|
on Environmental Economics |
|
Issue of 2017‒09‒24
thirty-six papers chosen by Francisco S. Ramos Universidade Federal de Pernambuco |
| By: | Alice Favero (eorgia Institute of Technology); Robert Mendelsohn (Yale University); Brent Sohngen (Ohio State University) |
| Abstract: | It is well known that the forestry sector is sensitive to climate change but most studies have examined impacts only through 2100 and warming of less than 4°C. This is the first timber analysis to consider possible climate change impacts out to 2250 and warming up to 11°C above 1900 levels. The results suggest that large productivity gains through 2190 lead to a continued expansion of the global timber supply. However, as carbon fertilization effects diminish and continued warming causes forestland to continue to shrink, warming above 8°C is predicted to become harmful to the forest sector. |
| Keywords: | Climate change, RCP 8.5, Forestry, Dynamic optimization, Timber market |
| JEL: | Q5 Q23 |
| Date: | 2017–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fem:femwpa:2017.40&r=env |
| By: | Julien Rebotier (LISST - Laboratoire Interdisciplinaire Solidarités, Sociétés, Territoires - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - UT2 - Université Toulouse 2 - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique); Frédéric Grelot (UMR G-EAU - Gestion de l'Eau, Acteurs et Usages - CIRAD - Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement - AgroParisTech - Irstea - CIHEAM - Centre International des Hautes Études Agronomiques Méditerranéennes); Mathilde Gralepois (CITERES - Cités, Territoires, Environnement et Sociétés - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - Université François Rabelais - Tours); Stéphanie Defossez (GRED - Gouvernance, Risque, Environnement, Développement - Université Paul Valéry - Montpellier III) |
| Abstract: | As environmental and climate issues face the question of risks, new paradigms flourish in the field of flood management: preparation, vulnerability, sustainable development, adaptation and today resilience. The ongoing urbanisation and development of places at risk create huge controversies. The concept of resilience does not seem to solve conflicts between land uses and rules, between prevention and development, between national and local regulation. If the concept is a success in the academic field, resilience does not provide the expected answers, and it even seems to raise new ambiguities. The paper shows the problems and opportunities of the implementation of the concept of resilience at local level. It aims to take it as a mean to analyse the evolution of developing spaces in France nowadays. Based on the first results from three research projects, we will present several French case studies showing what they teach us about the transformation of temporality, action, democracy and justice. |
| Abstract: | À mesure que les perspectives environnementales et climatiques viennent percuter la question des risques d’inondation, de nouvelles notions s’ajoutent aux concepts pour prévenir et gérer les risques : préparation, vulnérabilité, développement durable, adaptation puis, aujourd’hui, résilience. La poursuite du développement territorial face à l’exposition aux risques pose toujours question, voire suscite des tensions sur les territoires. La notion de résilience ne semble pas résoudre les contradictions territoriales entre usage et règle, développement et prévention, national et local. Si le concept fait fureur, la résilience n’offre pas les réponses escomptées, peut-être même soulève-t-elle de nouvelles ambiguïtés. La communication montre en quoi les écueils et les opportunités que projettent les tentatives d’inscription d’une forme de résilience sur nos terrains d’étude et comment ils permettent de comprendre les enjeux des territoires en développement. Sur la base des premiers résultats produits par trois projets de recherche en cours, nous présenterons plusieurs terrains de recherche français en montrant comment ils interrogent la transformation de la temporalité, de l’action, de la démocratie et de la justice. |
| Keywords: | Natural and industrial risks,Spatial planning, développement territorial ,résilience , risques naturels et technologiques |
| Date: | 2016–03–17 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:journl:hal-01353629&r=env |
| By: | Clara Rosana Chagas Paraboa (EVS - Environnement Ville Société - ENS Lyon - École normale supérieure - Lyon - UL2 - Université Lumière - Lyon 2 - Université Jean Moulin - Lyon III - UJM - Université Jean Monnet [Saint-Etienne] - École Nationale des Travaux Publics de l'État [ENTPE] - Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Mines de Saint-Etienne - ENSAL - École nationale supérieure d'architecture de Lyon - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique) |
| Abstract: | Sustainable development, a new environmental paradigm, influences slightly the southern countries. The choices of urban models are still placed on the economic at first, then the environmental and latter on the social. Political and financial stakes are important for preserved areas in cities and also for those who live there. This paper presents a preliminary ethnographic study of a socio-environmental project from a school community in southern Brazil. The school plays a vital role in the evolution of participatory democratic practices and the protection of natural and local socio-cultural heritage, as well as the political commitment of the anthropologist. |
| Abstract: | El desarrollo sostenible, nuevo paradigma ambiental, apenas toca los países del sur. Las elecciones de los modelos urbanos todavía se colocan en problemáticas en primer lugar económicas, segundo ambientales y por último sociales. Los intereses políticos y económicos son importantes para los espacios conservados de la ciudad y para los que viven allí. Este trabajo presenta un estudio etnográfico de un proyecto de grupo socio-ambiental de la comunidad escolar en el sur de Brasil. La escuela juega un papel vital en la evolución de las prácticas democráticas participativas y la protección del patrimonio natural y socio-cultural local, así como el compromiso político del antropólogo. |
| Abstract: | Le développement durable, nouveau paradigme environnemental, touche à peine les pays du sud. Les choix des modèles urbains sont encore posés sur les dimensions économiques, puis « écologiques » et en dernier lieu sociales. Les enjeux politiques et financiers sont importants dans les espaces encore préservés dans la ville ainsi que pour ceux qui y vivent. Cet article présente une première étude ethnographique sur un projet collectif socio-environnemental issu d’une communauté scolaire au sud du Brésil. L’école joue un rôle essentiel dans l’évolution des pratiques démocratiques participatives et dans la protection du patrimoine naturel et socioculturel local, ainsi que l’engagement politique de l’anthropologue. Mots-clés : anthropologie de l’environnement, développement durable, participation démocratique, aménagement de la ville, communauté scolaire. |
| Keywords: | democratic participation,urban planning,school community,environmental anthropology,sustainable development, planificación de la ciudad, comunidad escolar,antropología del medio ambiente, desarrollo urbano sostenible, participación democrática, développement durable,anthropologie de l’environnement, participation démocratique, aménagement de la ville, communauté scolaire |
| Date: | 2016–01–01 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:journl:hal-01427875&r=env |
| By: | Tiziano Distefano (Department of Environmental, Land and Infrastructure Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, Italy); Simone D'Alessandro (Department of Economics and Management, Università di Pisa, Italy) |
