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on Environmental Economics |
| By: | Rodomiro Ortiz |
| Abstract: | This document discusses the impact that global climate change has on food production both globally and in Latin America and the Caribbean. The author discusses environmental issues including extreme temperatures, water scarcity, flooding, and soil erosion. Using available information, this document discusses the impacts of these issues on Mesoamerica, the Caribbean Islands, the Andean Community, and the Southern Cone. Finally, the paper addresses climate change mitigation and prospects for adapting agriculture to climate change. |
| Keywords: | Environment & Natural Resources :: Climate Change, Environment & Natural Resources :: Environmental Policy, Environment & Natural Resources :: Biodiversity & Natural Resources Management, Environment & Natural Resources :: Water Management, Agriculture & Food Security :: Agricultural Policy, Agriculture & Food Security :: Plant, Animal, & Food Production, Rural & Urban Development :: Rural Development, Subsistence Agriculture, Climate Change, Water Availability, Soil Erosion, Water Resources, Greenhouse Gas Emissions |
| Date: | 2012–01 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:idb:brikps:64698&r=env |
| By: | Britaldo Soares Filho; Letícia Lima; Maria Bowman; Letícia Viana |
| Abstract: | This paper discusses the feedbacks between climate change, deforestation, and agricultural expansion and presents scenarios of agricultural demand and forest conservation and restoration policies in Brazil. In addition, it discusses the implications of these scenarios for food and befoul supply, the provision of ecosystem services, and climate change mitigation. Modeling these scenarios provides an integrated assessment of plausible pathways for achieving the goals of the National Climate Change Plan, for making an objective source of information available for the debate on the Forest Code, and for supporting Brazil's cropland expansion plan as well as anticipating potential conflicts. |
| Keywords: | Environment & Natural Resources :: Biodiversity & Natural Resources Management, Environment & Natural Resources :: Climate Change, Environment & Natural Resources :: Forests & Forestry, Agriculture & Food Security :: Plant, Animal, & Food Production, Climate Change, Forest Conservation, Brazil |
| Date: | 2012–02 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:idb:brikps:64798&r=env |
| By: | Susanne B. Hecht |
| Abstract: | Catastrophic deforestation and environmental degradation have become habits of thought about forest landscapes in Latin America's tropics. Yet these truisms blind analysts to three surprising changes. First, deforestation has slowed dramatically. Next, forest resurgence-largely a function of natural regeneration-is widely documented throughout the region on previously deforested lands. Finally, the importance of tree systems and complex environmental mosaics in working landscapes to produce livelihoods and environmental services and as supporting matrices for conservation is increasingly recognized. These dynamics over the last decade would have been unimaginable in the 1980s, the period that most shaped Euro-American perceptions of tropical forest trends. Deforestation "hot spots", each with a different political ecology, remain and command attention, but it is important to recognize that platforms for alternatives exist. Latin America has become an innovator in tropical environmental policy, institutions, incentives, and practices that support forested landscapes. These dynamics and other related issues will be further elucidated in this document. |
| Keywords: | Agriculture & Food Security, Environment & Natural Resources :: Biodiversity & Natural Resources Management, Environment & Natural Resources :: Climate Change, Environment & Natural Resources :: Forests & Forestry, Forest, forest resurgence, environmental services |
| Date: | 2012–02 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:idb:brikps:64998&r=env |
| By: | Lange, Ian; Polborn, Sarah |
| Abstract: | Taking a political economy perspective this paper proposes an alternative carbon abatement policy instrument with significant cant advantages over existing policy instruments. The key feature of the proposed carbon securities is that they entitle their owners to a fi xed proportion of ex ante unknown total emis-sions. The total level of carbon emissions is set by the political process after the carbon securities have been sold. A key benefit of the proposed carbon security is that it creates a group of stakeholders, whose interest is for a smaller level of emissions and which competes with industries that consume signifi cant amounts of carbon-based energy. The advantages over existing policy tools include an equilibrium carbon price closer to the level preferred by voters and a more predictable environmental policy in the presence of either climate or political uncertainty. (JEL: D72, Q54, Q58) |
| Keywords: | climate policy; Lobbying |
| Date: | 2012–03 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:stl:stledp:2012-03&r=env |
| By: | Luiz Antonio Martinelli |
| Abstract: | This document discusses Latin America's dual role as a conservator of natural resources and producer of agricultural services. The author addresses the expansion of agriculture across the region and intensification of agriculture in Latin America. The environmental impact of this expansion and intensification is a major focus of this study as well as an assessment of agricultural and ecosystem services. |
| Keywords: | Agriculture & Food Security, Environment & Natural Resources :: Biodiversity & Natural Resources Management, Environment & Natural Resources :: Climate Change, Energy & Mining :: Renewable Energy, Agriculture, Ecosystem Services |
| Date: | 2012–02 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:idb:brikps:64718&r=env |
| By: | Gemechu, Eskinder D.; Butnar, Isabela; Llop Llop, Maria; Castells i Piqué, Francesc |
