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on Environmental Economics |
| By: | Amnon Levy (University of Wollongong) |
| Abstract: | This paper introduces photosynthesis into the motion-equation of the atmospheric stock of carbon-dioxide as a counterpart endogenous factor to emissions of this principal greenhouse gas from lands occupied by humans. By doing so, the paper links the stock of atmospheric carbon-dioxide, hence climate-change and uncertainty, to the allocation of usable land to humans and forest. The public planners can control this allocation and, consequently, the atmospheric stock of carbon-dioxide, climate-change and future usable land by setting land-rates in accordance with use. The analysis considers two types of land-use for expected utility maximizing humans and derives the effects of the land-rates and photosynthesis’ efficiency on the size of the forest. |
| Keywords: | Carbon Emissions; Photosynthesis; Climate-Change; Expected Utility; Land-Rates; Forest Size |
| JEL: | Q52 Q54 |
| Date: | 2011 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:uow:depec1:wp11-08&r=env |
| By: | Joachim Fuenfgelt; Guenther G. Schulze (Department of International Economic Policy, University of Freiburg) |
| Abstract: | We analyze the formation of environmental policy to regulate transboundary pollution if governments are self-interested. In a common agency framework, we portray the environmental policy calculus of two political supportmaximizing governments that are in a situation of strategic interaction with respect to their environmental policies, but too small to affect world market prices. We show how governments systematically deviate from socially optimal environmental policies. Taxes may be too high if environmental interests and pollution-intensity of production are very strong; under different constellations they may be too low. Governments may actually subsidize the production of a polluting good. Politically motivated environmental policy thus may be more harmful to the environment as compared to the benevolent dictators’ solution. In other cases it may enhance environmental quality and welfare beyond what a benevolent government would achieve. |
| Keywords: | Political economy, environmental policy, transboundary pollution, common agency, strategic interaction |
| JEL: | Q58 F5 |
| Date: | 2011–02 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fre:wpaper:14&r=env |
| By: | Khanna, Dr. Perminder; Aneja, Reenu |
| Abstract: | Abstract Climate has inherent variability manifesting in gradual changes in temperature, precipitation and sea-level rise. The paper entitled “Climate Change: A Primer” attempts to analyse the policy response and adaptation to the need to address climate change at the international and domestic level both. Intense variations in climate would increase the risk of abrupt and non-linear changes in the ecosystem, impacting their function, biodiversity and productivity. The policy initiations and implementation for mitigating climate change risks have been intricately discussed pertaining to the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) (1988) by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and World Meteorological Organisation (WMO); United Nations Framework Convention Climate Change (UNFCCC) (1994); Kyoto Protocol (2005); India’s Greenhouse Gas Emissions Report (2007), and the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) (2008). |
| Keywords: | Climate Change |
| JEL: | Q5 Q54 |
| Date: | 2011–11–20 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:34867&r=env |
| By: | Claudia Kettner (WIFO); Daniela Kletzan-Slamanig (WIFO); Angela Köppl (WIFO); Thomas Schinko; Andreas Türk |
| Abstract: | The environmental effectiveness of an emission trading system depends on the one hand on the stringency of the cap and on the other hand on the scheme's ability to provide stable regulatory conditions and incentives for investment in emission saving technologies. However, in case of highly volatile CO2 prices no clear investment signal is provided and hence firms' decision making and planning is rendered difficult. Analyses of price developments in the European Emission Trading Scheme (EU ETS) indicate that in Phase 1 (2005-2007) fluctuations were mainly caused by incomplete information at the beginning, adjustments after the emergence of verified emission data and regulatory mechanisms. At the beginning of Phase 2 (2008-2012) in contrast a decline in carbon prices was observed as firms sold surplus allowances resulting from lower emissions due to economic recession. For Phase 3 of the EU ETS (2013-2020) hence the introduction of price stabilisation measures has been suggested by several member countries during the discussions on the EU energy and climate package. Various instruments can be integrated in a cap-and-trade scheme in order to reduce price volatility such as provisions for banking and borrowing, the approval of offsets for compliance purposes and hybrid systems, i.e., combinations of price and quantity mechanisms. Given the long-term nature of climate policy, the related uncertainties regarding technological change and political frameworks, and given a rising speculation in carbon markets, such price stabilisation approaches should be considered for the future design of emission trading schemes. |
| Date: | 2011–11–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wfo:wpaper:y:2011:i:409&r=env |
| By: | Andreas Türk (University of Graz, Wegener Center for Climate and Global Change) |
| Abstract: | After the climate conferences in Copenhagen and Cancun, it is likely that the EU remains more ambitious regarding greenhouse gas reduction targets than other countries. The possible problem of carbon leakage and instruments to tackle it therefore remains an important issue in the European climate policy debate. The reduction of competitive distortions and carbon leakage induced by different CO2 prices in the EU and important trading partners is one of several reasons for the EU to aim for the establishment of a trading link between the European Emission Trading Scheme (EU ETS) and other domestic or regional emissions trading systems in developed and developing countries. Main reasons for linking include higher cost efficiency to meet a given reduction target as well as improved market liquidity resulting in more robust and stable price signals. |
| Keywords: | Linking, Leakage, Carbon market, Emissions Trading |
| Date: | 2011–11–30 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wfo:wpaper:y:2011:i:410&r=env |
| By: | Carfì, David; Schilirò, Daniele |
| Abstract: | The paper proposes a coopetitive model for the Green Economy. It addresses the issue of the climate change policy and the creation and diffusion of low-carbon technologies. In the present paper the complex construct of coopetiton is applied at macroeconomic level. The model, based on Game Theory, enables us to offer a set of possible solutions in a coopetitive context, allowing to find a Pareto solution in a win-win scenario. The model, which is based on the assumption that each country produces a level of output which is determined in a non-cooperative game of Cournot-type and that considers at the same time a coopetitive strategy regarding the low carbon technologies, will suggest a solution that shows the convenience for each country to participate actively to a program of low carbon technologies within a coopetitive framework to address a policy of climate change, thus aiming at balancing the environmental imbalances. |
| Keywords: | coopetition; game theory; green economy; energy-saving technologies; policy of climate change |
| JEL: | Q50 C78 Q48 C71 Q55 Q42 C72 |
| Date: | 2011–11–22 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:35245&r=env |
| By: | Muhammad, Shahbaz; Lean, Hooi Hooi; Muhammad, Shahbaz Shabbir |
| Abstract: | The paper is an effort to fill the gap in the energy literature with a comprehensive country study for Pakistan. We investigate the relationship between CO2 emissions, energy consumption, economic growth and trade openness for Pakistan over the period of 1971-2009. Bounds test for cointegration and Granger causality test are employed for the empirical analysis. The result suggests that there exists long-run relationship among the variables and the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis is supported. The significant existence of EKC shows the country's effort to condense CO2 emissions and indicates a reasonable achievement of controlling environmental degradation in Pakistan. Furthermore, we find one-way causal relationship running from income to CO2 emissions. Energy consumption increases CO2 emissions both in the short and long runs. Trade openness reduces CO2 emissions in the long run but it is insignificant in the short run. In addition, the change in CO2 emissions from short run to the long span of time is corrected by about 10 percent each year. |
| Keywords: | CO2 emissions; energy consumption; trade openness |
| JEL: | P28 |
| Date: | 2011–11–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:34929&r=env |
| By: | Mutsuyoshi Nishimura; Akinobu Yasumoto |
| Abstract: | Given the urgency and the magnitude of emission cuts required to arrest the global temperature rise at an acceptable level (like 2 degrees Celsius), it is imperative that action to mitigate climate change is taken at the lowest cost. This can be done if a cost effective set of policy tools with a focus on carbon pricing is applied as broadly as possible across all emission sources. In view of the emerging consensus on the temperature target like 2 degrees Celsius, it is imperative that climate scheme caps global emissions rather than allowing governments to arbitrarily pledge their intended cuts. Global emissions must be contained within the limit of carbon budget that achieves temperature objectives. Emission allowances must be issued in accordance with such limit and be sold to the global demand of emitters. Such sales of carbon budget give rise to both the most accurate carbon pricing as well as new revenue that can be used for much needed climate financing for developing countries. A new climate regime along those lines would stop global warming at an acceptable level, provide a new large climate funding that would integrate developing countries to a global low-carbon growth and transformation and keep all economies thriving, whether they are developing, emerging or developed. The post-2020 climate regime must be nimble and effective, not unwieldy and least burdensome. It must also be durable and fully congruent to the economic realities of the coming decades. |
