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on Environmental Economics |
| By: | Miettinen, Antti ; Korpela, Eeva-Liisa ; Hyytiäinen, Kari ; Kuussaari, Mikko |
| Abstract: | This paper attempts to rank agri-environmental measures based on their long-term contribution on biodiversity conservation and ecosystem services as well as on net income received from agriculture and forestry. Environmental fallows proved to be a cost-effective measure in promoting bumblebee abundance and, hence, in increasing the availability of pollination services. An environmental fallow or a biodiversity strip established with a mixture of red clover, timothy and meadow fescue seeds increased total species richness of bumblebees, butterflies and diurnal moths most effectively compared with its costs. Forest biodiversity zones offered a cost-effective way to achieve the conservation goals of habitat-specialist butterflies. |
| Keywords: | agri-environmental scheme (AES), farmland biodiversity conservation, bumblebee, butterfly, cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA), Environmental Economics and Policy, |
| Date: | 2014 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:eaae14:182686&r=env |
| By: | Cho, Sung Ju ; McCarl, Bruce A. ; Wu, Ximing |
| Abstract: | Climate change, coupled with biofuels development and other factors may well be changing US land usage patterns. We use a spatial econometric approach to estimate the drivers of US land use transitions in recent years. We consider transitions between six major land uses: agricultural land, forest, grassland, water, urban, and other uses. To examine drivers, we use a two-step linearized, spatial, multinomial logit model and estimate land use transition probabilities. Our results indicate that climate change is a driver of land use change and that movements to and from agricultural land and grassland exhibit opposite responses with climate change portending a movement out of cropland into grassland. These results indicate that adaptation to climate change through land usage change is ongoing but with spatial dependence. |
| Keywords: | Land use change, climate change adaptation, spatial econometrics, Environmental Economics and Policy, Land Economics/Use, Q54, Q15, C31, |
| Date: | 2015 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:saea15:196684&r=env |
| By: | Schönhart, Martin ; Schauppenlehner, Thomas ; Schmid, Erwin |
| Abstract: | This article presents an integrated modelling framework (IMF) at field scales including a bio-economic farm optimization model. It is applied on two contrasting Austrian landscapes to analyze climate change and CAP policy reform impacts in 2040. Changing policies reduce farm gross margins by -36% and -5% in the two landscapes respectively. Climate change increases gross margins and farms can reach pre-reform levels on average. Climate induced intensification such as removing of landscape elements and increasing fertilization can be moderated by an agri-environmental program (AEP). However, productivity gains from climate change increase the opportunity costs of AEP participation. |
| Keywords: | integrated land use modelling, agri-environmental program, climate change, landscape, Land Economics/Use, |
| Date: | 2014–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:eaae14:182680&r=env |
| By: | Caillavet, France ; Fadhuile, Adelaide ; Nichèle, Véronique |
| Abstract: | This article studies taxation schemes which improve the sustainability of food purchases by reducing environmental emissions with focus on nutritional and socioeconomic effects. Food consumption is estimated to be responsible for 30% of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Europe. Among them meats represent 8% of the French shopping basket in terms of weight, and a third in terms of CO2 emissions. For this, we estimate a EASI demand system. From environment and nutrient elasticities, we run two scenarios: an environmental friendly and a nutrient and environmental friendly. From the environmental point of view taxation of animal foods induces a moderate to strong impact on emission reductions. However the nutritional impact is far from neutral and strong favourable effects coincide with undesirable ones. Our results allow to state the terms of trade-off for nutrition with a loss of 25kg CO2 yearly. |
| Keywords: | environment, taxation, animal foods, EASI demand system, Environmental Economics and Policy, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, |
| Date: | 2014–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:eaae14:182863&r=env |
| By: | Liu, Haiyan ; Ferreira, Susana ; Karali, Berna |
| Abstract: | Recent hydro-meteorological disasters have sparked popular interest in climate change and on its role in driving these events. This paper focuses on the information provided by hurricanes in shaping public perceptions towards human-induced climate change. Because CO2 emissions from combustion are a sizeable contributor to greenhouse gas concentrations, and their reduction is a key ingredient in any climate change mitigation strategy, we focus on the energy sector. We estimate the impact of hurricanes on the stock returns of the largest energy companies in the US. We consider the most notorious, damaging hurricanes over the last 25 years: Sandy (2012), Katrina (2005), Andrew (1992), and Hugo (1989). We categorize energy companies into five groups according to CO2 intensity: coal, oil, natural gas, nuclear, and renewables. We find that the impacts of a given hurricane on the stock prices of energy companies differ by energy type. Compared to companies in the coal industry, companies in oil, natural gas and renewable energy industries all reveal significantly more positive cumulative average abnormal returns and the effect is the largest for renewables, followed by oil and natural gas. Similarly, the impacts of hurricanes on stock prices of energy companies differ by hurricane. |
| Keywords: | Climate Change, Energy Industry, Event Study, Hurricanes, Environmental Economics and Policy, Resource /Energy Economics and Policy, Q540, |
| Date: | 2015 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:saea15:196845&r=env |
| By: | Mitter, Hermine ; Heumesser, Christine ; Schmid, Erwin |
| Abstract: | Agricultural vulnerability is assessed by (i) modelling climate change impacts on crop yields and gross margins, (ii) identifying crop production portfolios for adaptation, and (iii) analyzing the effect of agricultural policies and risk aversion on adaptive capacity. We combine, spatially explicit, a statistical climate change model, the bio-physical process model EPIC and a portfolio optimization model. Under climate change, optimal portfolios include higher shares of intensive crop managements which increase crop yields and gross margins by 2-3%. Abolishment of decoupled but higher agri-environmental payments would reduce nitrogen fertilizer inputs by 23-33%, but also crop yields and gross margins by 18-37%. |
| Keywords: | climate change impact, adaptation, agricultural vulnerability, portfolio optimization, agri-environmental policies, Consumer/Household Economics, Risk and Uncertainty, |
| Date: | 2014–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:eaae14:182702&r=env |
| By: | Kirchner, Mathias ; Mitter, Hermine ; Schönhart, Martin ; Schmid, Erwin |
| Abstract: | We present an integrated modelling framework (IMF) to analyse climate change impacts on biophysical processes and farm management responses at the spatial resolution of 1km2. The IMF is applied to the Austrian agricultural sector for the period 2025-2040. The model results show that national agricultural producer surplus changes only marginally between -1% and +1% depending on the climate scenario. The regional results reveal that eastern cropland regions are more negatively affected than alpine grassland regions, which intensify production. This leads to changes in opportunity costs for agri-environmental programs, which calls for more targeted measures to increase efficiency and adaptation potential. |
| Keywords: | Climate Change, Agriculture, Integrated Modelling, Adaptation, Spatial Analysis, Land Economics/Use, |
| Date: | 2014–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:eaae14:182944&r=env |
| By: | Thomas Eichner ; Rüdiger Pethig |
| Abstract: | We investigate the formation of global climate agreements (= stable grand climate coalitions) in a model, in which climate policy takes the form of carbon emission taxation and fossil fuel and consumption goods are traded on world markets. We expand the model of Eichner and Pethig (2014) by considering countries that are identical within each of two groups but differ across groups with respect to climate damage or fossil fuel demand. Our numerical analysis suggests that climate damage asymmetry tends to discourage cooperation in the grand coalition. The effects of fuel-demand asymmetry depend on fossil fuel abundance. If fuel is very abundant, the grand coalition fails to be stable independent of the degree of fuel demand asymmetry. If fuel is sufficiently scarce, low degrees of fuel demand asymmetry discourage cooperation whereas higher degrees of asymmetry stabilize the grand coalition. |
| Keywords: | fuel demand, climate damage, international trade, asymmetry, stability, grand coalition |
| JEL: | C72 F02 Q50 Q58 |
| Date: | 2014 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:sie:siegen:170-14&r=env |
| By: | Kokoye, Senakpon ; Hite, Diane ; Norbert, Wilson |
| Keywords: | Peanut, Bio-economic modelling, Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT), Watershed, runoff nutrients., Environmental Economics and Policy, Q52, Q57, |
| Date: | 2015 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:saea15:196828&r=env |
| By: | Schenker, Oliver ; Koesler, Simon ; Löschel, Andreas |
| Abstract: | In the last decades supply chains emerged that stretch across many countries. This has been explained with decreasing trade and communication costs. We extend the literature by analyzing if and how unilateral environmental regulation induces offshoring to unregulated jurisdictions. We first apply an analytical partial-equilibrium model of a two-stage production process that can be distributed between two countries and investigate unilateral emission pricing and its supplementation with border carbon taxes. To get a more comprehensive picture, we subsequently apply a computable general equilibrium model that includes a better representation of international supply chains. We find heterogeneous, but mostly positive effects of a unilateral carbon emission reduction by the European Union on the degree of vertical specialisation of European industries and explain these differences by heterogeneity in the emission-intensity and pre-policy vertical specialisation of sectors. Border taxes are successful in protecting upstream industries, but with negative side effects for downstream industries. |
