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on Environmental Economics |
| By: | Joseph E. Aldy; Robert Stavins |
| Abstract: | Because of the global commons nature of climate change, international cooperation among nations will likely be necessary for meaningful action at the global level. At the same time, it will inevitably be up to the actions of sovereign nations to put in place policies that bring about meaningful reductions in the emissions of greenhouse gases. Due to the ubiquity and diversity of emissions of greenhouse gases in most economies, as well as the variation in abatement costs among individual sources, conventional environmental policy approaches, such as uniform technology and performance standards, are unlikely to be sufficient to the task. Therefore, attention has increasingly turned to market-based instruments in the form of carbon-pricing mechanisms. We examine the opportunities and challenges associated with the major options for carbon pricing: carbon taxes, cap-and-trade, emission reduction credits, clean energy standards, and fossil fuel subsidy reductions. |
| JEL: | D02 F18 H23 K32 L38 Q28 Q48 Q5 Q54 Q58 |
| Date: | 2011–11 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:nbr:nberwo:17569&r=env |
| By: | Feng XU; Nan XIANG; Shanshan WANG; Yang LI; Takeshi MIZUNOYA; Yabar HELMUT |
| Abstract: | Recently, various environmental problems have been generated with the rapid economic development in China. That’s because China currently over-emphasized economic development beyond environmental issues; therefore, now it is important to enforce optimal environmental policies in order to achieve economic development as well as environmental improvement. In this study, we selected Jiaxing city as research area for that the environmental pollution problem has become prominent with economic high growth, and we constructed environmental system model and social economic model to establish the scenarios. Through computer simulation, we can evaluate the efficiency of the comprehensive environmental policies from both environmental preservation and social economic development aspects. While the social-economic model shows the socioeconomic activities which are vital events, fortune and service, such as production, finance and budget; the environmental system model shows the water pollutants and the greenhouse gas movement in the region. The dynamic optimization simulation is accomplished based on this environmental and socio-economic system model. In view of the restriction on water pollutants, greenhouse gas total exhausted amount, and economic activity in the catchment area, the simulation we practiced can provide concrete inner-generating optimal policies which can achieve the best economic and environment improvement with the consideration of policy, regional and timing choice in Jiaxing City, China. |
| Date: | 2011–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa11p547&r=env |
| By: | Shamsunnahar Khanam; Yuzuru Miyata; Yan Liu |
| Abstract: | Since the industrialization, the appearance of cities has been enhancing great changes of people's lives by mass production and mass consumption. Because of the human society has been developing through industrialization and urbanization, many environmental problems, such as Green House Gas (GHG) emissions, waste generation have been occurring as well. Thus, city planners and urban policy makers look forward for designing a compact city to attain a sustainable urban system. Because the form of compact city contributes to improve harmful effects of urban sprawl and offers us many benefits, such as less car dependency thus lower emissions, reduce energy consumption, etc. An influential study in 'Cities and Automobile Dependence: An International Sourcebook, 1989' by Peter Newman and Jeff Kenworthy show that the denser urban areas in the developed countries have a greater mixture of land use and lower car dependency, thus trends to lower energy consumption and emissions. However, the suburban cities in the developed countries have a common trend of high car dependency, thus increasing energy consumption and emissions. Thus, in order to reduce GHG (especial focus on CO2) emissions from the suburban areas, this research takes vehicle as subject and is dedicated to introduce an electric vehicle and the low-carbon society. The great advantage of electric vehicles will be to reduce CO2 emissions, but only when the electric automobiles are powered by natural energy, like solar power. If EVs are powered by the electricity generated from coal, gas, petroleum etc., there will be no significant impact for reducing CO2 emissions. Thus, solar energy comes first to our mind to reduce CO2 emissions. We set Toyohashi City as the study region and apply a static computable general equilibrium (CGE) model to analyze the economic impact of realization of electric automobile oriented society in Toyohashi City. Our model will show us how large the economic impact of spread of electric automobiles is, and will offer us a new industrial structure in a Low Carbon Society (LCS) in the world. And this model could be easily extended in other areas of Japan and in other countries to reduce GHG emissions and energy consumption. Keywords: Electric Vehicle (EV), Green House Gas, Low-Carbon Society. |
| Date: | 2011–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa11p1892&r=env |
| By: | ZhongXiang Zhang (East-West Center); ; |
