the purchase of insurance and use of soil-conserving practices. Soil conserving practices are least likely to be used by risk neutral farmers, while insurance is most likely to be purchased by risk neutral farmers. Crop insurance that appeals to the most risk averse farmers appears to be a high priority for encouraging climate-smart agriculture in this region where climate has such large impacts on crop production. Acknowledgement : The authors gratefully acknowledge ?nancial support from the Natural Sciences Foundation of China (41501213); the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (2662017PY045); the Key Project for Studies of Philosophy and Social Sciences by Ministry of Education (15JZD014); the program of China Scholarship Council (No. 201706760038). |
| Keywords: | Crop Production/Industries |
| Date: | 2018–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iaae18:277311&r=env |
| By: | Adenuga, A.; Davis, J.; Hutchinson, G.; Donnellan, T.; Patton, M. |
| Abstract: | Negative agricultural externalities that accompany dairy production activities are not usually accounted for in the market place since they are not priced. To be able to manage an externality however, it is important that it is measured. Using a hyperbolic environmental technology distance function, we estimate the farm-specific abatement costs (shadow price) of nitrogen pollution in the island of Ireland's (Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland) dairy sector. The methodology, unlike the output/input distance functions, allows for asymmetric treatments of production outputs (desirable and undesirable outputs). We also analyse the farm level nitrogen pollution costs ratio and its determinants. The analyses are based on farm-level panel data from the Teagasc National Farm Survey(NFS) and the Northern Ireland Farm Business Survey (FBS). The results of our estimation showed that it will cost about 93,552 and 28,149 per farm to fully abate nitrogen surplus for Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland respectively. We found a reasonable degree of variation in the spectrum of abatement costs across the dairy farms with a relative increase observed over the years. The results will provide quantitative information on farmers costs of reducing nitrogen pollution. This will be of relevance in designing future agri-environmental policies Acknowledgement : This study is funded by Teagasc under the Walsh fellowship programme. The authors thank Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Northern Ireland for providing technical supports. We also thank the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), Policy and Economics Division, Northern Ireland and Teagasc for providing access to data |
| Keywords: | Livestock Production/Industries |
| Date: | 2018–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iaae18:277434&r=env |
| By: | Ariadna Ci??ela (The Maria Grzegorzewska University) |
| Abstract: | The aim of the presentation is to share results of a study concerning the beliefs about the natural environment conducted with the use of New Ecological Paradigm Scale (R. Dunlap et al.), which, according to the authors, is a measure of endorsement of a ?pro-ecological? world view and environmental concern. Items in the questionnaire involve such topics as the reality of growth limits, anti-anthropocentrism, the fragility of nature?s balance, rejection of exemptionalism, and the possibility of an ecological catastrophe. The NEP Scale was previously used in different countries, including USA, Mexico, Germany, Czech Republic, Turkey and Brazil. The presented research is one of few extensive studies using the NEP scale that have been pursued in Poland.The study was conducted at various Warsaw universities and other academic centres across Poland in 2016. The results indicate that most participants believe that humans are seriously abusing the environment and the threat of a serious crisis is real. On the other hand, however, they are optimistic about the natural resources and hope that human ingenuity will prevent the disaster. Most participants show rather biocentric than anthropocentric beliefs, including such opinions as ?plants and animals have as much right as humans to exist,? or ?humans don?t have the right to modify the natural environment to suit their needs.? The study was carried out as a part of a larger project, which aim was to examine the respondents? knowledge about the natural environment, their pro-ecological behaviour, and the correlation of the latter with the beliefs measured by the NEP scale. |
| Keywords: | New Ecological Paradigm Scale, natural environment, environmental attitudes, Poland, young Poles |
| Date: | 2018–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:sek:iacpro:8209654&r=env |
| By: | Oniki, S.; Berhe, M.; Negash, T. |
| Abstract: | Increasing population pressure in the rural areas of Sub-Saharan Africa causes degradation of communal lands, as well as increases in landless farmers. To promote the conservation based utilization of communal lands and increase the incomes of poor farmers, the Ethiopian government introduced a distribution program of the less-utilized communal lands to landless farmers. Although this policy is a novel approach to reducing population pressure while maintaining soil and water conservation, participation is not active enough in some areas. As such, this study shows the social norms for natural resource conservation of the communities affect the participation in the program. Using original farm household data, it estimates models for program participation determinants, especially the effects of social norms for conservation, represented by proportion of area enclosure, amount of activities for soil and water conservation, and evaluation by local government. The results show that the social norms for conservation affect program participation positively. They also show that the norms do not affect the farmers incomes, meaning norms directly influence participation. These results suggest the possibility of norm enhancement by extension works. Therefore, the sustainable utilization of communal lands would be more effective if it accompanies programs that improve social norms of villages. Acknowledgement : We would like to thank the staff of the Bureau of Agriculture and Rural Development of Tigray Region, Natural Resource Office of Woreda Kilte Awelaelo and Woreda Atsbi Wenberta, and Mekelle University for their support in data collection. This study presents part of the results of Forest and Farmland Conservation for Watershed Management in the Ethiopian Highlands (FFCW) Project, a component of Watershed Management in Africa of Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences (JIRCAS). |
| Keywords: | Land Economics/Use |
| Date: | 2018–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iaae18:277070&r=env |
| By: | Margherita Casini; Francesca Gagliardi; Gianni Betti |