| Keywords: | Unilateral Climate Policy,Border Carbon Taxes,Vertical Specialisation,Offshoring,Outsourcing,Computable General Equilibrium |
| JEL: | C68 F12 F18 Q58 |
| Date: | 2014 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:zewdip:14121&r=env |
| By: | Xian, Hui ; Gregory, Colson ; Michael, Wetzstein |
| Keywords: | Nonrenewable, Renewable, Sustainability, Time series, Wood pellets, Environmental Economics and Policy, Resource /Energy Economics and Policy, Q21, Q31, Q40, |
| Date: | 2015 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:saea15:196833&r=env |
| By: | Lee, Juhee ; Cho, Seong-Hoon ; Kim, Taeyoung ; Yu, Tun-Hsiang ; Armsworth, Paul Robert |
| Abstract: | We seek to determine if the tax-based payment approach is a valid alternative to existing incentive payment approaches for forest carbon sequestration. To achieve the objective, we test a hypothesis that waiving the property tax rate on forestland provides incentives to landowners for afforesting non-forested land or sustaining forests at risk of deforestation. We used a land use change model based on the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) 88 area as a case study to test the hypothesis. The estimated effects of the waived property tax on forestland from the land use model were then used to simulate changes in afforestation and deforestation under the current level of property tax rate and under the hypothetical zero property tax. The ex-ante forecasts were then used to estimate the amount of carbon sequestered using a carbon model. Finally the estimated carbon sequestrations under the two scenarios were applied to estimate costs of supplying carbon sequestration using the tax-based payment approach. We summarize our empirical results with two key findings. First, the results show that an increase in net return from forestland by waiving the property tax on forestland increases the shares of forestland, which in turn increases accumulation of carbon in the forest ecosystem. Second, our finding suggests that annualized cost of supplying forest-based carbon sequestration was estimated to be $101.48 per ton, should the tax-based payment approach be adopted in the BEA 88. On a per-ton basis, this cost is on the high end of the estimated cost of U.S. forest-based carbon sequestration ($30 to $90 per ton) in the previous literature. Despite its lower cost efficiency, the tax-based payment approach is still worth consideration because the administrative resources and systems needed for utilizing the property tax as a tool to internalize the positive externality of the carbon sequestration of forestland are already in place and thereby can avoid costs in creating complex new institutional arrangements associated with existing incentive payment approaches. |
| Keywords: | Forest-based carbon sequestration, positive externality, incentive payment, property tax rate, Environmental Economics and Policy, Land Economics/Use, Public Economics, Resource /Energy Economics and Policy, Q23, Q24, H23, |
| Date: | 2015 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:saea15:196873&r=env |
| By: | Liddle, Brantley |
| Abstract: | Knowledge of the carbon emissions elasticities of income and population is important both for climate change policy/negotiations and for generating projections of carbon emissions. However, previous estimations of these elasticities using the well-known STIRPAT framework have produced such wide-ranging estimates that they add little insight. This paper presents estimates of the STIRPAT model that address that shortcoming, as well as the issues of cross-sectional dependence, heterogeneity, and the nonlinear transformation of a potentially integrated variable, i.e., income. Among the findings are that the carbon emissions elasticity of income is highly robust; and that the income elasticity for OECD countries is less than one, and likely less than the non-OECD country income elasticity, which is not significantly different from one. By contrast, the carbon emissions elasticity of population is not robust; however, that elasticity is likely not statistically significantly different from one for either OECD or non-OECD countries. Lastly, the heterogeneous estimators were exploited to reject a Carbon Kuznets Curve: while the country-specific income elasticities declined over observed average income-levels, the trend line had a slight U-shape. |
| Keywords: | Carbon Kuznets Curves; Kaya identity; population and environment; nonstationary panels; cross sectional dependence; nonlinearities in environment and development. |
| JEL: | C18 C23 O13 Q54 Q56 |
| Date: | 2015 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:61304&r=env |
| By: | Klara Zwickl (Vienna University of Economics and Business, Welthandelsplatz 1, 1020 Vienna, Austria ); Mathias Moser (Vienna University of Economics and Business, Welthandelsplatz 1, 1020 Vienna, Austria ) |
| Abstract: | This paper analyzes if neighborhood income inequality has an effect on informal regulation of environmental quality, using census tract{level data on industrial air pollution exposure from EPA's Risk Screening En- vironmental Indicators and income and demographic variables from the American Community Survey and EPA's Smart Location Database. Estimating a spatial lag model and controlling for formal regulation at the states level, wend evidence that overall neighborhood inequality - as measured by the ratio between the fourth and the second income quintile or the neighborhood Gini coefficient - increases local air pollution exposure, whereas a concentration of top incomes reduces local exposure. The positive coefficient of the general inequality measure is driven by urban neighborhoods, whereas the negative coefficient of top incomes is stronger in rural areas. We explain these findings by two contradicting effects of inequality: On the one hand, overall inequality reduces collective action and thus the organizing capacities for environmental improvements. On the other hand, a concentration of income at the top enhances the ability of rich residents to negotiate with regulators or polluting plants in their vicinity. |
| Keywords: | Informal Regulation; Income Inequality; Collective Action; Industrial Air Pollution Disparities, Risk-Screening Environmental Indicators, Spatial Lag Model |
| Date: | 2014–11 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwiee:ieep1&r=env |
| By: | Witzke, Peter ; Van Doorslaer, Benjamin ; Huck, Ingo ; Salputra, Guna ; Fellmann, Thomas ; Drabik, Dusan ; Weiss, Franz ; Leip, Adrian |
| Abstract: | The European Commission started to reflect on a new policy framework on climate and energy for 2030. Identifying the best options for agriculture to contribute to future GHG emission reductions in the EU requires a comprehensive analysis of a wide range of possible policies, technological and management measures. In this context the CAPRI model has been further improved with respect to GHG emission accounting and especially regarding the endogenous implementation of technological mitigation options. In this paper we present the methodology of the new model features and highlight the importance of including endogenous technological GHG emission mitigation options in the model analysis. Results of illustrative emission mitigation scenarios show that different assumptions on the availability and uptake of technologies alter the scenario outcome significantly. The analysis indicates that possible negative impacts of mitigation policies on agricultural production and trade can drastically be reduced when technological mitigation options are available to farmers. This is a strong signal for enhanced research and development in the area of technological mitigation options, as well as policies that promote their diffusion. |
| Keywords: | GHG emissions, climate policy, CAPRI model, EU agriculture, mitigation, Research Methods/ Statistical Methods, |
| Date: | 2014–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:eaae14:182676&r=env |
| By: | Vorlaufer, Miriam ; Wollni, Meike ; Ibañez, Marcela |
| Abstract: | This paper investigates the trade-off between equity and conservation outcomes of two alternative Payment for Environmental Services (PES) schemes, using the results of a framed field experiment (public good game). Particularly, we investigate two alternative PES schemes under endowment heterogeneity and heterogeneity in the opportunity costs of conservation. We test an equal PES scheme, where a fixed flat rate per conserved hectare is paid and an unequal PES scheme, which compensates according to the opportunity costs of conservation. Main findings indicate that the introduction of an unequal PES scheme does not necessarily come at the cost of conservation. Furthermore, the results show that an unequal PES may function as a redistribution instrument by realigning earnings towards the low-endowed subjects. |
| Keywords: | Public good game, Endowment heterogeneity, Productivity heterogeneity, Payments for Environmental Services (PES), Equity, Environmental Economics and Policy, |
| Date: | 2014–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:eaae14:183070&r=env |
| By: | Thomas Eichner ; Rüdiger Pethig |
| Abstract: | This paper studies the formation of self-enforcing global environmental agreements in a world economy with international trade and two groups of countries that differ with respect to fuel demand and environmental damage. It investigates whether the signatories’ threat to embargo (potential) free riders secures all countries’ participation in the agreement. Resorting to numerical analysis, we find that an embargo may be unnecessary, ineffective or even counterproductive - depending on the degree of asymmetry and other parameters. On some subset of parameters, the embargo stabilizes the otherwise unstable global agreement, but the threat of embargo is not credible. However, in some of these cases credibility can be restored by suitable intra-coalition transfers. |
| Keywords: | embargo, trade, asymmetry, free rider, fuel demand, climate damage |