| Abstract: | The main aim of this work is to define an environmental tax on products and services based on their carbon footprint. We examine the relevance of conventional life cycle analysis (LCA) and environmentally extended input-output analysis (EIO) as methodological tools to identify emission intensities of products and services on which the tax is based. The short-term price effects of the tax and the policy implications of considering non-GHG are also analyzed. The results from the specific case study on pulp production show that the environmental tax rate based on the LCA approach (1,8%) is higher than both EIO approaches (0,8% for product and 1,4% for industry approach), but they are comparable. Even though LCA is more product specific and provides detailed analysis, EIO would be the more relevant approach to apply economy wide environmental tax. When the environmental tax considers non-GHG emissions instead of only CO2, sectors such as agriculture, mining of coal and extraction of peat, and food exhibit higher environmental tax and price effects. Therefore, it is worthwhile for policy makers to pay attention on the implication of considering only CO2 tax or GHG emissions tax in order for such a policy measure to be effective and meaningful. Keywords: Environmental tax; Life cycle analysis; Environmental input-output analysis. |
| Keywords: | Medi ambient -- Impostos, Medi ambient -- Anàlisi d'impacte, 33 - Economia, |
| Date: | 2012 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:urv:wpaper:2072/182644&r=env |
| By: | Tiwari, Aviral Kumar; Muhammad, Shahbaz |
| Abstract: | This study investigates the dynamic relationship between coal consumption, economic growth, trade openness and CO2 emissions for Indian economy. In doing so, Narayan and Pop structural break unit test is applied to test the order of integration of the variables. Long run relationship between the variables is tested by applying ARDL bounds testing approach to cointegration developed by Pesaran et al. (2001). The results confirm the existence of cointegration for long run between coal consumption, economic growth, trade openness and CO2 emissions. Our empirical exercise indicates the presence of Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) long run as well as short run. Coal consumption as well as trade openness contributes to CO2 emissions. The causality results report the feedback hypothesis between economic growth and CO2 emissions and same inference is drawn between coal consumption and CO2 emissions. Moreover, trade openness Granger causes economic growth, coal consumption and CO2 emissions. |
| Keywords: | Energy; Growth; Emissions; EKC |
| JEL: | O1 Q4 |
| Date: | 2012–03–18 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:37775&r=env |
| By: | de santis, roberta |
| Abstract: | In an increasingly integrated world with declining trade barriers, environmental regulations can have a decisive role in shaping countries’ comparative advantages. The conventional wisdom about environmental protection is that it comes at an additional cost on firms imposed by the government, which may erode their global competitiveness. However, this paradigm has been challenged by some analysts. In particular, Porter (1991) and Porter and Van der Linde (1995) argue that pollution is often associated with a waste of resources and that more stringent environmental policies can stimulate innovations that may over-compensate for the costs of complying with these policies. This is known as the Porter hypothesis. While there is a broad empirical literature on the impact of trade on environment the empirical literature on the impact of environmental regulations on trade flows is relatively scarce, very heterogeneous and presents mixed results. The innovative feature of this paper is its attempts to estimate, in a gravity setting, augmented with a proxi of environmental stringency, the impact of three major Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) on 15 EU countries bilateral exports. According to our estimates, in the period 1988-2008, to be member of MEAs had a positive average impact on EU15 bilateral exports. This evidence can be partly explained by a possible trade diversion effect with respect to countries that did not sign MEAs, and a corresponding trade creation effect among members of the environmental agreements. Furthermore, evidence coming from interaction effects estimates seems to show that for exporting countries having signed the UNFCCC and the Montreal agreements, partly mitigates (by the amount of the estimated coefficient ) the negative impact of having a relatively more stringent environmental regulation on bilateral trade. This result could have important policy implications for the future international trade- environmental negotiations. |
| Keywords: | Comparative advantage; environmental regulation; trade |
| JEL: | F18 |
| Date: | 2011 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:37756&r=env |
| By: | Perino, Grischa; Requate, Till |
| Abstract: | We show that for a broad class of technologies the relationship between policy stringency and the rate of technology adoption is inverted U-shaped. This happens when the marginal abatement cost (MAC) curves of conventional and new technologies intersect, which invariably occurs when emissions are proportional to output and technological progress reduces emissions per output. This outcome does not result from policy failure. On the contrary, in social optimum, the relationship between the slope of the marginal damage curve and the rate of technology adoption is also inverted U-shaped. Under more general conditions, these curves can look even more complicated (e.g. such as inverted W-shaped). -- |
| Keywords: | induced diffusion,environmental policy |
| JEL: | Q55 Q52 Q58 H23 O33 |
| Date: | 2012 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:cauewp:201205&r=env |
| By: | Mikel González-Eguino; Anil Markandya; Marta Escapa |