| Abstract: | This paper provides a methodological proposal for the construction of a multidimensional index for sustainability assessment in the context of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. In particular, the paper proposes a new methodology to properly estimate the multidimensional nature of sustainable development and the SDGs introducing an innovative fuzzy approach. Specifically, we present a multidimensional methodology to build a Super Index to measure the performance of the Mediterranean countries towards the SDGs with a focus on the agro-food sustainability in line with the Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA). For this purpose, drawing on the fuzzy approach developed by Betti et al. (2015), a step by step procedure is provided in the paper: first the underlying dimensions of a set of selected indicators for the SDGs are identified through an exploratory factor analysis and then an innovative weighting methodology is applied for the aggregation of the indicators to calculate the countries’ scores for each dimension and finally the overall index. |
| JEL: | C43 Q01 Q53 C82 |
| Date: | 2018–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:usi:wpaper:782&r=env |
| By: | Chaikumbung, Mayula (Kasetsart University); Doucouliagos, Chris (Deakin University); Scarborough, Helen (Deakin University) |
| Abstract: | Do institutions and culture affect environmental values? In this article we analyze 1,041 environmental valuations of 223 wetlands in 38 developing countries, to examine the effect of institutions and culture on environmental values. We assess three dimensions of institutional quality: economic freedom, democracy, and good governance. We also consider the impact of cultural differences. Possibly surprisingly, wetland values are lower in more market based economies and they are lower in cultures that are more indulgent and authoritarian. In contrast, improved government effectiveness increases wetland valuations. Understanding these important and varying effects of institutions and culture on wetland valuations is important for policy development and environmental preservation. |
| Keywords: | institutions, culture, wetlands, valuations, environmental preferences, meta-regression |
| JEL: | Q3 H4 O13 P48 |
| Date: | 2018–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iza:izadps:dp11848&r=env |
| By: | Peth, D.; Mushoff, O.; Funke, K.; Hirschauer, N. |
| Abstract: | Nitrogen runoffs induced by agricultural fertilisation cause serious environmental damage to surface waters. Environmental and consumer protectionists demand government intervention to mitigate these externalities. With this in mind, the present study examines the effects of nudge-based regulatory strategies. We use an incentivised single-player multi-period business management game as an experimental device to study how nudges affect compliance with the minimum-distance-to-water rule in a sample of German farmers. We investigate two different nudge treatments: a nudge with information and pictures showing environmental and health damages that are presumably caused by breaching the minimum-distance-to-water rule, and a nudge with an additional social comparison suggesting that the majority of farmers in the same region comply with the rule. We observe three core experimental outcomes: first, nudging has a preventive effect and reduces the share of non-compliant participants. Second, against all expectations, the preventive effect of the nudge with an additional social comparison is weaker than that of the nudge with information and pictures alone. Third, despite the overall positive effects of nudging, the nudge with social comparison even increased the severity of non-complying behaviour in the deviant subpopulation. Acknowledgement : The authors gratefully acknowledge ?nancial support from the German Research Foundation (DFG). We thank Dr. Matthias Buchholz, Dr. Daniel Hermann and the Centre for Statistics of the University of G ttingen for helpful comments and statistical advice. We also thank Manfred Tietze for support by programming of the experiment. |
| Keywords: | Resource/Energy Economics and Policy |
| Date: | 2018–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iaae18:277062&r=env |
| By: | Yigezu, Y.A.; El-Shater, T.; Boughlala, M.; Bishaw, Z.; Niane, A.; Aw-Hassan, A. |
| Abstract: | While the impacts of legume-cereal rotations on soil health are well documented, the literature on their economic benefits, especially in dry areas is scanty. By applying the propensity score matching and endogenous switching regression methods to a nationally representative sample of 1,230 farm households from Morocco, this paper provided empirical evidence that the individual and combined adoption of improved varieties of faba-beans and legume-wheat rotations lead to higher yields, farm income and household consumption. Considering a two-year period, the simultaneous adoption of both faba-bean-wheat rotation and improved faba-bean varieties led to $875/ha (136%%) higher net returns relative to wheat mono-cropping. In the face of these very high benefits, high risk of losing faba-bean crops due to pests, diseases or drought explain the low adoption of rotation and improved varieties which are at 26% and 16% respectively. For reaping both the economic and environmental benefits of faba-beans, Morocco and other similar countries in the dry areas will need to invest on the development of varieties with better pest and diseases resistance, introduce crop insurance and different incentive systems, and create better access to extension and certified seed delivery services that induce wider adoption of improved varieties and legume-cereal rotations. Acknowledgement : Funding for this research was obtained from CRP-WHEAT and the EU-IFAD project on Enhanced small holder wheat cropping systems to improve food security under changing climate in the drylands of West Asia and North Africa. |
| Keywords: | Crop Production/Industries |
| Date: | 2018–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iaae18:277523&r=env |
| By: | Taheripour, Farzad; Luis Moises Pena Levano; Wally Tyner |
| Abstract: | The standard GTAP data bases do not explicitly represent production, consumption, and trade of biofuels. In response to the growing demand for biofuels research, biofuels (including ethanol produced from grains, ethanol produced from sugarcane, and biodiesel produced from vegetable oils) were introduced in to the GTAP data base version 6 which represents the global economy in 2001 [1]. In 2001 the global production of biofuels (including ethanol and biodiesel) was about 5 billion gallons. Then the first and second generation of biofuels were introduced into the GTAP data base version 7 for 2004 [2]. In 2004 the global production of all types of first generation of biofuels was about 7.8 billion gallons. In 2004, there was no commercial production of second generation of biofuels (biofuels produced from cellulosic materials). However, several second generation biofuel technologies were introduced into this data base. Several studies have used the first and second versions of the GTAP-BIO data bases to project the economic and land use impacts of biofuel production and policy at the global scale |
| Date: | 2017 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:gta:resmem:5172&r=env |
| By: | Ramadas, S.; Kumar, A.; Singh, S.; Kumar, S.; Kumar, A. |