| JEL: | F02 Q50 Q58 |
| Date: | 2014 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:sie:siegen:171-14&r=env |
| By: | Xu, Wan ; Khachatryan, Hayk |
| Keywords: | Crop Production/Industries, Environmental Economics and Policy, Farm Management, Financial Economics, |
| Date: | 2015 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:saea15:196808&r=env |
| By: | Kan, Iddo ; Kimhi, Ayal ; Kaminski, Jonathan |
| Abstract: | We develop an empirical farmland allocation model based on explicit profit functions that is linked to a market demand model. The model accounts for corner solutions, enabling estimation with disaggregated data, and thereby allows treating prices as exogenous. The integrated model enables assessing the impact of climate change on agriculture under partial equilibrium in food markets, while incorporating the production responses of the micro units. For Israel, we obtain adverse simulated effects of climate change on farm profits, food prices and consumer’s surplus, which are considerably lower compared to the case in which price-feedback effects on agricultural supply are overlooked. |
| Keywords: | climate change, adaptation, agricultural land allocation, structural analysis, Demand and Price Analysis, Environmental Economics and Policy, Land Economics/Use, |
| Date: | 2014–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:eaae14:183024&r=env |
| By: | Villanueva, Anastasio J. ; Rodríguez-Entrena, Macario ; Gómez-Limón, José A. ; Arriaza Balmón, Manuel |
| Abstract: | This paper tackles several issues under-studied concerning agri-environmental schemes (AES), namely requirements related to ecological focus areas (EFA) and collective participation. For this purpose, choice experiment was used to assess farmers’ preferences towards AES in olive growing of Southern Spain. A high heterogeneity was found, being identified four different classes of farmers, from potential participants to intermediate and non-participants. Almost half of the farmers would implement EFA at low monetary incentives (€8-9/ha per 1%-EFA) and the rest would do it at moderate to high monetary incentives (€41-151/ha per 1%-EFA). Most of farmers would not participate collectively with an up-to-30% bonus. |
| Keywords: | Environmental public goods, Olive groves, Collective participation, Ecological focus areas, Choice experiment, Environmental Economics and Policy, |
| Date: | 2014–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:eaae14:182918&r=env |
| By: | Nahid Masoudi ; Marc Santugini ; Georges Zaccour |
| Abstract: | We introduce learning in a dynamic game of international pollution, with ecological uncertainty. We characterize and compare the feedback non-cooperative emissions strategies of players when the players do not know the distribution of ecological uncertainty but they gain information (learn) about it. We then compare our learning model with the benchmark model of full information, where players know the distribution of ecological uncertainty. We find that uncertainty due to anticipative learning induces a decrease in total emissions, but not necessarily in individual emissions. Further, the effect of structural uncertainty on total and individual emissions depends on the beliefs distribution and bias. Moreover, we obtain that if a player’s beliefs change toward more optimistic views or if she feels that the situation is less risky, then she increases her emissions while others react to this change and decrease their emissions. |
| Keywords: | Pollution emissions, Dynamic games, Uncertainty, Learning |
| JEL: | Q50 D83 D81 C73 |
| Date: | 2015 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:lvl:lacicr:1501&r=env |
| By: | Heidecke, Claudia ; Wagner, Andrea ; Kreins, Peter ; Venohr, Markus ; Wendland, Frank |
| Abstract: | The Weser River Basin will most likely not meet European water framework directive nitrogen concentration targets by 2015. We use the AGRUM model network connecting hydrological and nutrient transport models with a German agricultural sector model to analyse current and future nitrogen surplus developments, water quality aspects and additional agrienvironmental measures to discuss options for WFD targets until 2021. Results show that even with a full implementation of the nitrogen directive and with additional agrienvironmental measures the objectives of the WFD can hardly be met. |
| Keywords: | diffuse pollution / agricultural economic and hydrological modelling / cost of nutrient reduction measures / Weser river basin, Environmental Economics and Policy, |
| Date: | 2014–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:eaae14:182931&r=env |
| By: | Zimmermann, Andrea ; Britz, Wolfgang |
| Abstract: | Due to their diversity and voluntariness, agri-environmental measures (AEMs) are among the Common Agricultural Policy instruments that are most difficult to assess. We provide an EU-wide analysis of AEM adoption and AEM support received per hectare using a Heckman sample selection approach and single farm data. Our analysis covers 23 Member States over the 2000-2008 period, assesses the entire portfolio of AEMs and focuses on the relationship between AEM participation and farming system. Results show that participation in AEMs is more likely in less intensive production systems, where, however, per hectare premiums tend to be lower. Member States group into three categories: high/low intensity farming systems with low/high AEM enrollment rates, respectively, and large high diversity countries with medium AEM enrollment rates. |
| Keywords: | Agri-environmental, CAP, farm, EU, estimation, Agricultural and Food Policy, Environmental Economics and Policy, |
| Date: | 2014–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:eaae14:183073&r=env |
| By: | Williams, Ryan B. ; Mitchell, Donna M. ; Neill, Clinton L. ; Benson, Aaron |
| Abstract: | Playas are small wetlands, averaging 14 acres in area, which periodically fill with rainwater and evaporate, and are not connected to any other body of surface water. On the Texas High Plains, the roughly 17,000 existing playas are a source of recharge for the Ogallala aquifer and the greatest concentration of biodiversity. However, when land surrounding playas is farmed intensively, sediment carried by rainfall and irrigation fills the playa floor and inhibits the ability of a playa to recharge the aquifer and to provide habitat for native plants and animals. Playas that are surrounded by grassland seep water towards the aquifer four times faster than playas surrounded by cropland. Currently, only 5% of playas in the region function naturally. Playas can be restored, however, by removing sediment and converting a 50-yard buffer around each playa to grassland. Restoring a playa therefore requires: 1) funding the sediment removal; and, 2) compensating landowners for converting surrounding cropland to grasses. We estimate the value of playa improvement by evaluating data acquired through a double-bounded, referendum format, contingent valuation survey. We find that the mean willingness to pay (WTP) is positive and represents a sufficient social valuation to support playa restoration efforts. |
| Keywords: | Playas, restoration, willingness to pay, contingent valuation, Environmental Economics and Policy, Land Economics/Use, Resource /Energy Economics and Policy, |
| Date: | 2015 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:saea15:196917&r=env |
| By: | Matsdotter, Elina ; Elofsson, Katarina ; Arntyr, Johan |
| Abstract: | A majority of consumers claim to prefer climate labelled food over non-labelled alternatives. However, there is limited empirical evidence that such labels actually influence consumer behaviour when shopping. In a randomized field experiment, conducted in 17 retrial stores in Sweden, the short run effects of a voluntary climate labelling scheme on milk demand were measured. Results suggest that climate labelling increased demand by approximately 7%. The response is significantly smaller than suggested by consumer surveys, but larger than observed in earlier studies of actual purchasing behavior where quantitative information on climate impact is provided. |
| Keywords: | Climate labelling, milk, voluntary policy instruments, randomized controlled trial, consumer demand, Consumer/Household Economics, |
| Date: | 2014–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:eaae14:183076&r=env |
| By: | Bozzola, Martina |
| Abstract: | We adopt a moment based approach to investigate how individual producers' optimize input usage, in particular irrigation water, taking into account their risk preferences. We rely on a panel data of 122,800 Italian farms, spread over 1981 to 2003. We capture both variation over farms and over time. We show that risk aversion has increased over time, while down-side risk aversion has been more stable and that farmers specializing in different crops exhibit different risk aversion and use irrigation water with diverse efficiency. Higher downside risk aversion is a key determinant in the decision to adopt irrigation technology. |
| Keywords: | risk attitude, method of moments, irrigation, production uncertainty, Environmental Economics and Policy, Risk and Uncertainty, |
| Date: | 2014–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:eaae14:182771&r=env |
| By: | Hughey, Kenneth FD ; Kerr, Geoffrey N. ; Cullen, Ross |
| Abstract: | Limited research has been completed on the relationship between ethnicity and views within a country on the environment, pressures on the environment and its management. Some recent New Zealand research has found no significant difference in environmental world views between different ethnic groupings. We report selected results from a decade of biennial, nationwide surveys of adults in New Zealand. By socio-demographic measures, respondents are broadly representative of New Zealand adults. In each biennial survey we have found significant differences between ethnicities in views on water quality, causes of damage to water, and water management. There are also significant differences between ethnicities in participation in environmental activities. Our survey has an advantage over other work in that it is able to distinguish between indigenous New Zealanders and native-born New Zealanders, a distinction that proved helpful in identifying these significant differences. |
| Keywords: | ethnicity, environment, New Zealand, water, perceptions, Environmental Economics and Policy, Land Economics/Use, |
