|
on Environmental Economics |
|
Issue of 2017‒07‒02
forty-one papers chosen by Francisco S. Ramos Universidade Federal de Pernambuco |
| By: | Sun Ling Wang; Eldon Ball; Richard Nehring; Ryan Williams; Truong Chau |
| Abstract: | This paper employs a stochastic frontier approach to examine how climate change and extreme weather affect U.S. agricultural productivity using 1940-1970 historical weather data (mean and variation) as the norm. We have four major findings. First, using temperature humidity index (THI) load and Oury index for the period 1960-2010 we find each state has experienced different patterns of climate change in the past half century, with some states incurring drier and warmer conditions than others. Second, the higher the THI load (more heat waves) and the lower the Oury index (much drier) will tend to lower a state’s productivity. Third, the impacts of THI load shock and Oury index shock variables (deviations from historical norm fluctuations) on productivity are more robust than the level of THI and Oury index variables across specifications. Fourth, we project potential impacts of climate change and extreme weather on U.S. regional productivity based on the estimates. We find that the same degree changes in temperature or precipitation will have uneven impacts on regional productivities, with Delta, Northeast, and Southeast regions incurring much greater effects than other regions, using 2000-2010 as the reference period. |
| JEL: | O13 O4 Q1 Q16 Q54 Q56 |
| Date: | 2017–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:nbr:nberwo:23533&r=env |
| By: | Derek Lemoine |
| Abstract: | A rapidly growing empirical literature seeks to estimate the costs of future climate change from time series variation in weather. I formally analyze the consequences of a change in climate for economic outcomes. I show that those consequences are driven by changes in the distribution of realized weather and by expectations channels that capture how anticipated changes in the distribution of weather affect current and past investments. Studies that rely on time series variation in weather omit the expectations channels. Quantifying the expectations channels requires estimating how forecasts affect outcome variables and simulating how climate change would alter forecasts. |
| JEL: | D84 H43 Q12 Q51 Q54 |
| Date: | 2017–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:nbr:nberwo:23549&r=env |
| By: | Martina Bozzola (ETH Zurich); Emanuele Massetti (Georgia Institute of Technology); Robert Mendelsohn (Yale University); Fabian Capitanio (Università Federico II Napoli) |
| Abstract: | This research investigates the potential impact of warming on Italian agriculture. Using a detailed dataset of 16,000 farms across Italy, the study examines likely warming impacts in different regions and for different sectors of Italian agriculture. The study finds that farm net revenues are very sensitive to seasonal changes in temperature and precipitation. Livestock and crop farms have different responses to climate as do rain-fed farms and irrigated farms. The overall results suggest mild consequences from marginal changes in climate but increasingly harmful effects from more severe climate scenarios. |
| Keywords: | Ricardian Analysis, Climate Change, Italian Agriculture, Regional Analysis, Panel Data |
| JEL: | Q54 Q51 Q15 |
| Date: | 2017–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fem:femwpa:2017.23&r=env |
| By: | Federica Cappelli (Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei) |
| Abstract: | Water is a multidimensional issue, involving water availability, access to freshwater, spatial and temporal distribution of resources, competition among its uses, ecosystems conservation, climate-related disasters and risks and several other aspects. The water security approach manages such complexity and proposes a comprehensive view of human security in relation to the water-related issues. Consequently, the solutions developed in order to face this multi-faceted concept should reflect its thorough vision. The aim of the present work is to investigate the relationship between climate change and water security. Exploring such a relationship is truly important in order to help policy-makers in the development of adaptation and mitigation strategies. In the water context, this challenge is further complicated by the possible conflicts arising between climate and water policies. In order to carry out such an analysis, an indicator measuring water security, namely the Water Security Index, is created. In the present work, climate change is considered from four different perspectives but, as revealed by the econometric results, it always has a predominant (negative) effect on water security. |
| Keywords: | Water Security, Climate Change, Water Security Index, Econometrics, Maps |
| JEL: | Q25 Q53 Q54 O13 |
| Date: | 2017–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fem:femwpa:2017.25&r=env |
| By: | Coralie Calvet; Philippe Le Coënt; Claude Napoleone; Fabien Quetier |
