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on Environmental Economics |
| By: | Francisco Aguayo (El Colegio de México) |
| Abstract: | Global emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG) have been accelerating in recent decades. Moreover, since the year 2000 global emissions have been growing far more rapidly than the worst scenarios projected by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) (Rogner et al., 2007, Raupach, et al., 2007). This growth has been driven by the expansion of activity in the world economy and the reversal of earlier declining trends in both the energy intensity of gross domestic product and the carbon intensity of energy (measured respectively, as energy consumption per unit of gross domestic product and the CO2 emissions per unit of total primary energy supply). According to the last report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), during the period 1970 to 2004 global emissions have risen as the combined effect of global income growth (77%) and global population growth (69%), which have surpassed the general decrease in energy intensity of GDP (-33%) and the almost null reduction in carbon intensity of energy (-2%). In other words, “declining carbon and energy intensities have been unable to offset income effects and population growth” at a global scale, rising consequently carbon emissions (Rogner et al., 2007, p. 107). |
| Keywords: | CO2 emissions; energy intensity; environmental Kuznets curves |
| JEL: | Q53 Q42 Q56 N76 |
| Date: | 2010–12 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:emx:ceedoc:2010-01&r=env |
| By: | Strand, Jon; Miller, Sebastian; Siddiqui, Sauleh |
| Abstract: | Investments in large, long-lived, energy-intensive infrastructure investments using fossil fuels increase longer-term energy use and greenhouse gas emissions, unless the plant is shut down early or undergoes costly retrofit later. These investments will depend on expectations of retrofit costs and future energy costs, including energy cost increases from tighter controls on carbon emissions. Simulation analysis shows that the retrofit option can significantly reduce anticipated future energy consumption as of the time of initial investment, and total future energy plus retrofit costs. The more uncertain are the costs, the greater the value of this option. However, the future retrofit option also induces more energy-intensive infrastructure choices, partly offsetting the direct effect of having the option on anticipated energy use. Efficient, forward-looking infrastructure investments have high potential for reducing long-term energy consumption. Particularly if energy prices are expected to rise, however, the potential for reduced energy consumption will be eroded if expectations of energy prices do not include environmental costs or future retrofit possibilities and technologies are not adequately developed. |
| Keywords: | Energy Production and Transportation,Climate Change Economics,Climate Change Mitigation and Green House Gases,Environment and Energy Efficiency,Energy and Environment |
| Date: | 2011–01–01 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:5516&r=env |
| By: | Frederick van der Ploeg; Cees Withagen |
| Abstract: | Optimal climate policy is studied in a Ramsey growth model. A developing economy weighs global warming less, hence is more likely to exhaust fossil fuel and exacerbate global warming. The optimal carbon tax is higher for a developed economy. We analyze the optimal time of transition from fossil fuel to renewables, amount of fossil fuel to leave in situ, and carbon tax. Subsidizing a backstop without an optimal carbon tax induces more fossil fuel to be left in situ and a quicker phasing in of renewables, but fossil fuel is depleted more quickly. Global warming need thus not be alleviated. |
| Keywords: | carbon tax, renewables, exhaustible resources, global warming, growth, intergenerational inequality aversion, second best, Green Paradox |
| JEL: | D90 E13 Q30 Q42 Q54 |
| Date: | 2010 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:oxf:oxcrwp:055&r=env |
| By: | Jussila Hammes, Johanna (Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute, VTI) |
| Abstract: | One of the goals of transport policy in Sweden is to minimize the impact from transport on the environment. Using a database consisting of over 800 rail, road and maritime transport infrastructure projects, we estimate whether environmental factors, such as negative environmental effects arising from the project (noise and barrier effects), or emissions of five pollutants (NOx, VOC, CO2, SO2 and PM) affect the choice of which projects will be built. For a broader model including all three transport modes, we find that projects that cause negative environmental effects in fact have a greater probability of being included in the National or a Regional Transport Infrastructure Plan for 2010-2021. For a narrower model including only road investments, we find that if we include a measure for the Net Benefit/Investment Cost Ratio (NBIR), only the negative environmental effects matter and raise the probability of a project being included in a Plan. Excluding the NBIR measure reveals that what matters are the CO emissions and traffic safety measures. Thus, an increase in the emissions of CO lowers the project's probability of being included in a Plan, and traffic safety benefits increase the probability. |