| Abstract: | Climate change is a serious threat to Indian agriculture affecting crop production and livelihood. The study documents the perception of 500 farmers on climate change as well as awareness and extent of adaptation strategies followed at wheat farms captured by survey (2016-17) apart from tracking yield sensitivity by employing two-stage step-wise regression. Findings indicated that perception matched with the climatology. Investigation alerted that a majority (56.6%) have not changed wheat varieties despite climate change belief barring Haryana wherein, 54% seed replacement exists. Yield has increased over time with no significant change in straw yield, grain and straw quality. Mapping of sensitive stages in crop growth indicated that minimum temperature, relative humidity and rainfall were affecting yield at early stage, whereas, maximum temperature influence yield at maturity stage. The survey explicitly alarms that barring a few strategies like application of organic manures, new varieties, crop insurance and irrigation management, the awareness on rest of the adaptation practices is very low among the wheat producers. Further, every technology is embedded with socio-economic constraints in adoption. The study advocates for implementation of region-specific participatory climate-smart farming practices and/or adaptation strategies through targeted extension programs to manage the yield sensitivity against climate change. Acknowledgement : The authors duly thank the Agricultural Extension Division, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) for the financial grant under extramural and the Director, ICAR-Indian Institute of Wheat and Barley Research, Karnal for rendering support and infrastructure facilities to carry out the research work (Project Code: 1007828) |
| Keywords: | Environmental Economics and Policy |
| Date: | 2018–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iaae18:277737&r=env |
| By: | Wang, S.; An, H.; Chang, W.-Y.; Gaston, C. |
| Abstract: | In response to threats from climate change, such as an increased likelihood of droughts and insect outbreaks, significant investments in forestry genomics research have been made. The main advantage of genomic technology is that it greatly reduces the amount of R&D time to come up with a new product, and it is much more precise than traditional breeding techniques. However, the technology also comes with higher upfront R&D costs. Thus, whether the research effort would result in a worthwhile use of scarce research resources remains unknown. To help quantify the economic effect, we assess the welfare consequences of the forestry genomic research by estimating a timber supply model and a dynamic global forest products trade model. Using the forest industry of Alberta as our empirical setting, we find that the research program can yield an increase in total economic surplus of 400 million CAD in present value and the benefit-cost ratio of the research program is 43.9, indicating that more resources can be allocated advantageously to genomics-assisted tree breeding programs. The findings provide a justification for adopting genomic technology in the forestry sector and are useful in supporting genomics-enhanced reforestation policies and investment decisions. Acknowledgement : We acknowledge cash funding for this research from Genome Canada, Genome Alberta through Alberta Economic Trade and Development, Genome British Columbia, the University of Alberta and the University of Calgary. Further cash funding has been provided by Alberta Innovates BioSolutions, Forest Resource Improvement Association of Alberta, and the Forest Resource Improvement Program through West Fraser Ltd. and Weyerhaeuser Timberlands. In-kind funding has been provided by Alberta Agriculture and Forestry, Blue Ridge Lumber West Fraser, Weyerhaeuser Timberlands Grande Prairie, and the Thomas, Wishart, and Erbilgin labs in support of the Resilient Forests (RES-FOR): Climate, Pests & Policy Genomic Applications project. |
| Keywords: | Resource/Energy Economics and Policy |
| Date: | 2018–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iaae18:277443&r=env |
| By: | Till Kuhn, David Schäfer |
| Abstract: | The use of farm models to analyze agri-environmental policies requires selecting farms which can be hypothetical, typical or observed ones. Farm typologies, understood as a grouping of farms according to relevant farm characteristics, allow selecting most prevailing farm types for a modelling exercise. Thereby, a farm type represents a share of the real-word farm population. We develop a farm typology for the German Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia based on the Farm Structure Survey 2016. It is designed to assess the revision of the German fertilization regulations in 2017 by applying a combination of a bio-physical crop model and a bio-economic farm model. The derived typology covers 77% of farms in North Rhine-Westphalia and comprises 210 farm types. Farms are grouped according to specialization, size in relation to area, and stocking density. In addition, a typical crop rotation is defined for every specialization in the nine soil-climate regions of North Rhine-Westphalia. We show that the proposed typology provides the necessary information for the selection of farm types as well as for the model initialization and parameterization in the described modelling exercise. Furthermore, we provide the information to adapt and extent the typology to similar research questions and upcoming Farm Structure Surveys. The incorporation of expert knowledge to identify farm structures which are not captured by the official statistic could improve the typology. |
| Keywords: | Farm Management |
| Date: | 2018–11–05 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:ubfred:279702&r=env |
| By: | Zhang, Y.; Chen, K.; Zhu, T. |
| Abstract: | China has started to implement the most stringent of Three Red Lines water policy since 2012, which sets targets for total water use, water use efficiency, and water quality for a number of benchmark years to 2030 by province and prefecture. This paper aims to develop an integrated regional CGE and water resource model at river basin-provincial level for China and to quantify regional and sectoral economic impacts of three red lines. Five policy scenarios are constructed to assess the impacts of water red lines, including the red line of total water use cap, irrigation efficiency, industrial water use intensity, surface water pollution and all redlines combined. The red line of total water use cap will increase water shortage drastically, leading to considerable negative impacts on the economic growth of East, South Central and Southwest. The sectors with the higher water use intensity such as machinery and equipment, metal and metal products, chemical products and non-metal products are affected most. Other two red lines need to go hand in hand to minimize water shortage and mitigate potentially negative economic impacts. Establishing regional water use right market and promoting economic restructuring are two policy options to cope with water scarcity challenge. Acknowledgement : We would like to acknowledge Winston Yu from the World Bank for the guidance and Shuzhong Gu from Development Research Center of the State Council (DRC) for his valuable comments in the early stage of the research. We are grateful to Xinshen Diao and James Thurlow from International Food Policy Research Institute for their guidance on developing regional CGE model. We acknowledge funding support by the World bank through the project Mind the Gap: Balancing Growth and Water Security in China , and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) (Grant No.71761147004) ,the Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Program (ASTIP-IAED-2017-04? |