| JEL: | Q54 F53 |
| Date: | 2011–11 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:een:ccepwp:1117&r=env |
| By: | Silvia CODERONI (INEA (National Institute for Agricultural Economics), Rome - Italy); Roberto ESPOSTI (Universit… Politecnica delle Marche, Dipartimento di Scienze Economiche e Sociali) |
| Abstract: | The paper adopts a long single-country panel dataset (Italian regions) to analyse the relationship between agricultural GreenHouse Gases (GHG) emissions and agricultural productivity growth and, thus, to assess emissions sustainability. The modelling approach and the empirical specification include the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) as one of the possible outcomes. The hypothesis of emission sustainability is assessed by estimating alternative panel model specifications with conventional and GMM estimators. The adopted panel concerns the 1951-2008 and 1980-2008 emissions of methane and nitrous oxide properly reconstructed for the Italian regional agriculture. Results suggest that, though a significant relationship between agricultural GHG emissions and productivity growth may exist, it tends to be monotonic. Therefore, even if sustainability is accepted for some GHG, no robust evidence of the EKC emerges across the different specifications, estimators and periods. |
| Keywords: | Agricultural GreenHouse Gases Emissions, Dynamic Panel Models, Environmental Kuznets Curve, Italian Regions |
| JEL: | O13 Q15 Q54 |
| Date: | 2011–12 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:anc:wpaper:369&r=env |
| By: | ZhongXiang Zhang (East-West Center); ; |
| Abstract: | China's capital-intensive, export-oriented, spectacular economic growth since launching its open-door policy and economic reforms in late 1978 not only has created jobs and has lifted millions of the Chinese people out of poverty, but also has given rise to unprecedented environmental pollution and CO2 emissions. While estimates of the embedded CO2 emissions in China's trade differ, both single country studies for China and global studies show a hefty chunk of China's CO2 emissions embedded in trade. This portion of CO2 emissions had helped to turn China into the world's largest carbon emitter, and is further widening its gap with the second largest emitter. This raises the issue of who should be responsible for this portion of emissions and bearing the carbon cost of exports. China certainly wants importers to cover some, if not all, of that costs. While China's stance is understandable, this paper has argued from a broad and balanced perspective that if this is pushed too far, it will not help to find solutions to this issue. On the contrary it can be to China's disadvantage for a number of reasons. However, aligning this responsibility with China does not necessarily suggest the sole reliance on domestic actions. In that context, the paper recommends specific actions that need to be taken internationally as well as domestically in order to effectively control the embedded CO2 emissions in China's trade. |
| JEL: | F18 P28 Q42 Q43 Q48 Q53 Q54 Q56 Q58 |
| Date: | 2011–11 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ewc:wpaper:wp122&r=env |
| By: | Fabio Fiorillo; Agnese Sacchi |
| Abstract: | We hereby propose a model to analyze the provision of environmental protection activities (United Nation 2005) with positive interregional externalities in order to verify - at least in theory - whether this kind of policy is better accomplished through centralized policymaking, which implies a coordinated solution among local representatives, or a decentralized system, whereby local authorities independently finance and implement their environmental protection policy. The research question concerns the identification of criteria on how to allocate powers and functions to environmental management at different tiers of government. Moreover, modelling interregional externalities as a mechanism contributing to lowering the cost of financing environmental policy in each region (production externality), we can assume that different environmental policies are allowed across regions. Given this general framework, considerations favouring either institutional setting in terms of individuals’ welfare seem to involve interaction among these key elements: the extent of the inter-jurisdictional spillovers, the size of local jurisdictions and the regional preferences for environmental protection policy. |
| Keywords: | Environmental protection activities; Environmental federalism; Externalities; Local government |
| JEL: | H71 H73 H23 Q58 |
| Date: | 2011–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:rtr:wpaper:0131&r=env |
| By: | Paolo Paruolo (Department of Economics, University of Insubria, Italy); Ben Murphy (European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Institute for Environment and Sustainability); Greet Janssens-Maenhout (European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Institute for Environment and Sustainability) |
| Abstract: | This paper uses Vector Autoregressions that allow for nonstationarity and cointegration to investigate the dynamic relation between income and emissions in the period 1970-2008, for all world countries. We consider three emissions compounds, namely CO2, SO2 and a composite global warming index (GWP100). These emissions include energy-related activities with a share varying from 60% (GWP100) to almost 90% (SO2). For all chemical compounds, it is found that for over two thirds of cases income and emissions are driven by unrelated random walks with drift, at 5% significance level. For one quarter of the cases the variables are found to be driven by a common random walk with drift. Finally, for the remaining 4.5% of cases the variables are trend-stationary. Tests of Granger-causality show evidence of both directions of causality. For the case of unrelated stochastic trends, one finds a predominance of emissions causing income (in growth rates), which accords with a production-function rather than with a consumption-function interpretation of the emissions-income relation. The evidence challenges the main implications of the Environmental Kuznets Curve hypothesis, namely that the dominant direction of causality should be from income to emissions, and that for increasing levels of income, emissions should tend to decrease. |
| Keywords: | Environmental Kuznets Curve; Emissions; Income; Cointegration; Common trends JEL Classification: Q53, Q54 |
| Date: | 2011–11 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ins:quaeco:qf1113&r=env |
| By: | Claudia Kettner (WIFO); Daniela Kletzan-Slamanig (WIFO); Angela Köppl (WIFO) |
| Abstract: | The European Emission Trading Scheme (EU ETS) is a key instrument in European climate policy and covers emitters from the energy and manufacturing sector. The ETS pilot phase (2005-2007) was characterised by an oversupply of emission allowances mainly due to the "generous" allocation of allowances by member countries. For the second trading phase (2008-2012) the European Commission aimed at increasing the stringency of the overall emission cap and took a more active role in approving member countries' National Allocation Plans. Due to the decline in economic activity and emissions in the course of the economic crisis, the cap, however, was only stringent in 2008 whereas 2009 and 2010 both showed a long position for EU total. Differences in national and sectoral caps are found for all years. In this paper, we analyse differences in allocation patterns, i.e., in the stringency of the cap and in the spread between installations, until 2010. We focus on general sectoral allocation patterns and perform an in-depth analysis for three emission intensive sectors: "power and heat", "cement and lime" and "pulp and paper". Furthermore, we discuss the impact of the economic crisis on the emissions of these sectors in detail. |
| Date: | 2011–11–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wfo:wpaper:y:2011:i:408&r=env |
| By: | Amnon Levy (University of Wollongong) |
| Abstract: | This paper develops a rule for setting periodically and internationally a carbon-dioxide atmospheric stock limiting tax in a world inhabited by expected utility maximizing stakeholders facing diminishing mean and increasing variance of their output level due to climate change. The stakeholders are classified as poor, hence unable and/or unwilling to pay, countries and rich countries. Due to ideological and cultural differences, the rich countries' willingness to pay the tax is not identical. Consequently, the number of complying rich countries diminishes with the tax level. |
| Keywords: | Economics; Carbon-Dioxide Stock; Climate Change; Uncertainty; Carbon Tax; International Compliance |
| JEL: | Q52 Q54 |
| Date: | 2011 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:uow:depec1:wp11-09&r=env |
| By: | Anesi, Vincent; De Donder, Philippe |
| Date: | 2011–04 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ner:toulou:http://neeo.univ-tlse1.fr/2931/&r=env |
| By: | Trevor Houser (Peterson Institute for International Economics); Jason Selfe (Rhodium Group) |
| Abstract: | At the United Nations climate change conference in Copenhagen in 2009 and Cancun in 2010, the United States joined other developed countries in pledging to mobilize $100 billion in public and private sector funding to help developing countries reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to a warmer world. With a challenging US fiscal outlook and the failure of cap-and-trade legislation in the US Congress, America's ability to meet this pledge is increasingly in doubt. This paper identifies, quantifies, and assesses the politics of a range of potential US sources of climate finance. It finds that raising new public funds for climate finance will be extremely challenging in the current fiscal environment and that many of the politically attractive alternatives are not realistically available absent a domestic cap-and-trade program or other regime for pricing carbon. Washington's best hope is to use limited public funds to leverage private sector investment through bilateral credit agencies and multilateral development banks. |
| Keywords: | climate change, carbon, climate finance, UNFCCC, Copenhagen Accord, Cancun Agreements, development assistance, adaptation, green fund, multilateral development banks, fossil fuel subsidies, emission offsets, bilateral credit agencies |