| Abstract: | Environmental policies increasingly refer to biodiversity offsets (BO) as a way to slow or halt biodiversity losses caused by development projects, including infrastructure and urban development, that could not be avoided or minimized through adequate mitigation. In many cases, ecological gains for offsets are obtained through restoration activities conducted on ecologically degraded land, including agricultural land specifically acquired for this purpose by developers. This leads to competition with other land-uses and social conflicts over land availability. The purpose of this paper is to analyse the opportunity of implementing biodiversity offsets by involving farmers in producing ecological gains through contracts akin to agri-environmental schemes, we call Agri-environmental Biodiversity Offsets Schemes (ABOS). Using actual offsets designed and implemented for a new railway line under construction in Southern France, this paper examines (1) the acceptability of ABOS contracts by farmers, and (2) the effectiveness of ABOS design and actual implementation. A survey carried out with 145 farmers reveals that the main determinants of acceptability are: i) usual economic factors whereby farmers with lowest compliance levels and opportunity costs, as well as farms facing economic difficulty, are more likely to engage, and ii) social factors, such as the importance given to other farmers’ decision to engage and the perception of the position of farming organisations (peer pressure). In terms of effectiveness, ABOS is shown to be effective in meeting the legal requirements of the developer, but concerns are raised about additionality and long-term duration of actions, and about non-compliance with contract requirements. We particularly highlight problems with contract enforcement – especially due to weak sanctions and monitoring – and farmers’ selection that do not allow minimizing moral hazard and adverse selection which are inherently attached to agrienvironmental schemes. We suggest policy improvements and research perspectives to enhance the implementation of offsets through ABOS. Overall, with current implementation arrangements, this analysis leads us to question the use of ABOS in meeting BO objectives |
| Date: | 2017–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:lam:wpaper:17-05&r=env |
| By: | François Bareille; Pierre Dupraz |
| Abstract: | Previous studies on the productive value of biodiversity emphasized that crop diversity increases crop yields. Here, we focus on the productivity of crop diversity and permanent grasslands for crops and milk. Using a GMM approach, we estimate detailed production functions using a sample of 3960 mixed farms from the FADN between 2002 and 2013. We highlight that permanent grasslands enhance crop production. We confirm that crop diversity increases crop and milk yields. Permanent grasslands and crop diversity are however substitute inputs. We also find that both of these biodiversity productive capacities influence variable input productivities. These results suggest the potential adaptations of farmers’ choices to environmental measures. |
| Keywords: | ecosystem services, agriculture, permanent grassland, crop diversity |
| JEL: | Q12 Q57 D22 |
| Date: | 2017 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:rae:wpaper:201703&r=env |
| By: | Olgun, Cenk |
| Abstract: | The European Union has been prizing itself for being the global leader in terms of climate change; its triptych approach and the 20-20-20 targets were certainly an enviable effort prior to the United Nations Convention. However, with the economic crisis having left its mark, there has been a decrease in ambitiousness and the paradigm is now dominated by competitiveness. The 2014 energy and climate package and its 2030 targets were therefore not only comparably unambitious but also nonbinding, with only GHG emission reduction being set. With the eastern countries traditionally being not very fond of climate policies, the thesis especially concentrates on where Poland and its coal-based energy system have stood as things developed and therefore assesses the role the country and the broader Visegrad Group had. Asking questions that get at the underlying reasons, the liberal intergovernmental framework is chosen to analyze how domestic preference building in Poland takes place, finding that the conventional energy sector has a tremendous impact on policy making. While Poland absorbed the directives to fit them into existing practices, without causing substantial structural changes, it applied a much more aggressive approach in the run up to the 2030 process, sending clear signals and thereby significantly contributing to the lowered ambitiousness of EU policies. Stemming not exclusively from a turn in the international environment, the learning process of the eastern Member States in the post-accession period played a decisive role in this development. |
| Keywords: | European Union,energy and climate policy,Poland |
| JEL: | Q28 Q48 Q54 Q58 K32 |
| Date: | 2017 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:ipewps:892017&r=env |
| By: | Christoph Böhringer (University of Oldenburg); Thomas F. Rutherford (University of Wisconsin) |
| Abstract: | With his announcement to pull the US out of the Paris Agreement US President Donald Trump has snubbed the international climate policy community. Key remaining parties to the Agreement such as Europe and China might call for carbon tariffs on US imports as sanctioning instrument to coerce US compliance. Our analysis, however, reveals an inconvenient insight for advocates of carbon tariffs: Given the possibility of retaliatory tariffs across all imported goods, carbon tariffs do not constitute a credible threat for the US. A tariff war with its main trading partners China and Europe might make the US worse off than compliance to the Paris Agreement but China, in particular, should prefer US defection to a tariff war. |
| Keywords: | Paris Agreement, US withdrawal, carbon tariffs, optimal tariffs, tariff war, computable general equilibrium |
| JEL: | Q58 D58 |