| Abstract: | In the past few decades many papers have analysed in some depth different environmental tax reforms and the double dividend hypothesis, i.e. the possibility of improving not only the environment but also the economy through the reduction of distortions in the tax system. Recently, more stress has been placed on testing empirically what effects a reduction in labour taxes may have on unemployment when accompanied by a carbon or other environmental tax. However, such studies have not modelled the effects of the presence of a shadow economy, even though informal markets account for a significant and growing part of GDP in many developed economies. This paper analyses this link using an Applied General Equilibrium model for the case of Spain, which has one of the highest unemployment rates in the world and one of the biggest informal economies of any wealthy country. We conclude that our analysis strengthens the case for an environmental tax reform in Spain if revenues from a CO2 tax are recycled via a labour tax reduction. |
| Keywords: | Environmental fiscal reform, double dividend hypothesis, shadow economy, unemployment, general equilibrium analysis, Spain |
| Date: | 2012–03 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:bcc:wpaper:2012-03&r=env |
| By: | de santis, roberta |
| Abstract: | Whether the Environmental Kutznets curve relationship holds for biodiversity or not remains an open issue. While there are several studies investigating the EKC relationship for biodiversity, they suffer from some limitations and the empirical evidence is inconclusive. More specifically, with few exceptions, the previous EKC studies for biodiversity looked into the diversity of a particular species or a number of species rather than a broader measure of biodiversity. In addition, these studies do not control for some economic factors that could directly or indirectly affect the biodiversity stock such as trade and foreign direct investments (FDI). International trade, in fact, could influence the biodiversity trough the effects on economic growth, production specialization and technological innovation diffusion. The presence or not of FDI in a country could be of help in assessing the “pollution haven” hypothesis that has obvious feedbacks on biodiversity. The innovative features of this paper are its attempts to estimate a ECK for biodiversity using an overall index of biodiversity terrestrial and marine and the inclusion in the traditional ECK equation of proxies for trade and FDI. According to our estimates for the main OECD countries in the period 1990-2010, the ECK hypothesis is partially verified. Rising incomes are first associated with increasing biodiversity then with decreasing biodiversity and eventually with increasing biodiversity again. This non-monotonic relationship could be explained by the fact that a certain level of income (production) there may be some biodiversity losses that cannot be continuously substituted with environmental-friendly production technology due to ecological threshold and the unique nature of the damage. |
| Keywords: | Biodiversity risk; Trade; FDI; Environmental Kuznets curve |
| JEL: | Q32 O11 F18 |
| Date: | 2012–03–20 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:37730&r=env |
| By: | Lyons, Seán; Pentecost, Anne; Tol, Richard S. J. |
| Abstract: | This paper uses the ESRI's ISus model to explore the distributional differences in emissions by household type. Most greenhouse gas and metal emissions are emitted via indirect means, although direct sources of emissions play a role for CO2, SO2 and CO. The results suggest that the richest decile is the biggest emitter and poorer and larger households are seen to emit the least per person. |
| Keywords: | Ireland |
| Date: | 2012–03 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:esr:wpaper:wp426&r=env |
| By: | Dambala Gelo; Steven F. Koch |
| Abstract: | In this study, welfare impacts associated with a unique common-property forestry program in Ethiopia were examined. This program is different from other programs, because it is two-pronged: a community forest is developed and additional support is provided for improved market linkages for the community's forestry products. The treatment effects analysis is based on both matching, which assumes random treatment assignment conditional on the observable data, and instrumental variable (IV) methods, which relax the matching assumptions. Data for the analysis is taken from selected villages in Gimbo district, southwestern Ethiopia. The program was found to raise the welfare of the average program participant households. Correcting for selection into the program led to both increased welfare and less precise estimates, as is common in IV analyses. The analysis results underscore the benefits to be derived from expanding the current forestry management decentralization efforts, although these benefits, given the design of the program, cannot be separated from the benefits to be derived from increasing market access for forestry products. However, the results suggest that placing property rights in the hands of those closest to the forest, combined with improved forest product market linkages, offers one avenue for both rural development and environmental improvement |
| Keywords: | community forestry, treatment effects, IV, matching and Ethiopia |
| JEL: | Q23 Q28 |
| Date: | 2012 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:rza:wpaper:277&r=env |
| By: | Somlanaré Romuald Kinda (CERDI - Centre d'études et de recherches sur le developpement international - CNRS : UMR6587 - Université d'Auvergne - Clermont-Ferrand I) |
| Abstract: | This paper examines the existence of convergence and the importance of education on carbon dioxide growth per capita, over the period 1970-2004 for 85 countries. We use panel data and apply GMM-System estimation. This rigorous approach takes into account the observed and unobserved heterogeneity of countries, and solves the endogeneity problems associated with some variables. Our results suggest a divergence in per capita carbon dioxide emissions around the world, and that education is not a factor in carbon dioxide emissions growth. Contrary to commonly held beliefs based on intuition, we provide evidence that, in developing countries, there is no convergence, and that education is not a factor in carbon dioxide growth. In developed countries, we find a convergence for per capita carbon dioxide emissions. Education was found to be a factor in pollution growth, although its effect is mitigated by the presence of political institutions. |