| JEL: | Q00 Q27 Q48 Q54 F18 F35 F50 F51 F52 F53 F55 |
| Date: | 2011–11 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iie:wpaper:wp11-19&r=env |
| By: | Amnon Levy (University of Wollongong) |
| Abstract: | The objective of this paper is to provide an introduction to the economics of controlling the stock of carbon-dioxide in the atmosphere. The paper starts with a brief summary of the arguments against a wait-and-see strategy and in favour of controlling carbon emissions. It then provides a basic analysis of the effect of carbon tax on net-cash flow maximising agents’ emissions and offers two possible ways for setting the tax rate. The first one computes an atmospheric carbon-dioxide stock-targeting tax rate with abstinence of some agents, whereas the second considers universal cooperation and computes a welfare-maximising carbon-tax rate. While these computations assume a fixed rate of depletion of the atmospheric stock of carbon dioxide, the last section takes the depletion rate to be dependent on the distribution of the usable land between plants and humans and the change in the usable land to be dependent on the change in the atmospheric carbon-dioxide stock. The usable land allocation required for achieving a target stock of atmospheric carbon dioxide is subsequently computed. |
| Keywords: | Emissions; Carbon-Cycle Imbalance; Atmospheric Carbon Stock; Global Warming; Usable land: Control Measures; Carbon Tax; Plants-Humans Land Allocation |
| JEL: | Q52 Q54 |
| Date: | 2011 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:uow:depec1:wp11-07&r=env |
| By: | Spencer, Thomas; Marcey , Celine; Colombier , Michel; Guerin , Emmanuel |
| Abstract: | ASSESSMENT European climate policy is gradually shifting towards a long-term perspec- tive. The electricity sector has a crucial role to play in the long-term decar- bonization of the EU economy. It makes up a significant share of EU emis- sions and can contribute to the reduction of emissions in other sectors, particularly buildings and transport. The EU 2008 Climate and Energy Package (CEP) took a significant step towards a low-carbon future, initi- ating a very ambitious program of renewables expansion and strengthen- ing the ETS. However, the omissions and internal inconsistencies of the CEP are becoming more and more evident. This relates in particular to the absence of long-term, comprehensive signals for decarbonization and the imbalance between the ETS, energy efficiency and renewables objectives. This risks delaying and distorting investment in low-carbon infrastructure and ideas, raising the ultimate cost of climate policy. In view of the inertias within the electricity sector, it is imperative for the EU to set a long-term signal for the decarbonization of the sector by set- ting 2030 objectives for the ETS and complementary policies. The EU’s decarbonization strategy needs to be robust against future uncertainties; strengthening a technology neutral instrument like the ETS can provide a key part of a comprehensive signal to develop the full range of decarbon- ization options. The instrument imbalance also needs to be addressed. Demand side policies should be the point of departure for supply side interventions: ETS caps should be set so as to achieve carbon scarcity after energy efficiency and RES objectives have been taken into account. A short-term adjustment of scarcity in the ETS may create some incen- tives for low-carbon investment. However, it would not address the funda- mental concern, namely the lack of policy information regarding the post 2020 environment in which these investment will amortize. |
| Keywords: | European climate policy; 2050 decarbonization; European emissions trading scheme; renewables policy |
| JEL: | Q50 |
| Date: | 2011–11–15 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:35009&r=env |
| By: | Hilary Sigman (Rutgers University and NBER); Sarah Stafford (College of William and Mary) |
| Abstract: | Regulation of hazardous waste and cleanup of contaminated sites are two major components of modern public policy for environmental protection. We review the literature on these related areas, with emphasis on empirical analyses. Researchers have identified many behavioral responses to regulation of hazardous waste, including changes in the location of economic activity. However, the drivers behind compliance with these costly regulations remain a puzzle, as most research suggests a limited role for conventional enforcement. Increasingly sophisticated research examines the benefits of cleanup of contaminated sites, yet controversy remains about whether the benefits of cleanup in the U.S. exceed its costs. Finally, research focusing on the imposition of legal liability for damages from hazardous waste finds advantages and disadvantages of the U.S. reliance on legal liability to pay for cleanup, as opposed to the government-financed approaches more common in Europe. |
| Keywords: | Environmental Economics, Pollution, Liability, Enforcement, Superfund |
| JEL: | Q5 |
| Date: | 2010–11–18 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:rut:rutres:201008&r=env |
| By: | Gersbach, Hans; Hummel, Noemi |
| Abstract: | We suggest a development-compatible refunding system designed to mitigate climate change. Industrial countries pay an initial fee into a global fund. Each country chooses its national carbon tax. Part of the global fund is refunded to developing and industrial countries, in proportion to the relative emission reductions they achieve. Countries receive refunds net of tax revenues. We show that such a scheme can simultaneously achieve efficient emission reductions and equity objectives, as developing countries abate voluntarily, do not have to pay an initial fee, are net receivers of funds, and are net beneficiaries. Moreover, we explore the potential of simple refunding schemes that do not claim tax revenues and only rely on initial fees paid by industrial countries. |
| Keywords: | climate change mitigation; developing countries; international agreements; refunding scheme |
| JEL: | H23 H41 O10 O13 Q54 |
| Date: | 2011–12 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cpr:ceprdp:8685&r=env |
| By: | Stéphane Hallegatte (CNRM-GAME - Groupe d'étude de l'atmosphère météorologique - CNRS : URA1357 - INSU - Météo France, CIRED - Centre International de Recherche sur l'Environnement et le Développement - CIRAD : UMR56 - CNRS : UMR8568 - Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales (EHESS) - Ecole des Ponts ParisTech - AgroParisTech); Przyluski Valentin (CIRED - Centre International de Recherche sur l'Environnement et le Développement - CIRAD : UMR56 - CNRS : UMR8568 - Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales (EHESS) - Ecole des Ponts ParisTech - AgroParisTech); Adrien Vogt-Schilb (CIRED - Centre International de Recherche sur l'Environnement et le Développement - CIRAD : UMR56 - CNRS : UMR8568 - Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales (EHESS) - Ecole des Ponts ParisTech - AgroParisTech) |
| Abstract: | The impacts of climate change on human systems depend not only on the level of emissions but also on how inherently vulnerable these systems are to the changing climate. The large uncertainties over future development and structure of societies and economies mean that the assessment of climate change efects is complex. One way to deal with this complexity is by using scenario analysis that takes account of these socio-economic diferences. The challenge is to identify the dimensions along which societies and economies evolve over time in such a way as to cover sufciently diferent vulnerability patterns. This conceptual efort is critical for the development of informative scenarios. Here, we identify three dimensions that take into account the most relevant factors that defne the vulnerability of human systems to climate change and their ability to adapt to it. |
| Keywords: | impacts; vulnerability; adaptation; climate change; scenario; prospective; narratives |
| Date: | 2011–07–15 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:journl:hal-00618688&r=env |
| By: | Mariam Camarero (Department of Economics, Universitat Jaume I (Castellón, Spain)); Yurena Mendoza (Departamento de Economía Aplicada II. Universidad de Valencia.); Javier Ordóñez (Department of Economics, Universitat Jaume I (Castellón, Spain)) |
| Abstract: | This paper re-examines CO2 emissions in 22 OECD countries over the period 1870–2006. It contributes to the field of environmental economics trying to clarify the possible sources of the mixed evidence on CO2 emissions convergence. To this end we employ a detailed methodological strategy. First we start with standard linear tests as the ones proposed by Ng and Perron (2001). Then, using the Lee and Strazicich (2003) tests, we take into account the possible existence of structural breaks in the series. Finally, we apply a non-linear test within a smooth transition autoregressive (STAR) framework proposed by Kapetanios et al. (2003). The empirical evidence provided by our methodological strategy suggests that the original per capita CO2 emissions for the largest span, from 1870 to 2006, are stationary, so that to continue with the assessment of convergence in this context would not be adequate. However if we consider instead the period 1950-2006, per capita CO2 emissions are in a non-stationary local regime. Thus, in this case we proceed with the study of convergence. Bearing in mind plausible nonlinearities, CO2 emissions convergence is assessed using two versions of the Kapetanios et al. (2003) test, and conclude that there is no robust convergence among these 22 OECD countries. |
| Keywords: | CO2 emissions, stationarity, non linear test, smooth transition, convergence. |
| Date: | 2011 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:jau:wpaper:2011/6&r=env |
| By: | Joseph V. Spadaro |