| Date: | 2014–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:eaae14:186377&r=env |
| By: | Jongeneel, Roel ; Pollman, Nico |
| Abstract: | The latest reform of the CAP, CAP towards 2020, opens up the possibility to arrange agri-environmental service provision via contracting groups of farmers, rather than contracting individual farmers. The Dutch government decided to fully switch to a farmer group service provision system in 2016. The paper analyses the new organisational framework that now is derived and links it to the Dutch tradition of environmental cooperatives. Issues of collective action, transaction costs, information problems, effectiveness, accountability, and procurement efficiency are analysed in a qualitative way. It is concluded that the Dutch model is promising, although not without risks. Its implementation path seems properly chosen. However, in order to fully reap the benefits possible under the new system one need to reduce restrictions and increase incentives. |
| Keywords: | agri-environmental scheme, collective action, transaction costs, procurement, Agricultural and Food Policy, Environmental Economics and Policy, Political Economy, |
| Date: | 2014–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:eaae14:186379&r=env |
| By: | L. Lambertini ; G. Piagnataro ; A. Tampieri |
| Abstract: | We determine the emergence of the Porter Hypothesis in a large oligopoly setting where the industry-wide adoption of green technologies is endogenously determined as a result of competition among coalitions. We examine a setting where the initial technology is polluting, firms decide whether to be brown or green and compete in quantities. We find that the Porter hypothesis may emerge as a market configuration with all green firms spurred by environmental regulation, even if consumers are not environmentally concerned. Finally, we single out the necessary and sufficient conditions under which the green grand coalition is socially optimal and therefore yields a win-win outcome. |
| JEL: | L13 L51 Q50 |
| Date: | 2015–01 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:bol:bodewp:wp989&r=env |
| By: | Ferro, Gabrielle ; Grogan, Kelly |
| Keywords: | Motor Vehicle, Inspection Programs, Emissions, Ozone, Agribusiness, Agricultural and Food Policy, |
| Date: | 2014 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:saea15:196870&r=env |
| By: | Asian Development Bank (ADB) ; (Southeast Asia Department, ADB ); ; |
| Abstract: | Malaysia has made a firm commitment to sustainable management and conservation of its coastal and marine resources, helping formulate and implement the Sulu–Sulawesi Marine Ecoregion Initiative and the Coral Triangle Initiative. Rapid economic growth, uncontrolled tourism development, unregulated fishing, and unsustainable use of marine resources have depleted the country’s fish stocks, lost nearly 36% of its mangrove forests, and increased the number of endangered species. Despite impressive national economic gains, Malaysia’s fishers remain poor. This report assesses Malaysia’s coastal ecosystems and summarizes the country’s plans in (i) rehabilitating marine protected areas, (ii) protecting threatened and endangered species, (iii) adapting to the negative 0impacts of climate change, and (iv) responding to the need for financially sustainable, community-based initiatives. |
| Keywords: | Coral Triangle, Marine environment, Marine fisheries, Malaysia |
| Date: | 2014–05 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:asd:wpaper:rpt146476-3&r=env |
| By: | Nathan Braun (Industrial Economics ); Timothy Fitzgerald (Montana State University ); Jason Pearcy (Montana State University ) |
| Abstract: | This chapter extends the existing theory of tradable emissions permit markets to allow for tradable permits and offsets. Offsets are currently incorporated into the EU ETS, and in the future similar assets will likely become a feature of many pollution control systems. A model is developed with multiple compliance assets, offset quotas, and different transaction costs across compliance assets. Either offset usage quotas or additional transaction costs associated with surrendering offsets can lead to an equilibrium price difference between permits and offsets, as experienced in the EU ETS. Another result of the chapter shows that offset usage quotas alone cannot explain observed offset behavior in the EU ETS, but combining offset usage quotas with firm-level heterogeneity in transaction costs can be consistent with observed EU ETS behavior. Annual compliance data from Phase I and II of the EU ETS are used to support the consistency of the theory. |
| Keywords: | Pollution Control, Emission Permits, Emission Offsets, Cap and Trade |
| JEL: | Q52 Q53 Q54 |
| Date: | 2014–02–26 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:mnu:wpaper:1002&r=env |
| By: | Röder, Norbert ; Henseler, Martin ; Liebersbach, Horst ; Kreins, Peter ; Osterburg, Bernhard |
| Abstract: | Agricultural production contributes 11% to the total German greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. We evaluate the efficiency of three different land use based GHG mitigation measures: production of feedstocks for biomethane production, short rotation coppices and peatland restoration. We evaluate these measures with respect to cost efficiency (GHG mitigation costs), mitigation potential and impact on agricultural production. We use the regional supply model RAUMIS to investigate the different mitigation measures at the sector and regional level. We extended the modeling framework of RAUMIS to integrate the effects of leakage and indirect land use change. Compared to the production and use of feedstock for bio-energies, peatland restoration is the most cost efficient measure and has the least impact on German agricultural production. |
| Keywords: | agricultural production, regional supply model, agro-economic model, peatland restoration, bioenergy, Environmental Economics and Policy, |
| Date: | 2014–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:eaae14:182674&r=env |
| By: | Moinul Islam (Tohoku University ); Koji Kotani (School of Management, Kochi University of Technology ) |
| Abstract: | Bangladesh is vulnerable to climatic changes, and there has been a serious debate about the occurrence and the relationship with the frequency of flooding. For example, in Dhaka, further flood controls are claimed to be necessary due to a change of climatic patterns and more frequent flood events. Despite the importance of this topic, it has received little research attention. Thus, we examine (i)whether a temporal change in climate variables is occurring, (ii) local people’s perceptions to climate and (iii) cooperative attitudes toward flood controls. We conducted face-to-face surveys with 1,011 respondents of different social and demographic strata and seven experts in Bangladesh. Using these data, we first derive a temporal trend of climate variables and analyze how closely people’s perceptions align with the climate data. Second, we examine the willingness to pay for flood controls as a proxy of cooperative attitudes, and characterize the determinants in relation to perceptions to climate as well as socio-economic characteristics. We obtain the following principal results. First, some climate variables are identified to exhibit clear upward or downward trends, but most people correctly perceive such temporal changes. More specifically, people’s perceptions and our statistical analysis are identical in the qualitative changes of climate. Second, people who correctly perceive climatic changes tend to express a higher WTP than those who do not. Overall, these findings suggest that accurate climate perceptions are keys to increasing cooperation into managing climate change and related disasters. |
| Keywords: | Climate change, perception, willingness to pay, flood |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:kch:wpaper:sdes-2015-5&r=env |
| By: | Mamardashvili, Phatima ; Jan, Pierrick |
| Abstract: | Beside desirable outputs, farming generates environmentally harmful by-products. In this article, we include nitrogen surplus of farms in the representation of the production technology and assessed performance of farms. We measure environmental efficiency (EE) in the framework of a translog output distance function. EE shows by how much a farm can reduce its nitrogen surplus, given multiple inputs and multiple outputs. The study use bookkeeping data on dairy farms in the mountainous region of Switzerland. The analyses show that considering nitrogen surplus has a minor effect on the ranking of farms in terms of technical efficiency. Further, the results indicate relatively low average values for EE, suggesting a need for additional policy measures to reduce farm nitrogen surpluses. |
| Keywords: | efficiency analysis, environmental performance, nitrogen pollution, dairy farms, Productivity Analysis, |
| Date: | 2014–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:eaae14:182910&r=env |
| By: | Annette Brunsmeier (Climate Service Center 2.0, Hamburg, Germany ); Markus Groth (Leuphana University of Lueneburg, Germany ) |
| Abstract: | Climate change related risks impact and challenge the private sector in many different ways. This also applies to risk drivers like a companies’ reputation and a changing consumer behavior. Since significant risk drivers for companies differ just as much as companies themselves, a sector specific guideline to evaluate possible climate change related risk drivers is indispensable. Further, a sector specific analysis on these risk drivers can foster cross sectoral cooperation, innovation and learning processes with regard to climate change related risks. |
| Keywords: | business sectors, CDP, climate change adaptation, climate change impacts, companies’ reputation, consumer behavior, industry studies, risk drivers. |
| JEL: | D12 L19 L20 L60 L70 L80 L90 Q40 Q51 Q54 Q59 |
| Date: | 2015–01 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:lue:wpaper:333&r=env |
| By: | Asian Development Bank (ADB) ; (Pacific Department, ADB ); ; |
| Abstract: | One of a series of six reports on the status of marine resources in the western Pacific Ocean, the State of the Coral Triangle: Solomon Islands describes the biophysical characteristics of Solomon Islands’ coastal and marine ecosystems, the manner in which they are being exploited, the framework in place that governs their use, the socioeconomic characteristics of the communities that use them, and the environmental threats posed by the manner in which they are being used. It explains the country’s national plan of action to address these threats and improve marine resource management. |