| Abstract: | Paragraph 31(iii) of the Doha Ministerial Declaration mandates to the liberalization of environmental goods and services. This mandate offers a good opportunity to put climate-friendly goods and services on a fast track to liberalization. Agreement on this paragraph should represent one immediate contribution that the WTO can make to fight against climate change. This paper presents the key issues surrounding the liberalization of trade in climate-friendly goods and technologies in WTO environmental goods negotiations. It begins with discussing what products to liberalize and how. Given that WTO Members are divided by this key issue, the paper explores options to move current negotiations on the liberalization of trade in environmental goods and technologies forward, both within and outside the WTO. Recognizing that there is no one-size-fits-all strategy for tariff liberalization for all countries and for all environmental goods, the paper suggests the need for a high degree of flexibility to accommodate different situations and stakes in the liberalization of trade in environmental goods. Given that there are simply not enough environmental markets or these markets are weak in many developing countries, the paper emphasizes that creating markets for environmental goods in developing countries is far more important than just improving market-access conditions for associated goods, and discusses how to best serve the interests and concerns of developing countries. |
| JEL: | F18 F13 P28 Q42 Q48 Q56 Q54 Q58 Q48 |
| Date: | 2011–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ewc:wpaper:wp120&r=env |
| By: | Bruno Nkuiya |
| Abstract: | We characterize the equilibrium level of emissions, the equilibrium stock of global pollution and the discounted net social welfare for both the cooperative and non-cooperative equilibria when the countries face the threat of a sudden irreversible jump in the global damages at an unknown date. The goal is to analyze the impact of this type of uncertainty on the equilibrium behavior of the countries. We find that it can have a significant effect on those equilibria. Countries reduce their emissions to mitigate their exposure to this threat. As the level of threat rises, countries adjust their emissions to lower the stock of pollutant. However, although initially this threat has the effect of lowering the discounted net welfare, it can in the long run have a net positive effect on welfare. The emissions trajectory is non-monotonic and discontinuous, but only under the threat. |
| Keywords: | Global pollution, environmental uncertainty, regime shift, stochastic differential games |
| JEL: | C61 C7 D81 Q54 |
| Date: | 2011 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:lvl:creacr:2011-1&r=env |
| By: | Mendelsohn, Robert; Emanuel, Kerry; Chonabayashi, Shun |
| Abstract: | This paper constructs an integrated assessment model of tropical cyclones in order to quantify the impact that climate change may have on tropical cyclone damages in countries around the world. The paper relies on a tropical cyclone generator in each ocean and several climate models to predict tropical cyclones with and without climate change. A damage model is constructed to compute the resulting damage when a cyclone strikes each country. Economic development is expected to double global tropical cyclone damages because more will be in harm's way. Climate change is expected to double global damage again, causing an additional $54 billion of damage per year. The damage is projected to be concentrated in North America and eastern Asia but many Caribbean islands will suffer the highest damages per unit of GDP. Most of the increased damage will be caused by rare but very powerful storms. |
| Keywords: | Climate Change Economics,Climate Change Mitigation and Green House Gases,Hazard Risk Management,Science of Climate Change,Global Environment Facility |
| Date: | 2011–02–01 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:5562&r=env |
| By: | Sofia Franco; Antonieta Sa; Renato Rosa |
| Abstract: | Forests can play a major role in climate regulation by reducing levels of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Forests also provide a range of other ecological goods and services such as biodiversity and watershed protection and amenity benefits. On the other hand, deforestation and suburban sprawl have substantially changed and fragmented our landscape. While the economic importance of open space and forest amenities and the implications of nontimber benefits for harvesting within the traditional Faustmann framework are well understood, the feedback effects between urban development and forest land changes are not. However, the development of a framework to fully exploit the interplay between urban development and deforestation may reinforce the workings of emission reduction programs if co-benefits from land-based mitigation are realized. The purpose of this paper is to offer a first step towards such framework. In particular, this paper has developed a model of a single forest owner operating with perfect foresight in a dynamic open-city environment that allows for switching between alternative competing land uses (forest and urban use) at some point in the future. The model also incorporates external values of an even-aged standing forest in addition to the value of timber when it is harvested. Timber is exploited based on a multiple rotation model a la Faustmann with clear-cut harvesting. In contrast to previous models, our alternative land use to forest land is endogenous. Within this framework, we study the problem of the private owner as well as that of the social planner, when choosing the time to harvest, the time to convert land and the intensity of development. We also examine the extent to which the two-way linkage between urban development and forest management practices (timber production and provision of forest amenities) contributes to economic efficiency and improvements in non-market forest benefits. Finally, we consider policy options available to a regulator seeking to achieve improvements in efficiency including anti-sprawl policies (impact fees and density controls) and forest policies such a yield tax. Numerical simulations illustrate our analytical results. |
| Date: | 2011–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa11p1472&r=env |
| By: | Travaglini, Giuseppe; Rugiero, Serena |