| Keywords: | Agricultural and Food Policy |
| Date: | 2018–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iaae18:277509&r=env |
| By: | Baldos, Uris Lantz |
| Abstract: | Understanding the challenges of achieving environmental sustainability goals given future demand for food, fiber and fuel requires economic models and databases that incorporate spatially explicit information on land use and land cover (LULC). The GTAP LULC database and its variants have been extensively used in a wide variety of applications aimed at examining the land-environment-energy nexus. Looking back the development of the first GTAP LULC was no simple task as it required the expertise of several researchers to identify and process relevant geospatial information. And because of this, succeeding updates of the GTAP LULC database (namely v.7 for 2004 and v.8 for 2004, 2007) relied heavily on AEZ-region level data from GTAP LULCv.6 in order to update land cover and land use as well as share-out land rents. This memorandum documents the development of the GTAP LULC v.9 database. In keeping with the multi-year release of GTAP v.9, the GTAP LULC v.9 data is developed for each benchmark year (i.e. 2004, 2007 and 2011). But unlike previous releases, GTAP LULCv.9 is created directly from publicly available high-resolution (i.e. 5-minute grid) spatial land cover and land use maps. Since these maps can be readily downloaded online, it is possible to replicate GTAP LULCv.9 if users know how to handle spatial data and if they follow the methods outlined in this document. Furthermore, by developing the capacity to handle spatial data within the Center, new spatial LULC information can be easily incorporated in future releases of the GTAP LULC. |
| Date: | 2017 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:gta:resmem:5424&r=env |
| By: | Hacer Güner Gören (Pamukkale University); Ay?egül I??ldar (Pamukkale University) |
| Abstract: | Due to the increase in environmental problems caused by solid wastes in recent years, it is mandatory to dispose these wastes in an environmentally and economically effective manner. Therefore, authorities should develop the most effective strategy for disposing solid wastes. In developing a solution to the solid wastes, different criteria such as economic, cultural, social and technical criteria related to this important problem should be taken into consideration together. These criteria might lead to different alternatives and the problem on hand becomes a multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) problem. In this study, a number of disposal techniques have been analyzed that could be applicable to Ankara, the capital city of Turkey. 8 different solid waste disposal systems and 15 criteria have been determined via the interviews of the experts from the field. To evaluate 8 disposal systems, three different multi-criteria decision making approaches have been used. Firstly, the problem has been dealt with two popular MCDM approaches, namely, Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) and Preference Ranking Organization Method for Enrichment Evaluations (PROMETHEE). As the third method, Best-Worst Method has been used for the first time in literature to evaluate the alternatives. The results obtained have been compared and evaluated. |
| Keywords: | Solid waste management, multi-criteria decision making, TOPSIS, PROMETHEE, Best-Worst method. |
| Date: | 2018–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:sek:iacpro:6508933&r=env |
| By: | Stephen Polasky (Boston College) |
| Keywords: | Creation Date: 19860901 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:boc:bocoec:153&r=env |
| By: | Galioto, F. |
| Abstract: | The present study shows a methodology analysing the role plaid by information in conditioning the criteria used to schedule irrigation by farmers. The method is applied to the problem of comparing advanced instruments (advice services) and prevailing current practices (calendar irrigation) in valuing and predicting soil water content to schedule irrigation. Such assessment approach brought to the formulation of two main hypotheses: a) the message service is valuable if those messages with higher failure consequences are enough accurate to drive decisions; b) The use of information services to plan irrigation is favoured by the increasing frequencies of irrigation intervention because of the relatively lower expected consequences of failing to meet predictions. This methodology was applied to few pilot experiments. Observed impacts substantiate model hypothesis, revealing that the introduction of advanced information systems is favoured in sub-arid climate regions and for drip irrigated crops, where it was recorded a 0% to 20% increase in gross margin and a 10% to 30% water saving. The study concludes addressing the condition justifying the use of advanced information systems to schedule irrigation intervention and offering some policy recommendation to drive the development and the early adoption of such technologies . Acknowledgement : The research leading to these results has received funding from the European Community s Seventh Framework Programme under grant agreement No. KBBE-2012-311903 (FIGARO). The authors gratefully acknowledge the FIGARO consortium as a whole, with particular reference to representatives of the Canale Emiliano Romagnolo (Italy), Aarhus University (Denmark), the University of Lisbon (Portugal), and the Regional Union of Municipalities of Eastern Macedonia-Thrace (Greece) for having provided data and other technical information. |
| Keywords: | Research and Development/ Tech Change/Emerging Technologies |
| Date: | 2018–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iaae18:277384&r=env |
| By: | Michal Shinwell (OECD); Efrat Shamir (OECD) |
| Abstract: | Businesses have a significant impact on people’s economic and social conditions, as well as on environmental outcomes. This paper presents an overview of the various kinds of initiatives aimed at measuring or reporting on business’ impact, or certain aspects of it. It shows that despite the proliferation of information and frameworks to measure these impacts, there is currently no common understanding and practice on how to assess the performance of businesses in different social and environmental areas. Building on the OECD’s work on measuring well-being at the national level, the paper aims at better understanding how businesses can impact people’s well-being and sustainability. It contributes to, and complements, other initiatives undertaken by the OECD on responsible business conduct and inclusive growth. This analysis is a first attempt at extending to businesses the approach used by the Organisation to assess and benchmark the well-being performance of countries and sub-national regions, in view of creating a common language and improving the quality, comparability, and coherence of information on the impact of businesses on societal progress and people’s life. |