| Keywords: | Coral Triangle, Marine environment, Marine fisheries, Solomon Islands |
| Date: | 2014–05 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:asd:wpaper:rpt146482-3&r=env |
| By: | Dong, Zefeng ; Guan, Zhengfei ; Grogan, Kelly A. ; Skevas, Theodoros |
| Abstract: | Agricultural production in greenhouses is an important user of energy and can lead to greenhouse gas emissions. This study uses Data Envelopment Analysis to compute input-based technical efficiency measures and energy efficiency of Michigan greenhouse growers. A two-limit Tobit model is used to investigate the determinants of farmers’ performance. The empirical results indicate that Michigan greenhouse farmers do not use energy and other inputs efficiently. Farmers’ input-specific efficiency can be improved by adopting greenhouse film types other than double layer poly. |
| Keywords: | Horticulture, Data envelopment analysis, Energy use, Tobit model, Efficiency, Crop Production/Industries, Production Economics, Q12, |
| Date: | 2015–01 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:saea15:196840&r=env |
| By: | Li, Mengyao ; Ferreira, Susana |
| Abstract: | Paper temporarily withheld pending permission to post from data provider, effective Jan. 20, 2015. |
| Keywords: | Averting behavior, PM2.5, masks, Environmental Economics and Policy, Q5, |
| Date: | 2015 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:saea15:196889&r=env |
| By: | Sotelo-Sosa, Sergio ; Acharya, Ram ; Funk, Paul |
| Abstract: | Cost of reducing pollution to meet increasingly stringent air quality standards particularly for the U.S. cotton ginning industry is rising overtime. Most industry participants use cyclones to control air pollutants. These cyclones have no moving parts and their initial investment costs are relatively low. However, they require a substantial amount of energy to run them. Since the electricity rates are rising, the ginning industry is constantly looking for opportunities to increase cyclone operating efficiency and reduce the cost of complying with the local, state, and federal air pollution standards. Dust particles of size PM10 and PM2.5 are the pollutants of main concern for the industry. Researchers in the USDA’s Southwest Ginning Lab in Las Cruces are conducting experiments to evaluate whether using bigger diameter cyclones at lower inlet velocities can reduce the energy costs. If these experiments show that the bigger diameter cyclones can achieve the same level of air pollution control, it may substantially reduce energy cost and boost ginning industry profitability. This study uses the results from the ginning lab to evaluate the impact of using bigger cyclones at lower inlet velocity to reduce energy use, decrease emission, and increase profitability of the ginning industry. |
| Keywords: | Agribusiness, Environmental Economics and Policy, Financial Economics, Health Economics and Policy, |
| Date: | 2014 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:saea15:196897&r=env |
| By: | Asian Development Bank (ADB) ; (Southeast Asia Department, ADB ); ; |
| Abstract: | Indonesia is the largest archipelagic state in the world, and its coral reefs are the most extensive in Southeast Asia. Its coastal communities are home to at least 300 ethnic groups, all of which depend heavily on coastal and marine resources for food and income. Unfortunately, pollution from human activity and overexploitation of the country’s fisheries, put Indonesia at risk in food security and vulnerability to climate change. Policy makers, resource managers, and coastal community residents require accurate, complete, and timely information to successfully address these threats. This report assesses Indonesia’s coastal ecosystems, particularly their exploited resources. It describes the threats to these ecosystems, and explains the country’s plans to ensure their future sustainable use. |
| Keywords: | Coral Triangle, Marine environment, Marine fisheries, Indonesia |
| Date: | 2014–05 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:asd:wpaper:rpt146477-3&r=env |
| By: | Asian Development Bank (ADB) ; (Pacific Department, ADB ); ; |
| Abstract: | One of a series of six reports on the status of marine resources in the western Pacific Ocean, the State of the Coral Triangle: Papua New Guinea describes the biophysical characteristics of Papua New Guinea’s coastal and marine ecosystems, the manner in which they are being exploited, the framework in place that governs their use, the socioeconomic characteristics of the communities that use them, and the environmental threats posed by the manner in which they are being used. It explains the country’s national plan of action to address these threats and improve marine resource management. |
| Keywords: | Coral Triangle, Marine environment, Marine fisheries, Papua New Guinea |
| Date: | 2014–05 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:asd:wpaper:rpt146483-3&r=env |
| By: | Bian, Dacheng ; Segarra, Eduardo ; Benson, Aaron |
| Abstract: | Irrigated agriculture on the Southern High Plains of Texas relies heavily on water extracted from the Ogallala Aquifer, which is functionally non-renewable. Concerns about depletion of the aquifer have led to the implementation of policies designed to slow water extraction and increase the usable life of the resource. Policies have not been uniform across the aquifer, however, leaving some farmers in regions where no effective groundwater extraction policy exists yet, but are only a short distance away from regions where farmers do face regulatory limits on extraction. This paper investigates the effects of policy uncertainty on the extraction of groundwater in those areas where farmers must make irrigation decisions without knowing whether they will be restricted in their irrigation decisions in the future. We build a production model of the major crops in 6 counties in Texas, and use the quantity of corn (an irrigation-intensive crop) produced as a proxy for irrigation use. We find that corn acreage has increased significantly in years in which a policy was in place, but was officially unenforced in 5 of the 6 counties. After controlling for price and climate effects, we conclude that there is strong evidence that policy uncertainty increases groundwater extraction. |
| Keywords: | Policy uncertainty, Resource extraction, Irrigation, Resource /Energy Economics and Policy, Risk and Uncertainty, |
| Date: | 2015 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:saea15:196892&r=env |
| By: | Ylimartimo, Anneli ; Siimekselä, Tiina ; Stenman, Tarja |
| Abstract: | In Central Finland, hilly terrain and abundance of waterways cause challenges in controlling nutrient loads from fields to surface waters. This study applied new technologies to study nutrient loads and advanced water protection. Continuous automatic in situ monitoring of water quality produced accurate and real time information about nutrient loads. The loads varied according to weather conditions and topography, and are shifting from spring to year end. Injection of slurry prevented nutrient leaching. The manure balances implied that the amount of manure is not adequate for fertilizing all fields in the region. Local farmers’ attitudes to water protection were positive. |
| Keywords: | water protection in agrarian areas, nutrient load from arable land, continuous automatic in situ monitoring of water quality, Central Finland, Environmental Economics and Policy, |
| Date: | 2014–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:eaae14:182929&r=env |
| By: | De Cara, Stéphane ; Fournier, Anne ; Gaigné, Carl |
| Abstract: | ’Buying local food’ is sometimes advocated as a means of reducing the ’carbon footprint’ of food products. This statement overlooks the trade-off between inter- and intra-regional food transportation. We investigate this issue by using an m-region, new economic geography model. The spatial distribution of food production within and between regions is endogenously determined. We exhibit cases where locating a significant share of the food production in the least-urbanized regions results in lower transport-related emissions than in configurations where all regions are self-sufficient. The welfare-maximizing allocation of food production does not exclude the possibility that some regions should be self-sufficient, provided their urban population sizes are neither too large nor too small. |
| Keywords: | Agricultural location, Transport, Greenhouse gas emissions, Food miles, Local food, Environmental Economics and Policy, |
| Date: | 2014–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:eaae14:182678&r=env |
| By: | João Paulo Viana |