| Keywords: | Transport infrastructure; Environment; Emissions |
| JEL: | D70 H54 Q58 |
| Date: | 2010–12–21 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hhs:vtiwps:2010_017&r=env |
| By: | Peter McGregor (Fraser of Allander Institute, University of Strathclyde.); Kim Swales (Department of Economics, University of Strathclyde.); Matthew Winning (Department of Economics, University of Strathclyde.) |
| Abstract: | Domestic action on climate change is increasingly important in the light of the difficulties with international agreements and requires a combination of solutions, in terms of institutions and policy instruments. One way of achieving government carbon policy goals may be the creation of an independent body to advise, set or monitor policy. This paper critically assesses the Committee on Climate Change (CCC), which was created in 2008 as an independent body to help move the UK towards a low carbon economy. We look at the motivation for its creation in terms of: information provision, advice, monitoring, or policy delegation. In particular we consider its ability to overcome a time inconsistency problem by comparing and contrasting it with another independent body, the Monetary Policy Committee of the Bank of England. In practice the Committee on Climate Change appears to be the ‘inverse’ of the Monetary Policy Committee, in that it advises on what the policy goal should be rather than being responsible for achieving it. The CCC incorporates both advisory and monitoring functions to inform government and achieve a credible carbon policy over a long time frame. This is a similar framework to that adopted by Stern (2006), but the CCC operates on a continuing basis. We therefore believe the CCC is best viewed as a “Rolling Stern plus” body. There are also concerns as to how binding the budgets actually are and how the budgets interact with other energy policy goals and instruments, such as Renewable Obligation Contracts and the EU Emissions Trading Scheme. The CCC could potentially be reformed to include: an explicit information provision role; consumption-based accounting of emissions and control of a policy instrument such as a balanced-budget carbon tax. |
| Keywords: | Climate change, Carbon policy, Independent body, Time Inconsistency |
| JEL: | Q48 Q54 Q58 |
| Date: | 2010–12 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:str:wpaper:1031&r=env |
| By: | Luis Carlos Jemio (Institute for Advanced Development Studies); Lykke E. Andersen (Institute for Advanced Development Studies) |
| Abstract: | The purpose of the present paper is to demonstrate the usefulness of Green National Accounting by drawing out some interesting insights from the Integrated Environmental and Economic Accounts recently elaborated by the Institute for Advanced Development Studies for the case of Bolivia. The paper uses the Green National Accounts to show the importance of environmental inputs in 7 different productive sectors and compares the corresponding natural resource rents to the level of producer taxes in each sector. The paper also analyses the evolution of total productive capital, in order to judge whether Bolivia’s current development model can be considered sustainable. The paper finished with recommendations about interesting extensions that can be made to the Green National Accounts. |
| Keywords: | Green National Accounts, Natural Resource Rents, Bolivia |
| JEL: | Q56 Q01 Q32 Q51 |
| Date: | 2010–12 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:adv:wpaper:201015&r=env |
| By: | Iimi, Atsushi |
| Abstract: | Albania is among the most vulnerable countries to external energy shocks and climatic conditions, because of its high dependency on hydropower for electricity. Given highly volatile international energy prices and expected global warming, it is becoming increasingly important to manage the demand for electricity. However, the country has long been faced with a significant problem of electricity metering. About one-third of total energy is lost for technical and nontechnical reasons. This paper estimates the residential demand function by applying a two-stage system equation method for an endogenous censored variable, because the lack of metering makes the electricity consumption partially observable for the econometrician. It is found that metering is important to curb non-essential electricity use by households. The electricity demand could also be reduced by raising the first block rate and lowering the second block rate and the threshold between the two blocks. In addition, weather conditions and home appliance ownership would affect the demand for electricity. But the latter looks more influential than the former. |