| Date: | 2017–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zen:wpaper:72&r=env |
| By: | Martínez, Miguel |
| Abstract: | El presente trabajo corresponde al informe final de la consultoría “Revisión y propuesta de metodologías que contribuya en la preparación de la estimación de los costos de la implementación del Plan Nacional de Adaptación y Mitigación en Guatemala” elaborado para el Ministerio de Ambiente y Recursos Naturales (MARN) y financiado por la Comisión Económica para América Latina (CEPAL), a través del Programa EUROCLIMA. Los objetivos particulares para los que se diseñó fueron: i) Analizar y sintetizar la literatura sobre las medidas aplicadas de adaptación y mitigación a nivel de América Latina. ii) Desarrollar y aplicar metodologías para la cuantificación (valoración económica) de los costos de implementar medidas de adaptación y mitigación en Guatemala. iii) Realizar un análisis sobre las ventajas y desventajas (en términos económicos, sociales y ambientales) de la aplicación de estas metodologías y describir las necesidades de información para implementar las metodologías propuestas. iv) Elaborar una curva de costos marginales de abatimiento para la mitigación y curvas de costos de adaptación (semejante a la anterior). En donde se deberá presentar en las abscisas el impacto económico de cada medida (el ahorro por aplicar la medida) y en las ordenadas el costo de implementación. |
| Keywords: | CAMBIO CLIMATICO, POLITICA AMBIENTAL, PROGRAMAS DE ACCION, COSTOS, PROTECCION AMBIENTAL, MEDICION, METODOLOGIA ESTADISTICA, ESTADISTICAS AMBIENTALES, CLIMATE CHANGE, ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY, PROGRAMMES OF ACTION, COSTOS, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, MEASUREMENT, STATISTICAL METHODOLOGY, ENVIRONMENTAL STATISTICS |
| Date: | 2017–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ecr:col022:41832&r=env |
| By: | Wang Lu (Beijing Institute of Technology); Hao Yu (Beijing Institute of Technology); Wei Yi-Ming (Beijing Institute of Technology) |
| Abstract: | China is faced with the big challenge of maintaining a remarkable economic growth in an environmental friendly manner; that is why forecasting the turning point is of necessity. Traditional econometric approaches do not consider the spatial dependence that inevitably exists in the economic units, which probably risks misspecification and generating a biased estimation result. This paper firstly constructs Theil index to measure the intra-and inter regional inequality of CO2 emissions, we find that difference in emissions between regions is narrowed but gap within the Western China is sharply expanding. Then the Spatial Durbin model is employed to shape the relationship between mitigation and economic growth using the panel data of 29 provinces ranging from 1995 to 2011. Results show that the peak of per capita carbon dioxide emissions in China would be seen when GDP per capita reaches between $USD 21594 to 24737 (at 2000 constant price), much smaller when compared with the estimations of models which ignore the spatial dependence. This implies that territorial policy and industry transfer, on one hand would favor those underdeveloped regions with investment, technology and labors transfer; on the other hand enables developed regions more potential to mitigation, thus, chances are that China achieves the emissions peak of carbon dioxide earlier than conventional wisdom. |
| Keywords: | Mitigation, Economic growth, Spatial Interaction, Spatial Durbin Model |
| JEL: | C31 P48 Q54 |
| Date: | 2017–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fem:femwpa:2017.21&r=env |
| By: | Vu, Binh |
| Abstract: | This paper investigates whether population and international trade, along with energy consumption, are the main factors for environmental damage in China during the period 1971-2011. The stationary analysis is examined by the Zivot–Andrews unit root test and the ARDL bounds testing approach is used for a long run relationship between the series in the presence of structural breaks. The causality between CO2 emissions, energy consumption, economic growth, population and international trade is examined by the VECM Granger causality technique. Our results show that the selected variables are cointegrated; it means that the long run relationship exists in the presence of structural breaks. The empirical findings indicate that in long run, energy consumption and population increase CO2 emissions, while in short run, energy consumption and international trade decrease CO2 emissions. The VECM causality analysis shows that CO2 emissions Granger cause energy consumption, while energy consumption and population Granger cause trade. The VECM analysis also indicates the feedback hypothesis between trade and CO2 emissions. Policy recommendations are made following the obtained results. |
| Keywords: | CO2 emissions; population; international trade; energy consumption. |
| JEL: | C22 O44 Q43 Q53 Q56 |
| Date: | 2017–02–17 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:79773&r=env |
| By: | Fei Teng (Institute of Energy, Environment and Economy, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China); Frank Jotzo; Xin Wang |
