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on Environmental Economics |
| By: | Loreta Stankeviciute (LEPII - Laboratoire d'Économie de la Production et de l'Intégration Internationale - CNRS : UMR5252 - Université Pierre Mendès-France - Grenoble II) |
| Abstract: | The study aims to quantify the interactions between the three European objectives in the horizon of 2020: (1) the reduction of 20% of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) (2) the saving of 20% of the energy consumption and (3) the share of 20% of renewables energies in the overall energy consumption. Particular focus is, however, placed on the influence of the environmental policies on the<br />CO2 emission reduction and the carbon price in 2020.<br />The national objectives for the energy savings and renewables energies in our study are realized with the quota systems in every country: white and green certificate systems, while the CO2 emission reduction is carried out at the European level within the ETS in the<br />context of international carbon market. In order to exploit the interactions among the different<br />environmental policies, a number of scenarios are tested within a combination of two powerful<br />modeling tools: POLES world energy model and ASPEN, dedicated for the analysis of quota systems.<br />The paper shows, in particular, that the order of environmental policies does not affect significantly the reduction of emissions and the carbon price. On the other hand, the presence of these policies diminishes highly the marginal European reduction cost and, consequently, the compliance costs for ETS participants. |
| Keywords: | CO2 emissions ; carbon price ; white certificate price ; green certificate price ; European objectives in 2020 |
| Date: | 2007–11 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:papers:halshs-00189098_v2&r=env |
| By: | Loreta Stankeviciute (LEPII - Laboratoire d'Économie de la Production et de l'Intégration Internationale - CNRS : UMR5252 - Université Pierre Mendès-France - Grenoble II); Patrick Criqui (LEPII - Laboratoire d'Économie de la Production et de l'Intégration Internationale - CNRS : UMR5252 - Université Pierre Mendès-France - Grenoble II) |
| Abstract: | Purpose :<br />The study aims to quantify the possible interactions between the three European objectives in the horizon of 2020 : (i) the reduction of 20% of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) (2) the saving of 20% of the European energy consumption and (3) a share of 20% of renewable energies in the overall energy consumption. Particular focus is, however, placed on the influence of the CO2 emission reduction targets and on their consequences on the carbon price in 2020. <br /><br />Design/methodology/approach :<br />In order to explore the interactions among the three European objectives and their induced effects, a number of scenarios are tested within a combination of two modeling tools : the POLES world energy model and ASPEN, an auxiliary model dedicated to the analysis of quota trading systems. With reasonable assumptions for the burden sharing among the Member States, the energy efficiency objectives and the renewable energy targets are achieved using national quota systems in each European country (white and green certificate systems and their implicit prices), while the CO2 emission reduction is carried out within the European Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) in line with the objective of 20% emission reduction.<br /><br />Findings :<br />The paper shows, in particular, that the two quota policies (WC and GC) decrease significantly the European marginal emission reduction cost and consequently, the compliance costs for ETS participants. The high renewable target compliance cost could be reduced significantly if carbon price signal and energy saving policies are in place. The paper also shows that the sole carbon price signal has a limited influence for stimulating renewable energies and energy savings and thus concludes on the need for specific policies targeting these two areas. |
| Keywords: | CO2 emissions ;carbon price ; white certificate price ; green certificate price ; European Union |
| Date: | 2008–01–30 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:papers:halshs-00226208_v1&r=env |
| By: | Nick Johnstone; Ivan Hascic; David Popp |
| Abstract: | This paper examines the effect of environmental policies on technological innovation in the specific case of renewable energy. The analysis is conducted using patent data on a panel of 25 countries over the period 1978-2003. It is found that public policy plays a significant role in determining patent applications. Different types of policy instruments are effective for different renewable energy sources. |
| JEL: | O34 O38 Q55 Q58 |
| Date: | 2008–01 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:nbr:nberwo:13760&r=env |
| By: | Benno Torgler; María A.García-Valiñas; Alison Macintyre |