| Abstract: | Throughout history, technological development and economic growth has led to greater prosperity and overall standard of living for many people in society. However, along with the benefits of economic development comes the social responsibility of minimizing the mortality and morbidity health impacts associated with human activities, safeguarding ecosystems, protecting world cultural heritage and preventing integrity and amenity losses of man-made environments. Effects are often irreversible, extend way beyond national borders and can occur over a long time lag. At current pollutant levels, the monetized impacts carry a significant burden to society, on the order of few percent of a country’s GDP, and upwards to 10% of GDP for countries in transition. A recent study for the European Union found that the aggregate damage burden from industrial air pollution alone costs every man, woman and child between 200 and 330 € a year, of which CO2 emissions contributed 40 to 60% (EEA 2011).<br /> <br /> In a sustainable world, an assessment of the environmental impacts (and damage costs) imposed by man\\\'s decisions on present and future generations is necessary when addressing the cost effectiveness of local and national policy options that aim at improving air quality and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The aim of this paper is to present a methodology for calculating such adverse public health outcomes arising from exposure to routine atmospheric pollutant emissions using a simplified methodology, referred to as the Uniform World Model (UWM). The UWM clearly identifies the most relevant factors of the analysis, is easy to implement and requires only a few key input parameters that are easily obtained by the analyst, even to someone living in a developing country. The UWM is exact in the limit all parameters are uniformly distributed, due to mass conservation.<br /> <br /> The current approach can be applied to elevated and mobile sources. Its robustness has been validated (typical deviations are well within the ±50% range) by comparison with much more detailed air quality and environmental impact assessment models, such as ISC3, CALPUFF, EMEP and GAINS. Several comparisons illustrating the wide range of applicability of the UWM are presented in the paper, including estimation of mean concentrations at the local, country and continental level and calculation of local and country level intake factors and marginal damage costs of primary particulate matter and inorganic secondary aerosols. Relationships are also provided for computing spatial concentration profiles and cumulative impact or damage cost distributions. Assessments cover sources located in the USA, Europe, East Asia (China) and South Asia (India).<br /> |
| Keywords: | Air Pollution, Urban Air Quality, Particulate Matter, Air Quality Modeling, Health Impact Assessment, Loss of Life Expectancy, Damage Costs of Air Pollution |
| Date: | 2011–12 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:bcc:wpaper:2011-12&r=env |
| By: | Stoczkiewicz, Marcin |
| Abstract: | The subject matter of this article is the implementation in Poland of Directive 2003/87/EC on the emissions trading scheme for greenhouse gases in the Community. The first part of the article focuses on the presentation of the legislation and institutional arrangements which transpose the obligations contained in Directive 2003/87/EC into Polish law. On the basis of this, the article then presents some problems regarding the implementation in Poland of important changes introduced into Directive 2003/87/EC by Directive 2009/29/EC. This part of the article contains an analysis of Article 50 of the new Act on the System of Greenhouse Emission Trading, which introduces specific rules for licensing bodies that undertake investment in terms of compliance with the provisions of Directive 2009/29/EC. Secondly, this paper also presents a preliminary assessment of the proposed free allocation of greenhouse gas emissions allowances in Poland to electricity production enterprises. This is examined from the viewpoint of the possibility of State aid in the meaning of Article 107(1) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. |
| Keywords: | environmental law; directive 2003/87/EC; emission trading; auctioning; free allocation; State aid |
| JEL: | K21 |
| Date: | 2011 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:34896&r=env |
| By: | Żmijewski, Krzysztof; Sokołowski, Maciej M. |
| Abstract: | European climate and energy policy will have a great impact on the European and Polish energy markets. Moreover, it will have an influence on broad realms of social and economic activity. This raises the necessity of taking concrete strategic measures, especially on the governmental level. EU climate and energy policy also entails sizeable investment requirements and places important demands on the modernization programme for the energy sector. This spells the need to develop broad dialogue between the government and society. The above gives the background behind the appointment of the biggest Polish think tank in 2009 – namely, the Public Board of the National Programme for the Reduction of Emissions. In the Polish context the authors herein analyze the European climate and energy package, European Union policy regarding the reduction of emissions, and the Polish efforts taken in this field. The authors also describe the role of the Public Board of the National Programme for the Reduction of Emissions and its tasks. In conclusion they present policy recommendations and results in the area of fulfilling European obligations and conducting an infrastructural modernization programme in Poland. |
| Keywords: | Emission Trading System; energy; reduction of emissions; energy market; energy policy; climate and energy package |
| JEL: | K21 |
| Date: | 2011 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:34899&r=env |
| By: | Westin, Jonas (KTH); Kågeson, Per (KTH) |
| Abstract: | The purpose of this paper is to analyze the climate benefit of investments in high speed rail-way lines given uncertainty in future transport demand, technology and power production. To capture the uncertainty of estimated parameters, distributions for the annual traffic emissions reduction required to compensate for the embedded emissions from the construction of infrastructure are calculated using Monte Carlo simulation. In order to balance the annualized emissions from the railway construction, traffic volumes of more than 10 million annual one-way trips are usually required. Most of the traffic diverted from other modes must come from aviation and the project cannot involve the extensive use of tunnels. In sparsely populated regions it may be, from a climate point of view, better to upgrade existing lines and to try to make people substitute air travel by modern telecommunications, rather than investing large amounts of resources in enabling people to travel faster and more often. |
| Keywords: | High-speed rail; CO2 emissions; Embedded emissions; Infrastructure investment; Monte Carlo simulation; Sensitivity analysis |
| JEL: | Q54 R42 |
| Date: | 2011–12–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hhs:ctswps:2011_016&r=env |
| By: | Narayanan, K.; Sahu, Santosh Kumar |
| Abstract: | Rural households tend to rely heavily on climate-sensitive resources. Climate Change can reduce the availability of these local natural resources, limiting the options for rural households that depend on natural resources for consumption or economic activities. During and after the climate related disasters the health condition of the rural households get adversely affected and hence, reduce the ability to employ themselves in economic activities and income of the households get adversely affected. In this connection, this paper is an attempt to analyze the adverse health effect due to climate related disasters; mostly due to flood. To understand this phenomenon, this work utilizes primary data collected at the household level from select villages of Kendrapada district in Orissa state in India. The sample consists of 150 rural households. We try to link income and health inequality of the sample households and analyze whether climate related disaster and climate shocks have any impact on their health behavior. We have further attempted to check the difference or similarity in health losses based on each coping strategies of the sample households. Using an econometric approach this study further finds the determinants of health impact of the households due to climate related disasters. |
| Keywords: | Climate change; Health; Energy Consumption; Income inequality; Orissa |
| JEL: | D31 I18 Q56 Q54 |
| Date: | 2011 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:35028&r=env |
| By: | Sophie Bernard (CES - Centre d'économie de la Sorbonne - CNRS : UMR8174 - Université Paris I - Panthéon Sorbonne, EEP-PSE - Ecole d'Économie de Paris - Paris School of Economics - Ecole d'Économie de Paris) |
| Abstract: | This paper presents a theoretical model of remanufacturing where a duopoly of original manufacturers produces a component of a final good. The specific component that needs to be replaced during the lifetime of the final good creates a secondary market where independent remanufacturers enter the competition. An environmental regulation imposing a minimum level of remanufacturability is also introduced. The main results establish that, while collusion of the firms on the level of remanufacturability increases both profit and consumer surplus, a social planner could use collusion as a substitute for an environmental regulation. However, if an environmental regulation is to be implemented, collusion should be repressed since competition supports the public intervention better. Under certain circumstances, the environmental regulation can increase both profit and consumer surplus. Part of this result supports the Porter Hypothesis, which stipulates that industries respecting environmental regulations can see their profits increase. |
| Keywords: | remanufacturing ; competition ; environmental regulation ; porter hypothesis |
| Date: | 2011 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:cesptp:hal-00638178&r=env |
| By: | Alessandro Antimiani; Valeria Costantini; Chiara Martini; Luca Salvatici |
| Abstract: | A modified version of the CGE GTAP-E model is developed for assessing the economic and carbon emissions effects related to alternative policy measures implemented with the aim of reducing carbon leakage. We explore a set of scenarios, comparing solutions where Annex I countries introduce exogenously or endogenously determined carbon border taxes in order to solve the carbon leakage problem unilaterally. Results provide evidence on the scarce effectiveness of carbon tariffs in reducing carbon leakage and enhancing economic competitiveness, while they have large negative welfare effects not only on the Non-Annex countries, but also on certain Annex I countries |
| Keywords: | Carbon Leakage, Carbon Border Tax, GTAP-E model |
| JEL: | Q43 Q47 Q54 |
| Date: | 2011–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:rtr:wpaper:0136&r=env |
| By: | Alain de Serres; Fabrice Murtin |