| Abstract: | The electricity sector accounts for a large share of China’s carbon dioxide emissions and of the economy-wide abatement potential. China’s planned national emissions trading scheme would include electricity generation, as nearly all emissions trading schemes do. The critical difference is that in most existing carbon pricing systems the power sector operates with competitive markets and cost-based pricing, while the Chinese power industry still uses a highly regulated dispatch and pricing system. Together these limitations mean that the effect of a carbon price on China is limited in terms of the impact on operational decisions for existing power stations and in terms of the effects on investment decisions. We explore the channels of interaction between electricity market reform and carbon pricing in China, and provide quantitative estimates of the effects and interactions on electricity sector emissions. A probabilistic discrete choice model is used to simulate the behavior of investors in the power sector. The analysis indicates that market reform can help reduce emissions intensity, but to meet China’s 2030 targets for non-fossil fuel generation a low to moderate carbon price is also necessary; conversely, a carbon price will only be effective with market reform that provides flexibility in dispatch. Using our simplified quantitative analysis, the carbon price required for the same share of non-fossil fuel generation would be about twice as high without market reform. Combining market reform and a carbon price could achieve significant rates of decarbonization and is likely to be the most effective and most feasibly policy package to cut emissions from China’s power sector. |
| Keywords: | China, emissions trading, energy sector reform, policy interaction |
| JEL: | Q48 Q52 |
| Date: | 2017–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:een:ccepwp:1707&r=env |
| By: | Requate, Till (Center for Mathematical Economics, Bielefeld University) |
| Date: | 2017–04–04 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:bie:wpaper:219&r=env |
| By: | Alica Stubnova Sparling (Department of Economics, Davidson College); David W. Martin (Department of Economics, Davidson College); Lillian B. Posey (Urban Institute) |
| Abstract: | Citing a lack of information, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency prudently did not account for the benefits of averting many chronic diseases in analyzing the Worker Protection Standards (WPS) revisions. We demonstrate that sufficient information can exist, using the example of the benefits to agricultural workers of reduced Parkinson’s disease (PD) due to reduced pesticide exposure. We define the benefits as the monetary value gained by improving quality of lives of people who would otherwise develop PD, plus the value of medical care cost averted and income not lost due to being healthy. For estimation, we use readily available parameters and obtain odds ratios of developing PD by conducting a meta-analysis of studies linking pesticide exposure to PD. The sensitivity analysis varies the number of agricultural workers affected by the regulation, the probability of being diagnosed with PD, the measurement and the timing of the benefits. Our initial assessment is that the reduced PD benefits would be a small fraction of the total WPS revision costs. However, if we define benefits as the common environmental economics willingness to pay to avoid PD incidence, then they become a substantial fraction of the costs. Our analysis demonstrates that the benefits of averting PD from the WPS revisions can be estimated using existing information, and that the results are most sensitive to the choice of valuation of benefits to the worker. We encourage other researchers to extend our framework to other chronic ailments. Publication Status: Published in International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2017, 14(6):640. |
| Keywords: | Worker Protection Standards, Pesticide Exposure, Parkinson’s Disease |
| JEL: | I18 |
| Date: | 2017–02 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:dav:wpaper:17-02&r=env |
| By: | Meza, Francisco |
| Abstract: | El objetivo principal de este trabajo es agrupar las medidas de adaptación propuestas en el Plan Nacional de Adaptación al Cambio Climático del Sector Silvoagropecuario en Chile, según escenarios considerados, y categorizándolas de manera de definir el camino a seguir para cada medida en términos del proceso de evaluación de costos. En este trabajo se discuten las principales dificultades para estimar los costos de adaptación del sector silvoagropecuario en lo relativo a recursos hídricos y se presenta una metodología para realizar una estimación en función de información hidrometeorológica y de modelos de simulación de cultivos. Los resultados obtenidos se comparan con el cálculo de pérdida productiva bajo un escenario de no adaptación (costo de no acción). |
| Keywords: | AGUA, RECURSOS HIDRICOS, CAMBIO CLIMATICO, AGRICULTURA, ABASTECIMIENTO DE AGUA, RIEGO, COSTOS, ESTUDIOS DE CASOS, POLITICA DE AGUA, WATER, WATER RESOURCES, CLIMATE CHANGE, AGRICULTURE, WATER SUPPLY, IRRIGATION, COSTS, CASE STUDIES, WATER POLICY |
| Date: | 2017–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ecr:col022:41783&r=env |
| By: | Lee, Sang-Ho; Park, Chul-Hi |
| Abstract: | This article investigates the strategic environmental corporate social responsibility (ECSR) of polluting firms in the presence of eco-firms. When the firms decide ECSR sequentially within the framework of the managerial incentive design and then face simultaneous price competition, we show that firms will adopt ECSR and purchase abatement goods to mitigate competition if the products are more substitutable, but the late adopter chooses lower ECSR and thus earns higher profit. It can partially explain the current expansive adoption of ECSR as an industry-wide wave. |
| Keywords: | environmental corporate social responsibility; eco-firms; abatement goods; late adopter advantage |