| Abstract: | The paper investigates empirically the differences in preferences towards protection of the environment. Using seven different dependent variables to focus on the impact of age, gender and children we use a large micro data set covering data from 33 Western and Eastern European countries. The results indicate that women have both a stronger preference towards the environment and a stronger willingness to contribute. Moreover, we observe the tendency of a negative correlation between age and environmental preferences. However, a positive effect is visible once we focus on the impact of age on social norms (environmental morale). Finally, we were not able to observe that having children is positively correlated with a stronger preference towards the environment. |
| Keywords: | environmental preferences, environmental morale, gender, age, children |
| JEL: | H26 H73 D64 |
| Date: | 2008–01–23 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:qut:dpaper:227&r=env |
| By: | John Henderson; Katharina Janke; Carol Propper |
| Abstract: | We examine the relationship between common sources of airborne pollution and population mortality in present day England. The current air quality limit values are low by both historical and international standards, and these are set at levels which are believed not to be harmful to health. We assess whether this view is correct. We use data at local authority level for the period 1998 to 2004 to examine whether current levels of airborne pollution, as measured by annual mean concentrations of carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, particulate matter less than 10 µm in diameter (PM10) and ozone, are associated with excess deaths. We examine all cause mortality and deaths from specific cardiovascular and respiratory causes that are known to be exacerbated by air pollution. We exploit the panel nature of our data to control for any unobserved time-invariant associations at local authority level between high levels of pollution and poor population health and estimate multi-pollutant models to allow for the fact that three of the pollutants are closely correlated. We find higher levels of PM10 and ozone are associated with higher mortality rates. The size of the effects we find translates into around 4,500 deaths per annum. |
| Keywords: | airborne pollutants, adult mortality, geographical analysis |
| JEL: | I12 I18 |
| Date: | 2007–12 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cep:sticas:/128&r=env |
| By: | Seo, S. Niggol |
| Abstract: | This paper develops a new analysis to measure climate change impacts on livestock management taking into account the interactions between crops and livestock. A micro-econometric analysis on the choice of agricultural system and on the conditional income for each system is used. The paper used African data collected from 9000 farmers across 11 countries in Africa. The results indicate that when climate is hot, farmers prefer mixed farms over specialized farms on either crops or livestock. When climate is wet, they often choose crops over livestock. Half a century later, livestock only farms are predicted to decrease by 2% under CCC, 5% under CCSR, and 7% under PCM. On the other hand, livestock farms with also crops are predicted to increase by 5% under CCC and CCSR, and 11% under PCM. Livestock only farm profit also falls by 40% under CCC, 250% under CCSR, and 600% under PCM. The profit of livestock farm with crops, however, increases by 17% under PCM. Under the CCC, expected farm income falls by 12%. On the other hand, farm income increases by 13% under the PCM scenario. The damage estimate (benefit estimate) on agriculture as a whole with the transition to the best system is lower (higher) than that without system switch. |
| Keywords: | Climate Change; Livestock; Joint Analysis; Micro-econometrics |
| JEL: | Q1 Q5 |
| Date: | 2008–01–27 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:6903&r=env |
| By: | Michael R. King |
| Abstract: | The author provides an overview of carbon markets and explains how emissions trading can be important in encouraging the reduction of CO2 emissions in an efficient manner. He describes the key steps in establishing a cap-and-trade system, and reviews the European experiences with emissions trading. He highlights the lessons learned from the EU Emissions Trading System on how to design a market that operates efficiently and effectively. By learning from the experience of other countries, Canada can avoid the uncertainty and volatility witnessed in carbon markets abroad while benefiting from an efficient trading mechanism that contributes to the welfare of all Canadians. |
| Keywords: | International topics; Market structure and pricing |
| JEL: | D4 N50 Q21 |
| Date: | 2008 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:bca:bocadp:08-1&r=env |
| By: | Marcel Boyer; Donatella Porrini |