| Abstract: | Our work contributes to explain the observation of two facts at odds: the number of signatories of international environmental agreements (IEA) has grown in time, meanwhile, the aggregate global level of greenhouse gas emissions is increasing at exponential rate. We introduce a novel multi-scale framework, composed by two tied games, to show under which conditions a country is able to fulfill the IEA: an Evolutionary Game which describes the economic structure through the interaction of households and rms' strategies; and a 2x2 one-shot Game, with asymmetric nations that negotiate on the maximum share of emissions. The distance between international environmental targets and country's emissions performances is explained in terms of heterogeneous economic structure, without the need to impose any free-riding behaviour. Consumer's environmental consciousness (micro level) together with global income (and technological) inequality (macro level), are found to be the key variables towards the green transition path. We provide analytical results paired with numerical simulations. |
| Keywords: | International environmental agreements, asymmetry, evolutionary process, Multi-level perspective, climate change |
| JEL: | C71 C72 C73 H41 F53 Q20 |
| Date: | 2017–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:srt:wpaper:0517&r=env |
| By: | Massimo Tavoni (FEEM, CMCC and Politecnico di Milano); Valentina Bosetti (FEEM, CMCC and Bocconi University); Soheil Shayegh (Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei); Laurent Drouet (FEEM and CMCC); Johannes Emmerling (FEEM and CMCC); Sabine Fuss (Mercator Research Institute on Global Commons and Climate Change); Timo Goeschl (University of Heidelberg); Celine Guivarch (CIRED); Thomas S. Lontzek (RWTH Aachen University); Vassiliki Manoussi (Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei); Juan Moreno-Cruz (School of Economics and Brook Byers Institute for Sustainability Studies, Georgia Institute of Technology); Helene Muri (University of Oslo); Martin Quaas (Kiel University); Wilfried Rickels (Kiel Institute for the World Economy) |
| Abstract: | The Paris Agreement has set stringent temperature targets to limit global warming to 2°C above preindustrial level, with efforts to stay well below 2°C. At the same time, its bottom-up approach with voluntary national contributions makes the implementation of these ambitious targets particularly challenging. Climate engineering – both through carbon dioxide removal (CDR) and solar radiation management (SRM) – is currently discussed to potentially complement mitigation and adaptation. Results from integrated assessment models already suggest a significant role for some forms of climate engineering in achieving stringent climate objectives1. However, these estimates and their underlying assumptions are uncertain and currently heavily debated2–4. By reviewing the existing literature and reporting the views of experts, we identify research gaps and priorities for improving the integrated assessment of climate engineering. Results point to differentiated roles of CDR and SRM as complementary strategies to the traditional ones, as well as diverse challenges for an adequate representation in integrated assessment models. We identify potential synergies for model development which can help better represent mitigation and adaptation challenges, as well as climate engineering. |
| Keywords: | Climate Engineering, Paris Agreement, Carbon Dioxide Removal, Solar Radiation Management, Integrated Assessment Models |
| JEL: | Q5 Q55 |
| Date: | 2017–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fem:femwpa:2017.38&r=env |
| By: | Yannis Dafermos; Maria Nikolaidi (University of Greenwich); Giorgos Galanis |
| Abstract: | Using a stock-flow-fund ecological macroeconomic model, we analyse (i) the effects of climate change on financial stability and (ii) the financial and global warming implications of a green QE programme. Emphasis is placed on the impact of climate change damages on the price of financial assets and the financial position of firms and banks. The model is estimated and calibrated using global data and simulations are conducted for the period 2015-2115. Four key results arise. First, by destroying the capital of firms and reducing their profitability, climate change is likely to gradually deteriorate the liquidity of firms, leading to a higher rate of default that could harm both the financial and the non-financial corporate sector. Second, climate change damages can lead to a portfolio reallocation that can cause a gradual decline in the price of corporate bonds. Third, financial instability might adversely affect credit expansion and the investment in green capital, with adverse feedback effects on climate change. Fourth, the implementation of a green QE programme can reduce climate-induced financial instability and restrict global warming. The effectiveness of this programme depends positively on the responsiveness of green investment to changes in bond yields. |
| Keywords: | ecological macroeconomics, stock-flow consistent modelling, climate change, financial stability, green quantitative easing |
| JEL: | E12 E44 E52 Q54 |
| Date: | 2017–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pke:wpaper:pkwp1712&r=env |
| By: | Ruth Greenspan Bell |
| Abstract: | Natural resources extraction inevitably imposes environmental injuries including diversion of scarce water away from pressing local needs, disruption of fragile ecosystems, and longer-range and often irreparable harm. These fall most forcefully on the local populations at or near the extraction sites but also beyond. Effective regulation is critical to balance immediate needs with longer-term considerations. Unfortunately, much extraction takes place in countries with weak institutions and poor success rates in addressing any of their environmental challenges and often rampant corruption undercutting fair application of rules. Improving practices requires a long and sustained commitment for everyone involved—the countries and industry. |
| Date: | 2017 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:unu:wpaper:wp2017-164&r=env |
| By: | Minh Ha-Duong (CIRED - Centre International de Recherche sur l'Environnement et le Développement - CIRAD - Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - AgroParisTech - ENPC - École des Ponts ParisTech - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique); Hoang Anh Nguyen Trinh (CleanED - Clean Energy and Sustainable Development Lab - USTH - University of sciences and technologies of hanoi) |
| Abstract: | Vietnam plans to develop dozens of new coal-fired power generation units over the next 20 years. In order to reduce emissions, it may appear necessary to dispose of these plants' CO2 by burying it in deep underground geological formations instead of releasing it into the atmosphere, using Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technology. We show that CCS has a technical potential in Vietnam. To discuss under which economics conditions this potential could actualize, we examine two scenarios for 2050. In the first scenario, CO2 is used in Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) only. The second scenario considers CCS deployment in coal-based power plants, on top of using it for EOR. In both scenarios, a few gas-fired CCS power plants are build, reaching 1GW in 2030, supported by Enhanced Oil Recovery and international carbon finance. The decision point where the two scenarios diverge is in 2030. A scenario to switch all currently existing or planned power plants to low-carbon by 2050 is to retrofit 3.2 GW of coal-fired capacity and install 1.2 GW of gas-fired capacity with CCS every year, starting in 2035 for 15 years. Capture readiness would lower the costs of using CCS in Vietnam, but is not mandatory today. |
| Keywords: | scenarios, energy,vietnam, carbon capture and storage |
| Date: | 2017–11 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:journl:hal-01550029&r=env |
| By: | Stefano BOSI; David DESMARCHELIER; Manh Hung NGUYEN |