| JEL: | L13 L21 M14 |
| Date: | 2017–06–26 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:79881&r=env |
| By: | Requate, Till (Center for Mathematical Economics, Bielefeld University) |
| Date: | 2017–04–04 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:bie:wpaper:212&r=env |
| By: | Calderón Loor, Marco; Andrade, Fernando; Lizarzaburu, Lorena; Masache, Mauricio |
| Abstract: | Las actividades agrícolas son particularmente vulnerables a los efectos del cambio climático pero a su vez, son responsables de aproximadamente el 11% de las emisiones totales de gases de efecto invernadero (GEI) de origen antropogénico a nivel global. Una de las fuentes más importantes es la descomposición de los residuos orgánicos de los cultivos. Aunque, pueden ser aprovechados para lageneración de energía eléctrica a través del uso de diferentes tecnologías. Aunque existen diversas experiencias de aprovechamiento de residuos en Ecuador, no se han realizado estudios de valoración económica de sus beneficios y cobeneficios. El presente estudio muestra por primera vez un estudio de valoración económica de cobeneficios para el aprovechamiento energético de los residuos de cuatro cultivos agrícolas para tres grandes escenarios de tenencia de tierra (pequeños, medianos y grandes productores). |
| Keywords: | AGRICULTURA, CAMBIO CLIMATICO, DESECHOS AGRICOLAS, GAS DE EFECTO INVERNADERO, RECURSOS ENERGETICOS, CONSERVACION DE LA ENERGIA, VALOR, AGRICULTURE, CLIMATE CHANGE, AGRICULTURAL WASTES, GREENHOUSE GASES, ENERGY RESOURCES, ENERGY CONSERVATION, VALUE |
| Date: | 2017–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ecr:col022:41830&r=env |
| By: | Friederike Gesing (ZentraClim: Climate Change and Transnational Policy, University of Bremen, Sustainability Research Center (artec)) |
| Abstract: | This paper provides a qualitative empirical analysis of the emergence of a new transnational municipal initiative, the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy, launched on January 1st 2017. This new initiative is the result of a merger of two previously existing networks, the Compact of Mayors founded in 2014 by a coalition of city networks under the leadership of UN Special Envoy for Cities and Climate Change Michael R. Bloomberg, and the Covenant of Mayors founded by the European Commission in 2008. While both these initiatives have been actively engaged in strengthening the role of cities and regions in the transnational climate policy arena, they have subscribed to different rhetoric and political strategies. The paper analyses the disparate logics of municipal climate action characteristic of the two initiatives, evident in the ongoing negotiations over the design of the common Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy. The paper draws on ethnographic evidence, interviews and documents to shed light on struggles over the politics of municipal climate data, focusing on disagreement about the role of common targets and tools, and the role of emission data for private investors |
| Keywords: | Transnational climate policy, municipal climate policy, transnational municipal networks (TMN), climate governance, climate data, data politics, data practices, comparability, city networks, public/private, GHG emissions reporting, Compact of Mayors, Covenant of Mayors, EU climate policy, multi-level governance, climate justice, climate finance, Science and Technology Studies (STS), qualitative environmental research |
| Date: | 2017–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zen:wpaper:71&r=env |
| By: | Lipina, Svetlana (Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA)); Smirnova, Olga (Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA)); Agapova, Elena (Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA)); Lipina, A.V. (Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA)) |
| Abstract: | In the world community, some experience of the development of the "green economy" has already been gained. However, in conditions when Russia faces new problems and challenges, serious analysis and search for rational forms of combining objective indicators and criteria for their application in the projects for the development of a "green" economy, taking into account the specifics of the economy and the availability of a resource-resource potential of Russia, are required. |
| Date: | 2017–05 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:rnp:wpaper:051726&r=env |
| By: | Forslid, Rikard (Dept. of Economics, Stockholm University); Okubo, Toshihiro (Keio University); Sanctuary, Mark (Stockholm School of Economics, Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences) |
| Abstract: | This paper uses a monopolistic competitive framework to study the impact of trade liberalization on local and global emissions. We focus on the interplay of asymmetric emission taxes and the home market effect and show how a large-market advantage can counterbalance a high emission tax, so that trade liberalization leads firms to move to the large high-tax economy. Global emissions decrease when trade is liberalized in this case. We then simulate the model with endogenous taxes. The larger country, which has the advantage of the home market effect, will be able to set a higher Nash emission tax than its smaller trade partner, yet still maintain its manufacturing base. As a result, a pollution haven will typically not arise in this case as trade is liberalized. However, global emission increases as a result of international tax competition, which underscores that the importance of international cooperation increases as trade becomes freer. |