| Keywords: | business impacts, sustainability reporting, Well-being metrics |
| JEL: | G39 I31 J81 |
| Date: | 2018–11–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:oec:stdaaa:2018/08-en&r=env |
| By: | Johansson, Per-Olov (Stockholm School of Economics); Kriström, Bengt (Department of Economics, SLU) |
| Abstract: | This paper offers a non-technical overview of the issues involved when applying cost-benefit analysis (CBA) to hydropower, both in terms of new installations and changing existing regulatory structures. Our focus is on the conceptual and empirical problems of applying CBA to provide decision support in such cases. A large body of literature now exists on the social net values of generating electricity from moving water. The studies focusing values related to the ecological system include, but are not limited to, effects on climate, aesthetics, landscape, recreation and wildlife. Taken together, they confirm the view that the public invariably seems to place significant values on the integrity of the ecological system. It does, however, not seem possible to draw general conclusions from the literature on whether or not a given (dis)investment will pass a cost-benefit test; the end-result depends entirely on the specifics. |
| Keywords: | Cost-Benefit Analysis; Ecosystem Services; Energy; Sustainable Energy System; Hydropower |
| JEL: | H43 Q41 Q42 Q51 |
| Date: | 2018–10–15 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hhs:slucer:2018_009&r=env |
| By: | Tambo, J.; Mockshell, J. |
| Abstract: | Conservation agriculture (CA), which consists of minimum soil disturbance, crop residue retention and crop rotation, is claimed to generate a number of agronomic, economic and environmental benefits. Recognising these potential benefits, CA is widely promoted in efforts towards sustainable agricultural intensification. However, there has been an intense debate about its suitability in smallholder farming environments, and this has stimulated a growing interest in the adoption and impacts of CA technologies in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Using survey data from rural households in nine SSA countries, this paper seeks to add to the extant literature by examining the drivers and welfare impacts of individual and combined implementation of the three components of CA. We employ inverse-probability-weighting regression-adjustment and propensity score matching with multiple treatment estimators. Results show that adoption of a CA technology significantly increases household income and income per adult equivalent. Disaggregating the CA components, we find that adoption of the components in combination is associated with larger income gains than when the components are adopted in isolation, and the largest effect is achieved when households implement the three practices jointly. We identify key factors that might spur increased adoption, including education, secure land rights, and access to institutional support services. Acknowledgement : This research was financially supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) through the research projects Promoting Food Security in Rural Sub-Saharan Africa: The Role of Agricultural Intensification, Social Security and Results-Oriented Approaches and Program of Accompanying Research for Agricultural Innovation (PARI) . This article draws on data from the Lund University led Afrint II project, which was funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency and the Swedish Research Foundation. The authors gratefully acknowledge the team of researchers from Sweden and the nine African countries who were involved in the Afrint II project. |
| Keywords: | Consumer/Household Economics |
| Date: | 2018–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iaae18:277035&r=env |
| By: | ITF |
| Abstract: | This report identifies policy priorities, megatrends and pressing issues regarding the decarbonisation of urban passenger transport. It presents the results of an expert survey on important challenges in the area and summarises the findings of a workshop with 36 experts from 12 countries regarding strategies for the transition to carbon-neutral urban passenger transport. |
| Date: | 2018–10–22 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:oec:itfaac:59-en&r=env |
| By: | - |
| Abstract: | The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) pioneered not only disaster assessment but also compilation of the necessary methodology and courses on this methodology for member countries and international institutions. The experience of ECLAC in this area has been presented in three editions of the Handbook for Disaster Assessment, in 1991, 2003 and 2014. The last of these was prepared in collaboration with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). The present publication contains exercises developed for the economic, social and environmental disaster assessment methodology courses and is a teaching supplement to the third edition of the Handbook, which has been widely used in national and regional courses since its publication. |
| Keywords: | DESASTRES NATURALES, ASPECTOS ECONOMICOS, ASPECTOS SOCIALES, EVALUACION, MANUALES, AGENDA 2030 PARA EL DESARROLLO SOSTENIBLE, OBJETIVOS DE DESARROLLO SOSTENIBLE, NATURAL DISASTERS, ECONOMIC ASPECTS, SOCIAL ASPECTS, EVALUATION, MANUALS, 2030 AGENDA FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS |
| Date: | 2018–10–16 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ecr:col022:44157&r=env |
| By: | Marion Bary (IODE - Institut de l'Ouest : Droit et Europe - UR1 - Université de Rennes 1 - UNIV-RENNES - Université de Rennes - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique); Marie-Hélène Hubert |
| Date: | 2016–12–01 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:journl:halshs-01892173&r=env |
| By: | Stephen Polasky (Boston College) |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:boc:bocoec:143&r=env |
| By: | Link, Albert (University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Department of Economics); Morris, Cody (University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Department of Economics); van Hasselt, Martijn (University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Department of Economics) |
| Abstract: | This paper presents estimates of the impact of public R&D on patenting activity at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Using a time series of public sector agency data, we estimate the per-capita R&D elasticity of new patent applications using a knowledge production function framework model that is an expanded version of what other scholars have used with private sector data. New patent applications are an important step in the technology transfer activities of a federal agency. We estimate this elasticity to be about 2.0. This elasticity value represents an initial estimate of the impact of EPA’s R&D investments on its technology transfer activity. |
| Keywords: | R&D; Patents; Technology transfer; Knowledge production function; Environmental Protection Agency; |
| JEL: | C51 O33 O38 O44 |
| Date: | 2018–10–23 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ris:uncgec:2018_008&r=env |
| By: | Santos, Eleonora; Khan, Shahed |