| Abstract: | In this paper we argue that energy efficiency and environmental efficiency are two aspects of the same problem. To show this, we assess the analytical utility of the well-known IPACT and ImPACT models, presenting here a new developed identity named Augmented ImPACT. For Italy, our findings suggest that over the last twenty years the rise of energy efficiency has been accompanied by a controversial consumption of environmental resources and of CO2 accumulation. Specifically, the italian sector of services appears to be highly inefficient. In the second part of the paper we use a VAR model to estimate the impact of energy efficiency on economy, looking at employment value added and polluted emissions. Our results suggest that a rise in energy efficiency can help in improving both economic and environmental scenarios. |
| Keywords: | Contabilità ambientale; efficienza energetica e ambientale; VAR; simulazioni di risposta all'impulso |
| JEL: | Q53 C30 Q43 |
| Date: | 2011–09–24 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:34520&r=env |
| By: | Jorge Cerda; Carlos Marmolejo; Josep Roca |
| Abstract: | The main objective of the study is the development of a model for the evaluation of the environmental and energy efficiency of the interaction (mobility) and land use structure (called as 'territorial functionality'), applied to the metropolitan area of Barcelona . In particular there are four points that underpin the model: a) a basic land use-transportation model (LUTM), b) a model for the energy consumption and environmental emissions produced by the territorial functionality, c) a model for the consumption of land produced by the territorial functionality (developed land), and d) assessment of social equity in access to urban activities, and exposure to environmental effects. The goodness of the proposed model is that is composed of empirical models (econometric), robust in their specific topic, but spatially disaggregated (municipality). With this structure is possible to evaluate the effects of functional changes (transport projects or urban planning) in the spatial structure of energy consumption, environmental emissions, and consumption of land, and also identifying the participation (responsibility) of different territories in these effects. It is a systemic and spatial view of the role that each territory plays in the functionality, and their responsibility in the environmental effects. The model is currently under construction, joining the calibrated models of consumption and environmental emissions to an existing transport model in the metropolitan area of Barcelona. This paper presents the mathematical model, and the indicators defined for characterizing the state of the territorial system, and a simple simulation of the possible analysis and results. |
| Date: | 2011–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa11p192&r=env |
| By: | Peng Wu; Ying Jin; Yongjiang Shi |
| Abstract: | As a stark contrast to the diminishing media profile of the UN climate change talks, the global manufacturers appear to have become more carbon aware than ever before. Carbon audits have been carried out within many corporations to assess the carbon intensity of production processes. This is partly to address cost issues of the present (i.e. the recent rise in fossil fuel prices) and of the future (e.g. new carbon related taxes and trade tariffs). Moreover, the adoption of low carbon, clean manufacturing processes has become an increasingly prominent part of branding for many products, which could affect market share and business performance in ways that go beyond questions of cost competitiveness. How will this carbon awareness affect the configuration of the value chains of global manufacturing? Will the individual manufacturers’ decisions lead to an effective reduction of total carbon emissions at the global value chain scale? Our paper aims to answer these questions through developing a theoretical model and testing it empirically through case studies of global value chains. The model accounts explicitly costs of energy, carbon, other intermediate inputs and primary inputs in the production and transport of each component, product assembly and delivery to the market. Much work has been done on the value chain location problem – e.g. on the production unbundling among different countries from a macro-economic perspective, or on operations management at the microscopic or individual manufacturer level. It is only until recently that the economic and technology aspects have been combined in the study of global value chains (for example in the paper by Baldwin and Venables in last year’s ERSA Congress). The appropriate spatial scale for our research questions would appear to be at a meso-level: i.e. the model goes beyond the micro-level operational analysis of a single plant to cover the entire value chain for a given product, but does not cover the full interactions at the macro level. This perspective is relatively rare in the literature and provides a tool that connects the micro level and macro level perspectives. |
| Date: | 2011–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa11p1724&r=env |
| By: | Joaquim Guilhoto; Cinthia Costa; Marcelo Cunha; Kathleen Araujo |
| Abstract: | Sustainable energy strategies require decision-makers in government, industry, academia and civil society alike to make choices among tradeoffs. Within the transport sector alone, ethanol has been shown to be the dominant solution among viable, low carbon options to date, yet questions remain over the economic and ecological impacts of this industry. In Brazil - the largest producer of sugarcane-based ethanol and a country with over three decades of ethanol development – we find a strong basis for evaluating the ethanol industry’s role in a national economy. In the mid 1970’s, Brazilian ethanol production received an important boost with the launch of the “Proálcool†program. The ethanol industry has subsequently evidenced flux until its consolidation in the period following 2000. Over the course of three decades, economic, institutional, technological and environmental determinants have factored in the success of Brazilian ethanol diffusion. In