| Keywords: | Convergence in carbon dioxide; Education; System GMM |
| Date: | 2011 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:journl:halshs-00684315&r=env |
| By: | Pollitt, M. G. |
| Abstract: | The aim of this paper is to discuss the period of energy privatisation and liberalisation which began in the 1980s within its wider historical context. The key issues are: what has been learned from this recent period, and; how significant is it in the light of an energy transition to low carbon energy system by 2050? Energy liberalisation has led to positive and globally widespread but modest efficiency gains but a lack of clearly visible direct benefits to households in many countries. It has significantly improved the governance of monopoly utilities (via independent regulators), the prospects for competition and innovation, and the quality of policy instruments for environmental emissions control (through the emergence of trading mechanisms). We conclude that it is not liberalisation per se that will determine the movement towards a low carbon energy transition, but the willingness of societies to bear the cost, which will be significant no matter what the extent of liberalisation. |
| Keywords: | energy liberalisation; energy privatisation; energy transition |
| JEL: | L94 |
| Date: | 2012–04–04 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cam:camdae:1216&r=env |
| By: | Okamoto, Ikuko |
| Abstract: | Fishermen depend on Lake Inle in Myanmar for their livelihood. However, the lake has been undergoing environmental degradation over the years. Adding to the long-term decrease in the catch because of this degradation, these fishermen faced extremely low water levels in 2010, which they had previously not experienced. Based on field surveys, this paper aims to reveal how fishermen adapted and coped with the changing environment as well as the sudden shock of the abnormally low water levels. |
| Keywords: | Fisheries, Environmental problems, Myanmar, Coping, Adaptation, Resource, Fishermen |
| JEL: | Q13 Q2 Q22 |
| Date: | 2012–03 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:jet:dpaper:dpaper329&r=env |
| By: | Ikefuji, Masako; Horii, Ryo |
| Abstract: | Using an endogenous growth model with physical and human capital accumulation, this paper considers the sustainability of economic growth when the use of a polluting input (e.g., fossil fuels) intensifies the risk of capital destruction through natural disasters. We find that growth is sustainable only if the tax rate on the polluting input increases over time. The long-term rate of economic growth follows an inverted V-shaped curve relative to the growth rate of the environmental tax, and it is maximized by the least aggressive tax policy of those that asymptotically eliminate the use of polluting inputs. Unavailability of insurance can accelerate or decelerate the growth-maximizing speed of the tax increase depending on the relative significance of the risk premium and precautionary savings effects. Welfare is maximized under a milder environmental tax policy, especially when the pollutants accumulate gradually. |
| Keywords: | human capital; global warming; environmental tax; nonbalanced growth path; precautionary saving; risk premium |
| JEL: | O41 H23 Q54 |
| Date: | 2012–04 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:37825&r=env |
| By: | Diffney, Seán; Malaguzzi Valeri, Laura; Walsh, Darragh |
| Abstract: | The Moneypoint coal plant is nearing the end of its useful life and will need to be replaced. For Moneypoint's replacement, we consider different types of baseload technologies: coal plants with and without carbon capture, combined-cycle gas plants and a nuclear plant. This paper compares how the different types of plant are likely to affect the net costs of the Single Electricity Market under a number of fossil fuel and carbon price scenarios and highlights issues that might be of interest to final consumers and policy makers, namely effects on short-run prices, emissions and energy security. |
| Keywords: | cost/electricity/Policy/scenarios |
| Date: | 2012–03 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:esr:wpaper:wp428&r=env |
| By: | Alan Gelb, Kai Kaiser, and Lorena Vinuela |
| Abstract: | The paper considers the process of discovery for subsoil resources, including both hard minerals and hydrocarbons and estimates its magnitude in recent years, as derived from the sum of extraction and changes in proven reserves. Spurred on by technology change and strong market conditions, discovery has been substantial for most minerals. The value of discovered reserves is high relative to the costs of exploration, particularly when low social discount rates are used to value potential production in the future. Discovery is therefore valuable and should be considered as adding to national wealth through increases in proven reserves. Many countries can continue to generate resource rents far longer than indicated by current reserve estimates and this has implications for decisions on how to plan to spend or save rents. With the high response of discovery to prices and technology, environmental constraints (climate change, water) are more likely than the actual exhaustion of resource deposits to limit resource-based development. The divergence between private and social valuation of discoveries may also justify measures taken by countries to encourage exploration, including through the provision of geo-scientific data to increase interest in discovery as well as competition among mining companies. More information is needed on the payoff to such investments, some of which are supported by donors. However, exploration is, of course, only a slice of the resource value chain. Many countries will need to improve management along the entire chain if resource wealth is to benefit their development |