| Abstract: | O Programa de Apoio à Conservação Ambiental – Bolsa Verde (BV) – tem como foco a população rural carente em áreas prioritárias definidas pelo governo federal, tais como unidades de conservação (UCs) de uso sustentável, projetos de assentamentos ambientalmente diferenciados e áreas ocupadas por comunidades ribeirinhas agroextrativistas. O BV é executado pelo Ministério do Meio Ambiente (MMA) e faz parte do Plano Brasil Sem Miséria (BSM). Para terem acesso ao benefício, as famílias devem atender a requisitos socioeconômicos (renda mensal per capita menor do que R$ 70) e ambientais (residir em área que cumpra os requisitos estabelecidos pelo Código Florestal com relação à vegetação nativa, a qual também deve possuir os instrumentos de gestão ou documentos de regularização apropriados). Os beneficiários recebem o correspondente a R$ 300 por trimestre. Após dois anos de implementação,o BV alcançou 44.388 famílias em 24 estados e 730 municípios, pagando pouco mais de R$ 69 milhões em bolsas. Beneficiários do Pará receberam 62,9% do total aplicado pelo BV (R$ 43,5 milhões), seguidos pelos amazonenses (R$ 6,3 milhões ou 9,1%),baianos (R$ 4,8 milhões ou 7,0%), mineiros e acreanos (R$ 2,7 milhões ou 3,9%, cada).Descontadas as 306 famílias excluídas, o programa atingiu 60,4% de sua meta de 73 mil famílias até o final de 2014. Tal meta é factível, desde que haja uma intensificação dos esforços iniciados a partir do segundo semestre de 2013 para localizar famílias que atendam às condicionantes do programa. Sugestões para o aperfeiçoamento do BV são apresentadas e discutidas. The Environmental Conservation Support Program - Green Grant (Bolsa Verde - BV) is focused on the poor rural people residing in priority areas defined by the Brazilian federal government, such as sustainable use protected areas, environmentally differentiated settlement projects and areas occupied by riverside communities whose agricultural practices are characterized by the systematic extraction of natural resources (ribeirinhos agroextrativistas). The BV is managed by the Ministry for the Environment, and is a component of the Brazil without Extreme Poverty Plan (Plano Brasil sem Miséria). To be eligible for benefits, families must meet the socioeconomic (monthly per capita income less than R$ 70) and environmental requirements (to live in an area that meets the requirements established by the Brazilian Forest Code in relation to native vegetation remnants, which must also possess a management plan or similar documents). The benefit corresponds to R$ 300 per quarter. After two years under way, the BV has reached 44,388 families in 24 states and 730 counties, paying just over R$ 69 million in grants. Beneficiaries of the state of Pará received 62.9% of BV total expenditures (approximately R$ 43.5 million), followed by Amazonas state (R$ 6.3 million or 9.1%), Bahia state (R$ 4.8 million or 7.0%), and Minas Gerais and Acre states (R$ 2.7 million or 3.9%, each) beneficiaries. Discounted the 306 families excluded from BV,the program reached 60.4% of its goal, which corresponds to 73,000 families by the end of 2014. This goal is feasible, provided there is an intensification of the efforts initiated in the second half of 2013 to find families that meet the criteria to enter the program. Suggestions for improvement of the BV are also presented and discussed. |
| Date: | 2014–12 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ipe:ipetds:2017&r=env |
| By: | Yoshifumi Konishi Author-Name: Meng Zhao |
| Abstract: | We investigate the efficiency of vehicle taxation in second-best settings. A random-coefficients logit model is estimated for quarterly automobile sales data between 2004 and 2012 from the Japanese new car market. The quasi-experimental nature of the data is exploited in two ways. First, we construct the location of product-specific tax rates in the characteristics space as a set of instruments to control for endogeneity of observed car prices. Second, the large and persistent variation in effective vehicle prices, caused due to Japan's green car tax policy since 2009, are used to obtain consistent estimates of the own- and cross-price elasticities. Our results indicate evidence for substantial scale and composition effects: Though the policy successfully reduced sales-weighted average emissions, it also increased total sales substantially. Consequently, the policy-induced reduction in annual vehicle CO2 emissions was small. In contrast, a modified version of the emissions-based vehicle tax ¨¤ la Fullterton and West (2002), based on the fuel efficiencies of car models, could have reduced annual vehicle CO2 emissions substantially more while increasing total economic surplus relative to the no policy counterfactual. |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:tcr:wpaper:e82&r=env |
| By: | Asian Development Bank (ADB) ; (Regional and Sustainable Development Department, ADB ); ; |
| Abstract: | The Central Mekong Delta Region Connectivity Project aims to enhance connectivity across provinces of southern Viet Nam and Ho Chi Minh City. It includes two major bridges, a 15-kilometer road connecting the two bridges, and approach roads. Given the high exposure of the Mekong Delta to severe flooding, a climate risk and vulnerability assessment was conducted to assess the vulnerability of the project to climate change. The assessment report provides a better understanding of climate change threats to the project infrastructure. It also provides project stakeholders with information necessary for consensus building for the adoption of a robust approach to responding to climate change. The study illustrates that a constrained time frame and limited resources may not be significant impediments to the undertaking of climate risk vulnerability assessments, which can provide valuable information at the project design stage to increase the climate resilience of large investment projects. |
| Keywords: | adb, asian development bank, asdb, asia, pacific, poverty asia, central mekong delta, climate change adaptation mekong area, climate change mekong region, mekong river floodplain, mekong basin flooding, climate change vulnerability mekong area, adb connectivity project |
| Date: | 2014–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:asd:wpaper:rpt146546-2&r=env |
| By: | Wauters, Erwin ; D'Haene, Karoline ; Lauwers, Ludwig H. |
| Abstract: | We investigate farmers’ intentions to apply biodiversity conservation practices from psychological perspective, using an adapted version of the theory of planned behaviour (TPB), including group norms and putting emphasis on moral norms and self-identity. The study is based on a quantitative survey (n = 106) in Belgium, analyzed using confirmatory factor analyses and path analysis. Results show that the impact of attitudes, social norms and perceived behavioural control on intentions is almost fully mediated through moral norms and self-identity. To have a sustained impact, change actions should strive to embed biodiversity conservation into the social norms and into the good farmer identity of the farming community. |
| Keywords: | biodiversity conservation, farmers behaviour, theory of planned behaviour, path analysis, Environmental Economics and Policy, |
| Date: | 2014–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:eaae14:182977&r=env |
| By: | Narjes, Manuel ; Lippert, Christian |
| Abstract: | This study attempts at estimating, with a discrete choice experiment, the preference of longan (Dimocarpus longan) farmers for changes in the population of native bees and for three (widely recognized) strategies to conserve them in Chiang Mai Province, Thailand. Thereby, the part-worth utilities of these policy attributes were estimated with a conditional logit model, indicating a positive contribution, ceteris paribus, of the analyzed policy elements to the probability of a conservation policy profile being chosen. The inclusion of a cost attribute allowed the calculation of willingness to pay estimates. Significant taste heterogeneity was also identified within a mixed logit model. |
| Keywords: | Native Bee Conservation, Crop Pollination, Northern Thailand, Discrete Choice, Environmental Economics and Policy, |
| Date: | 2014–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:eaae14:182973&r=env |
| By: | Ryan, Mary ; O’Donoghue, Cathal ; Upton, Vincent |
| Abstract: | The role of forests in our environment is increasing in importance due to the multifunctional benefits forests provide to urban and rural communities in relation to climate change mitigation, water conservation and the provision of fibre for bioenergy. However, afforestation targets across Europe are not being met. Using Ireland as a case study, we try to understand why farm afforestation rates are falling, despite the availability of generous forestry subsidies. We use a novel technique to examine the afforestation participation decision using a life cycle choice methodology where we apply revealed choice methodology to afforestation for the first time. We find that the model coefficients coincide with expected economic theory relative to the utility maximisation of income, leisure and wealth (long term land value). However, we observe a cohort of farmers who do not plant forestry regardless of income derived, reflecting their preference to maintain the flexibility of the long term value of their land by continuing to farm. |
| Keywords: | Afforestation decision, life-cycle analysis, Land Economics/Use, |
| Date: | 2014–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:eaae14:182753&r=env |
| By: | Scaringelli, Myriam Anna ; Giannoccaro, Giacomo ; Prosperi, Maurizio ; Lopolito, Antonio |
| Abstract: | In recent decades, one of the problems affecting the environment has been the increased use of plastics in agriculture, often illegally performed by open burning in the fields. The adoption of biodegradable products may represent an important opportunity to increase the environmental sustainability of agricultural sector. The goal of this study is to estimate the farmers’ willingness to pay for innovative biodegradable mulching films. A sample of 120 horticultural farms in the Province of Foggia (Apulia Region, Italy) has been surveyed by a questionnaire. The survey results demonstrate a substantial interest by farmers towards products made with innovative materials. |
| Keywords: | Biodegradable mulching film, willingness to pay, innovations, farmers stated preferences, Consumer/Household Economics, |
| Date: | 2014–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:eaae14:182981&r=env |
| By: | Jens Kolbe ; Henry Wüstemann ; ; |
| Abstract: | Urban Green Space (UGS) such as parks and forests provide a wide range of environmental and recreational benefits. One objective in the conservation efforts of UGS is to analyse the benefits associated with UGS in order to make them more visible and to provide support for landscape planning. This paper examines the effects of UGS on house prices applying a Hedonic Pricing Method (HPM). The data set contains over 85,046 geo-coded apartment transactions for the years 1995- 2012 and contains information on three intrinsic variables of the real estate (e.g. transaction price, floor area and age). In order to examine the capitalization of UGS in real estate prices we further incorporate crosssection geo-coded data for the different types of UGS: forests, parks, farmland and fallow land drawn from the European Urban Atlas (EUA) of the European Environment Agency for the year 2006. In order to control for additional open space categories we further incorporated geo-coded data on water bodies and fallow land. Using a Geographical Information System (GIS) we calculated the coverage of UGS in pre-defined buffers around households as well as the distance in a continuous fashion (Euclidian distance) between UGS and the households. Our results show a capitalization of UGS in real estate prices but the effect of the structural variables is higher. We found a positive price effect of parks, forests and water and an inverse relation between the price variable and the presence of fallow land and farmland. |