economic terms, price tradeoffs for ethanol vs. sugar and ethanol vs. gasoline played a role in scale-up of the biofuel together with balance of payment considerations. From an institutional standpoint, support for the Proálcool program, deregulation of the sugar-cane sector in the 1990’s and fuel pump adaptations also factored. With respect to technology, the development of flex fuel cars, greater use of mechanized harvesting, and launch of domestic, co-generated, electrical power were key drivers. Finally, in environmental terms, challenges associated with pollution and public health in major cities as well as questions related to climate change gained visibility. In this paper, we analyze a set of input-output tables for the Brazilian economy from 1975 to 2008, taking the above factors into consideration. Deriving a series of indicators, such as multipliers and linkages, we study the evolution of the ethanol sector’s role in the Brazilian economy and its relation to the productive structure of the country. |
| Date: | 2011–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa11p1478&r=env |
| By: | César Pakissi |
| Abstract: | Huambo city although currently not industrialized, list an increasing degradation of its environment in terms of atmospheric and noise pollution, for the fact of current lack of supply of electric energy, to stimulate the use of individual form, electric chain generators on the part of the city dwellers, fact that this stops beyond if disclosing as an authentic threat for the environment, besides impracticable under the economic point of view. This situation together whith an inapropriate use of the potentialities of power plants cleaner than the region offers becomes a worry subjects which are analyzed in the present work about the contribution for energy and environmental maintenance in Huambo city, on this basis the diagnosised problem and use of diverse methods, from the hypothesis that the individual production of energy in Huambo city is the main factor responsible for the atmospheric pollution that is seen in this region. Potential was analyzed three scenes that allows to characterize the current problems of energy supply in Huambo city, its economic and ambient impacts and is considered alternative that they point viable power plants under the economic and ambient point of view. Keys-words: energy, pollution and environment |
| Date: | 2011–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa11p1793&r=env |
| By: | Mendelsohn, Robert; Emanuel, Kerry; Chonabayashi, Shun |
| Abstract: | This paper quantifies hurricane damage caused by climate change across the US. A damage function is estimated from historic hurricane data to measure the impacts at each location given the storm's strength. The minimum barometric pressure of each storm turns out to be a better indicator of damages than the traditional measure of maximum wind speed. A hurricane generator in the Atlantic Ocean is then used to create 5000 storms with and without climate change. Combining the location and intensity of each storm with the income and population projected for each location, it is possible to estimate a detailed picture of how hurricanes will impact each state with and without climate change. Income and population growth alone increase expected baseline damage from $9 to $27 billion per year by 2100. Climate change is expected to increase damage by another $40 billion. Over 85 percent of these impacts are in Florida and the Gulf states. The 10 percent most damaging storms cause 93 percent of expected damage. |
| Keywords: | Climate Change Economics,Climate Change Mitigation and Green House Gases,Hazard Risk Management,Science of Climate Change,Global Environment Facility |
| Date: | 2011–02–01 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:5561&r=env |
| By: | Atsumi Furuya; Masahito Fukami; Harald Ellingsen; Seiichi Kagaya |
| Abstract: | Japan’s fish production volume in 2008 was 5.59million tons, it accounted for 4% of world’s production and consisted of catch (4.40million tons) and aquaculture (1.19 million tons). For the far sea fishery, its’ fishing grounds are in domestic and foreign countries’ exclusive economic zone and international waters, since the total production volume of this fishery has been declining, offshore and coastal fishery have become mainly in Japan. In this study, the estimation of the energy consumptions in a kelp aquaculture and three types of fisheries, such as squid, fixed net and gill net, is done for comparison to the consumptions of fisheries in foreign countries. The result reveals that the characteristics of these fisheries’ energy consumptions and the measures for reductions of energy use. Furthermore, in Minamikayabe as surveyed fishing village, the carbon dioxide balance in this village is evaluated. The carbon dioxide emissions from the energy (fuel and electricity) use and the escape Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) from freezers, refrigerators and ice manufacture machines in the village are calculated. Meanwhile, as forests and oceans are carbon dioxide sinks, it is possible to estimate the volume of carbon dioxide stored by woods and seaweed along the coast. Finally, several measures for carbon dioxide reductions are shown. |
| Date: | 2011–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa11p1322&r=env |
| By: | Kalirajan, Kaliappa (Asian Development Bank Institute); Singh, Kanhaiya (Asian Development Bank Institute); Thangavelu, Shandre (Asian Development Bank Institute); Venkatachalam, Anbumozhi (Asian Development Bank Institute); Perera, Kumidini (Asian Development Bank Institute) |
| Abstract: | There is an urgent need to mainstream the key challenges of climate change into sector and development planning and decision making processes to create sustainable long-term development. Empirical results in this study emphasize that more caution is needed in directing overseas development aid (ODA) towards climate change mitigation and adaptation due to the links between various macroeconomic variables related to growth and poverty reduction. |