| Abstract: | Biologists point out that biodiversity loss contributes to promote the transmission of diseases. In epidemiology, this phenomenon is known as dilution effect. Our paper aims to model this effect in an economic model where the spread of an infectious disease is considered. More precisely, we embed a SIS model into a Ramsey model (1928) where a pollution externality coming from production affects the evolution of biodiversity. Biodiversity is assimilated to a renewable resource and affects the infectivity of the disease (dilution effect). A green tax is levied on production at the firm level to finance depollution according to a balanced budget rule. In the long run, a disease-free and an endemic regime are possible. We focus only on the second case and we find that the magnitude of the dilution effect determines the number of steady states. When the dilution effect remains low, there are two steady states with high and low biodiversity respectively. Conversely, when the dilution effect becomes high, the steady state is always unique. Moreover, under a low dilution effect, a higher green-tax rate always impairs biodiversity at the low steady state, while this green paradox is over under a high dilution effect. In the short run, limit cycles can arise in both the cases even if only a low dilution effect can lead to the occurrence of Bogdanov-Takens and generalized Hopf bifurcations. |
| Keywords: | dilution effect, pollution, SIS model, Ramsey model, local bifurcations of codimension one and two. |
| JEL: | C61 E32 O44 |
| Date: | 2017 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ulp:sbbeta:2017-23&r=env |
| By: | Charles Sims (Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy and Department of Economics, University of Tennessee); Sarah Null (Department of Watershed Sciences, Utah State University); Josue Medellin-Azuara (Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of California-Davis) |
| Abstract: | Climate variability makes the future benefits of adaptation uncertain. When adaptation comes in the form of discrete investments that are difficult to adjust, this uncertainty creates an economic value (an option value) to delaying adaptation to collect more information. This option value suggests adaptation will be slower than predicted by benefit-cost analysis. However, it is unclear how increases in climate variability influence this adaptation option value. Addressing this knowledge gap becomes critically important since climate change in many areas will be characterized by temperature and precipitation that is more variable than historic conditions. This study uses down-scaled results from four different global circulation models and two different emission scenarios to determine how climate trends and variability influence an adaptation option value. Using water-saving irrigation investments in California’s Sacramento Valley as an example, results indicate that climate variability is an important predictor of private adaptation uptake but the influence of climate variability on adaptation shifts as the climate changes. |
| Keywords: | Climate change, adaptation, option value |
| JEL: | Q5 |
| Date: | 2017–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ten:wpaper:2017-04&r=env |
| By: | Thomas Spencer (IDDRI - Institut du Développement Durable et des Relations Internationales - Institut d'Études Politiques [IEP] - Paris); Roberta Pierfederici (IDDRI - Institut du Développement Durable et des Relations Internationales - Institut d'Études Politiques [IEP] - Paris); Oliver Sartor (IDDRI - Institut du Développement Durable et des Relations Internationales - Institut d'Études Politiques [IEP] - Paris); Nicolas Berghmans (IDDRI - Institut du Développement Durable et des Relations Internationales - Institut d'Études Politiques [IEP] - Paris); Sascha Samadi (Wuppertal Institute for Climate Environment and Energy - Wuppertal Institute for Climate Environment and Energy); Manfred Fischedick (Wuppertal Institute for Climate Environment and Energy - Wuppertal Institute for Climate Environment and Energy); Katharina Knoop (Wuppertal Institute for Climate Environment and Energy - Wuppertal Institute for Climate Environment and Energy); Steve Pye (University college London Energy Institute - UCL - University College of London [London]); Patrick Criqui (GAEL - Laboratoire d'Economie Appliquée de Grenoble - Grenoble INP - Institut polytechnique de Grenoble - Grenoble Institute of Technology - INRA - Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - UGA - Université Grenoble Alpes); Sandrine Mathy (GAEL - Laboratoire d'Economie Appliquée de Grenoble - Grenoble INP - Institut polytechnique de Grenoble - Grenoble Institute of Technology - INRA - Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - UGA - Université Grenoble Alpes); Pantelis Capros (E3MLab - Institute of Communication and Computer Systems - National Technical University of Athens); Panagiotis Fragkos (E3MLab - Institute of Communication and Computer Systems - National Technical University of Athens); Maciej Bukowski (WiseEuropa Institute); Aleksander Śniegocki (WiseEuropa Institute); Maria Virdis (ENEA - Italian National agency for new technologies, Energy and sustainable economic development [Frascati]); Maria Gaeta (ENEA - Italian National agency for new technologies, Energy and sustainable economic development [Frascati]); Karine Pollier (Enerdata); Cyril Cassisa (Enerdata) |
| Abstract: | Decarbonisation of energy systems requires deep structural change. The purpose of this research was to analyse the rates of change taking place in the energy systems of each Member State of the European Union (EU), and the EU in aggregate, in the light of the EU's climate change mitigation objectives. Trends on indicators such as sectoral activity levels and composition, energy intensity, and carbon intensity of energy were compared with decadal benchmarks derived from deep decarbonisation scenarios. The methodology applied provides a useful and informative approach to tracking decarbonisation of energy systems. The results show that while the EU has made significant progress in decarbonising its energy system. On a number of indicators assessed the results show that a significant acceleration from historical levels is required in order to reach the rates of change seen on the future benchmarks for deep decarbonisation. The methodology applied provides an example of how the research community and international organisations could complement the transparency mechanism developed by the Paris Agreement on climate change, to improve understanding of progress toward low-carbon energy systems. |
| Keywords: | energy system decarbonisation, EU climate policy, policy monitoring |
| Date: | 2017 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:journl:hal-01586028&r=env |
| By: | Itziar Lazkano (Economics Department, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee); Linda Nøstbakken (Department of Economics, Norwegian School of Economics); Martino Pelli (Economics Department, Université de Sherbrooke) |
| Abstract: | Electricity storage represents a solution to curb emissions by enabling more use of intermittent renewable energy. Our goal is to empirically analyze the determinants of innovation in electricity storage and its role in fostering technological innovations in renewable and conventional electricity generation. Using a global firm-level data set of electricity patents from 1963 to 2011, we find that better electricity storage promotes innovation not only in renewable energy but also in conventional technologies. Specifically, our estimates show that an additional storage patent increases the probability to apply for patents in renewable energy and efficiency-improving fossil fuel technologies two years from now by 1.11% and 0.66%, respectively. This implies that improved electricity storage technologies can boost the energy efficiency of conventional, fossil fuel-fired power plants as well as increase the use of renewable electricity. Thus, the ability of electricity storage to curb carbon emissions depends on: the competitiveness of renewable energy against conventional electricity generation, and conventional power generation mix as storage increases fossil-fuel efficiency and reduces ramping costs. |
| Keywords: | Electricity storage; Innovation; Electricity; Directed technical change. |
| JEL: | O3 O4 O5 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q5 |
| Date: | 2017–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:shr:wpaper:17-06&r=env |
| By: | Luisa Dressler |