| Keywords: | Urban Green Space (UGS), Open Space, Hedonic Pricing Method (HPM), GISAnalysis |
| JEL: | R31 C14 Q50 |
| Date: | 2015–01 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hum:wpaper:sfb649dp2015-002&r=env |
| By: | Wolf-Peter Schill ; Clemens Gerbaulet |
| Abstract: | We analyze future scenarios of integrating electric vehicles (EV) into the German power system, drawing on different assumptions on the charging mode. We use a numerical dispatch model with a unit-commitment formulation which minimizes dispatch costs over a full year. While the overall energy demand of the EV fleets is rather low in all scenarios, the impact on the system’s load duration curve differs strongly between charging modes. In a fully userdriven mode, charging largely occurs during daytime and in the evening, when power demand is already high. User-driven charging may thus have to be restricted in the future because of generation adequacy concerns. In contrast, cost-driven charging is carried out during night-time and at times of high PV availability. Using a novel model formulation that allows for intermediate charging modes, we show that even a slight relaxation of fully userdriven charging results in much smoother load profiles as well as lower charging costs. Different charging patterns go along with respective changes in power plant dispatch. By 2030, cost-driven EV charging strongly increases the utilization of lignite and hard coal plants, whereas additional power in the user-driven mode is predominantly generated from natural gas and hard coal. Specific CO2 emissions of EV are substantially larger than those of the overall power system, and highest under cost-driven charging. Only in additional model runs, in which we link the introduction of EVs to a respective deployment of additional renewable generation capacity, electric vehicles become largely CO2-neutral. |
| Keywords: | Electric vehicles, power system, dispatch model, renewable energy |
| JEL: | Q42 R41 Q54 |
| Date: | 2015 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:diw:diwwpp:dp1442&r=env |
| By: | Brusselaers, Jan ; Buysse, Jeroen |
| Abstract: | This poster presents the macro-economic analysis of the impact of Green Public Procurement of certified wood products in one continent on the wood markets of other continents. A Spatial Equilibrium Model is used to measure the global economic impact of both instruments. At present, certification is promoted as a useful tool for the sustainable management of (tropical) forests in countries with weak governments. This poster however demonstrates that the green public procurement of certification wood does not always result in the hoped-for positive welfare effects. In specific situations, the increased demand for certified wood can even entail a negative effect. |
| Keywords: | forest certification, green public procurement, international trade, International Relations/Trade, |
| Date: | 2014–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:eaae14:182979&r=env |
| By: | Schwarz, Gerald ; Wolff, Anne ; Offermann, Frank ; Osterburg, Bernhard ; Aalders, Inge ; Miller, David ; Morrice, Jane ; Vlahos, George ; Smyrniotopoulou, Alexandra ; Artell, Janne ; Aakkula, Jyrki ; Toikkanen, Heini ; Povellato, Andrea ; Longhitano, Davide ; Lasorella, Valentina ; Forino, Giuseppe ; Morkvenas, Zymantas ; Navickas, Kestutis ; Malmiga, Gintaras ; Balazs, Katalin ; Toth, Peter ; Podmaniczky, Laszlo |
| Abstract: | Evaluations of environmental impacts of RDPs are characterized by a number of methodological challenges. However, recent methodological developments have improved the understanding and capacity of analysing the impacts of farming and forestry on the provision of public goods. Against this background, the main aim of ENVIEVAL is to develop and test improved tools for the evaluation of environmental impacts of rural development measures and programmes in EU Member States. The main innovative aspects of the new methodological frameworks are that they enable the integration of micro- and macro-level evaluations (and their results) and provide guidance on the selection and application of costeffective evaluation methods to estimate net effects of rural development programmes on the different main public goods from farming and forestry. |
| Keywords: | Rural development programmes, evaluation methods, environmental indicators, counterfactuals, Community/Rural/Urban Development, Environmental Economics and Policy, Research Methods/ Statistical Methods, |
| Date: | 2014–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:eaae14:182933&r=env |
| By: | Menapace, Luisa ; Colson, Greg ; Raffaell, Roberta |
| Abstract: | Using the exchangeability method, we quantitatively elicit Italian farmers' short- and long-run risk perceptions concerning key crop loss hazards whose relevance depends upon climate developments: hail, powdery mildew for winegrowers and apple dieback for apple farmers. We show that long-run perceptions are significantly higher than short-run perceptions and identify climate change beliefs and experience with crop damages as critical factors in explaining this difference. From a policy prospective, our results suggest that an effective outreach service would benefit from offering farmers first-hand on-farm experience with crop risk and a “segmented” approach that takes into consideration farmers’ climate change beliefs. |
| Keywords: | Climate change, Exchangeability Method, Subjective risk perceptions, Risk and Uncertainty, |
| Date: | 2014–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:eaae14:183086&r=env |
| By: | Upendram, Sreedhar ; Wibowo, Rulianda ; Peterson, Jeffrey M. |
| Abstract: | Depleting water resources is a widespread problem across the Kansas High Plains aquifer. The value of irrigation is accentuated due to lack of surface water and low precipitation in western Kansas. Accelerated groundwater withdrawals for irrigation caused a further decline in the saturated thickness of the aquifer. To encourage water conservation and reduce further depletion of the aquifer, federal and state cost-share programs have subsidized irrigation technology upgrades. However, this effort may have been undermined by producers who increased their water usage for irrigation with water-intensive crops. A simulation model comprised of an irrigation scheduling tool coupled with a crop yield simulator are used to predict risk-efficient crop and technology choices, which allows us to estimate the effect of an irrigation technology upgrade on the aquifer. This research characterizes producers’ decisions to maintain economic viability while adapting to limited irrigation conditions. The study will identify the conditions under which technology upgrades will both save water and increase farmers’ returns from irrigation. The study also estimates the threshold payments to farmers to switch to relatively less water-intensive crops that will promote water conservation on the High Plains aquifer. |
| Keywords: | irrigation technology, groundwater extraction, irrigation scheduling, crop choice, Environmental Economics and Policy, Q25, |
| Date: | 2015–01–15 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:saea15:197036&r=env |
| By: | Peneva, Mariya Marinova ; Kazakova-Mateva, Yanka Kostadinova ; Mishev, Plamen Dimitrov |
| Abstract: | In the last hundred years, great changes have taken place in the farming systems all over the world. They were economically driven and beneficial but they also lead to a range of negative side effects. At the same time consumer awareness regarding food quality and safety grew, together with rising willingness for nature conservation and rural identity preservation. The paper focuses on the High Nature Value (HNV) farming as an environmental solution for long-term conservation and protection of biodiversity and its broader impact on the economic and social sustainability of agriculture and rural development at regional level. |
| Keywords: | High Nature Value Farming, Local Food Production, Sustainability, Consumer/Household Economics, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, |
| Date: | 2014–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:eaae14:182916&r=env |
| By: | Djanibekov, Utkur ; Villamor, Grace B. |
| Abstract: | We investigated the economic attractiveness of different land uses and possible payments for carbon in rubber monoculture and agroforest, and biodiversity in agroforest under revenue uncertainty in Jambi, Indonesia. A multi-period programming with Monte Carlo simulation and Brownian motion were used. Findings showed that farm incomes would substantially vary, and to mitigate uncertainty the farmland would be diversified. Further increase in carbon prices would result in enhancing the area of rubber monoculture and would lead to possible trade-off in agrobiodiversity. When the payments for ecosystem services are targeted for agroforest then its returns would increase and reduce farm income variability. |
| Keywords: | Payments for ecosystem services, revenue risk, trade-offs, Land Economics/Use, Risk and Uncertainty, |
| Date: | 2014–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:eaae14:182807&r=env |
| By: | Covre, Julyana ; Clemente, Felippe |
| Abstract: | Brazil is a continental country, with more than 8 million square kilometers and many biomes, which have permanent preservation areas and legal reserves protected by the Forest Code. On the other hand, Brazil is an agricultural country, that increasingly needs of agricultural land. In 2012 after much controversy approved the new Brazilian Forest Code. The article, then, is to evaluate the changes brought by the new Forest Code and the future impact of the same on small and medium farms and the environment. We conclude that the new forest code can have serious consequences for the environment and human life. |
| Keywords: | Brazil, new forest code, agriculture, Resource /Energy Economics and Policy, |
| Date: | 2014–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:eaae14:183043&r=env |
| By: | Alan Barreca (Tulane University ); Karen Clay (Carnegie Mellon University ); Olivier Deschenes (University of California, Santa Barbara ); Michael Greenstone (University of Chicago ); Joseph S. Shapiro (Yale University ) |