| Abstract: | This paper assesses some welfare consequences of climate change mitigation policies. In the same vein as Becker, Philipson and Soares (2005), a simple index of economic progress weighs in the monetary cost induced by mitigation policies as well as the health benefits arising from the reduction in local air pollution. The shadow price of pollution is calculated indirectly through its impact on life expectancy. Taking into account the health benefits of mitigation policies significantly reduces their monetary cost in China and India, as well as in countries with large fossil-based energy-producing sectors (Australia, Canada and the United States).<P>L'impact des politiques d'atténuation du changement climatique sur le bien-être économique<BR>Cette étude évalue certaines conséquences des politiques d’atténuation du changement climatique sur le bien-être économique. Suivant l’approche de Becker, Philipson et Soares (2005), un indice de progrès économique est proposé, combinant le coût monétaire des politiques d’abattement d’émissions de gaz à effet de serre ainsi que les bénéfices pour la santé de la réduction de la pollution de l’air qui en découle. Le prix implicite de la pollution est calculé indirectement à travers son impact sur l’espérance de vie. La prise en compte des bénéfices sur la santé des politiques d’atténuation réduit le coût monétaire de la lutte contre le changement climatique baisse de manière significative en Chine et en Inde, ainsi que dans le cas de pays à forte production d’énergie fossile (l’Australie, le Canada et les Etats-Unis). |
| Keywords: | health, climate change, value of statistical life, welfare measurement, santé, changement climatique, mesure de bien-être, valeur statistique d’une vie |
| JEL: | I31 Q51 Q54 |
| Date: | 2011–12–02 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:oec:ecoaaa:908-en&r=env |
| By: | Lewandowski, Janusz |
| Abstract: | The generation of utilizable forms of energy, mainly electricity and heat, carries an environmental impact – as does any human industrial activity. In the case of the power industry based on fossil fuels, this impact is connected with the emission of technological by-products, not necessarily of a material character. It is obvious that the Polish point of view on this problem is connected with the unique degree of dependence of the national power industry on coal. Two aspects of the emission reduction problem are analyzed in this article: the technological, connected with the permanent development of flue-gas cleaning; and the administrative, connected with limiting the permissible polluter concentration in flue gases. It is shown that during the development of the power industry to date, those relations led to an effectiveness (efficiency) of flue-gas cleaning installations which seemed impossible at the moment of its implementation. The main goal of this work is to demonstrate that the regulations being introduced by the European Commission strongly disturb the present relations between technical capabilities and administrative requirements. |
| Keywords: | power industry; emission reduction; development of technology of flue-gas cleaning ; low regulation on industrial emission |
| JEL: | K21 |
| Date: | 2011 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:34889&r=env |
| By: | Charles Figuières; Estelle Midler |
| Abstract: | The international community recently agreed on a mechanism called REDD+ to reduce deforestation in tropical countries. However the mechanism, by its very nature, has no reason to induce a Pareto optimal reduction of deforestation. The aim of this article is to propose an alternative class of mechanisms for negative externalities that implements Pareto optimal outcomes as Nash Subgame Perfect Equilibria, and that satisfies some fairness properties, in particular two original axioms of environmental responsibility. Outcomes are individually rational and the scheme does take into account environmental responsibility in the sense of our two axioms. However, envy freeness, even in a weak form adapted to the deforestation problem, turns out to be hard to achieve without dropping the other properties. |
| Date: | 2011–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:lam:wpaper:11-17&r=env |
| By: | Amnon Levy (University of Wollongong) |
| Abstract: | The responsibility for, and consequences of, greenhouse gas emissions are shared by all countries, but only a few are willing to tax emissions. The paper argues that the reactions of the abstaining countries are crucial for assessing the effectiveness of the tax. The paper analyzes an interaction between a tax-collecting and investing coalition of rich countries, abstaining rich countries and poor countries. The non-coalition countries might have loss of reputation and guilt and overstate the tax’s emission-moderating effect. As long as these three types of countries react to their counterparts’ emissions, taxing emissions does not necessarily reduce the global emissions. |
| Keywords: | Emission Tax; Abstinence; Understating Expectations; Guilt; Global Emissions |
| JEL: | Q52 |
| Date: | 2011 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:uow:depec1:wp11-12&r=env |
| By: | Peter Howley (Rural Economy and Development Programme,Teagasc) |
| Abstract: | The central aim of this study was to gain greater insights into the factors that affect individuals’ preferences for a variety of landscape settings. To achieve this aim, this paper derived dependent variables (based on a factor analysis of respondents mean ratings of 47 landscape images) representing 5 different landscape categories. These variables were then utilized in separate OLS regression models to examine the effect of personal characteristics, residential location and environmental value orientations on landscape preferences. First in terms of visual amenity the results suggest that the general public have the strongest preference for landscapes with water related features as its dominant attribute which was followed by cultural landscapes. Second the results also demonstrate how there is significant heterogeneity in landscape preferences as both personal characteristics and environmental value orientations were found to strongly influence preferences for all the landscape types examined. Moreover the effect of these variables often differed significantly across the various landscape groupings. In terms of land use policy, given the diversity of preferences a one size fits all approach will not meet the general publics’ needs and desires. |
| Keywords: | Landscape preferences, environmental attitudes |
| Date: | 2011–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:tea:wpaper:1105&r=env |
| By: | Anthoff, David; Rose, Steven; Tol, Richard S. J.; Waldhoff, Stephanie |
| Abstract: | The authors estimate the growth rate of the social cost of carbon. This is an indication of the optimal rate of acceleration of greenhouse gas emission reduction policy over time. The authors find that the social cost of carbon increases by 1.3% to 3.9% per year, with a central estimate of 2.2%. Previous studies found an average rate of 2.3% and a range of 0.9 to 4.1%. The rate of increase of the social carbon depends on a range of factors, including the pure rate of time preference, the rate of risk aversion, equity weighting, the socioeconomic and emission scenarios, the climate sensitivity, dynamic vulnerability, and the curvature of the impact functions. -- |
| Keywords: | social cost of carbon |
| JEL: | Q54 |
| Date: | 2011 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:ifwedp:201144&r=env |
| By: | Simplice A, Asongu |
| Abstract: | This paper examines the effects of deforestation on the welfare of rural communities in the Congo Basin. Using moment conditions of agricultural and forest exploitations, findings indicate deforestation significantly improves welfare both at overall-rural and agricultural household per capita income levels. As a policy implication, in the process of forest exploitation a balanced approach is needed to take account of the interests of both rural communities, timber companies and international forest-sustainability standards. This should require among other things, the development and implementation of sustainable forest management plans by timber companies, exclusion from harvesting species that are important to local communities, compensation of timber companies for compliance with management plans as well as involvement of rural communities in monitoring the activities of timber companies. |
| Keywords: | Demography; Forestry; Agriculture; Welfare; Africa |
| JEL: | Q23 L73 J10 N50 O13 |
| Date: | 2011–11–16 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:35161&r=env |
| By: | Simplice A, Asongu; Brian A, Jingwa |
| Abstract: | Recent distressing trends in climate change, population explosion and deforestation inspired this paper, which completes existing literature by providing empirical justification to hypothetical initiatives on the impact of population growth on forest sustainability in Africa. Using three moment conditions of forest exploitation, the study shows how rural, agricultural and national population growths affect forest-area and agricultural-land. Findings indicate moment conditions of forest exploitation do not explain changes in forest-area and agricultural-land beyond population growth mechanisms. As a policy implication in activities of forest exploitation, a balanced approach is needed to take account of the interests of both rural communities and timber companies. |
| Keywords: | Demography; Forestry; Agriculture; Environment; Africa |
| JEL: | Q23 L73 J10 N50 O13 |
| Date: | 2011–12–04 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:35179&r=env |
| By: | Stephen Hammer; Lamia Kamal-Chaoui; Alexis Robert; Marissa Plouin |
| Abstract: | This report examines the current state of knowledge about green growth in cities and outlines the key research questions and protocols that will guide the OECD Green Cities programme. It builds the case for an urban green growth agenda by examining the economic and environmental conditions that have pushed the green growth agenda to the forefront of policy debate and assessing the critical role of cities in advancing green growth. Section 1 lays the context for the paper, examining why green growth is important and how it can be defined in an urban context. Section 2 focuses on policies and tools that enable the transition to green growth in cities. It concludes with a proposal for a policy framework for an urban green growth agenda that is based on a set of hypotheses of desirable economic scenarios. Section 3 examines the main challenges to advancing an urban green growth agenda. It explores the roles that multi-level governance, measuring and monitoring tools and finance must play in delivering green growth in cities. The report concludes with suggestions for future research, including recommendations on how national policymakers responsible for regional and urban policies can advance an urban green growth agenda. |