| Keywords: | Market size; emission tax; trade liberalisation; pollution haven effect |
| JEL: | D21 F12 F15 |
| Date: | 2017–06–26 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hhs:sunrpe:2017_0004&r=env |
| By: | AfDB AfDB |
| Date: | 2017–06–19 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:adb:adbwps:2386&r=env |
| By: | Elodie Letort; Pierre Dupraz; Laurent Piet |
| Abstract: | Nitrate pollution remains a major problem in some parts of France, especially in the Brittany region, which is characterized by intensive livestock production systems. Although farmers must not exceed a regulatory limit of nitrogen contained in manure per hectare, many farmers in this region exceed this limit. Therefore, they must treat the excess of manure that they produce or export it to be spread in neighbouring farms and/or areas, inducing fierce competition in the land market. Another adaptation strategy consists of modifying production practices or the production system as a whole, i.e., changing the structure of the farm. In this paper, a spatial agent-based model (ABM) has been developed to assess policy options in the regulation of manure management practices. The objective is to highlight the potential effects of these policies on the farmland market and the structural changes that they induce. Our results show that the different policies, which result in similar environmental benefits, induce different changes in the land market and in agricultural structures. |
| Keywords: | Q15, C63, D22 |
| JEL: | Q15 C63 D22 |
| Date: | 2017 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:rae:wpaper:201701&r=env |
| By: | Xin Deng |
| Abstract: | With the exponential growth of the national vehicle fleet in the last three decades, most cities in China are facing mounting pressure to tackle congestion and air pollution problems caused by motor vehicles. Beijing, the capital city, is a good case to study how municipal governments address those issues. To alleviate road congestion and pollution, the government has invested heavily in road infrastructure, advanced traffic management technology and also introduced stringent standards on vehicular emissions. However, city planners have been over-relying on command and control measures including travel demand management, which have proven to be costly and inefficient in controlling motor vehicle ownership and usage—the fundamental causes of congestion and emissions. Economic measures including road pricing and vehicle registration auction schemes are superior and should be adopted in travel demand management in the future. |
| Keywords: | congestion, air pollution, motor vehicles, China, travel demand management |
| Date: | 2017–02–24 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:een:appswp:201726&r=env |
| By: | AfDB AfDB |
| Date: | 2017–06–19 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:adb:adbwps:2385&r=env |
| By: | Stella Moisan (Universidad de Talca, Chile); Rodrigo Herrera (Universidad de Talca, Chile); Adam Clements (QUT) |
| Abstract: | A methodology based on a system of dynamic multiple linear equations is proposed that incorporates hourly, daily and annual seasonal characteristics to predict hourly pm2.5 pollution concentrations for 11 meteorological stations in Santiago, Chile. It is demonstrated that the proposed model has the potential to match or even surpass the accuracy of other linear and nonlinear forecasting models in terms of fit and predictive ability. In addition, the model is successful in predicting various categories of high concentration events, up to 76% of mid-range and 100% of extreme-range events as an average across all stations. This forecasting model is considered a useful tool for government authorities to anticipate critical episodes of air quality so as to avoid the detrimental impacts economic and health impacts of extreme pollution levels. |
| Keywords: | Air quality, Particulate matter, Dynamic multiple equations |
| Date: | 2017–04–11 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:qut:auncer:2017_01&r=env |
| By: | Sareh Vosooghi (University of Oxford) |
| Abstract: | I examine a setting, where an information sender conducts research into a payoff-relevant state variable, and releases information to agents, who consider joining a coalition. The agents' actions can cause harm by contributing to a public bad. The sender, who has commitment power, by designing an information mechanism (a set of signals and a probability distribution over them), maximises his payoff, which depends on the action taken by the agents, and the state variable. I show that the coalition size, as a function of beliefs of agents, is an endogenous variable, induced by the information sender. The optimal information mechanism from the general set of public information mechanisms, in coalition formation games is derived. I also apply the results to International Environmental Agreements (IEAs), where a central authority, as an information sender, attempts to reduce the global level of greenhouse gases (GHG) by communication of information on social cost of GHG. |
| Keywords: | Coalition Formation, Learning, Information Persuasion, International Environmental Agreements |
| JEL: | D83 D70 C72 Q54 |
| Date: | 2017–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fem:femwpa:2017.28&r=env |
| By: | Roula Inglesi-Lotz (Department of Economics, University of Pretoria, South Africa) |