| Keywords: | climate change; overseas development assistance; millennium development goals; technology transfer |
| JEL: | F35 O19 P33 Q56 |
| Date: | 2011–11–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ris:adbiwp:0318&r=env |
| By: | Shiro Kawai; Kouchi Tonosaki; Kouji Tokoro |
| Abstract: | Basically, urban greenery spaces have a lot of roles such as recreational function, evacuation space, environmental conservation, and the landscape planning. Recently, in addition to these things, most scientists insist that urban greenery spaces have a wide variety of potential, which are relevant to biodiversity conservation, maintenance of ecological networks, absorption of greenhouse gas emissions, and the cooling of surrounding areas. In these roles, especially, we considered that the cooling potential by greenery spaces are very important because the urban heat island phenomenon has become a serious topic of public concern during summer. This is the reason why we are addressing this issue. Based on these ideas, this paper aims to quantify the cooling potential of urban greenery spaces in summer. Initially, we have observed that greenery space and anthropogenic heat emissions have a great effect on the temperature in downtown areas from the various data collected from 27 observation points in Minato-Ku, Tokyo. Secondly, we have clarified the cooling potential of greenery spaces. Judging from the regression analysis, it can be said that the cooling influence by greenery spaces of 22,500 square meters is equivalent to the heating influence by the anthropogenic heat released from seventy office buildings of the average size in Minato-Ku, this having a total floor area of about 211,726 square meters. Furthermore, the cooling potential of a greenery space of 22,500 square meters from July to September can be expected to reduce about 236 times as much quantity of carbon dioxide as the same greenery space absorbed for one year. Our calculations take into consideration the fact that the reduction of temperature caused by greenery spaces makes air-conditioner usage will be reduced, therefore less fossil fuel will be consumed in electricity. In conclusion, greenery spaces in urban downtown areas have the function of air-conditioning given by nature. |
| Date: | 2011–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa11p74&r=env |
| By: | Hallegatte, Stephane; Heal, Geoffrey; Fay, Marianne; Treguer, David |
| Abstract: | Green growth is about making growth processes resource-efficient, cleaner and more resilient without necessarily slowing them. This paper aims at clarifying these concepts in an analytical framework and at proposing foundations for green growth. The green growth approach proposed here is based on (1) focusing on what needs to happen over the next 5-10 years before the world gets locked into patterns that would be prohibitively expensive and complex to modify and (2) reconciling the short and the long term, by offsetting short-term costs and maximizing synergies and economic co-benefits. This, in turn, increases the social and political acceptability of environmental policies. This framework identifies channels through which green policies can potentially contribute to economic growth. However, only detailed country- and context-specific analyses for each of these channels could reach firm conclusion regarding their actual impact on growth. Finally, the paper discusses the policies that can be implemented to capture these co-benefits and environmental benefits. Since green growth policies pursue a variety of goals, they are best served by a combination of instruments: price-based policies are important but are only one component in a policy tool-box that can also include norms and regulation, public production and direct investment, information creation and dissemination, education and moral suasion, or industrial and innovation policies. |
| Keywords: | Environmental Economics&Policies,Climate Change Economics,Economic Theory&Research,Transport Economics Policy&Planning,Energy Production and Transportation |
| Date: | 2011–11–01 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:5872&r=env |
| By: | Nan XIANG; Feng XU; Shanshan WANG; Yang LI; Takeshi MIZUNOYA; Yabar HELMUT |
| Abstract: | Increasing scarcity of freshwater resources and growing environmental awareness give rise to the use of reclaimed wastewater as an additional source of water supply. However, the amount of wastewater that can be reclaimed for reuse is subject to many factors, ranging from technical possibility to socio-economic and institutional conditions. Taking Tianjin in China as a case study, this paper provides a systematic framework for the analysis of waste water reuse potential under various driving forces and constrains. A linear programming model was used to analyze reclaimed wastewater reuse potential and the different reuse scenarios concerning environmental and economic development. In this paper we propose tentative policy proposals for meeting such challenges for economic development, water saving and water quality perfection. Through simulation and evaluation of introducing new advanced technologies and sewage plant in the catchment area, the simulation results suggest that the wastewater reuse can substitute 16 percent of freshwater under rational economic, financial and environmental constraints. The framework established in this study and the results of Tianjin case study help to give the optimal policy proposals of reclaimed water utilization. This study also provides a useful basis for the evaluation of specific wastewater reuse simulation for further research. |
| Date: | 2011–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa11p544&r=env |
| By: | Federica Isola; Cheti Pira |