| Keywords: | development, mining, natural resource, resource rich, hydrocarbons, depletion, extractive, wealth measurement. |
| JEL: | O10 O13 Q30 Q31 Q32 Q40 E01 |
| Date: | 2012–03 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cgd:wpaper:290&r=env |
| By: | Anil Markandya; Mikel González-Eguino; Marta Escapa |
| Abstract: | The theoretical literature relevant to the relationship between environmental taxation and employment creation is centred on the suggestion by Pearce (1991) that environmental taxation could lead to a “double dividendâ€. In this paper we review the literature on the employment double dividend for Spain and add to it with some new analysis of our own that fills some important gaps in the literature. |
| Keywords: | Environmental fiscal reform, double dividend hypothesis, unemployment, Spain |
| Date: | 2012–04 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:bcc:wpaper:2012-04&r=env |
| By: | Valentina Bosetti (Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei, Euro-Mediterranean Center for Climate Change); Thomas Longden (Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei, Euro-Mediterranean Center for Climate Change) |
| Abstract: | With a focus on establishing whether climate targets can be met under different personal transport scenarios we introduce a transport sector representing the use and profile of light domestic vehicles (LDVs) into the integrated assessment model WITCH. In doing so we develop long term projections of light domestic vehicle use and define potential synergies between innovation in the transportation sector and the energy sector. By modelling the demand for LDVs, the use of fuels, and the types of vehicles introduced we can analyse the potential impacts on the whole economy. We find that with large increases in the use of vehicles in many regions around the globe, the electrification of LDVs is important in achieving cost effective climate targets and minimising the impact of transportation on other sectors of the economy. |
| Keywords: | Light Duty Vehicles, Transportation, Climate Change Policy, Electric Drive Vehicles, Research and Development |
| JEL: | Q54 R41 O3 |
| Date: | 2012–03 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fem:femwpa:2011.&r=env |
| By: | Muhammad, Shahbaz |
| Abstract: | The present study aims to investigate the relationship between economic growth, energy intensity, financial development and CO2 emissions over the period of 1971-2009 in case of Portugal. The stationarity analysis is conducted by applying Zivot-Andrews unit root test and ARDL bounds testing approach for long run relationship between the variables. The direction of causal relationship between the series is examined by VECM Granger causality approach and robustness of causality analysis is tested by innovative accounting approach (IAA). Our results confirmed that the variables are cointegrated for long run relationship. The empirical findings of this study reported that economic growth and energy intensity increase CO2 emissions, while financial development condenses it. The VECM causality analysis showed the feedback hypothesis between energy intensity and CO2 emissions, while economic growth and financial development Granger-cause CO2 emissions. |
| Keywords: | Growth; Energy; Financial Development; CO2 Emissions |
| JEL: | Q5 Q4 |
| Date: | 2012–03–24 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:37774&r=env |
| By: | Rodomiro Ortiz |
| Abstract: | Como resultado del cambio climático a nivel mundial, se espera que se produzcan temperaturas extremas, escasez de agua e inundaciones, debido principalmente al aumento de las emisiones de gases de efecto invernadero (GEI) inducidos por la acción humana, lo que limitará la disponibilidad de fuentes alimentarias esenciales para la nutrición del ser humano. Este cambio de clima afectará seriamente la agricultura a nivel mundial. Sobre estos importantes temas trata el presente trabajo, en el cual se contempla: 1) El panorama mundial y continental sobre el impacto del cambio climático en la agricultura, 2) Los efectos esperados de los cambios de temperatura y precipitaciones sobre la producción, los recursos hídricos, el rendimiento de los cultivos y los medios de subsistencia en las zonas rurales, 3) La aplicación de la información disponible a casos particulares de Mesoamérica, las islas del Caribe, la Comunidad Andina y El Cono Sur. Adicionalmente examina los diferentes enfoques a la adaptación de la agricultura al cambio climático ya que un mismo enfoque no funciona para todos, y la mitigación del cambio climático y las emisiones de gases de efecto invernadero. |
| Keywords: | Medio ambiente y recursos naturales :: Cambio climático, Medio ambiente y recursos naturales :: Política ambiental, Medio ambiente y recursos naturales :: Gestión de la biodiversidad y los recursos naturales, Medio ambiente y recursos naturales :: Gestión de recursos hídricos, Agricultura y seguridad alimentaria :: Política agrícola, Agricultura y seguridad alimentaria :: Producción agrícola, agropecuaria y de alimentos, Desarrollo rural y urbano :: Desarrollo rural, Cambio climático, disponibilidad de agua, erosión del suelo, agricultura de subsistencia, recursos hídricos, emisiones de gases de efecto invernadero |
| Date: | 2012–02 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:idb:brikps:64678&r=env |
| By: | Mara Del Baldo (Department of Economics, Society & Politics, Università di Urbino "Carlo Bo"); Paola Demartini (Department of Management and Law, University of Rome 3, Italy) |