| Abstract: | The main purpose of this study is to test the hypothesis of the rebound effect for the South African case in the years between 1990 to 2014 by firstly, decomposing the driving forces of the changes in CO2 emissions of the country and secondly, comparing with the behaviors of other emerging economies such as BRICS. From a policy perspective, it is important not only to comprehend the factors that intensify the CO2 emissions of the country but since energy efficiency is globally promoted as a significant tool to control emissions from a demand-side, to examine whether energy efficiency improvements have indeed reduced CO2 emissions. The overall results of the decomposition exercise for the BRICS countries for the whole studies period suggest that the changes in CO2 intensity and energy intensity had a negative impact to the changes in CO2 emissions: in other words, as the energy intensity (energy consumption per unit of economic output) decreased for all the countries (possible technological developments), the emissions kept rising. For South Africa specifically, the energy intensity was a negative contributor to CO2 emissions only for the last period examined (2008-2014). |
| Keywords: | South Africa, BRICS, emissions, rebound effect |
| Date: | 2017–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pre:wpaper:201751&r=env |
| By: | Frank Jensen (Department of Food and Resource Economics, University of Copenhagen); Lars Gårn Hansen (Department of Food and Resource Economics, University of Copenhagen) |
| Abstract: | Theoretical papers find that taxes are preferred over individual transferable quotas (ITQs) when fisheries regulators are uncertain about either biological growth or the extent of non-compliance with regulations. However, the size of the welfare gain from switching to taxes has not previously been investigated empirically. Based on estimated profit and growth functions, we simulate this gain for the Danish cod fishery in the Kattegat and find a welfare gain of less than 2%. We also develop a simple indicator which can be used to approximate the welfare gain of switching to tax regulation for other fisheries. The value of the indicator is calculated for a number of fisheries worldwide for which the necessary data have been published and we find that the gain from a switch to taxes is typically between 1.5% and 2.5% (in no case greater than 4.2%). We, therefore, conclude that the switch to tax regulation of fisheries, which has been recommended in prior theoretical literature, is of little practical importance. |
| Keywords: | taxes, ITQs, uncertainty, cod in Kattegat, actual welfare gain |
| JEL: | Q22 C54 D62 H23 Q28 |
| Date: | 2017–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:foi:wpaper:2017_07&r=env |
| By: | Droste, Nils; Becker, Claudia; Ring, Irene; Santos, Rui |
| Abstract: | Portugal has a unitary system in which the central government transfers funds to lower government levels for their public functions. In 2007, Portugal introduced Ecological Fiscal Transfers (EFT), where municipalities receive transfers for hosting Protected Areas (PA). We study whether introducing EFT in Portugal incentivized municipalities to designate PA and has led to a decentralization of conservation decisions. We employ a Bayesian structural time series approach to estimate the effect of introducing EFT in comparison to a simulated counterfactual time series. Quantitative results show a significant increase in the ratio of municipal and national PA designations following Portugal's EFT introduction. The analysis furthermore places emphasis on the importance of relevant municipal conservation competencies and the role of local decision makers' motivations for PA designations. Results have important implications for conservation policy-making in terms of allocating budgets and competencies in multi-level governments. |
| Keywords: | Bayesian structural time series,ecological fiscal transfers,fiscal federalism,municipal competencies,nature conservation,Portugal |
| JEL: | C32 H41 H72 Q57 |
| Date: | 2017 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:ufzdps:32017&r=env |
| By: | Flores Aguilar, Adrián; Hidalgo Arellano, Marcos; Peralta Quesada, Leda |
| Abstract: | The present study explores opportunities and challenges to increase energy efficiency in government vehicle fleets through electrification. It identifies international best practices in relation to fleet electrification, suggests the most suitable comprehensive approach for a fleet transition, and recommends the most immediate actions to deploy. Considering the leading role that the public sector plays in promoting the use of renewable energies and enhancing energy efficiency, the study presents a roadmap for government fleet transitions of vehicles that have equivalent alternatives in the market. |
| Keywords: | SISTEMAS DE TRANSPORTE, TRANSPORTE, TRANSPORTE PUBLICO, RECURSOS ENERGETICOS, RENDIMIENTO ENERGETICO, INNOVACIONES TECNOLOGICAS, FINANCIACION, POLITICA DE TRANSPORTE, DESARROLLO SOSTENIBLE, TRANSPORT, TRANSPORT SYSTEMS, PUBLIC TRANSPORT, ENERGY RESOURCES, ENERGY EFFICIENCY, TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATIONS, FINANCING, TRANSPORT POLICY, SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT |
| Date: | 2017–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ecr:col033:41812&r=env |
| By: | Roula Inglesi-Lotz |