| Keywords: | sustainable development, government policy, planning, global warming, regional, regional economics, urban sustainability, territorial, cities, urban, green growth, climate |
| JEL: | O1 O3 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q5 R1 R4 R5 |
| Date: | 2011–12–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:oec:govaab:2011/8-en&r=env |
| By: | Bucher, Raphael; Guelden Sterzl, Jasmin |
| Abstract: | The aim of this paper is to gain insights from studying adaptation to natural disasters in the past in order to analyze optimal adaptation in Switzerland in the future. Most adaptation measures already undertaken in Switzerland are so-called reactive measures. They may be eective, but not necessarily ecient. We propose that future climate change asks for proactive measures to combat market damages in an ecient way. We come up with modeling adaptation as a cumulative stock in a computable general equilibrium (CGE) model called ADAPT-CH. We nd that with an investment of up to 0.9% of the GDP, a little more than 58% of the exogenously given climate damages in Switzerland can be prevented until 2060. |
| Keywords: | Adaptation; Climate Change; Dynamic CGE Model; Switzerland; Natural Disasters |
| JEL: | C68 D91 D58 E21 |
| Date: | 2011–03–31 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:34237&r=env |
| By: | M. du Preez; G. Menzies; M.C. Sale; S.G. Hosking |
| Abstract: | Although a green energy source, the location of electrical generating windmills may cause a disamenity effect (negative externality). The establishment of a wind farm is known as a locally undesirable land use (LULU) and leads to the not-in-my-backyard syndrome (NIMBY). In an application of the contingent valuation method, a willingness-to-accept framework was used to estimate the aggregate annual compensation required to allow the construction of a wind farm near Jeffrey’s Bay, South Africa. This compensation amounted to R490 695. A binary choice logit analysis found that retirement status, concern about climate change, concern about view-shed impacts and the offer amount are important predictors of voting for or against the project. |
| Keywords: | Contingent Valuation Method, indirect cost, wind farm |
| Date: | 2011 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:rza:wpaper:258&r=env |
| By: | Avocè Viagannou, Fanougbo |
| Abstract: | Air pollution is an externality whose health costs are high. In our paper we have evaluated the private cost or cost of suffering due to morbidity associated with this pollution. The contingent valuation method (CVM) has allowed us to estimate the average monthly private cost of illness for a head of household on the basis of willingness to pay (WTP) of household heads for a halving of pollution air in the city of Cotonou. The analysis of WTP using a censored Tobit model with consideration of the endogeneity of the variable "income" has allowed us to derive the average WTP that represents the private cost whose value is estimated at 1.617 FCFA / month per adult. |
| Keywords: | Externalité; pollution de l’air; coût privé; consentement à payer; modèle Tobit censuré; évaluation contingente |
| JEL: | C24 Q51 I10 |
| Date: | 2011–11–30 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:35115&r=env |
| By: | Yushi Yoshida (Faculty of Economics, Kyushu Sangyo University); Satoshi Honma (Faculty of Economics, Kyushu Sangyo University) |
| Abstract: | Utilizing the world panel dataset for the pollution emission embedded in international trade for the period between 1988 and 2009, we investigated whether the composition of international trade of a country moved away from pollution-intensive industries as its income level rises. The empirical evidence suggests that the income levels of countries are negatively related to export pollution intensity, but we also find that income is negatively related to import pollution intensity. Thus, the composition effect of international trade on the environment is only consistent with the pollution haven hypothesis on the export side, which predicts that developing countries export more of dirtier industries and import more of cleaner industries after trade liberalization. Further investigation reveals that the lower-middle income countries experienced an increase in the pollution emission of exports and a decrease in the pollution emission of imports, whereas the countries in the lowest income group experienced increases in the pollution emission embodied in both exports and imports. |
| Keywords: | Composition effect; Environment; International trade; Pollution emission; Pollution haven hypothesis. |
| JEL: | F18 O13 Q56 |
| Date: | 2011–12 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:kyu:dpaper:52&r=env |
| By: | Shardul Agrawala; Maëlis Carraro; Nicholas Kingsmill; Elisa Lanzi; Michael Mullan; Guillaume Prudent-Richard |
| Abstract: | There is growing international interest in the planning, financing and implementation of adaptation to climate change. However, the discussion to date has primarily focused on the public sector’s role, with the private sector viewed primarily as a source of funding or financing. Relatively little attention has been paid to how the private sector is responding to the risks and opportunities from climate change. In this context, this analysis aims to contribute to a deeper understanding of private sector’s role. <p> This paper examines the private sector’s progress in adapting to climate change by considering information from sixteen case studies, drawn from a range of industries across the private sector. This is complemented by a high-level analysis of broader private sector adaptation based on responses to the 2009 Carbon Disclosure Project questionnaire. The case studies provide insight into companies’ awareness of potential climate risks and vulnerabilities, their progress in assessing specific impacts on their businesses and possible ways to respond to them, and their implementation of adaptation measures and strategies to manage these risks. The analysis also examines how companies are taking advantage of new business opportunities arising from climate change. <p> The paper explores companies’ motivations for implementing adaptation measures, and establishes common factors which can affect companies’ capacities to adapt, their incentives for action, and their perspectives on the need to adapt. The analysis considers how these factors can both encourage and impede adaptation, and assesses potential public sector roles for eliminating barriers to action, encouraging engagement and incentivising private sector investment in adaptation.<BR>La planification, le financement et la mise en oeuvre des politiques d’adaptation au changement climatique font l’objet d’un intérêt croissant à l’échelle planétaire. Cependant, le débat reste encore essentiellement cantonné au rôle du secteur public, le secteur privé étant surtout considéré comme une source de financement. Une attention relativement faible est donc accordée à la façon dont le secteur privé réagit aux risques et opportunités liés au changement climatique. Dans ce contexte, la présente analyse entend contribuer à mieux faire comprendre le rôle du secteur privé.<p> Le présent document examine les progrès du secteur privé dans l’adaptation au changement climatique en analysant les informations de seize études de cas couvrant diverses industries du secteur privé. Il est complété par une analyse de haut niveau de l’adaptation du secteur privé dans une optique plus large. Cette analyse se fonde sur les résultats du questionnaire 2009 du Carbon Disclosure Project. Les études de cas informent sur le degré de sensibilisation des entreprises aux risques potentiels du changement climatique et aux vulnérabilités qui peuvent en découler, ainsi que sur les progrès de ces entreprises dans l’évaluation des impacts sur leur activité spécifique et des moyens d’y faire face. Elles fournissent également des informations sur la mise en oeuvre par ces entreprises de mesures et de stratégies d’adaptation pour contrer ces risques. L’analyse examine par ailleurs la façon dont les entreprises saisissent les opportunités d’activités nouvelles créées par le changement climatique.<p> Le présent document examine les motivations des entreprises à mettre en place des mesures d’adaptation et il expose les facteurs communs aux entreprises et susceptibles d’affecter leur capacité d’adaptation, leurs initiatives d’action et leurs perspectives sur la nécessité de l’adaptation. L’analyse envisage également la façon dont ces facteurs peuvent à la fois favoriser et ralentir l’adaptation. Enfin, elle évalue les rôles que pourrait assumer le secteur public pour faire tomber les obstacles à l’action, encourager l’implication et promouvoir les investissements du secteur privé dans l’adaptation.</p> |
| Keywords: | private sector, climate change, adaptation, risk management, secteur privé, changement climatique, gestion des risques, adaptation |
| JEL: | M19 Q54 Q58 |
| Date: | 2011–11–30 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:oec:envaaa:39-en&r=env |
| By: | Murray, Cameron K |
| Abstract: | Changing household behaviour is often encouraged as a means of reducing energy demand and subsequently greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The direct and indirect rebound effects from cost-saving ‘green’ household consumption choices were estimated using Australian data. Rebound effects from cost-saving 'green' consumption choices are modelled as income effects, allowing for variation with households income level. Cases examined are: reduced vehicle use, reduced electricity use, the adoption of energy efficient vehicles, and the adoption of energy efficient electrical lighting. Four econometric estimation models are utilised to estimate income effects, and the before and after expenditure patterns are matched with life-cycle assessment (LCA) estimates of the embodied GHG of each expenditure category. Direct and indirect rebound effects alone are estimated at around 10% for household electricity conservation, and for reduced vehicle fuel consumption around 20%, at the median household income level. Direct rebound effects are larger for low-income households; however, indirect effects are larger for higher income households. The scale of the effect estimated, and the variation with household incomes, is attributed to LCA methodologies. These results should be interpreted as the minimum rebound effect, with greater rebound effects, and decreased effectiveness of household ‘green’ consumption, expected in reality. |