| Abstract: | Using a structural model of the interactions between governments, firms and insurance companies, we characterise the distortions in environmental liability sharing between firms and insurance companies that the imperfect implementation of government policies implies. These distortions stem from three factors: the presence of moral hazard, the non congruence between firms/insurers objectives and social welfare, and the courts’ imperfect assessment of safety care levels exerted by firms. We characterize cases where the efficient liability sharing factor is above or below its full information perfect implementation level. We derive comparative statics results indicating how sensitive the liability sharing factor is to changes in parameters (parameters that underlie the firm profit level and volatility, the cost of safety care, the monitoring cost, the social cost of public funds, the effectiveness of care in reducing the probability of accident) that are relevant for the characterization of optimal policies (liability sharing, safety care standards) toward environmental protection or the prevention of industrial accidents. We derive policy implications regarding environmental disaster insurance policies. <P>À l’aide d’un modèle structurel des interactions entre les gouvernements, les entreprises et les assureurs, nous caractérisons les distorsions dans le partage des responsabilités entre entreprises et assureurs qu’implique la mise en place imparfaite des politiques gouvernementales. Ces distorsions résultent de trois facteurs : la présence de risque moral, la non-congruence des objectifs des entreprises, des assureurs et de bien-être social, et l’observation imparfaite des efforts de prévention des entreprises par le système judiciaire. Nous dérivons des résultats de statique comparée montrant la sensibilité du facteur de partage des responsabilités à des changements dans les paramètres sous-jacents à la profitabilité, au coût des efforts de prévention, à l’efficacité de ces efforts dans la réduction de la probabilité d’accident, au coût de monitoring, au coût social des fonds publics, et qui sont pertinents à la caractérisation des politiques optimales (partage de responsabilité, standard légal du niveau de prévention) de protection environnementale et de prévention des accidents. Nous en déduisons certaines implications quant aux politiques relatives à l’assurance contre les désastres environnementaux. |
| Keywords: | Liability sharing, environmental insurance, safety care, moral hazard, principal-agent., Partage de responsabilité, assurance environnementale, effort de prévention, risque moral, principal-agent. |
| JEL: | D82 G32 K13 K32 Q28 |
| Date: | 2008–01–01 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cir:cirwor:2008s-03&r=env |
| By: | Berchicci, L.; King, A.A. (Erasmus Research Institute of Management (ERIM), RSM Erasmus University) |
| Abstract: | Environmental issues, while of growing interest, have been outside the main focus of business scholarship. This position on the periphery may have been a good thing. It allowed scholars of business and the environment to consider unusual theories and evaluate overlooked phenomenon. In doing so, they created a body of research that provides new insights on two topics of mainstream interest -- the sources of competitive advantage and the origin and function of self-regulatory institutions. |
| Keywords: | environmental issues;business and environment;competitive advantage |
| Date: | 2007–12–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:dgr:eureri:1765010771&r=env |
| By: | Walid Marrouch; Bernard Sinclair-Desgagné |
| Abstract: | Sedimentation in river beds, which results in social disamenities, is caused by soil erosion in farmed ecosystems surrounding those rivers. This paper introduces a "spatial" corrective tax on soil erosion. We find that the optimal tax rule will depart from the classical Pigouvian method according to farmers’ location in the ecosystem. <P>La sédimentation du lit des voies navigables, dont les conséquences peuvent être coûteuses pour les populations riveraines, est souvent provoquée par l'érosion résultant des pratiques agricoles. Nous proposons un remède basé sur l'imposition d'une taxe « spatiale », variant selon la position de chaque exploitant par rapport au cours d'eau. |
| Keywords: | Farming externalities, soil erosion, spatial taxes, Externalités agricoles, érosion des sols, taxes spatiales |
| JEL: | H23 Q57 |
| Date: | 2008–01–01 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cir:cirwor:2008s-04&r=env |
| By: | Vicent Alcantara Escolano (Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona); Emilio Padilla Rosa (Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona); Jordi Roca Jusmet (Departament de Teoria Econòmica, Universitat de Barcelona) |
| Abstract: | A lo largo del trabajo hemos analizado, tanto desde una perspectiva agregada, como posteriormente con todo el detalle posible, la evolución experimentada por estas emisiones, teniendo en cuenta las limitaciones de información . Para hacerlo se han utilizado conceptos y precisiones metodológicas ampliamente utilizadas en la literatura científica sobre el tema. Del estudio realizado en la primera parte del trabajo resulta evidente que el importante crecimiento de las emisiones en Cataluña durante el periodo considerado, de un 60.1%, muy superior a la media española (50,5%), se explica como principal factor por el aumento en el PIB per cápita, con un crecimiento del 33,35% . El crecimiento demográfico también habría contribuido de forma importante al incremento en las emisiones totales, con un aumento del 10,5% de la población; sobre todo a partir de 1999, ya que en la década de los noventa la población se mantuvo estable con pocas |
| Date: | 2007–11 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea0710&r=env |