| Abstract: | Dealing with radionuclides includes trapping the vapors and storing it for decay. However, these methods can involve considerable expense in infrastructure, manpower and monitoring. Legislation requires the presence of air filtration systems with detectors to monitor and control the release of radionuclides into the air in nuclear medicine centers. We describe a method for the treatment of gaseous waste that is economically feasible and environmentally friendly. This method complies with legislation and has the advantage of using the already existing resources in the radiopharmaceutical production facility. |
| Keywords: | Environmental Economics; Waste Management; Radioactive Waste |
| JEL: | H75 I12 Q52 Q53 |
| Date: | 2018 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:89619&r=env |
| By: | Thomas, B.; Patil, V.; Lele, S.; Srinivasan, V.; Eswar, M. |
| Abstract: | Unregulated groundwater extraction has led to declining water tables and increasing water scarcity in the Indian subcontinent. Understanding how farmers respond to this scarcity is important from multiple perspectives - equity in access, livelihoods security and resource sustainability. We present a case from the rapidly urbanizing Arkavathy sub-basin near Bangalore city in Southern India where irrigation is fully groundwater dependent. Using cross-sectional data from a stratified random sample of 333 farmers from 15 villages, we investigated the factors that determine their choice of crops under conditions of water scarcity and urbanization. Binary logit analysis showed that the high land holding farmers respond by tapping deep groundwater using borewells. Multinomial logit analysis revealed that access to groundwater, variation in the proximity to the product market (city) and labour availability influence crop choice decisions. We observe that current responses indicate what has been characterized in literature as chasing strategies. These largely favour the well-off farmers and hence inequitable. While choice of water intensive crops and unregulated pumping have aggravated water stress, the uptake of water saving technologies among irrigated farmers has been low, showing that resource sustainability may not be a concern where non-farm diversification opportunities exist. Acknowledgement : This article is an output of the socio-hydrological research project, 'Adapting to Climate Change in Urbanizing Watersheds' (ACCUWa) supported by International Development Centre (IDRC), Canada (grant number 107086-001). The authors thank Sanjeev D Kenchaigol and Kadambari Anantram for research support, Guruswamy, Kumar, Manjunatha, Nagendra and Sathish for field assistance and Shruthi for data management. Chandra Sekhar Bahinipati and participants in dissemination workshops in Bangalore and New Delhi provided useful comments. Thomas, Lele and Srinivasan designed the study, Thomas and Eswar led the field research, Patil, Lele and Thomas developed the analytical model, and Patil, Eswar and Thomas performed data analysis. Patil is currently affiliated to International Rice Research Institute-India, Bhubaneswar, India and Eswar is affiliated to Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai. |
| Keywords: | Crop Production/Industries |
| Date: | 2018–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iaae18:277422&r=env |
| By: | Ragasa, Catherine; Andam, Kwaw S.; Kufoalor, Doreen S.; Amewu, Sena |
| Abstract: | Global growth in aquaculture is underway – a “blue revolution” featuring rapid increases in demand for fish and a corresponding surge in aquaculture production. This paper describes the fast-growing tilapia value chain in Ghana to demonstrate the features of a nascent blue revolution in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and to illustrate its potential for job creation and reducing poverty and food insecurity there. Tilapia production has been growing at 15 percent annually in SSA, but imports are also surging to satisfy the growing appetite for tilapia. This paper illustrates how aquaculture can grow sustainably in SSA within the context of growing demand and global competition. A value chain analysis is conducted using secondary data analysis, desk reviews of experiences and lessons from other countries, interviews with 95 actors in the tilapia value chain in Ghana, and detailed production and profitability data from Ghanaian tilapia farmers. A profitable farmed tilapia industry has been established in Ghana with the potential to expand supply to satisfy local demand and to export to neighboring countries. Productivity in the industry has grown mainly through reducing the mortality rates of fingerlings and improvements in the supply of locally-produced high-quality fish feed. Feed costs remain high. However, there is potential to reduce those costs by improving the productivity of crops that are used in fish feed, particularly maize and soybean. Reducing local feed costs will have positive spillover effects on both other pond-based aquaculture systems and on the livestock feed sector. Moreover, Ghana can expand it fish feed production to be an important source of feed within SSA. The industry can further increase aquaculture productivity through the adoption of faster-growing fish strains and better management practices. Ghana’s aquaculture sector could grow even faster by adopting lessons from other countries, including on infrastructure provision, fiscal incentives for the production of fish feed ingredients, and sustainable fish farming practices, particularly through paying close attention to water and feed quality and addressing food safety concerns within the sector. |
| Keywords: | GHANA; WEST AFRICA; AFRICA SOUTH OF SAHARA; AFRICA ; aquaculture; value chain; competitiveness; profitability; quality controls; fishery production; food safety ; tilapila farming; aquaculture growth |
| Date: | 2018 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fpr:gsspwp:49&r=env |
| By: | GOMADO, Kwamivi Mawuli |
| Abstract: | We examine the direct and indirect relationship between ethnic diversity and deforestation for a group of developing countries over a period from 2001 to 2015. We measure deforestation through loss of forest cover and ethnic diversity through ethnic (religious) fractionalization and polarization. We have identified three channels through which ethnic diversity affects the environment, namely property rights, corruption and conflicts that are often used in regressions of deforestation. Using the SURE model, we found a positive indirect total link between ethnic fractionalization and deforestation through the specified channels, while the indirect total effect of ethnic polarization is negative. However, we have a total effect (indirect total effect + direct effect) positive of the two indices (polarization and fractionalization) on deforestation. In addition, the total effect of ethnic polarization is greater than that of ethnic fractionalization. Robustness analyzes were carried out and the results obtained are robust compared to the basic specifications. |
| Keywords: | ethnic diversity, deforestation, corruption, property right, conflict. |
| JEL: | K10 Q50 Z13 |
| Date: | 2018–10–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:89380&r=env |
| By: | Viktoras Kulionis |