| Abstract: | The main purpose of this study is to test the hypothesis of the rebound effect for the South African case in the years between 1990 to 2014 by firstly, decomposing the driving forces of the changes in CO2 emissions of the country and secondly, comparing with the behaviors of other emerging economies such as BRICS. From a policy perspective, it is important not only to comprehend the factors that intensify the CO2 emissions of the country but since energy efficiency is globally promoted as a significant tool to control emissions from a demand-side, to examine whether energy efficiency improvements have indeed reduced CO2 emissions. The overall results of the decomposition exercise for the BRICS countries for the whole studies period suggest that the changes in CO2 intensity and energy intensity had a negative impact to the changes in CO2 emissions: in other words, as the energy intensity (energy consumption per unit of economic output) decreased for all the countries (possible technological developments), the emissions kept rising. For South Africa specifically, the energy intensity was a negative contributor to CO2 emissions only for the last period examined (2008-2014). |
| Keywords: | Decomposition, South Africa, BRICS, emissions, Rebound Effect |
| JEL: | N7 O13 Q43 |
| Date: | 2017–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:rza:wpaper:690&r=env |
| By: | Ando, Michihito (National Institute of Population and Social Security Research); Dahlberg, Matz (Department of Economics); Engström, Gustav (The Beijer Institute of Ecological Economics) |
| Abstract: | Using a data set on housing sales transactions we explore the potential effect of the Fukushima disaster on housing prices in Sweden. In contrast to most earlier findings in other countries we do not find any disproportionate effect from the Fukushima disaster on housing prices in vicinity of nuclear power plants in Sweden. |
| Keywords: | Fukushima; Nuclear accident; housing price; difference-indifferences |
| JEL: | Q51 Q53 R21 |
| Date: | 2017–02–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hhs:uunewp:2017_002&r=env |
| By: | Upmann, Thorsten (Center for Mathematical Economics, Bielefeld University) |
| Date: | 2017–04–04 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:bie:wpaper:239&r=env |
| By: | O'Ryan, Raúl |
| Keywords: | PRODUCCION INDUSTRIAL, POLITICA INDUSTRIAL, PRODUCCION MAS LIMPIA, PEQUEÑAS EMPRESAS, EMPRESAS MEDIANAS, MEDIO AMBIENTE, INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION, INDUSTRIAL POLICY, CLEANER PRODUCTION, SMALL ENTERPRISES, MEDIUM ENTERPRISES, ENVIRONMENT |
| Date: | 2017–02 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ecr:col022:41749&r=env |
| By: | Noy, Ilan; Kusuma, Aditya; Nguyen, Cuong |
| Abstract: | Natural disasters have adverse consequences. A combination of effective mitigation strategies and appropriate coping measures—decreasing both exposure and vulnerability—can reduce their detrimental impact. Further policies can reduce the consequent losses to the economy in the aftermath of catastrophic events. Although constituting no panacea, the evidence suggests that insurance enables improved recovery and increases resilience. Yet, insuring catastrophic risks is complex and not easily achieved. Different types of disaster insurance products are found globally, but to narrow our discussion, we focus on two types of insurance for catastrophic hazards: earthquake insurance and agricultural insurance (for floods and droughts). We survey strategies implemented by governments, the private sector and multilateral/regional organizations that aim to address several impediments to insurance adoption and also describe the available evidence about the performance of such insurance systems in the aftermath of disaster events. We conclude with some thoughts about future research directions. |
| Keywords: | Natural disaster insurance, Natural disasters, Floods, Droughts, |
| Date: | 2017 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:vuw:vuwecf:6408&r=env |
| By: | O'Ryan, Raúl; Schaper, Marianne |
| Keywords: | CRECIMIENTO ECONOMICO, ASPECTOS AMBIENTALES, DESARROLLO INDUSTRIAL, DESARROLLO SOSTENIBLE, ECONOMIC GROWTH, ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS, INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT, SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT |
| Date: | 2017–02 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ecr:col022:41747&r=env |
| By: | Riechert, Susan E. (Center for Mathematical Economics, Bielefeld University); Hammerstein, Peter (Center for Mathematical Economics, Bielefeld University) |
| Keywords: | Spieltheorie, Ökologie |
| Date: | 2017–04–04 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:bie:wpaper:120&r=env |
| By: | Gutman, Verónica; López, Andrés |
| Keywords: | PRODUCCION INDUSTRIAL, ASPECTOS AMBIENTALES, INNOVACIONES, PRODUCCON MAS LIMPIA, DESARROLLO SOSTENIBLE, ESTUDIOS DE CASOS, INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION, ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS, INNOVATIONS, CLEANER PRODUCTION, SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, CASE STUDIES |
| Date: | 2017–02 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ecr:col022:41748&r=env |
| By: | Ruchansky, Beno; Blanco, Alfonso |
| Keywords: | RECURSOS ENERGETICOS, FUENTES DE ENERGIA RENOVABLES, ENERGIA ELECTRICA, DISTRIBUCION DE ENERGIA ELECTRICA, ENERGY RESOURCES, RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES, ELECTRIC POWER, ELECTRIC POWER DISTRIBUTION |
| Date: | 2017 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ecr:col022:41827&r=env |
| By: | Gutman, Verónica; López, Andrés |
| Keywords: | PRODUCCION INDUSTRIAL, INNOVACIONES, MEDIO AMBIENTE, MEDICION, INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION, INNOVATIONS, ENVIRONMENT, MEASUREMENT |
| Date: | 2017–02 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ecr:col022:41750&r=env |