| Abstract: | A further development in the socially responsible management debate my consider the following question: is SMEs’ orientation towards Corporate Social Responsibility sustained by entrepreneurs’ values and facilitated by environmental factors – that is, of an anthropological and socio-cultural nature – present in the territory where entrepreneurs and SMEs are sited? The chapter aims at proposing thoughts upon the contribution of SMEs in spreading the philosophy and practices of CSR and sustainability focusing on the importance of entrepreneurial values and the relationship with the local context to which the SMEs and entrepreneurs are profoundly rooted. In developing the research question, the analysis may be divided on two levels: one deductive and the other inductive, which correspond to the two main sections of the chapter. The first section (1-2) presents the theoretical framework by way of recalling threads of study on entrepreneurship and on business ethics centred upon behaviour, motivations and business values. The analysis then concludes by presenting a review of the international studies on the theme of the relationship between managerial culture and territory. The second section (3-4) is developed by way of a qualitative research methodology centred upon the analysis of behavior towards CSR and sustainability of a sample of SMEs belonging to the Marche Region, Italian territory “cradle” of the small-sized company and craft traditions. Empirical evidence presented, highlights how best practices of socially-oriented Marche SMEs - who are excellent examples of “convivial enterprises” strongly rooted in their territories - contribute to a model of Territorial Social Responsibility (TSR) that progresses within the particular socio-economic context of the region. The “social capital”, enriched by values, cultures and traditions tied to a specific community-space, synthesizes intangible factors that favour the development of CSR and the sustainability of SMEs. The economic model of “gentle capitalism” centred around “territorial” SMEs, which can be found in the business contexts under discussion, leans on the construction of a large consensus both within and external to the company, as well as on an environment which is neither restraint or limitation, rather it is an opportunity. The possible pathway of territorial CSR based on the culture of doing “good” in the local context, may offer a possible alternative to the often, unfortunately, short-sighted “turbo-capitalism” of the major transnational companies, which are not rooted in the area where they are located and “nomadic” in their character. |
| Keywords: | Corporate social responsibility, Entrepreneurial values, Local context, Small and medium enterprises, Territorial companies. |
| JEL: | M14 |
| Date: | 2012 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:urb:wpaper:12_06&r=env |
| By: | Britaldo Soares Filho; Letícia Lima; Maria Bowman; Letícia Viana |
| Abstract: | Este artículo se examina la retroalimentación que existe entre cambio climático, deforestación y expansión agropecuaria, y presenta escenarios relativos a la demanda agropecuaria y a las políticas de conservación y recuperación forestal en Brasil. Asimismo, se examinan las implicancias de estos escenarios para el abastecimiento de alimentos y carne, la provisión de servicios de los ecosistemas, y la mitigación del cambio climático. Modelar estos escenarios permite realizar una evaluación integrada de caminos posibles para lograr las metas del Plan Nacional para el Cambio Climático, para ofrecer una fuente disponible de información objetiva para el debate sobre el Código Forestal, y para apoyar el plan brasileño de expansión de tierras cultivables, así como para prever potenciales conflictos. |
| Keywords: | Medio ambiente y recursos naturales :: Cambio climático, Medio ambiente y recursos naturales :: Gestión de la biodiversidad y los recursos naturales, Medio ambiente y recursos naturales :: Bosques y silvicultura, Agricultura y seguridad alimentaria :: Producción agrícola, agropecuaria y de alimentos, Cambio climático, conservación forestal, Brasil |
| Date: | 2012–02 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:idb:brikps:64818&r=env |
| By: | Namara, Regassa E.; Barry, Boubacar; Owusu, Eric S.; Ogilvie, A. |
| Keywords: | River basin development / Poverty / Social aspects / Climate change / Agriculture sector / Water governance / West Africa / Niger River Basin |
| Date: | 2011 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iwt:worppr:h044299&r=env |
| By: | Howard, II, James P. |
| Abstract: | The National Flood Insurance Program was established in 1968 as a federally administered insurance program to reduce costs to the federal government for flood recovery and allocate recovery costs among potential disaster relief beneficiaries. Participants purchase flood insurance through participating property insurance providers which receive a haircut of the premium for overhead costs and passes the remainder to the Federal Emergency Management Agency. This paper outlines a model to measure the net social benefits attributable to the insurance component of the NFIP. Development of this model provides the baseline for further economic and social analysis of the NFIP. |
| Keywords: | flood insurance; disaster management; benefit-cost analysis; social surplus; risk management |
| JEL: | D63 H43 |
| Date: | 2012–03–22 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:37758&r=env |
| By: | Susanne B. Hecht |