| Keywords: | Energy Production and Transportation,Climate Change Mitigation and Green House Gases,Climate Change Economics,Environment and Energy Efficiency,Energy and Environment |
| Date: | 2011–01–01 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:5520&r=env |
| By: | Maxensius Tri Sambodo (Economic Research Center-Indonesian Institute of Sciences (P2E-LIPI)) |
| Abstract: | Java-Bali power system dominates the national installed capacity and will contribute to about 76% of the national CO2 emissions from the electricity sector in the future. Thus, minimizing CO2 emission from the Java-Bali system can help Indonesia to reduce the national CO2 emissions level. We apply optimization approach to investigate this problem by including carbon tax into the cost function. We analyzed data based on electricity generating system in 2008. In general the optimization showed that diesel and gas turbine is not needed in the power plant system. Further, the simulation showed that if Indonesia adopted carbon tax by US$56/ton CO2 - USD 86/tCO2; it will lead to three major changing. First, carbon tax will increase the cost of power plant or equivalently increase tax revenue to about 2.1% of GDP in a year. Second, combine cycle has important role to offset decreasing output in steam power plant. Finally, by implementing carbon tax, daily CO2 can decrease by 77,586 ton per day. By applying sensitivity analysis, we also found a structural break in marginal cost when carbon tax is higher than US$ 50/tCO2. There are some weaknesses from this study such as not use strong assumption for availability factor and generating costs. This study proposed that government needs to optimize utilization of combine cycle power plan to offset steam power and implement carbon tax above US$ 50/ ton CO2, to reduce CO2 emissions significantly. |
| Keywords: | Power generation, Carbon tax, Optimization |
| JEL: | C6 Q4 |
| Date: | 2010–12 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:unp:wpaper:201009&r=env |
| By: | Fabrice DARRIGUES; Jean-Marc MONTAUD |
| Abstract: | Trade Liberalization, Environmental Regulation and Self-Regulation of Multinational Firms |
| Date: | 2010–11 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:tac:wpaper:2010-2011_5&r=env |
| By: | Christa Clapp; Alexia Leseur; Olivier Sartor; Gregory Briner; Jan Corfee-Morlot |
| Abstract: | The importance of cities in climate policy stems from the simple reality that they house the majority of the world’s population, two-thirds of world energy use and over 70% of global energy use emissions. At the international level, global carbon markets have become an important new source of financing for mitigation projects and programmes. Yet to date, the participation of urban authorities and of urban mitigation projects in the global carbon market remains extremely limited. The under-representation of urban carbon projects can be linked both to the difficulties to implement urban mitigation projects and to the difficulties for cities to access the carbon market. This paper reviews 10 in–depth case studies of urban projects proposed and operating within the realm of Joint Implementation (JI) and the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) of the Kyoto Protocol. It explores the drivers of success for projects, examining in particular: types of projects that have been successful and their profitability; leadership and other roles of various actors in project initiation development and operation (i.e. local, regional and national governments as well as international, private sector or other non-governmental organisations); the role of local cobenefits; and project financial structure and risk management approaches. This paper also considers how these lessons learned may inform decisions in the future about how to best tap the potential for carbon markets to offer increased levels of financial support for urban mitigation projects or programmes.<BR>La place accordée aux villes dans la politique climatique découle d’un constat simple : elles abritent la majorité de la population mondiale, consomment les deux tiers de l’énergie mondiale et produisent plus de 70 % des émissions mondiales liées à cette consommation. Au niveau international, les marchés mondiaux du carbone sont devenus une nouvelle source importante de financement pour les projets et les programmes d’atténuation. Pourtant, à ce jour, la participation des autorités urbaines et des projets urbains d’atténuation au marché mondial du carbone reste encore extrêmement limitée. La sous-représentation des projets urbains dans le domaine du carbone est à mettre en rapport avec les difficultés inhérentes à la mise en oeuvre de projets urbains d’atténuation et avec les obstacles rencontrés par les villes pour accéder au marché du carbone. Ce rapport examine dix études de cas approfondies portant sur des projets urbains, envisagés ou existants, dans le domaine de la mise en oeuvre conjointe (MOC) ou du mécanisme pour un développement propre (MDP) du Protocole de Kyoto. Il explore les facteurs de succès des projets, en examinant plus particulièrement les types de projets qui ont réussi et leur rentabilité ; le rôle moteur des autorités et celui des différents acteurs dans le lancement des projets, leur développement et leur fonctionnement (autorités locales, régionales et nationales, et organisations internationales, non gouvernementales et du secteur privé) ; les avantages connexes locaux ; et les approches en matière de structure financière des projets et de gestion des risques. Cette étude envisage aussi comment les enseignements tirés de ces expériences pourront à l’avenir éclairer les décisions futures sur les moyens de mobiliser au mieux le potentiel des marchés du carbone au service de l’accroissement du soutien financier aux projets ou programmes urbains d’atténuation. |