| Abstract: | This dissertation seeks to contribute to the policy discussion on how to design efficient and sustainable energy policies. In three self-contained chapters, it applies microeconomic theory and empirical analysis to identify three market failures in European energy markets and to evaluate specific policy measures that strive to overcome these failures in order to increase market efficiency and to enhance environmental or societal sustainability. Chapter 1 and 2 study European electricity markets, which play an important role in the transition towards a carbon-neutral energy future. Overcoming barriers to efficient electricity markets is a crucial step to keep the costs of this transition as low as possible to society. Both chapters focus on obstacles to electricity market efficiency that have recently been highlighted by the European Commission. On the supply side, subsidies for renewable electricity may distort production incentives and competition in wholesale electricity markets. Chapter 1 applies a theoretical model to study the effect of different subsidies on producer strategies and competition in wholesale electricity markets. On the demand side, the European Commission seeks to overcome the reluctance of residential electricity consumers to switch electricity supplier in order to ensure effective competition in the retail electricity market. Chapter 2 empirically quantifies different reasons for switching inertia using a structural discrete choice model and performs counterfactual analysis to study the effect of different policy measures that seek to overcome switching inertia. Chapter 3 looks at the building sector, which accounts for 40% of final energy consumption in Europe and is a major emitter of carbon emissions. In the residential housing market information asymmetries hamper incentives to invest in energy efficiency improvements of rental property. This chapter empirically analyzes the effect of a European policy that mandates the use of energy performance certificates aiming at establishing an efficient market for energy efficient dwellings. |
| Keywords: | Energy Policy; Renewable Electricity; Feed-in Tariff; Feed-in Premium; Cournot Model; Electricity Contract Choice |
| Date: | 2017–09–01 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ulb:ulbeco:2013/256971&r=env |
| By: | Vera Danilina (Aix-Marseille Univ. (Aix-Marseille School of Economics), CNRS, EHESS and Centrale Marseille) |
| Abstract: | Growing ecological concerns give rise to salient discussions of green policy impact within different social sciences domains. This research studies the outcomes of voluntary environmental labelling in autarky and upon trade integration in the presence of two types of heterogeneity, across countries and across producers. It investigates the impact of the two main types of eco-labels - multiple-criteria-based programmes (ISO Type I) and self-declared environmental claims (ISO Type II), both of which are simultaneously introduced due to the environmental concerns of consumers. The model illustrates the polarisation of eco-labels when the least productive firms tend to avoid green strategies, lower-middle productive and the most efficient firms are incentivized to greenwash, and the upper-middle productive firms choose trustful programmes. It also shows that voluntary green restrictions lead to substantial productivity effects in the market upon opening to international trade, conditionally, depending on the type of the labelling and the relative degree of environmental awareness across trading countries. The model predicts average market productivity losses and within segments productivity gains for the relatively more eco-concerned country, while the effects for the relatively less eco-concerned country are the opposite. |
| Keywords: | eco-labelling, Firm heterogeneity, trade integration, voluntary environmental regulation, firms productivity |
| JEL: | F18 |
| Date: | 2017–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:aim:wpaimx:1725&r=env |
| By: | James Innes (OECD); Roger Martini (OECD); Antonia Leroy (OECD) |
| Abstract: | Concern that rates of aquaculture growth in OECD countries are below potential has resulted in environmentally sustainable production increase becoming a priority for policy makers. Growth in aquaculture production can be influenced by many factors. This report looks at the attributes of licensing and regulatory systems in OECD countries, the area over which policy makers have greatest direct control, and finds some suggestion they may be negatively related to aquaculture growth rates. Opportunities exist for reducing the administrative burden faced by enterprises, without sacrificing regulatory quality in the process. There is also a strong indication that quality governance, aided by having systems of evaluation and review in place, helps reduce overall administrative burden. Comparing the attributes of licensing systems with environmental performance was not possible due to the lack of suitable indicators. This highlights the need to measure environmental performance if regulatory effectiveness is to be evaluated further. |
| Keywords: | aquaculture, bureaucracy, environmental policy, indicators, licences, licensing, regulatory policy, seafood farming |
| JEL: | O47 Q01 Q22 Q28 |
| Date: | 2017–09–22 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:oec:agraaa:107-en&r=env |
| By: | Zachlod-Jelec, Magdalena (Ministry of Finance); Boratynski, Jakub (Ministry of Finance, University of Łódź) |
| Abstract: | In the paper we address the problem of parameters uncertainty of computable general equilibrium (CGE) simulation results concerning the economic effects of climate policy actions. Large scale CGE models utilize extensive, detailed databases on the structure of the economies (industry-specific technologies, international trade patterns etc.). At the same time, the behaviour of the economic system modelled in the CGE framework is largely driven by assumptions rooted in theory, with relatively little empirical content. It is therefore crucial to understand how assumptions affect outcomes of policy experiments. We employ a static global CGE model PLACE, representing 35 regions and 20 industries, with a focus on representing links between economic activities, energy use and CO2 emissions. Applying systematic sensitivity analysis based on Stroud's (1957) Gaussian quadratures approach we test how variation in elasticity parameters (values of which are subject to substantial uncertainty) affects economic assessment of emission reduction policies. Using as our workhorse simulation scenario the imposition of the European Commission's 40% greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction target (with respect to 1990) we find that the uncertainty of model simulation results driven by the uncertainty in assumed elasticities values is quite remarkable indicating that presenting only mean simulation results from CGE models is not sufficient. |
| Keywords: | commputable general equilibrium model; systematic sensitivity analysis; emissions reduction |
| JEL: | C68 D58 |
| Date: | 2016–08–31 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ris:mfplwp:0026&r=env |
| By: | Achim Hagen (Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Germany); Jan Schneider (University of Oldenburg, Department of Economics) |
| Abstract: | In spite of scientific agreement on the negative effects of anthropogenic climate change, efforts to find cooperative solutions on the international level have been unsatisfactory so far. Trade sanctions in the form of import tariffs are one principal measure discussed as a means to foster cooperation. Former studies have concluded that import tariffs are an effective mechanism to establish international cooperation. However, most of these studies rely on the assumption that outsiders are not able to retaliate, i.e. to implement import tariffs themselves. In this paper we use combined analytical and numerical analysis to investigate implications of retaliation. We find a threshold effect: below a certain coalition size the effect of retaliation predominates and decreases incentives to be a coalition member. In coalitions above the threshold size the effect of trade sanctions that stabilizes coalitions dominates and enables the formation of larger stable coalitions. Our analysis suggests that only after a sufficiently large climate coalition has already been formed, the threat of trade sanctions might be an effective stick to establish the grand coalition. |