| Abstract: | This paper builds on Barreca et al.’s (2013) finding that over the course of the 20th century the proliferation of residential air conditioning led to a remarkable decline in mortality due to extreme temperature days in the United States. Using panel data on monthly mortality rates of U.S. states and daily temperature variables for over a century (1900-2004) it explores the regional evolution in this relationship and documents two key findings. First, the impact of extreme heat on mortality is notably smaller in states that more frequently experience extreme heat. Second, the difference in the heat-mortality relationship between hot and cold states declined over the period 1900-2004, though it persisted through 2004. For example, the effect of hot days on mortality in cool states over the years 1980-2004, a period when residential air conditioning was widely available, is almost identical to the effect of hot days on mortality in hot states over the years 1900-1939, a period when air conditioning was not available for homes. Continuing differences in the mortality consequences of hot days suggests that health motivated adaptation to climate change may be slow and costly around the world. |
| Keywords: | adaptation, climate change, air conditioning, compensatory behavior, convergence, mortality |
| JEL: | H40 I10 Q40 Q50 |
| Date: | 2015 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:bfi:wpaper:bfi-2015-02&r=env |
| By: | Chalmers, Neil George ; Revoredo-Giha, Cesar ; Shackley, Simon |
| Abstract: | The Scottish milk chain is the highest green house gas emitter out of the dairy chain. This paper studies the effect of prices on household carbon footprints of both Scottish urban and rural households and the subsequent demand for milk products. Household time series data for 2006–2011 and carbon footprint data were used to estimate a static demand model. Results suggest that a 1% increase in net milk prices equates to a likely carbon footprint reduction of 4,684.13t CO2e /y for urban households. Both households were found to substitute into the lower carbon alternative of soya milk when whole milk prices increase. |
| Keywords: | Consumer demand, Carbon footprint elasticity, Demand models, Carbon footprints, Demand and Price Analysis, |
| Date: | 2014–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:eaae14:182965&r=env |
| By: | Ghimire, Ramesh ; Green, Gary T. ; Ferreira, Susana ; Poudyal, Neelam C. ; Cordell, H. Ken |
| Abstract: | Natural amenities like green open space are a valuable resource to support quality of life and public health. However, limited studies have analyzed the relationship between such resources and specific indicators of public health. We investigate the relationship between natural green space and publicly managed recreation lands and adult obesity prevalence in United States counties. We find that counties with larger percentage of green spaces and those with access to public open space, such as state and national parks do have significantly fewer numbers of obese people. |
| Keywords: | Adult obesity prevalence, body mass index, green space, outdoor recreation, public health, Health Economics and Policy, Land Economics/Use, Resource /Energy Economics and Policy, |
| Date: | 2015 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:saea15:196812&r=env |
| By: | Fusco, D. ; Giordano, P. ; Greco, M. ; Moretti, V. |
| Abstract: | The measure of the sustainability in agriculture is a complex task because of various approaches existing and different quantitative and qualitative parameters available in function of the national contests. In this study it has been chosen a multi-dimension approach of the phenomenon including environmental, economic and social dimensions. The objective of the work is to build up 30 simple indicators of the three dimensions using the only sources of EU FSS and SAPM 2010 with the aim to cluster the NUTS2 areas of EU in four level of sustainability: High, Medium-High, Medium-Low and Low. Results are shown in the synthetic map. |
| Keywords: | Sustainable agriculture, FSS and SAPM 2010, indicators of sustainability, Environmental Economics and Policy, |
| Date: | 2014–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:eaae14:182961&r=env |
| By: | Lakner, Sebastian ; Kirchweger, Stefan ; Hoop, Daniel ; Brümmer, Bernhard ; Kantelhardt, Jochen |
| Abstract: | The paper investigates the impact of subsidies and of para-agriculture on the technical efficiency of organic farms in Switzerland, Austria and Southern Germany. The data-set consists of bookkeeping data with 1,704 observations in the years 2003 to 2005. Technical efficiency is modelled using a stochastic distance-frontier model combined with a Metafrontier-model. The results show almost no efficiency differences among the farms in the three countries. Para-agriculture shows a strong impact on farm’s efficiency and output in Austria and Switzerland, whereas in Germany the effect is rather small. The study confirms that agricultural subsidies have a direct impact on farm’s efficiency. |
| Keywords: | Technical Efficiency, Organic Farming, Grassland Farming, Para-Agriculture, Environmental Economics and Policy, Productivity Analysis, Q12, Q18, D24, C54, |
| Date: | 2014–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:eaae14:182763&r=env |
| By: | Pompilus, Carolyn ; Kanga, Lambert ; Thomas, Michael |
| Abstract: | Agriculture has historically depended on honey bees for crop pollination. About 220,000 out of an estimated 240,000 species of plants that depend on pollination have required animals such as the honey bee. For the last several decades, the numbers of managed honey bees have been declining due to infestations of the Small Hive Beetle, in managed hives. Infestations of SHB can threaten honey quality, native bee survival and pollination services. In 1998, it was estimated that Florida’s beekeepers experienced an estimated loss of $3 million due to SHB. Beekeepers are presently using a variety of methods to control SHB, including biological control. However, many of these control measures are costly and the potential economic benefits are unknown. The primary objective of this study is to document the economic importance of the small hive beetle to honey bee production and the potential benefit of current control efforts, particularly biological control. This research will use a mail survey designed to document the methods used by beekeepers in Florida to control the SHB and their associated costs. A benefit cost analysis of various control methods will help document their relative efficiency and determine if biological control is a reasonable use of public funds. |
| Keywords: | Small Hive Beetles (SHB), Agribusiness, Environmental Economics and Policy, |
| Date: | 2015 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:saea15:196843&r=env |
| By: | Guy Meunier (INRA-UR1303 ALISS ) |
| Abstract: | This article analyzes the trade-off between yield and farmed area when a valuable species is affected by agricultural practices. Itrevisits, from an economic perspective, the ``land-sparing versus land-sharing'' debate elaborated in conservation biology using themethodology of the density-yield curve: The density of the species on farmland is a decreasing function of the yield. It is shown thatthe optimal yield is either increasing or decreasing with respect to the value of the species depending on the shape of the density-yieldcurve. Land-sparing and land-sharing are not necessarily antagonistic; for sufficiently elastic demand function, both the optimal yield andthe farmed area decrease with the value of the species. A général assessment of a second-best policy is performed, and several particularpolicies are considered, including a subsidy on biodiversity in farms, a tax or subsidy on farmland, and a tax or subsidy on a dirty input.In several cases, the first-best strategy and the second-best one induce contrasting effects on the yield. |
| Keywords: | Biodiversity, Agriculture, Second-best policy |
| JEL: | H23 Q15 Q57 |
| Date: | 2014–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ali:wpaper:2014-05&r=env |
| By: | Kobus, Pawel |
| Abstract: | The paper constitutes an attempt at modelling the farmers’ income distribution. The main objective of the paper was to assess the impact of crop diversity on famers income probability distribution on the basis of real life data(Polish FADN), and to evaluate the size of economic incentives needed in order to encourage farmers to diversify their crop structure. Multiple linear regression and quantile regression models were developed for variance and expected value of farmers’ income. It was revealed that the impact of crop diversity diminishes both variance and expected value of income. However the relation holds only for two of considered principal farming types. |
| Keywords: | agro-biodiversity, crops diversification, income risk, quantile regression, Consumer/Household Economics, Environmental Economics and Policy, |
| Date: | 2014 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:eaae14:182847&r=env |
| By: | Maria Eugenia Sanin (Université d'Evry Val d'Essonne ); Maria Mansanet-Bataller (Université Franche-Comté ); Francesco Violante (Aarhus University and CREATES ) |
| Abstract: | We study the short-term price behavior of Phase 2 EU emission allowances. We model returns and volatility dynamics, and we demonstrate that a standard ARMAX-GARCH framework is inadequate for this modeling and that the gaussianity assumption is rejected due to a number of outliers. To improve the fitness of the model, we combine the underlying price process with an additive stochastic jump process. We improve the model's performance by introducing a time-varying jump probability that is explained by two variables: the daily relative change in the volume of transactions and the European Commission's announcements regarding the supply of permits. We show that (i) sharp increases in volume have led to increased volatility during the April 2005{December 2007period but not for the period beginning in January 2008, and (ii) announcements induce jumps in the process that tend to increase volatility across both periods. Thus, authorities face a trade off between disseminating information effectively and promoting market stability. |
| Keywords: | EUA market, EU ETS, carbon emission trading, Garch model, normal mixture |
| JEL: | C16 C32 C51 C53 Q52 Q53 |
| Date: | 2015–01–12 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:aah:create:2015-04&r=env |