| Keywords: | climate change, Kyoto protocol, cities, Greenhouse gas mitigation, Carbon finance, changement climatique, Protocole de Kyoto, atténuation des émissions de gaz à effet de serre, finance carbone, villes |
| JEL: | F30 F53 G15 H87 |
| Date: | 2010–11–19 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:oec:envaaa:29-en&r=env |
| By: | Anselm Eisentraut |
| Abstract: | Global biofuel production has been increasing rapidly over the last decade, but the expanding biofuel industry has recently raised important concerns. In particular, the sustainability of many first-generation biofuels – which are produced primarily from food crops such as grains, sugar cane and vegetable oils – has been increasingly questioned over concerns such as reported displacement of food-crops, effects on the environment and climate change. In general, there is growing consensus that if significant emission reductions in the transport sector are to be achieved, biofuel technologies must become more efficient in terms of net lifecycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions while at the same time be socially and environmentally sustainable. It is increasingly understood that most first-generation biofuels, with the exception of sugar cane ethanol, will likely have a limited role in the future transport fuel mix. The increasing criticism of the sustainability of many first-generation biofuels has raised attention to the potential of so-called second-generation biofuels. Depending on the feedstock choice and the cultivation technique, second-generation biofuel production has the potential to provide benefits such as consuming waste residues and making use of abandoned land. In this way, the new fuels could offer considerable potential to promote rural development and improve economic conditions in emerging and developing regions. However, while second-generation biofuel crops and production technologies are more efficient, their production could become unsustainable if they compete with food crops for available land. Thus, their sustainability will depend on whether producers comply with criteria like minimum lifecycle GHG reductions, including land use change, and social standards. |
| Date: | 2010–02 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:oec:ieaaaa:2010/1-en&r=env |
| By: | Francisco Aguayo (El Colegio de México); Kelly Sims Gallagher (Harvard University); Kevin P. Gallagher (Boston University) |
| Abstract: | Ibero-America, just as the rest of the world, faces an increasing urgency to transform existing energy systems. In the past, incentives to develop energy systems were induced mainly by changes in demand (derived from industrialization and urbanization) and by price shocks in fuels. Diversification of energy sources followed a growing need of use of particular energy forms. For developing countries, innovating in energy systems meant fundamentally gaining control over natural resources and moving away from primary, export-oriented enclaves into industrial integration, as well as improving energy security. Today, however, environmental constraints and the pressing need to reduce energy poverty forge additional challenges and set new directions to change the ways in which we use and produce energy. Improving current technologies along the same trajectory is simply not enough. Fundamental changes must take place in our economic systems in order to combine energy efficiency with low-carbon, sustainable energy sources, for which new abilities and solutions need to be targeted. |
| Keywords: | energy innovation; Latin America |
| JEL: | Q53 Q42 Q56 N76 |
| Date: | 2010–12 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:emx:ceedoc:2010-02&r=env |
| By: | Chen, Ping-Yu; Chang, Chia-Lin; Chen, Chi-Chung |
| Abstract: | The major contribution of this study is to combines both climatic and macroeconomic factors simultaneously in the estimation of mortality using the capital city of 22 OECD countries from the period 1990 to 2008. The empirical results provide strong evidences that higher income and a lower unemployment rate could reduce mortality rates, while the increases in precipitation and temperature variation have significantly positive impacts on the mortality rates. The effects of changing average temperature on mortality rates in summer and winter are asymmetrical and also depend on the location. Combining the future climate change scenarios with the estimation outcomes show that mortality rates in OECD countries in 2100 will be increased by 3.77% to 5.89%. |