| Keywords: | international environmental agreements, computable general equilibrium |
| JEL: | D58 Q54 Q58 |
| Date: | 2017–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:old:dpaper:403&r=env |
| By: | Erica Tauzer (Center for Global Health and Translational Science, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA); Mercy J. Borbor-Cordova (Facultad de Ingeniería Marítima, Ciencias Oceánicas y Recursos Naturales, Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral (ESPOL), Guayaquil, Ecuador); Telmo de la Cuadra (Secretary of Risk Management (SGR), Samborondón, Ecuador); Susana del Granado (Institute for Advanced Development Studies, La Paz, Bolivia); Carol Franco-Bellini (The Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation, Virginia Polytechnic University, Blacksburg, VA, USA); Carlos Medina (Ministry of Environment, Quito, Ecuador); Jhoyzette Mendoza (Ministry of Environment, Quito, Ecuador); Moory M. Romero-Fernandez (Center for Global Health and Translational Science, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA); Anna M. Stewart-Ibarra (Center for Global Health and Translational Science, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA) |
| Abstract: | Flood risk is increasing in urban areas due to increased population and urban development, a changing climate, coastal subsidence, and deforestation. To reduce people’s exposure to floods, many countries have identified the need for Early Warning Systems for Floods (EWSFs). In the United Nations Climate Change COP15, sixteen of the 21 Latin American countries listed the improvement and establishment of early warning systems as a priority need. In this paper, we present a multi-scalar operational research framework that is being used to investigate EWSFs across three countries in Latin America. This novel framework can be applied to institutions or flood-prone communities, providing a standardized and integrative analysis at local and national levels. By analyzing interventions before, during and after flooding events, this generalizable assessment tool provides decision makers with information to evaluate the resource requirements for improving EWSFs. |
| Keywords: | Early warning systems, flooding, vulnerability, risk management, Latin America. |
| JEL: | D63 D81 I31 Q54 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:adv:wpaper:201702&r=env |
| By: | Guillaume Bourgeois (GAEL - Laboratoire d'Economie Appliquée de Grenoble - Grenoble INP - Institut polytechnique de Grenoble - Grenoble Institute of Technology - INRA - Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - UGA - Université Grenoble Alpes); Sandrine Mathy (GAEL - Laboratoire d'Economie Appliquée de Grenoble - Grenoble INP - Institut polytechnique de Grenoble - Grenoble Institute of Technology - INRA - Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - UGA - Université Grenoble Alpes); Philippe Menanteau (GAEL - Laboratoire d'Economie Appliquée de Grenoble - Grenoble INP - Institut polytechnique de Grenoble - Grenoble Institute of Technology - INRA - Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - UGA - Université Grenoble Alpes) |
| Abstract: | The limitation of global warming below 2°C requires rapid and significant deployment of renewable energies in the power sector. Policies to support innovation and diffusion of renewables have been implemented for more than 20 years. There is currently a debate surrounding their economic and environmental efficiency and the right balance between support for innovation and support for diffusion. This article sheds light on the stakes of this debate by presenting the results of the econometric literature which evaluates the effect of these policies and compares these results with the main conclusions of non-econometric studies. The results show that innovation policies and diffusion policies have a positive impact on renewable energies and so confirm non-econometric studies. However, they reveal differentiated effects |
| Abstract: | La limitation du réchauffement climatique nécessite un déploiement rapide et important des énergies renouvelables (ENR). Des politiques de soutien visant l'innovation et la diffusion de ces technologies ont été mises en oeuvre depuis plus de 20 ans. Il existe aujourd'hui un débat sur leur efficacité environnementale et économique et sur le bon équilibre entre soutien à l'innovation et à la diffusion. Cet article éclaire les enjeux de ce débat en présentant les résultats de la littérature économétrique qui évalue l'effet de ces politiques et en comparant ces résultats avec les principaux enseignements des études non économétriques. Les résultats montrent que les politiques d'innovation et les politiques de diffusion ont un impact positif sur les ENR et confirment en cela les études non économétriques. Ils font toutefois apparaitre des effets différenciés selon la nature des politiques (politiques prix versus politiques quantités) et la maturité des technologies. |
| Keywords: | Public policies,renewable energy,innovation,diffusion,literature review,Politiques publiques, énergies renouvelables, innovation, diffusion, revue de la littérature, études économétriques |
| Date: | 2017 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:journl:hal-01585906&r=env |
| By: | Mari Aparecida dos Santos; Joaquim Bento de Souza Ferreira Filho; José Eustáquio Ribeiro Vieira Filho; Alexandre Xavier de Carvalho Ywata |
| Abstract: | O objetivo desta pesquisa foi comparar os impactos econômicos no Brasil de alterações do Novo Código Florestal, considerando dois cenários possíveis: o primeiro, em que não há cotas de reserva ambiental (CRA); e o segundo, em que não se tem anistia para pequenos proprietários de terra. A metodologia integra dois modelos: Globiom-Brasil e Term-BR. Os resultados mostraram que o valor dos agregados macroeconômicos, no período acumulado de 2005 a 2030, comparado com a linha de base para o primeiro (sem CRA) e o segundo cenário (sem anistia), respectivamente, reduziu-se em: 0,12% e 0,51% no produto interno bruto (PIB) real; 0,11% e 0,43% no consumo; 0,11% e 0,45% no gasto do governo; 0,84% e 3,09% no investimento real; e 0,14% e 0,4% nas importações. Não obstante, para o mesmo período de análise, houve aumento das exportações em 0,43% e 1,89%. No primeiro cenário, o estado mais afetado economicamente foi Mato Grosso (-4,52% no PIB) e no segundo cenário, Goiás (-4,25% no PIB). Além disso, foi observado que a soja e a criação de bovinos são os mais afetados negativamente por tais mudanças na política ambiental. The objective of this research was to compare the economic impacts, in Brazil, of the New Forest Code considering two possible scenarios: in the first case there is no Environmental Reserve Quotas (ERQ); and in the second case there is no amnesty to small landowners. The methodology integrates two models: Globiom-Brazil and Term-BR. The results showed that the impacts in the value of macroeconomic aggregates, in the cumulative period from 2005 to 2030, compared to the baseline, for the first (without ERQ) and second scenario (without amnesty), respectively decrease in: 0.12% and 0.51% in real GDP; 0.11% and 0.43% in consumption; 0.11% and 0.45% in government expenditure; 0.84% and 3.09% in real investment; 0.14% and 0.4% in imports. Although, for the same period of analysis, there were exports increased by 0.43% and 1.89%. In the first scenario, the most economically affected state was Mato Grosso (-4.52% in GDP) and in the second scenario Goias (-4.25% in GDP). In addition, it was observed that soy and cattle breeding are the most negatively affected by such changes in environmental policy. |
| Date: | 2017–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ipe:ipetds:2320&r=env |