| Abstract: | ABSTRACT Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) in the context of the enactment of the Directive 2001/42/CE is at the core of the adjustment process of provincial and city Masterplan to the Sardinian Regional Landscape Plan (RLP). SEA is a fundamental instrument for the environmental integration during the elaboration and adoption of plans; SEA offers an opportunity to bring about a real change of attitude and culture at strategic levels into strategic decision-making process. In this context, this paper adopted a critical observation relating to the Sardinian landscape planning, in particular trough the analysed of the adjustment process of city Masterplan of Alghero to the Sardinian RLP. The critical aspects which emerged in the adjustment phases are to be considered in a scenario which is common among those territorial and normative contexts to which the Directive should be applied. In particular the situation which is represented in the case study intends to highlight the urgent need for a Sardinian planning legislation reform. This would positively influence the final evaluation of the effects of the plan on the landscape; in particular, this would make up for the flaws in the outdated traditional approaches, based on the dualism between urban and landscape development planning. This would also unify the phases of management of territory, thus mitigating the contrasts inherent in the enactment process, currently under way. Keywords: Territorial Planning, Urban Planning, Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) |
| Date: | 2011–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa11p939&r=env |
| By: | Ana Carolina Clark; Natalia Melgar (Departamento de Economía, Facultad de Ciencias Sociales, Universidad de la República); María Fernanda Milans; Máximo Rossi (Departamento de Economía, Facultad de Ciencias Sociales, Universidad de la República) |
| Abstract: | The main goal of this study is to assess public opinion views on environmental problems and how these attitudes are based on individual characteristics in the case of Latin America. The contribution of this work is to show that attitudes towards environment are not only determined by personal attributes but also by macroeconomic factors. Moreover, findings can be useful in the design of environmental policies. The data source comes from the 2008 Latinobarómetro survey and probit models are estimated. In line with previous researches, we find that higher income and/ or a higher educational level raise the probability of being involved in environmental causes. |
| Keywords: | environmental perception, income, education, Latin America |
| JEL: | K32 O12 O13 Q50 Q56 |
| Date: | 2011–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ude:wpaper:2511&r=env |
| By: | Marijana Sumpor; Marga Gakovic |
| Abstract: | The cross-border area between Croatia and Montenegro has similar development preconditions: large potential for tourism development and rich natural and cultural heritage. Both have experience in EU funded cross-border cooperation (CBC) programmes. The importance of the sustainable development aspect and is formally included into various national strategic documents, but implementation of such vague strategic documents is often problematic and sustainability aspects need to be examined on programme and project level. The current Integrated Pre-accession Assistance (IPA) Cross-border Cooperation Programme Croatia-Montenegro 2007-2013 is the basis for our research and sustainability evaluation. As recognised in the Cross-border Cooperation (CBC) Programme, one of the main challenges of the cross-border area besides the impact of globalization on the regional economy and developing competitive economy based on knowledge etc., are also environmental challenges. The Programme’s strategic orientation to sustainable development encompasses economic development, human resources development, social justice and environmental protection. The overall objective focuses on the development of the cross-border region through cooperation and networks following the guidelines and regulations provided by the European Commission (EC) through the IPA Implementing Regulation. Specific objectives focus on development of SMEs, tourism, trade, environment, culture and sport. The long-term opportunities for the programming area are: competitive regional economies based on high quality service sector in tourism; efficient protection of the environment; natural and cultural heritage; and sustainable use of nature resources; as well as high quality public and social services necessary for community development. At project level, environmental issues were only to a very limited degree included and addressed in the application package through evaluation of financial, institutional, policy level and environmental sustainability aspects. Since the CBC Programme is implemented through projects, our questions are the following: What is the structural impact of the proposed actions and do they lead to improved legislation, codes of conduct, and methods? Is there an environmental impact? To which extent is guidance on sustainability issues provided and what is needed for improved implementation? How are participatory approaches during project planning and implementation used? |
| Date: | 2011–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa11p425&r=env |
| By: | Parkhurst, Gregory M; Shogren, Jason F; Crocker, Thomas |
| Abstract: | In the lab, we examine the effectiveness of two land use conservation policies: a tradable set aside requirements (TSARs), and the TSARs combined with an agglomeration bonus. Evaluated by bioeconomic efficiency, our experimental results suggest: 1) TSARs is a cost-effective land conservation tool; and 2) combining TSARS with the agglomeration bonus increases habitat connectivity but at a price—lower economic efficiency. |
| Keywords: | Conservation; tradable development rights; spatial conservation; market instruments |
| JEL: | D02 Q27 |
| Date: | 2011 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:34555&r=env |
| By: | Hélène Joachain; Frédéric Klopfert |