| Abstract: | La catastrófica deforestación y la degradación ambiental se han convertido en puntos de reflexión con respecto a los paisajes forestales en los trópicos de América Latina. Sin embargo, estas verdades evidentes no permiten a los analistas apreciar tres notables cambios. En primer lugar, la deforestación ha disminuido drásticamente. En segundo lugar, el resurgimiento forestal en tierras deforestadas anteriormente, que representa en gran parte una función de regeneración natural, está ampliamente documentado en toda la región. Por último, cada vez se reconoce más la importancia de los sistemas silvícolas y las complejas combinaciones ambientales en el diseño de los paisajes para brindar servicios ambientales y de subsistencia y como matrices de respaldo para la conservación. La dinámica imperante en la última década habría sido impensable en la década de los 80, el principal período durante el cual más se delinearon las percepciones euroamericanas sobre las tendencias forestales tropicales. Las "zonas críticas" de deforestación aún subsisten, cada una con una ecología política distinta, y demandan atención, pero es importante reconocer que existen plataformas alternativas. América Latina se ha convertido en una innovadora a nivel de políticas ambientales, instituciones, incentivos y prácticas tropicales en respaldo de los paisajes forestales. Estas dinámicas y otros temas relacionados serán dilucidados en el presente trabajo. |
| Keywords: | Medio ambiente y recursos naturales :: Cambio climático, Medio ambiente y recursos naturales :: Gestión de la biodiversidad y los recursos naturales, Medio ambiente y recursos naturales :: Bosques y silvicultura, Agricultura y seguridad alimentaria, Bosques, servicios ambientales, resurgimiento forestal |
| Date: | 2012–02 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:idb:brikps:65018&r=env |
| By: | Robert G. Eccles; Ioannis Ioannou; George Serafeim |
| Abstract: | We investigate the effect of a corporate culture of sustainability on multiple facets of corporate behavior and performance outcomes. Using a matched sample of 180 companies, we find that corporations that voluntarily adopted environmental and social policies by 1993 – termed as High Sustainability companies – exhibit fundamentally different characteristics from a matched sample of firms that adopted almost none of these policies – termed as Low Sustainability companies. In particular, we find that the boards of directors of these companies are more likely to be responsible for sustainability and top executive incentives are more likely to be a function of sustainability metrics. Moreover, they are more likely to have organized procedures for stakeholder engagement, to be more long-term oriented, and to exhibit more measurement and disclosure of nonfinancial information. Finally, we provide evidence that High Sustainability companies significantly outperform their counterparts over the long-term, both in terms of stock market and accounting performance. The outperformance is stronger in sectors where the customers are individual consumers, companies compete on the basis of brands and reputation, and in sectors where companies’ products significantly depend upon extracting large amounts of natural resources. |
| JEL: | G3 M14 |
| Date: | 2012–03 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:nbr:nberwo:17950&r=env |
| By: | Feng, Hongli; Hennessy, David A. |
| Abstract: | The probability of alienspecies invasion is reasonably characterized by a weakest link technology. A tradeableriskpermit system for shippers has been proposed as a means of efficiently reducing this invasion probability. Economic jointness arising from statistical independence among private risks for the weakest link technology implies that the risk instrument to be traded should be linear in the log of firm success probabilities, rather than linear in firm success probabilities. |
| Keywords: | biological control; independence; linearize; permit trading; risk abatement; uniformly mixed pollutant; weakest link |
| JEL: | D62 H23 Q25 |
| Date: | 2012–03–29 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:isu:genres:35017&r=env |
| By: | Mara Del Baldo (Department of Economics, Society & Politics, Università di Urbino "Carlo Bo") |
| Abstract: | The research question posed at the basis of this study is the following: what is the importance of sharing common values that originate from (and are reinforced by) the entrepreneurs’ and company’s embeddedness in a cohesive territorial socio-economic system? How can “land values” influence the company’s stakeholder and CSR approaches? Taking both a deductive and inductive perspective, the reflections are developed around three main topics: the CSR roots, strictly connected to ethical oriented core values and influenced by the belonging to a specific geographical context; the development of social and ethical networks of stakeholders (promoted by “territorial” companies) that share a minimum mutual set of values; the influence of those values on the company’s approach to stakeholders management. After presenting the theoretical framework, the second part of the paper examines a case study of an Italian company, the Loccioni Group, which offers an example of a “CSR-oriented” organizational ecosystem and a best practices of stakeholder management that co-evolves with the environment, moving in the direction of responsible development, improving, at the same time, its own competitiveness and the social conditions of the environment and of the local context. |
| Keywords: | Regional Corporate social responsibility, Entrepreneurial values, Local context, Small and medium enterprises, Territorial companies. |
| JEL: | M13 M14 |
| Date: | 2012 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:urb:wpaper:12_05&r=env |
| By: | Goswami, Rupak; Paul, Malay |