| By: | Fabien Prieur (Université Paris Nanterre); Benteng Zou (CREA, Université du Luxembourg) |
| Abstract: | Motivated by the history of climate politics in the US over the last decades, this paper aims at studying the impact of indirect competition for political influence, through environmental awareness raising vs disinformation campaigns, on environmental and economic performance. The analysis of the game in which groups devote efforts to bring the majority’s concern closer to their views shows a strong asymmetry in the results. Strategic interaction may lead the economy to a better situation in the long run, compared to what would prevail in the absence of lobbying. But this only occurs when the environmental group exhibits a radical ideology and people’s awareness is initially closer to that of the industrial group. By contrast, economies with very aggressive conservative groups and with people originally well aware of environmental problems can never benefit from the outcome of the game of political influence. The latter result is reinforced when one accounts for different lobbying powers and supremacy of industrial groups. This may explain why the US have failed to take action on global warming up to now. |
| Keywords: | Public persuasion, environmentalists, industrialists, environmental awareness, information campaigns, disinformation, game of political influence |
| JEL: | D72 C73 Q54 |
| Date: | 2017 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:luc:wpaper:17-16&r=env |
| By: | Josephsen, Lars |
| Abstract: | The paper discusses the theoretical underpinning of the concept of sustainable development, especially in relation to follow-up and review, including ex post evaluation of progress. The purpose is to explore methodological aspects of applied approaches to the implementation process, e.g. ways to unravel possible interactions among the numerous SDGs and targets, and to assess trade-offs between interventions. The aim is to go beyond various sustainable development interpretations, by exploring how they perceive and approach implementation of the goals, taking the complexity of this substantial task into account. The paper surveys the theoretical economic underpinning of the 2030 Agenda and the role of neoclassical economic theory in this context. Implementation routes for sustainable development interpretations based on other theoretical frameworks are briefly sketched for comparison. The analysis leads to the claim that it is questionable whether interpretations of sustainable development founded on neoclassical economic theory - as the 2030 Agenda - are applicable in relation to every aspect of sustainability. |
| Keywords: | Sustainable development,2030 Agenda,Implementation of the SDGs,underpinning of the SDGs,SDGs and complexity |
| JEL: | Q01 O44 |
| Date: | 2017 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:ifwedp:201760&r=env |
| By: | Stefano BOSI; David DESMARCHELIER |
| Abstract: | In this paper, we aim to model the impact of human activities on the wildlife habitat in a general equilibrium framework by embedding the Levins model (1969) of metapopulation dynamics into a Ramsey model (1928) with a pollution externality. In the long run, as in Levins (1969), two steady states coexist: a zero one with mass extinction and anotherone with positive wildlife when the migration rate of the metapopulation exceeds the rate of extinction. A green tax always increases the wildlife and lowers the consumption demand. It is welfare-improving if and only if agents overweight the wildlife. In the short run, we show that a sufficiently negative effect of wildlife habitat on consumption demand can lead to the emergence of a limit cycle near the positive steady state through a Hopf bifurcation. We show also that the negative pollution effect on wildlife habitat works as a destabilizing force in the economy by promoting limit cycles. |
| Keywords: | metapopulation dynamics, pollution, Ramsey model, Hopf bifurcation. |
| JEL: | C61 E32 O44 |
| Date: | 2017 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ulp:sbbeta:2017-22&r=env |
| By: | Xavier Pautrel (University of Angers (GRANEM)-TEPP) |
| Abstract: | We re-examine the impact of environmental taxation on health and output, in the presence of labor market frictions. Our main findings are that matching process and wage bargaining introduce new channels of transmission of environmental taxation on the economy such that assuming perfect labor market leads to over-estimate the positive impact of environmental taxation on health. We also demonstrate that rising abatement expenditures as a way of tightening the environmental policy would be better for health than increasing environmental tax in the presence of market labor imperfections. |
| Keywords: | Environmental Policy, Health, Labor Market, Search, Unemployment |
| JEL: | I1 J2 J64 Q58 |
| Date: | 2017–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fem:femwpa:2017.36&r=env |
| By: | Martina Sartori (Department of Economics, University Of Venice Cà Foscari and Bocconi University); Davide Geneletti (University of Trento, Department of Civil, Environmental and Mechanical Engineering); Stefano Schiavo (University of Trento, Department of Economics and Management and School of International Studies); Rocco Scolozzi (University of Trento, Department of Civil, Environmental and Mechanical Engineering) |
| Abstract: | This paper assesses the structural, joint implications of climate and land-use change on agriculture in the European Union, by means of a computable general equilibrium model of the world economy. The counterfactual simulations are conducted at the year 2050 under the second Shared Socioeconomic Pathway. We find that climate and land-use change are likely to affect agricultural systems very differently across Europe. Northern countries are expected to benefit from climate change impacts, whereas other areas in Europe will suffer negative consequences in terms of reduced agricultural output, real income and welfare. The most vulnerable region is not made of Mediterranean countries, but rather Central Europe. Our results suggest that climate and land-use changes may exacerbate existing disparities within the EU. Therefore, appropriate adaptation strategies and a more flexible land-use are required to limit these negative consequences and possibly exploit the beneficial effects of climate change in some countries. |
| Keywords: | Agricultural productivity, climate change, land-use change, general equilibrium analysis |
| JEL: | C68 Q11 |
| Date: | 2017 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ven:wpaper:2017:19&r=env |
| By: | Laurène Feintrenie (UPR Forêts et Sociétés - CIRAD); Jean-Marc Roda (UPR BioWooEB - CIRAD - Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement); Alain Rival (CIRAD - Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement) |
| Abstract: | In Central Africa, industrial investments in agriculture have been increasing for the last ten years, constituting one of the many drivers of deforestation. If these investments are to contribute to socioeconomic development without harming the environment,they need to be more effectively monitored.Analysing successes and failures in four Central African countries helps to identify ways to increase the chances of success for projects: carrying out independent impact assessments before projects are launched; obtaining the free, prior and informed consent of the communities concerned; and encouraging companies to meet certification criteria. The host governments should be able to take advantage of actions by people- and environment-friendly companies in order to create a virtuous circle, and should build agro-industrial projects around national land use plans. |