| Abstract: | Most of today's products and services are made in global supply chains. As a result, a consumption of goods and services in one country is associated with various environmental pressures all over the world due to international trade. Advances in global multi-region input-output models have allowed researchers to draw detailed, international supply-chain connections between production and consumptions activities and associated environmental impacts. Due to a limited data availability there is little evidence about the more recent trends in global energy footprint. In order to expand the analytical potential of the existing WIOD 2016 dataset to a wider range of research themes, this paper develops energy accounts and presents the global energy footprint trends for the period 2000-2014. |
| Date: | 2018–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:arx:papers:1810.07112&r=env |
| By: | Gómez-Ríos, María del Carmen; Juárez-Luna, David |
| Abstract: | This paper aims to calculate the Total Levelized Cost of Generation with Externalities (CTNGE, in Spanish) of three baseload technologies: coal thermoelectric, combined cycle and nuclear power plant. Monte Carlo simulation is used to estimate the CTNGE probability densities. The portfolio theory is used to find the mix of technologies that provides the least risky CTNGE and with the lowest average. We find that the nuclear power plant has the lowest CTNGE. The coal-fired thermoelectric plant is the technology with the largest and riskiest CTNGE. The analysis suggests that, when generating electricity, it is convenient to leave out the coal-fired thermoelectric plant and focus on two technologies: combined cycle and nuclear power plant, assigning a higher participation to the latter. One limitation of the work is that the probability densities of the CTNGE estimated through the Monte Carlo simulation depend on the data used. The present analysis suggests that the CTNGE can be significantly modified by including the cost of CO2. |
| Keywords: | CO2 Emissions, Generation, Electricity, Levelized Cost. |
| JEL: | D81 G11 Q40 Q53 |
| Date: | 2018–08–16 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:89717&r=env |
| By: | Islam, A.H.M.S. |
| Abstract: | In the light of on-going debates about the sustainable agricultural intensification and sustainable development paradigms, this paper examined the linkages between integrated aquaculture-agriculture (IAA) value chain participation dynamics and the welfare of marginalized extremely poor indigenous households using a three-wave household panel dataset from Bangladesh. The distributional effect of IAA participation was also investigated by examining impacts across different value chain actors. We applied pooled Ordinary Least Squares, Random-Effects, and Standard Fixed-Effects, Heckit panel, and control function approaches to control for endogeneity of IAA participation and unobserved heterogeneity. We found that IAA value chain participation is positively correlated with household income, expenditure and the consumption frequency of certain foods, especially fish consumption, and the benefits continue to accrue after discontinuing participation in the value chain. The results reveal that IAA value chain participation has higher impacts on the welfare of relatively wealthier households involved in production related IAA value chain activities than on landless, extremely poor households that were involved in upstream and downstream IAA value chain activities. Acknowledgement : This is part of the author Doctoral dissertation. The author would like to thank particularly his supervisor Prof. Joachim von Braun for his continuous guidance and support. Our gratitude extends to the WorldFish for providing the first two rounds data sets, thereby enabling the construction of a three rounds panel dataset, and to the individual IAA value chain participators who participated in the field survey interviews. The author gratefully acknowledges financial support from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and from the Dr. Hermann Eiselen Doctoral Program of the Foundation fiat panis. |
| Keywords: | Agribusiness |
| Date: | 2018–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iaae18:277412&r=env |
| By: | Bernardo X. Fernández (Escuela de la Producción y la Competitividad (ePC-UCB)); Marcelo Gantier (Instituto de Investigaciones Socio-Económicas (IISEC-UCB)); Martín Palmero (Universidad Católica Boliviana (UCB)) |
| Abstract: | Entre 2006 y 2014, Bolivia experimentó un periodo de bonanza impulsado principalmente por el incremento de los precios internacionales de los commodities. Paradójicamente, durante el mismo periodo las demandas de diferentes grupos sociales se incrementaron y las preocupaciones en torno a los altos niveles de corrupción en la administración pública no se redujeron, sugiriendo un proceso de intensificación del comportamiento no deseado socialmente denominado rent-seeking. Esta investigación propone un modelo de equilibrio general que incorpora una tecnología de rent-seeking y cuyos efectos se ven amplificados producto de una muy alta dependencia en los ingresos generados por la venta de recursos naturales, con el objetivo de investigar el impacto de la intensificación de comportamientos rentistas sobre la economía. El modelo encuentra evidencia de importantes pérdidas generadas por el rent-seeking para Bolivia tanto en términos de crecimiento del producto como del bienestar general de su población. |
| Keywords: | Economía Rent-seeking, recursos naturales, equilibrio general |
| JEL: | H0 O4 F0 |
| Date: | 2018–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:adv:wpaper:201804&r=env |
| By: | Basedau, Matthias; Gobien, Simone; Prediger, Sebastian |
| Abstract: | Until recently, academia has largely neglected the impact of religion on sustainable development. However, empirical studies have shown that religion remains important in many societies and that its importance has been increasing since the beginning of the new millennium. This paper reviews the empirical quantitative literature on the effect of religion on development from the last decade. We start by disaggregating the concepts of religion and sustainable development into four religious and three developmental dimensions and proposing a framework to identify causal mechanisms. Numerous mechanisms are possible, and this complexity explains why only a few uncontested findings exist. Religion is ambivalent vis-à-vis development: although religious dimensions exert a positive influence on physical and mental health as well as on general well-being, scholars have found a negative relationship between religious dimensions and both income and gender equality. Studies agree that the dominance of one religious group together with parallel ethnic and religious cleavages increases the risk of conflict, while studies on the pro-peace effects of religious factors are largely missing. Methodological challenges relate to the availability of fine-grained data, especially for non-Western countries, and the use of concepts and definitions. Most importantly, the study of religion and development requires methods that allow for causal inference. |
| Keywords: | religion,sustainable development,quantitative evidence,growth,inequality,education,conflict,health,multidimensionality |
| Date: | 2017 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:gigawp:297&r=env |