| Abstract: | Using complementary currencies systems as policy instruments for environmental purposes is a trend that seems to be progressively emerging in Europe. The Belgian Science Policy INESPO Project ,in the framework of which the research presented in this paper was carried out, is building on this emerging trend. The aim of the INESPO project is indeed to build new instruments for energy saving policies in the household sector based on the innovative coupling of Complementary Currencies (CC) and Smart Meters (SM). This CC-SM instrument is intended to promote both behavioural changes in everyday life and investment decisions leading to increased energy efficiency. In order to gain insights for the design of the CC part of the instrument, a first step was to turn to projects that had already used in the past CC as policy instrument for behavioural change. Two projects (NU-Spaarpas and E-portemonnee) that have pioneered this path in Europe were analysed to this purpose. This analysis revealed that, although those two projects had not been left unnoticed by academics, no taxonomy of their constitutive parameters had been developed yet. This paper is intended to contribute to the research on CC as policy instrument for environmental sustainability by proposing such a taxonomy for those CC projects. The resulting hierarchical classification of parameters has already been tested as a building tool during the design phase of the INESPO project. In the process, it became evident that the conceptual frameworks used to understand and explain behaviours had a major impact on the design of the CC-SM instrument and could lead to very different choices for key parameters of the system. |
| Date: | 2011–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:sol:wpaper:2013/101209&r=env |
| By: | Eleonora Lorenzini |
| Abstract: | Many rural areas make increasing recourse to the use of territorial marks to achieve a development goal, foster reputation as well as preserve their identity, their cultural, social and environmental resources. Despite the growing interest of the literature on the topic, territorial marks have so far been analysed as individual tools, while in many areas a strategy of territory branding can be recognised. Drawing on research from two Italian case studies, the paper shows which are the pillars of such a strategy, which are the territorial conditions allowing its success and which effects this strategy produces under the economic, social, cultural and environmental point of view. |
| Date: | 2011–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa11p952&r=env |
| By: | Pierre-André Jouvet (EconomiX, University of Paris Ouest - [-]); Ingmar Schumacher (Department of Economics, Ecole Polytechnique - CNRS : UMR7176 - Polytechnique - X, Banque Centrale du Luxembourg - [-]) |
| Abstract: | We assess the impact of being able to substitute an unlimited but costly energy substitute (like wind, solar) for a non-renewable resource (like oil, coal) in a model of sustainable growth. The prospects for sustainability on the optimal path depend crucially on the costs of this substitute.Furthermore, the poorer a country, measured in terms of capital stock at a given point in time, the later it should switch to the renewable substitute, and the more likely it will be unsustainable. Taking learning-by-doing in account, we find that this leads to an earlier switching time but does not guarantee sustainability. |
| Keywords: | backstop technology; non-renewable resource; resource substitution; sustainability; learning-by-doing. |
| Date: | 2011–11–03 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:wpaper:hal-00637960&r=env |
| By: | Robert S. Gazzale (Williams College); Jared C Carbone (University of Calgary) |
| Abstract: | A frequently cited argument against the use of market-based instruments to provide public goods is that they diminish our sense of responsibility to be good citizens. In this paper, we report on the results of a laboratory experiment designed to explore the idea that this distrust stems from the ability of some members of society to contribute to the public good with money instead of time or effort. We look at how the personal effort exerted by subjects changes when their peers take advantage of an offer to buy out of their obligation to perform lab tasks that contribute toward carbon emission reductions. We find that on average subjects reduce their effort when their peers buy out. However, the aggregate result masks significant heterogeneity across individual responses. Those who choose not to buy out despite its expected profitability have no response to the treatment while those for whom it would simply not be profitable to buy out register large reductions in effort. The magnitude of these responses is increasing in the share of the group that accepts the buyout offer, suggesting that it is the act of peers buying out rather than the simple introduction of monetary incentives that is the source of the effect. |
| Keywords: | experimental economics, public goods, effort contribution, environment, climate change |
| JEL: | C90 C91 H41 Q54 |
| Date: | 2011–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wil:wileco:2011-14&r=env |
| By: | Parkhurst, Gregory M |
| Abstract: | This paper evaluates the effectiveness of five payment for ecosystem service (PES) schemes at meeting conservation objectives when the spatial configuration is important in meeting desired landscape patterns. The five PES schemes are: 1) fee-simple acquisition; 2) subsidies; 3) tradable development rights (TDR) with zoning; 4) mitigation banking; and 5) purchased development rights (PDR) easements. Findings are that tradeoffs exist between PES schemes for meeting spatial conservation objectives. The appropriate PES scheme incentive mechanism for a given region will depend upon economic demand as well as the landowner and landscape characteristics of the conservation region. |
| Keywords: | Landscape; Spatial conservation; payment for ecosystem services; PES |
| JEL: | Q27 Q30 |
| Date: | 2011–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:34551&r=env |