| Abstract: | As a profession, Extension has been prompted to embrace a broadened mandate that goes beyond transferring technologies and triggering agricultural development. International organisations have started to shift from ‘agricultural’ to ‘rural’ focus in their programmes and it is inevitable that extension’s success in future will not be judged in terms of technology transfer or (even) agricultural development alone. As a consequence, the scope of evaluating extension programmes will have to broaden itself for justifying the government expenditure and to enliven its prospect as a profession. Sustainable Livelihoods (SL) Framework provides excellent scope to capture the multifaceted impact of development programmes on clients’ livelihoods in terms of increase in their asset base and decrease in vulnerabilities. The present article describes development of a tool to assess the impact of Joint Forest Management (JFM) intervention in selected villages of the Ayodhya Hills of Purulia district, West Bengal and also shows the results of its field testing. The development of the tool followed a simple indicator-based multi-stakeholder approach taking SL framework as a reference. Conceptualisation of ‘impact pathway’ with continuous incorporation of stakeholder views helped to develop this tool. This was followed by the development of a ‘perception analysis tool’, using recall data, to assess the impact of JFM intervention on the respondents. The field testing of the tool successfully captured the impact of JFM on peoples’ assets and vulnerabilities. It could also discriminate successful Forest Protection Committee from the less successful one. This type of indicator-based multi-stakeholder approach may be applied for the future ‘extension plus’ programmes, which will contribute towards the sustainable livelihoods of its clients rather than disseminating technologies and/or technical information only. |
| Keywords: | Broad-based Extension; Impact Assessment; Impact Pathway; Sustainable Livelihoods Framework; Perception Analysis Tool; Joint Forest Management |
| JEL: | Q16 Q23 |
| Date: | 2011–12–01 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:37793&r=env |
| By: | Perdomo Calvo, Jorge Andrés; Ramirez Orozco, Juan Andrés |
| Abstract: | The main objective of this study is to develop an economic analysis estimating the solid waste quantities and optimal hauling distance to install transfer stations in Colombia, according to landfill location. This goal is met by using a difference in differences approach (impact evaluation technique), means panel data (random effects), comparative static analysis and mathematical optimization. These methods allowed comparing total production costs between firms with and without transfer stations during three years (2006 to 2008). This study suggests that the use of a transfer station reduces maintenance and operation costs. El objetivo principal de este estudio es realizar un análisis económico para estimar el tamaño de mercado óptimo, con el fin de tomar de decisiones sobre la viabilidad de contar con una estación de transferencia (ET) y su adecuada distancia para ubicarla, de acuerdo con la longitud del trayecto a recorrer entre un sitio origen y el relleno sanitario más cercano. Lo anterior, haciendo uso del método de evaluación de impacto diferencia en diferencias, mediante un modelo de datos panel con efectos aleatorios y análisis estático comparativo de optimización matemática. Técnicas, que permitieron comparar el comportamiento de los costos totales de producción, entre firmas recolectoras de residuos sólidos con y sin estación de transferencia, en un período de tres años (2006-2008). Así, se evidenció cómo estas empresas disminuyen los gastos de operación y mantenimiento cuando implementan por lo menos una estación de transferencia. |
| Keywords: | Impact evaluation; solid waste; transfer stations; panel data; difference in differences; mathematical optimization |
| JEL: | R53 R42 Q53 R48 |
| Date: | 2011–12 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:37719&r=env |
| By: | Lykke Andersen (Institute for Advanced Development Studies); Jonah Busch (Conservation International – Arlington, Virginia); Elizabeth Curran (CEEMA-INESAD, San Francisco, California); Juan Carlos Ledezma (Conservation International – Bolivia); Joaquín Mayorga (CEEMA-INESAD, San Francisco, California); Pablo Ruiz (Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, España) |
| Abstract: | Bolivia tiene un gran potencial para mitigar el cambio climático a través de la reducción de la deforestación. Mientras que las posibles complicaciones han sido intensamente debatidas, se ha realizado poco análisis cuantitativo al respecto. Introducimos el modelo OSIRIS-Bolivia con el fin de crear una base cuantitativa para la toma de decisiones. OSIRIS-Bolivia es una herramienta en Excel capaz de analizar los efectos de los incentivos REDD en Bolivia. Esta herramienta está basada en un modelo econométrico-espacial de la deforestación en el periodo 2001-2005, y usa información sobre cobertura forestal, tasas de deforestación, condiciones geográficas, y causantes de la deforestación, como los costos de oportunidad agrícolas, para más de 120.000 píxeles en todo el país. Se trata de un modelo de equilibrio parcial, en el sentido que toma en cuenta el hecho de que reducciones en la deforestación en un lugar causarán una reducción en la oferta de productos agrícolas, que a su vez hará subir los precios agrícolas y aumentará la presión para deforestar en otro lugar (fugas de carbono). El modelo nos puede ayudar a resolver preguntas como: ¿Dónde es más probable que funcione REDD? ¿Cuánto dinero necesitamos para reducir la deforestación en cierto porcentaje? ¿Cuáles son los potenciales problemas de REDD? |
| Keywords: | Deforestación, REDD, Bolivia, simulación, impactos |
| JEL: | Q21 Q56 |
| Date: | 2012–04 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:adv:wpaper:201205&r=env |
| By: | Francisco Peñaranda; Augusto Rupérez Micola |
| Abstract: | We use the recent introduction of biofuels to study the effect of industry factors on the relationships between wholesale commodity prices. Correlations between agricultural products and oil are strongest in the 2005-09 period, coinciding with the boom of biofuels, and remain substantial until 2011. We disentangle three possible drivers for the linkage: substitution, energy costs, and financialization. The timing and magnitude of the biofuels-to-oil relationships are different to those of other commodities, and far higher than can be justified by costs and financialization. Substitution and costs drive the monthly correlations of long-term futures, and each of the three contribute equally to the daily co-movement of the short-term ones. The findings survive many robustness checks and appear in the stock market. |
| Date: | 2011–12 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fmg:fmgdps:dp695&r=env |