| Abstract: | En Afrique centrale, les investissements industriels dans l'agriculture augmentent depuis une décennie, constituant l'un des multiples vecteurs de la déforestation. Pour que ces investissements bénéficient au développement socio-économique sans nuire à l'environnement, il est nécessaire de mieux les encadrer. L'analyse des réussites et des échecs dans quatre pays d'Afrique centrale permet de dégager des pistes pour accroître les chances de succès des projets : réaliser des études d'impact indépendantes avant le début du projet ; obtenir le consentement libre, informé et préalable des populations concernées ; inciter les entreprises à répondre aux critères de certification. Les États pourront s'appuyer sur des entre-prises respectueuses des hommes et de l'environnement afin de créer une dynamique vertueuse, et pourront ancrer les projets agro-industriels dans des plans d'aménagement du territoire national. |
| Keywords: | accaparement des terres,multinationale,Afrique,agro-industrie,Foresterie,politique forestière,palmier à huile,hévéa,investissement agricole,certification |
| Date: | 2016–02 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:journl:hal-01537823&r=env |
| By: | Jové Llopis, Elisenda; Segarra Blasco, Agustí, 1958- |
| Abstract: | The drivers for the adoption of an eco-innovation strategy have been widely explored in the recent literature but, to date, most of these studies have been carried out on manufacturing industries. Hence, this paper investigates the similarities and differences between service and manufacturing firms, distinguishing between the high-tech and lowtech sectors. Using panel data of 4,535 Spanish firms for the period 2008—2014, we specify a dynamic probit model with sample selection. In line with other contributions in the literature, our results confirm the importance of regulatory stimulus to eco-innovation, mainly in form of demand-pull and, especially, in terms of demand push (subsidies) for sectors with low technology intensities. Institutional sources of information seem to be a more important driver for services firms with high technology intensity, whereas manufacturing firms rely more on internal or other sources of information. Furthermore, we find that eco-innovation is highly persistent at the firm level in both sectors and at both technology intensities. Hence, past eco-innovation behaviour is clearly more decisive in explaining the current state of eco-innovation orientation. Keywords: eco-innovation strategy, environmental innovation, service sector, manufacturing sector, green strategy, Spain. JEL Classification Numbers: O31. Q55 |
| Keywords: | Planificació estratègica -- Aspectes ambientals, Innovacions tecnològiques -- Aspectes ambientals, Sector terciari, 33 - Economia, |
| Date: | 2017 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:urv:wpaper:2072/292434&r=env |
| By: | Ruben Bibas (CIRED - Centre International de Recherche sur l'Environnement et le Développement - CIRAD - Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - AgroParisTech - ENPC - École des Ponts ParisTech - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique); Sandrine Mathy (GAEL - Laboratoire d'Economie Appliquée de Grenoble - Grenoble INP - Institut polytechnique de Grenoble - Grenoble Institute of Technology - INRA - Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - UGA - Université Grenoble Alpes); Meike Fink (Réseau Action Climat - Aucune) |
| Abstract: | La définition des technologies à mobiliser et des politiques à mettre en œuvre pour atteindre l'objectif de division par quatre des émissions de gaz à effet de serre suscite de vifs débats. En ce sens, la réalisation d’un exercice de scénarisation peut permettre d'objectiver l’ensemble des conséquences économiques et sociales d’une trajectoire et ainsi ouvrir le débat sur les visions compatibles avec les objectifs climatiques et énergétiques. Cet article décrit le processus d'élaboration participative par une trentaine de parties prenantes ( issues du secteur privé, du secteur public et de l’Etat, des ONG, des associations de consommateurs, des syndicats, des banques ou des collectivités territoriales) d'un scénario bas carbone pour la France. Les mesures considérées comme acceptables par les parties prenantes sont intégrées dans le modèle technico-économique Imaclim-R France, afin d’évaluer leurs impacts sur les émissions de CO2 et sur l'économie. Le scénario issu de cette concertation atteint une réduction des émissions de CO2 de 68% en 2050, par rapport à 1990, ce qui se rapproche de l’objectif de Facteur 4. Les mesures de réduction des émissions, dont la plus emblématique est la taxe carbone, sont bénéfiques pour l'emploi et la croissance économique, sauf à court terme où le défaut d’anticipation des acteurs ne leur permet pas de se préparer à l’instauration d’une taxe carbone. Les mesures permettent en outre de réduire rapidement et durablement le budget des ménages dédié aux services énergétiques, ainsi que la facture énergétique et la compétitivité industrielle est renforcée. |
| Keywords: | scenario bas carbone , Imaclim-France , politique climatique , taxe carbone |
| Date: | 2016 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:journl:hal-01426322&r=env |
| By: | Rodríguez, Julieta A.; Lupín, Beatriz; Lucca, Ana M. F. |
| Abstract: | In Argentina, potato growing is carried out at different times of the year and regions. The Southeastern Buenos Aires Province (SEBA) is one of the most important areas. The main destination of the product for fresh consumption is the domestic market, and Spunta is the most commercialized variety. Conventional production is characterized by high cost and intensive use of agrochemicals. Several sectors of the population, concerned about the use of agrochemicals and their effects on health and the environment, are willing to pay a Premium for food produced with a lower environmental impact. This work is focused on analyzing if it is feasible to reduce the costs of production when a lower quantity of agrochemicals is employed, and to evaluate if consumers would be willing to pay a differential price for such product. |
| Keywords: | Costos de Producción; Disposición a Pagar; Papa; Productos Agroquímicos; Argentina; |
| Date: | 2017–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:nmp:nuland:2723&r=env |
| By: | Hélène Joachain |
| Abstract: | The overarching question of this dissertation is in what ways complementary currencies (CC) systems can contribute to environmental sustainability from an institutional and ecological economics perspective. More particularly, the research focuses on household energy consumption, as it is an important target for policy makers in the EU. The first three chapters focus on the emerging trend of using CC systems as top-down instruments for environmental sustainability. Our findings relate to developing a taxonomy of these systems, designing new top-down CC systems adapted to the context of energy savings in the household sector, exploring the influence of these new systems on the quality of motivation in the light of Self-Determination Theory and investigating the acceptability and effectiveness of these systems. In the fourth and last chapter of this dissertation, we approach our research question from a bottom-up angle and, using an inductive methodology, we explore how community currencies could act as an organising instrument capable of helping cohousing communities achieve their energy-efficiency potential. Finally, we conclude by highlighting our contributions regarding the structure and important features of these systems, how they can be used in an ecological economics paradigm, and how they can set rules for collective action in an institutional perspective. |
| Keywords: | Complementary currencies; Environmental sustainability; Households; Energy savings; Behavioural change; Motivation; Innovative policies; Smart meters; Cohousing; Collective action; Effectiveness; Values and life goals; Ecological economics; Institutional economics |
| Date: | 2017–09–04 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ulb:ulbeco:2013/256976&r=env |
| By: | Charles Sims (Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy and Department of Economics, University of Tennessee); Betsy Heines (Mathematics Department, University of Tennessee); Suzanne Lenhart (Mathematics Department, University of Tennessee) |