| Keywords: | Climate change; mortality; panel data model |
| JEL: | I12 Q54 |
| Date: | 2010–12 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:27915&r=env |
| By: | Sorina- Andreea PUSCASU (Academy of Economic Studies, Bucharest) |
| Abstract: | Considering that entrepreneurship is closely related to the environmental evolution and dynamism in which it take place, and depending of all its factors: economical, social, cultural, etc., this study tries to outline an overview of what the social and cultural environment, the entrepreneurial activity and the connection between these two mean. The analysis of social and cultural environment on the entrepreneurial activity highlights the importance of social and cultural factors in the entrepreneurial activity because its evolution depends from country to country, depending on the culture, values, norms and importance the respective country give to entrepreneurship. |
| Keywords: | impact, environment, entrepreneurial activity |
| JEL: | L26 |
| Date: | 2010–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:rom:km2010:22&r=env |
| By: | Hallegatte, Stephane; Przyluski, Valentin |
| Abstract: | Large-scale disasters regularly affect societies over the globe, causing large destruction and damage. After each of these events, media, insurance companies, and international institu-tions publish numerous assessments of the"cost of the disaster."However these assessments are based on different methodologies and approaches, and they often reach different results. Besides methodological differences, these discrepancies are due to the multi-dimensionality in disaster impacts and their large redistributive effects, which make it unclear what is included in the estimates. But most importantly, the purpose of these assessments is rarely specified, although different purposes correspond to different perimeters of analysis and different definitions of what a cost is. To clarify this situation, this paper proposes a definition of the cost of a disaster, and emphasizes the most important mechanisms that explain and determine this cost. It does so by first explaining why the direct economic cost, that is, the value of what has been damaged or destroyed by the disaster, is not a sufficient indicator of disaster seriousness and why estimating indirect losses is crucial to assess the consequences on welfare. The paper describes the main indirect consequences of a disaster and the following reconstruction phase, and discusses the economic mechanisms at play. It proposes a review of available methodologies to assess indirect economic consequences, illustrated with examples from the literature. Finally, it highlights the need for a better understanding of the economics of natural disasters and suggests a few promising areas for research on this topic. |
| Keywords: | Natural Disasters,Disaster Management,Economic Theory&Research,Hazard Risk Management,Climate Change Economics |
| Date: | 2010–12–01 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:5507&r=env |
| By: | White, O.L. |
| Abstract: | This thesis aims to identify what environmental conditions are most influential on volcanic processes on the terrestrial planets. The research primarily focuses on intermediate-sized volcanoes on Venus and Mars; complete surveys of these planets have been performed in order to compile a new catalogue of all such features that lists morphological and locational information for each one. This has yielded three key findings: evolutionary precursors of large volcanoes and several morphologies of steep-sided domes have been identified on Venus, and low-relief shields with very similar morphologies have been identified on Venus and Mars. In each case, morphological differences and similarities are interpreted with respect to the changing configuration of magma within the edifices, differences in surface environment, and magma properties and supply rate. The research topic is also approached from two other aspects. Data obtained by the MARSIS radar sounder have been scrutinized in order to identify aquifers in the shallow Martian crust, and from this gauge the potential for crustal water to have influenced past volcanic activity. However, MARSIS has not succeeded in resolving Martian aquifers, leading to an independent estimate of its aquifer detection depth, and the conclusion that this instrument is insufficient to significantly constrain estimates of the crustal water budget. In addition, ground-penetrating radar surveys have been performed on Icelandic rootless cones, a category of small volcanic feature, in order to determine how their environments have affected their morphologies and interior structures during formation and subsequent modification. Five Icelandic cones have been surveyed, and three classes of cone morphology have been identified. Analogous cone morphologies are observed on Mars, and have been correlated to their interpreted modification environments using the results of the Icelandic surveys as a basis. |