| By: | Kantis, Hugo |
| Abstract: | This document provides relevant findings of the emergence of some ecosystems. Firstly, it looks into a long-term trajectory of two advanced ecosystems such as Silicon Valley (USA) and Tel Aviv/ Israel in an attempt to grasp their dynamics and evolution. Secondly, it analyzes the similarities and differences between two Latin American cases –the cities of Buenos Aires (Argentina) and Santiago (Chile). Thirdly, it attempts to compare the cases presented, understand their roots from an evolutionary perspective and explore some implications for Latin-American countries. The cases were selected considering their salient features as both Silicon Valley and Tel-Aviv/ Israel are state-of-the-art ecosystems with interesting differences in their evolutionary process, and their development can contribute to the analysis of Latin-American cases. The cities of Buenos Aires and Santiago were ranked positively in the Runner Up category of Global Start-Up Ecosystem Report. |
| Keywords: | Ecosystems, evolución, latín Latin America, Silicon Valley, israel |
| JEL: | L1 L26 O3 O38 |
| Date: | 2018–07–18 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:88453&r=env |
| By: | Mubashir Qasim (University of Waikato) |
| Abstract: | Sustainability aims to ensure that people live their lives without compromising the well-being of future generations. Increasing well-being by providing more goods and services to consume is a sustainability challenge. There are two opposing schools of thought on the consumption of natural resources: strong sustainability and weak sustainability. Proponents of strong sustainability emphasize the preservation of natural capital in each period because they argue that it cannot be replaced with any other type of capital. By contrast, weak sustainability scholars argue that natural resource can be consumed to build other forms of capital in which case sustainability requires that the aggregated monetised value of all capital stocks is non-declining or preferably increasing over the time. In this paper, we propose to adopt a balanced approach instead of taking either of these extreme positions where critical natural capital (CNC) limits are defined by strong sustainability and, within that limit, substitutability between various types of capital is allowed for economic efficiency and growth in total wealth. In such frameworks, weak sustainability indicates the minimum sustainability requirement for an economy in which all types of capitals are substitutable under the limits of CNC. |
| Keywords: | sustainable development; weak sustainability; strong sustainability; intergenerational well-being |
| JEL: | I31 Q00 Q01 Q50 Q56 |
| Date: | 2018–10–29 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wai:econwp:18/13&r=env |
| By: | Grant Allan (Department of Economics, University of Strathclyde); Andrew G Ross (Department of Economics, University of Strathclyde) |
| Abstract: | Anticipated changes in energy provision over the next decades will likely have major implications on employment within energy activities. To understand the possible consequences, many studies have considered the level and types of employment in existing energy technologies. Using the hypothetical extraction approach for the UK, we explore the employment in and supported by energy activities - including across occupations and skills categories. We show that the impact on occupation and skills across the whole economy is more evenly spread than the employment in individual sectors. From the empirical results presented here, it is evident that the system-wide demands for skills including not only the direct, but also knock-on effects across the economy can change the pattern of labour market needs, which have implications for labour market planning in the low carbon transition. |
| Keywords: | C67, J21, Q43 |
| Date: | 2018–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:str:wpaper:1811&r=env |
| By: | Amaza, P. |
| Abstract: | This paper evaluates the impact of the project Promoting Sustainable Agriculture in Borno (PROSAB) on the livelihoods of farming households in Borno State, Nigeria. Specifically, the paper identifies and provides information on farmers adoption of improved crop varieties introduced by PROSAB, measures their adoption rates and food security levels, and analyses the factors that affect the households food security status. The study used mainly primary data collected from a sample of 693 farming households in the study area. The analysis of data was carried out using descriptive statistics, Cost of Calorie calculations, and Logit regression techniques. The study results suggest that PROSAB has made a significant contribution towards improving the food security of households. In project intervention communities, food insecurity has been reduced from 58% in 2004 to 30% in 2015, indicating a 28% improvement in food security over the 11-year period. The paper clearly demonstrates how the adoption of crop technologies and crop management practices with linkages to markets has significantly contributed in improving households food security. The paper recommends increased promotion of improved crop technologies, trainings delivered to farmers on such technologies, and policies that enhance farmers access to inputs, credit, and output markets. Acknowledgement : The authors acknowledge the following; i) Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) for funding the research (2004-2009); ii) financial assistance from the funded N2Africa project; iii) the contribution of IITA as an institution for providing a conducive environment and various Scientists from IITA that were involved in delivering research for development technologies and farmers training in the PROSAB project area, which had significantly increased crop yields, farmers income and enhanced household food security and iv) the contribution of Scientists from the University of Maiduguri and Borno State Agricultural Development Programmes who are Collaborators in implementing the PROSAB project. |
| Keywords: | Food Security and Poverty |
| Date: | 2018–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iaae18:277204&r=env |
| By: | Erik Ansink (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam); Hans-Peter Weikard (Wageningen University) |
| Abstract: | We examine the role of support for coalition stability in common pool resource games such as fisheries games. Some players may not want to join a coalition that jointly manages a resource. Still, because they benefit from spillovers, they may want to support the coalition with a transfer payment in order to set incentives for others to join. We find that the impact of support on equilibria of this game is limited to games with three or five players. |
| Keywords: | Cartel games; Coalition formation; Common Pool Resources; Support |
| JEL: | C72 D02 Q20 |
| Date: | 2018–11–05 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:tin:wpaper:20180083&r=env |
| By: | Josué Vladimir Ramírez Tarazona |
| Keywords: | Economía del medio ambiente; ética; responsabilidad social. Administration; Ethics; Social Responsibility |
| JEL: | O3 Q5 M1 M5 |
| Date: | 2017–01–01 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:col:000418:016797&r=env |