| By: | Yasuhiro Takarada; Weijia Dong; Takeshi Ogawa |
| Abstract: | We examine trade and strategic interaction between countries that enforce technical measures for resource management which restricts capacity of exploitation to protect an internationally shared renewable resource. The technical measures are common management tools in fisheries (e.g., restrictions on gears, vessels, areas and time). We show that under bilateral resource management, the resource exporting country gains from trade, whereas trade causes steady state utility to fall in the resource importing country because the resource exporting country implements non-cooperative management when the demand for the harvest is not so high. Under sufficiently high demand for the harvest, maximum sustainable yield (MSY) can be attained after trade by what we call cooperative management and both countries are better off. Under low demand for the harvest, trade benefits the resource importing country but may harm the resource exporting country although it implements strict resource management which leads to MSY. |
| Date: | 2011–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa11p449&r=env |
| By: | Christophe Heyndrickx; Natalia Tourdyeva; Victoria Alexeeva-Talebi |
| Abstract: | The present paper describes the construction and first empirical application of the SUSTRUS model (the name of the model refers to “Sustainable Russiaâ€). This model will be the main result of the same-named EU funded project. The SUSTRUS model belongs to the group of regional CGE models, applied to analyze policies with a strong social, economic and environmental dimension. The SUSTRUS model can be used to assist policy makers in their choice of medium and long-term sustainability policies, for the implementation of the EU strategy for sustainable development in Russia as well as an efficient incorporation of the sustainability goals into the existing Russian policy tools on regional and federal levels. The SUSRUS model is constructed as a regional model on federal level, where regions are linked by interregional trade flows, a federal government level and migration. This paper will relate on the calibration of the database for the model and the addition of innovative elements in the model, necessary to model the link between the environmental, social, economic and international modules. The main data sources for the model are the public databases of Rosstat and the micro-level household data from the Russia Longitudinal Monitoring Survey (RLMS). Calibration of the model database was performed by a flexible cross-entropy minimization sub model and standard applied general equilibrium techniques. The general structure of the model will be discussed, focusing on the innovative features of the model and the link between the environmental and economic modules. The application of the model will be shown by a simulation exercise and a presentation of the main results. |
| Date: | 2011–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa11p1565&r=env |
| By: | Halkos, George; Jones, Nikoleta |
| Abstract: | The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of social factors (expressed as social norms, institutional and social trust and social networks) on the decision of individuals to pay for the protection of biodiversity. For this purpose an empirical study was carried out in two National Parks of Northern Greece. Three scenarios were proposed differing on the payment mechanism and the management actors (regulatory, market-based and community-based scenarios). Our empirical results show that social capital variables, especially social norms and social trust, have a strong influence both on the decision of individuals to pay and the specific amount stated. Specifically, we find that social norms have a positive influence for the willingness to pay (WTP) of individuals of a state-tax and an entrance fee (regulatory and market-based scenario respectively). Furthermore, social trust has a positive impact for the WTP through an entrance fee and a community tax (market-based and community-based scenario respectively). We also find a higher WTP of individuals towards the market based scenario where participation of citizens is higher compared to the current management status. Concerning the impact of demographic factors, we find that income does not influence the specific amount stated by individuals. |
| Keywords: | Social factors; willingness to pay; biodiversity; Greece |
| JEL: | C52 Q51 |
| Date: | 2011–11 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:34581&r=env |
| By: | Carlos Bacha |
| Abstract: | This article analyzes how forest resources have been used in Brazil since 1930, in an attempt to prove two hypotheses. The first hypothesis is that the destruction of our forests and the unsustainable use of the remaining forests have always been linked to the developmental policies adopted in the country. These policies, in their turn, have been based on the main economic models in vogue at the time. The second hypothesis is that, even recognizing the ineffectiveness of only adopting policies to regulate and control deforestation, policy-makers have only broadened and sophisticated this type of policy over time (through the forest legislation), without creating meaningful economic incentives to preserve and conserve forest resources. To prove these hypotheses, this article contains a discussion of the importance of forests to a nation and emphasizes that Brazil is destroying them on a large scale in different intensities among the Brazilian states. The latter has taken place despite the deforestation cannot be justified by the need of new farming land in most of Brazilian states. Finally, the article discusses some policies that allow the rational use of forest resources in Brazil without hindering the growth of other economic activities and considering the Brazilian states differences. |
| Date: | 2011–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa11p1018&r=env |