| Date: | 2010–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ner:ucllon:http://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/147826/&r=env |
| By: | Raslan, R.M.S. |
| Abstract: | With the increasing international shift from prescriptive to performance-based regulations, a legislative call for the integration of predictive assessment tools in the design process has emerged. In relation to this, the requirements of Article 3 of the Directive on Energy Performance of Buildings (EPBD) were transposed into UK legislation with the introduction of the Building and Approved Inspectors (Amendment) Regulations 2006 (England and Wales) in April 2006. These introduced the ‘National Calculation Methodology’ (NCM), a unified compliance demonstration route for energy performance criteria specified in Approved Document Part L (Conservation of Fuel and Power), supported through the use of modelling-based building energy performance prediction (BEPP) tools accredited for the purposes of implementing associated calculations. This thesis presents an assessment of adopting the methodology, utilising a mixed-method research design to investigate key parameters identified as measures by which to quantify the success of this approach. Firstly, the adaptive capability of the UK construction industry is assessed through the analysis of primary data collected from a longitudinal survey. Secondly the applicability of the methodology is analysed through in-depth interviews examining the role of key actors and the varying dynamics of implementation and enforcement. Finally, a comparative evaluation is carried out to assess the adequacy of accredited BEPP tools. The main findings outline the shortcomings of the adaptation strategy adopted by industry and the inconsistent implementation and enforcement strategies employed. The results of the comparative tool study in particular highlight three important issues; a large degree of predictive variability between key compliance benchmarks, the lack of consistency in granting approval (a pass/fail result) between tools and limitations in the scope of their applicability. The research concludes that although a number of positive aspects can be associated with the introduction of a modelling-based approach for compliance demonstration, due to the aforementioned issues, considerable efforts are still required to extend its usefulness as a credible legislative support tool for performance-based regulations. |
| Date: | 2010–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ner:ucllon:http://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/134389/&r=env |
| By: | Anamaria SZEKELY (Babes Bolyai University, Faculty of Economic Sciences and Business Administration) |
| Abstract: | Human Resources Management is aimed at ensuring all activities, development, motivation and retention of human resources within the organization to achieve its objectives with maximum efficiency and meet the needs of employees. Because the current economy is dominating by information and technology, the managers of an organization need concise and structured information to cope with problems arising in the activity they lead. The same is happening in the department of human resources, management requires structured and concise information about the employees, activities, processes, tasks, etc. in order to properly manage the entire human resources management. This paper argues for the development of an effective ontology to manage the human resources existing in an IT company. |
| Keywords: | human resource management, ontology, ontology web language |
| JEL: | O15 |
| Date: | 2010–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:rom:km2010:30&r=env |
| By: | Byron Gangnes (UHERO: Economic Research Organization at the University of Hawaii Research Organization) |
| Abstract: | The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act was intended to stimulate the U.S. economy and to create jobs. But at what cost? In this paper, we discuss the range of potential benefits and costs associated with counter-cyclical fiscal policy. Benefits and costs may be social, macroeconomic, systemic, and budgetary. They may depend importantly on timing and implementation. There may be very different implications over the business cycle horizon and in the medium to long term. We use simulations of the IHS Global Insight macro-econometric model to evaluate some of these costs and benefits in the U.S. economy, looking specifically at the impact of the ARRA program and potential alternative policies. |
| Keywords: | fiscal policy; employment; American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA); econometric model simulation. |
| JEL: | E37 E62 E65 |
| Date: | 2010–12 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hae:wpaper:2010-16&r=env |
| By: | Timilsina, Govinda R.; Beghin, John C.; van der Mensbrugghe, Dominique; Mevel, Simon |