| Keywords: | rebound effects; conservation; household consumption |
| JEL: | Q50 D11 Q48 D12 Q20 |
| Date: | 2011–09–01 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:34973&r=env |
| By: | Hertel, Thomas; Monika Verma; Maros Ivanic; Ana R. Rios |
| Abstract: | The goal of this technical paper is to provide sufficient detail to permit readers to bring into the GTAP poverty framework additional countries for which suitable household data are available. With the inputs from processed household data - as per the guidelines provided here - the poverty framework can be readily used to assess the likely poverty impacts of global economic policies across a wide range of developing countries, in a fashion which enables systematic cross-country comparisons. |
| Date: | 2011 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:gta:techpp:3731&r=env |
| By: | Berliant, Marcus; Peng, Shin-Kun; Wang, Ping |
| Abstract: | This paper demonstrates that a pollution tax with a fixed cost component may lead, by itself, to segregation between clean and dirty firms without heterogeneous preferences or increasing returns. We construct a simple model with two locations and two industries (clean and dirty) where pollution is a by-product of dirty good manufacturing. Under proper assumptions, a completely stratified configuration with all dirty firms clustering in one city emerges as the only equilibrium outcome when there is a fixed cost component of the pollution tax. Moreover, a stratified Pareto optimum can never be supported by a competitive spatial equilibrium with a linear pollution tax. To support such a stratified Pareto optimum, however, an effective but unconventional policy prescription is to redistribute the pollution tax revenue from the dirty to the clean city residents. |
| Keywords: | Pollution Tax; Agglomeration of Polluting Producers; Endogenous Stratification |
| JEL: | D62 R13 H23 |
| Date: | 2011–11–23 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:34982&r=env |
| By: | Annelies J. Balkema; Henny A. Romijn |
| Abstract: | This paper focuses on the smallholder outgrower model for jatropha biofuel cultivation in Tanzania. This model is based on seed production by small farmers who sell to a processing company that presses the bio-oil from the seeds locally, either for the local market or for export. This model has been implemented by a foreign investor in Tanzania, the social business model combines profit making with social and environmental objectives. This paper describes the trends and developments of this innovative business model in a global cultivation, production and usage chain, exploring the trade-offs between the people, planet, profit objectives (triple P) and how the business model adapts to survive through the different stages of the innovation process. The three stages that are distinguished in the innovation process are: (1) learning to be effective, (2) learning to be efficient and (3) up-scaling and diffusion. The observed trend is that in the different stages different roles are played by the company as it aims at shifting from subsidy funds to profit making. In the process of becoming efficient and starting to upscale, it seems harder to ensure the implementation of the social and environmental objectives. Therefore, other actors will have to play a more active role in capacity building and market regulation and additional funding has to be made available to the company for the social benefits it is generating for society. |
| Keywords: | business models, sustainability, biofuel, innovation |
| Date: | 2011–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:dgr:tuecis:wpaper:1106&r=env |
| By: | Rodrigo C.A. Lima; Laura B. Antoniazzi; André M. Nassar |
| Abstract: | Por que deve haver mudanças no Código Florestal? Essa pergunta esta na cabeça de muitos brasileiros que acompanham, basicamente pela mídia, os calorosos debates sobre alterações no marco legal que regulamenta o uso da terra no país. Em meio a tantas informações e opiniões contraditórias sobre o assunto, o Instituto de Estudos do Comercio e Negociações Internacionais- ICONE elaborou este documento de recomendações para contribuir com o debate de maneira efetiva, clara e pragmática. A visão do documento pauta-se pela necessidade de debater a reforma do Código Florestal com racionalidade. Para isso, apresenta propostas e sugere soluções para que a ocupação e o uso da terra sejam feitos de forma a equilibrar a conservação ambiental, produção agrícola e desenvolvimento econômico. O texto a seguir foi organizado em grandes tópicos, que compreendem: (1) a linha do tempo relacionada à proteção das florestas no Brasil e como as inúmeras alterações na lei geraram um cenário de insegurança jurídica; (2) os pontos centrais necessários na mudança do Código e sugestões ligadas à criação de um mercado de compensação da Reserva Legal; (3) as oportunidades que a reforma do Código devem trazer para consolidar o Brasil como importante exemplo no combate ao aquecimento global e na conservação da biodiversidade, e, ao mesmo tempo, um grande produtor de alimentos de energia; e (4) recomendações para que o Brasil tenha um Código Florestal moderno, que equilibre o desenvolvimento agrícola e a conservação ambiental. |
| Keywords: | Environment & Natural Resources :: Forests & Forestry, Environment & Natural Resources :: Environmental Policy, Agricultura Conservação Ambiental Reforma Código Florestal |
| Date: | 2011–04 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:idb:brikps:58418&r=env |
| By: | Tausch, Arno (University of Innsbruck); Heshmati, Almas (Korea University) |
| Abstract: | In this article, we present a first empirical reflection on 'smart development', its measurement, possible 'drivers' and 'bottlenecks'. We first provide cross-national data on how much ecological footprint is used in the nations of the world system to 'deliver' a given amount of democracy, economic growth, gender equality, human development, research and development, and social cohesion. To this end, we first developed UNDP-type performance indicators on these six main dimensions of development and on their combined performance. We then show the non-linear regression trade-offs between ecological footprints per capita on these six dimensions of development and their combined performance index. The residuals from these regressions are our new measures of smart development: a country experiences smart development, if it achieves a maximum of development with a minimum of ecological footprint. We then look at the cross-national drivers and bottlenecks of this 'smart development' and compare their predictive power using stepwise regression procedures. Apart from important variables and indicators, derived from sociological dependency and world systems theories, we also test the predictive power of several other predictors as well. Our estimates underline the enormous importance of the transfer of resources from the center to the periphery, brought about by migration, with huge statistical observed positive effects of received worker remittances on smart human development, Happy Life Years, smart gender justice, smart R&D, and both formulations of the smart development index. |
| Keywords: | index numbers and aggregation, environment and development, environment and trade, smart development, sustainability, environmental accounts and accounting, environmental equity, population growth, international migration, remittances |
| JEL: | C43 F22 F24 Q56 |
| Date: | 2011–11 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iza:izadps:dp6169&r=env |
| By: | Jean-Michel Salles |
| Abstract: | The evaluation of ecosystems and biodiversity has become an important field of inquiry for economists. Although this development has been largely motivated by the search for arguments in favour of more ambitious conservation policies, both the methods and the meaning of the results continue to be controversial. This article aims to clarify the interests and limitations of this works, by revisiting a number of issues, such as the economic qualification of the services that human societies take from nature, the specificities of their contribution to human well-being, or the consequences of a valuation of biodiversity based on ecosystem services. We conclude with a discussion of the purposes of evaluations: improving public policies or creating new markets? |
| Date: | 2011–12 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:lam:wpaper:11-24&r=env |
| By: | Elizabeth Holcombe; Sarah Smith; Malcolm Anderson; Edmund Wright |
| Abstract: | Despite the recognition of the need for mitigation approaches to landslide risk in developing countries, the delivery of ‘on-the-ground’ measures is rarely undertaken. With respect to other ‘natural’ hazards it is widely reported that mitigation can pay. However, the lack of such an evidence-base in relation to landslides in developing countries hinders advocacy amongst decision makers for expenditure on ex-ante measures. This research addresses these limitations directly by developing and applying an integrated risk assessment and cost-benefit analysis of physical landslide mitigation measures implemented in an unplanned community in the Eastern Caribbean. In order to quantify the level of landslide risk reduction achieved, landslide hazard and vulnerability were modelled (before and after the intervention) and project costs, direct and indirect benefits were monetised. It is shown that the probability of landslide occurrence has been substantially reduced by implementing surface-water drainage measures, and that the benefits of the project outweigh the costs by a ratio of 2.7 to 1. This paper adds to the evidence base that ‘mitigation pays’ with respect to landslide risk in the most vulnerable communities – thus strengthening the argument for ex-ante measures. This integrated project evaluation methodology should be suitable for adoption as part of the community-based landslide mitigation project cycle, and it is hoped that this resource, and the results of this study, will stimulate further such programmes. |