| Abstract: | The number of large-scale, high-severity forest fires occurring in the United States is increasing, as is the cost to suppress these fires. One of the key challenges in studying the costs and benefits of forest are prevention management is the incorporation of risk and uncertainty surrounding management decisions. We use a technique developed by William Reed to incorporate the stochasticity of the time of a forest fire into our optimal control problem. Using this optimal control problem we explore the potential trade-offs between prevention management spending and suppression spending, along with the overall economic viability of prevention management spending. Our goal is to determine the optimal fire prevention management spending rate and the optimal re suppression spending which maximizes the expected value of a forest. We develop a parameter set re ecting the 2011 Las Conchas Fire in New Mexico and numerically solve our optimal control problem. Furthermore, we adapt this problem to simulate a sequence of fires and corresponding controls. We perform a simulation study to determine how, on average, prevention management spending a ects the value of a forest given an unknown number of fires over a fixed management horizon. Overall, our results support the conclusion that the prevention management e orts offset rising suppression costs and increase the value of a forest overall. |
| Keywords: | forest fire; optimal control; stochasticity |
| JEL: | Q2 C6 |
| Date: | 2017–03 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ten:wpaper:2017-05&r=env |
| By: | Baran Doda, Simon Quemin, Luca Taschini |
| Abstract: | Linkages between emissions trading systems (ETSs) have an important role to play in the successful, cost-effective implementation of the Paris Agreement. While the theory of bilateral linkages is well established, we know relatively little about the gains from trade in a multilaterally linked system, and less still about how they are shared among jurisdictions participating in the system. We characterize these gains for an arbitrary linkage coalition, show how they can be decomposed into gains in the coalition’s internal bilateral linkages, and prove that linkage is superadditive. Our theoretical results imply the global market may not emerge endogenously and a quantitative exercise shows that this concern may have some validity in practice. |
| Date: | 2017–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:lsg:lsgwps:wp275&r=env |
| By: | Laura Recuero Virto (MNHN and MAEDI); Denis Couvet (MNHN) |
| Abstract: | This paper examines whether natural capital is a robust determinant of economic growth, distinguishing the contribution of direct and indirect effects in renewable and non-renewable natural capital. Our hypothesis is that renewable natural capital may have a rather indirect but more important impact on economic growth than non-renewable natural capital, particularly through human well-being. In contrast, non-renewable natural capital can be a source of immediate financial wealth, but can have adverse social and environmental effects. To test this hypothesis we use a data set on 83 countries for the period 1960-2009 to compare the relevance of proximate and fundamental theories to explain economic growth. We find some evidence of an indirect negative impact of renewable natural capital in wealth on economic growth through through human well-being and, more precisely, population growth rates and fertility. This is particularly the case for countries with higher levels of human development. In contrast, the share of non-renewable natural capital in wealth has a direct positive impact on economic growth in countries with lower income inequality and higher institutional quality. This finding reflects the effect of capital accumulation in the domestic economy, as capacity constrainst are relaxed. Finally, countries with higher income per capita, higher human development and higher institutional quality have a higher share of higher renewable natural capital per capita, although they also have a lower share of lower renewable natural capital in wealth. Such result emphasises that renewable natural capital is very necessary for people (per capita), hence isa primary concern for empowered countries, although such capital contributes less to wealth, and economic growth, in these countries . Our results question the way ‘wealth’ and economic growth are defined in economics when the effect of natural capital is examined. |
| Keywords: | natural capital, economic growth, renewable, non-renewable, |
| JEL: | O44 O47 Q20 Q30 Q32 |
| Date: | 2017–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fae:wpaper:2017.15&r=env |
| By: | Francisco Pereira Fontes, Ashley Gorst, Charles Palmer |
| Abstract: | Drought events have critical impacts on agricultural production yet there is little consensus on how these should be measured and defined. This has implications for drought research and policy, which tends to either define droughts purely based on rainfall or focus uniquely on 'hot' droughts when temperature is considered. We develop a flexible, rainfall-temperature drought index which captures all dry events, including a previously overlooked class of drought that we term 'cold' droughts. Our index is applied to a panel dataset of Indian districts over the period 1966-2009. Results suggest a statistically significant relationship between the index and agricultural production. Cold droughts are found to have consistent, negative marginal impacts that are comparable to those of hot droughts. Estimates of average yield losses due to hot droughts are reduced by as much as 33% when cold droughts are omitted. The associated economic costs are even more severely underestimated, by up to 107%. |
| Date: | 2017–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:lsg:lsgwps:wp274&r=env |
| By: | Catherine Figuière (CREG - Centre de recherche en économie de Grenoble - UPMF - Université Pierre Mendès France - Grenoble 2 - UGA - Université Grenoble Alpes); Armel Chebbi (CREG - Centre de recherche en économie de Grenoble - UPMF - Université Pierre Mendès France - Grenoble 2 - UGA - Université Grenoble Alpes) |
| Abstract: | L’Écologie Industrielle (EI) est systématiquement présentée comme l’une des composantes de l’Économie Circulaire (EC) alors même que cette dernière est médiatisée plus tardivement. Cette communication a pour objectif de révéler la typicité des deux projets en comparant leurs historiques, leurs origines (par qui est produit le savoir), et leur positionnement en matière de durabilité. Les travaux sur l’EI vont s’avérer antérieurs, leurs développements académiques nettement plus fournis et s’inscrivant dans les différentes approches de la durabilité. Les travaux sur l’EC, majoritairement portés par des partenariats publics-privés, se situent quant à eux quasi-exclusivement dans une approche faible de la durabilité, même si certaines publications très récentes amorcent les premières propositions en faveur d’une EC radicale. |
| Keywords: | développement durable , écologie industrielle , économie circulaire , partenaire public-privé |
| Date: | 2016–06–01 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:journl:halshs-01564030&r=env |
| By: | Naila Kabeer; Ricardo Santos |
| Abstract: | Concerns about the dramatic rise in income inequality across the world and, at the same time, assessments of national progress on the Millennium Development Goals made it clear that it is the intersection of income inequality, marginalized social identities and, very often, locational disadvantage which leads to the systematic exclusion of certain groups. In recognition of this, the Sustainable Development Goals now include a commitment to the reduction of income and other inequalities. Our paper uses national data from Brazil between 2002 and 2013 to examine retrospectively how it has performed on some of the indicators relating to the inclusive principles articulated by the SDGs. Our paper examines the extent to which this decline in income inequality was accompanied by a decline in intersecting inequalities and explores some of the economic, political and social explanations given for the country’s performance. |
| Date: | 2017 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:unu:wpaper:wp2017-167&r=env |