| Abstract: | This study analyzes the long-term impacts of large-scale expansion of biofuels on land-use change, food supply and prices, and the overall economy in various countries or regions using a global computable general equilibrium model, augmented by a land-use module and detailed representation of biofuel sectors. The study finds that an expansion of global biofuel production to meet currently articulated or even higher national targets in various countries for biofuel use would reduce gross domestic product at the global level; however, the gross domestic product impacts are mixed across countries or regions. The expansion of biofuels would cause significant land re-allocation with notable decreases in forest and pasture lands in a few countries. The results also suggest that the expansion of biofuels would cause a reduction in food supply. Although the magnitude of the impact on food supply at the global level is not as large as perceived earlier, it would be significant in developing countries like India and those in Sub-Saharan Africa. Agricultural commodities such as sugar, corn, and oil seeds, which serve as the main biofuel feedstocks, would experience significant increases in their prices in 2020 compared with the prices at baseline due to the expansion of biofuels to meet the existing targets. |
| Keywords: | Agribusiness,Food&Beverage Industry,Wetlands,Crops&Crop Management Systems,Renewable Energy |
| Date: | 2010–12–01 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:5513&r=env |
| By: | Sara Tessitore (Lab. MaIn – Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, Pisa); Tiberio Daddi (Lab. MaIn – Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, Pisa); Fabio Iraldo (– Institute for Environmental and Energy Policy and Economics, Bocconi University, Milan, Italy) |
| Abstract: | The article aims to investigate the presence of a correlation between eco-innovation and economic performance of an industrial district. The case analyzed in this article takes its cue from a study on a sample of 54 Italian industrial districts entitled "Eco-Districts" that, based on a series of criteria, has compiled a list of the most eco-efficient industrial districts. After selecting two districts in the field, but analyzed in this study for their different levels of eco-innovation, the article assesses the economic performance of the last three years through the analysis of trends in four indicators. However, the results show that only in some cases there is a connection between eco innovation and economic performance. |
| Keywords: | industrial clusters, industrial districts, eco-innovation, economic performance |
| Date: | 2010–02–23 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:sse:wpaper:201005&r=env |
| By: | Luis Carlos Jemio (Institute for Advanced Development Studies) |
| Abstract: | El presente documento resume el enfoque teórico utilizado, metodología aplicada, supuestos empleados, resultados obtenidos y principales conclusiones arribadas en el cálculo de las Cuentas Medioambientales para Bolivia. El objetivo es el de medir la contribución del medioambiente a la generación del ingreso y del producto, así como el determinar la sostenibilidad de la explotación de los recursos medioambientales. De acuerdo a los resultados obtenidos, se observa que en Bolivia existe una creciente importancia de los recursos medioambientales en la generación del producto y del ingreso. |
| Keywords: | Cuentas medioambientales, Bolivia |
| JEL: | Q56 |
| Date: | 2010–12 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:adv:wpaper:201014&r=env |
| By: | Shanti Gamper-Rabindran; Ralph Mastromonaco; Christopher Timmins |
| Abstract: | We apply three complementary approaches designed to identify the localized effects of Superfund site remediation under the CERCLA, examining data at the level of (i) the census tract (paying attention to within tract heterogeneity), (ii) the census block, and (iii) individual house transaction. Our analysis of the within-tract housing value distribution detects statistically and economically significant appreciation in the lower tails resulting from hazardous waste cleanup; deletion of a site raises tract-level housing values by 18.2% at the 10th percentile, 15.4% at the median, and 11.4% at the 60th percentile. These tract results are confirmed by (i) house transaction data that show cheaper houses within each tract are more likely to be exposed to waste sites within one kilometer, explaining their greater appreciation from site cleanup, and (ii) high-resolution census block data that show greater appreciation among blocks lying closer to the cleaned sites. House-level repeat-sales data confirm results from our national level census analysis by showing that deletion raises housing values relative to proposal in specific markets, such as northern New Jersey, but they also uncover a great heterogeneity in the effects of remediation across markets, with no statistical effects from deletion relative to proposal detected in Los Angeles metro, southwestern Connecticut or Boston metro. |
| JEL: | Q5 Q51 Q53 |
| Date: | 2011–01 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:nbr:nberwo:16655&r=env |