| Keywords: | Landslide modelling, Risk assessment, Cost Benefit Analysis, Developing countries, Community |
| JEL: | D61 Q54 Q58 |
| Date: | 2011–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:bri:cmpowp:11/270&r=env |
| By: | Rosetta Lombardo (Dipartimento di Economia e Statistica, Università della Calabria) |
| Abstract: | Business activity and consumption activities are recognised as impacting, often negatively, on the environment. The challenge of ‘satisfying the needs of the present generation without compromising the chance for future generations to satisfy theirs’ requires, however, contributions by all societal actors. A growing number of firms “overcomply” with environmental regulation for several reasons. Firms satisfy consumer demand and try to shape that demand. In doing so, they may create a taste for environment protection and sustainability. Corporate social responsibility has received considerable attention. The concept of ‘consumer social responsibility’ has received comparatively little attention probably because of the dominance of the notion of consumer sovereignty. If consumers’ perception of corporate social responsibility practices drives their purchase behaviour, firms are motivated to invest in socially responsible practices. However, there exists a wide gap between positive attitudes toward social responsibility and actual purchase behaviours. This paper tries to shed some light on what affects individuals’ perceptions about their responsibilities as citizens/consumers and their consumption behaviour. |
| Keywords: | Environment, Sustainability, Corporate Social Responsibility, Consumer Sovereignty, Consumer Social Responsibility, Preferences, Social norms |
| JEL: | D01 D21 D62 M14 Q28 |
| Date: | 2011–11 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:clb:wpaper:201115&r=env |
| By: | Utkin, Andrei (INOV - INESC); Lavrov, Alexander (INOV - INESC); Vilar, Rui (INOV - INESC); Babichenko, Sergey (LDI); Shchemelyov, Sergey (LDI); Sobolev, Innokenty (LDI); Bastos, Luisa (CIIMAR, University of Porto); Deurloo, Richard (University of Porto); Palenzuela, Jesús Torres (University of Vigo); Yarovenko, Nina (University of Vigo); Cruz, Isabel (Hydrographic Institute) |
| Abstract: | An innovative optical method for remote monitoring of water pollution was developed and tested in AMPERA ERA-NET Programme, project DEOSOM. The method is based on remote detection of laser-induced fluorescent radiation (LIF LIDAR). In the project, compact and light LIF LIDAR systems were developed, which can be operated by relatively unskilled personnel and used for early air- or shipborne pollution detection and evaluation, specifically for oil spill detection. The systems are provided with direct georeferencing, for exact localization of the oil spills, and artificial intelligence, for their automatic characterization. The paper presents the principles of the method and the results of tests carried out in the field and laboratory conditions |
| Keywords: | Laser Induced Fluorescence; Remote Detection; Pollution; Oil Spill |
| JEL: | Q53 |
| Date: | 2011–11–30 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ris:cieodp:2011_017&r=env |
| By: | Bastos, Luisa (University of Porto); Bos, Machiel (CIIMAR, University of Porto); Caldeira, Rui (CIIMAR, University of Porto); Couvelard, Xavier (University of Madeira); Allis, Sheila (University of Las Palmas); Bio, Ana (CIIMAR, University of Porto); Araujo, Isabel (CIIMAR, University of Porto); Fernandes, Joana (University of Porto); Lazaro, Clara (University of Porto) |
| Abstract: | A new Oceanic Observatory for the North-West Iberian Margin is being developed in the scope of the RAIA project. The objective of RAIA is not only to improve our scientific knowledge of the ocean in this North-East Atlantic region, but also to use the in situ observations and ocean models to derive commercial products and services for a range of marine activities related to: sediment transport, coastal erosion, pollution (spill) monitoring, understanding of marine life, search & rescue and renewable energies. The Coastal & Ocean Dynamics Group at CIIMAR is participating in this project and their contributions are presented here |
| Keywords: | Ocean Modelling; Sensors; Data-base; Tides |
| JEL: | Q55 |
| Date: | 2011–11–30 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ris:cieodp:2011_014&r=env |
| By: | Richard Hornbeck; Pinar Keskin |
| Abstract: | Agriculture on the American Great Plains has been constrained by historical water scarcity. After World War II, technological improvements made groundwater from the Ogallala aquifer available for irrigation. Comparing counties over the Ogallala with nearby similar counties, groundwater access increased irrigation intensity and initially reduced the impact of droughts. Over time, land-use adjusted toward water-intensive crops and drought-sensitivity increased; conversely, farmers in water-scarce counties maintained drought-resistant practices that fully mitigated higher drought-sensitivity. Land values capitalized the Ogallala's value at $26 billion in 1974; as extraction remained high and water levels declined, the Ogallala's value fell to $9 billion in 2002. |
| JEL: | N52 Q54 |
| Date: | 2011–11 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:nbr:nberwo:17625&r=env |
| By: | Elvan Arik (IUL - Institut d'urbanisme de Lyon - Université Lumière - Lyon II) |
| Abstract: | À partir de la thématique énergétique à Istanbul, ce mémoire apporte des éléments de réponse à la double interrogation suivante : comment les structures de gouvernance locale se sont-elles adaptées aux injonctions du développement urbain durable ? ; dans une métropole déjà fragmentée socio-spatialement, l'accès au confort énergétique ne devient-il pas une nouvelle clé de lecture des distinctions sociales ? L'analyse de l'accès au réseau de gaz naturel nous a servi d'angle d'approche pour répondre à cette dernière question. Actuellement, l'émergence des thématiques du développement durable n'introduit pas de changements majeurs dans les politiques urbaines. On assiste plutôt à une redéfinition opportuniste des missions et des statuts de certains acteurs. Ceci contribue à opacifier les structures décisionnelles locales. Concernant l'accès au gaz naturel, le déploiement large et rapide du réseau ne s'est pas traduit mécaniquement en une généralisation de l'usage de cette ressource énergétique par toutes les catégories sociales. Les difficultés d'accès à ce réseau s'expliquent par la situation socialement précaire d'une importante part des Stambouliotes. Par ailleurs, l'apparition de territoires énergétiquement favorisés n'est pas la traduction d'une désintégration néolibérale des réseaux traditionnels. Elle résulte de visions métropolitaines publiques encourageant les projets d'envergure internationale. Ces deux dernières affirmations remettent ainsi en cause la théorie du Splintering Urbanism. |
| Keywords: | services urbains en réseaux, politiques énergétiques, développement urbain durable, gaz naturel, splintering urbanism, fragmentation socio-spatiale, néo-libéralisme, privatisation, métropolisation, Istanbul, Turquie, urban network services, energy policy, sustainable urban development, natural gas, splintering urbanism, socio-spatial fragmentation, neoliberalism, privatization, Turkey |
| Date: | 2011–09–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:journl:dumas-00648609&r=env |
| By: | John Hartwick (Queen's University) |
| Abstract: | Kolstad.s (1994) model of intertemporal, competitive supply to a linear market from two distinct exhaustible resource deposits admits two di¤erent interior solutions . one with the low cost deposit "earning" the higher resource rent and the other with the low cost deposit "earning" the lower resource rent. This latter outcome turns on the initial size of the low cost deposit being significantly larger than the high cost deposit. We infer then that size can trump quality in the determination of the resource rent for a deposit, when geography is explicit. |
| Keywords: | exhaustible resource extraction, deposit quality, linear market |
| JEL: | D49 Q31 D21 |
| Date: | 2011–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:qed:wpaper:1281&r=env |
| By: | Alessandro Bucciol (University of Verona, University of Amsterdam and Netspar); Natalia Montinari (Max Planck Institute of Economics Jena, Strategic Interaction Group); Marco Piovesan (Harvard Business School) |
| Abstract: | This paper examines whether monetary incentives are an effective tool for increasing domestic waste sorting. We exploit the exogenous variation in the waste management policies experienced during the years 1999-2008 by the 95 municipalities in the district of Treviso (Italy). We estimate with a panel analysis that pay-as-you-throw (PAYT) incentive schemes increase by 12.3% the sorted-total waste ratio. This increase reflects a change in the behavior of households, who keep unaltered the production of total waste but sort it to a larger extent. Our data show that household behavior is also influenced by the policies of adjacent municipalities. |
| Keywords: | Incentives, environment, waste management, PAYT |
| JEL: | D01 D78 Q53 |
| Date: | 2011–12–02 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:jrp:jrpwrp:2011-058&r=env |
| By: | Julien Di Giulio (URCA UFR SESG - URCA - UFR des Sciences économiques, sociales et de gestion - Université de Reims - Champagne Ardenne) |
| Abstract: | Le management de la qualité, de la sécurité et de l'environnement (QSE) se développe de plus au sein des organisations. Il est devenu indispensable pour ces dernières qui sont à la recherche de rentabilité en réduisant leurs coûts, et tout en satisfaisant les attentes de leurs clients qui sont de plus en plus soucieux de ce type de management. L'origine de l'émergence du management QSE est liée à une demande client, qui s'inscrivent de plus en plus dans une démarche de responsabilité sociale des entreprises (RSE) et qui souhaitent entraîner l'ensemble de leur processus de production de l'amont à l'aval sur le même chemin. Le management QSE est un moyen pour les organisations de réduire leurs coûts et donc d'être plus rentable, tout en satisfaisant les exigences de leurs clients. |
| Keywords: | Management QSE, Management de la qualité, Management de la sécurité, management environnemental, Satisfaction client, Qualité sécurité environnement |
| Date: | 2011–06–30 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:journl:dumas-00647008&r=env |