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on Environmental Economics |
| By: | Galina Alova |
| Abstract: | Mining activities are energy-intensive and rely largely on fossil fuels to meet their energy demands. This exposes the mining sector to potential policy and regulatory risks, stemming from government efforts to shift the global economy to a low-emission development pathway, as envisaged by the Paris Agreement. At the same time, renewables have become an increasingly cost-competitive source of power generation. This has resulted in a business case for the adoption of solar and wind energy solutions in the mining sector, to reduce costs as well as carbon footprint of operations. The sector’s energy transition also presents an opportunity for resource-rich countries, including developing economies, to foster the synergistic development of higher value added domestic activities in the renewable energy sector. The shift of the mining industry to low-carbon energy has the potential to contribute to advancing the climate and sustainable development agenda, while also pursuing economic diversification objectives. However, the integration of new technologies into conventional power systems comes with risks and challenges. This paper aims to enhance the understanding of the key drivers for, and obstacles to, renewable energy integration in mining operations, based on a review of over 30 existing projects worldwide. The analysis identifies a need for an enabling policy environment, encompassing among others a competitive energy market structure and adequate energy infrastructure, to overcome current challenges and support the synergies between the development of the mining and renewable energy sectors. |
| Keywords: | carbon dioxide emissions, energy transition, mining, photovoltaic energy, renewable energy, sustainable development, wind power |
| JEL: | L72 Q32 Q42 |
| Date: | 2018–11–27 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:oec:dcdaab:14-en&r=env |
| By: | Shuyao Wu; Shuangcheng Li |
| Abstract: | Monetization of the non-use and nonmarket values of ecosystem services is important especially in the areas of environmental cost-benefit analysis, management and environmental impact assessment. However, the reliability of valuation estimations has been criticized due to the biases that associated with methods like the popular contingent valuation method (CVM). In order to provide alternative valuation results for comparison purpose, we proposed the possibility of using a method that incorporates fact-based costs and contingent preferences for evaluating non-use and nonmarket values, which we referred to as value allotment method (VAM). In this paper, we discussed the economic principles of VAM, introduced the performing procedure, analyzed assumptions and potential biases that associated with the method and compared VAM with CVM through a case study in Guangzhou, China. The case study showed that the VAM gave more conservative estimates than the CVM, which could be a merit since CVM often generates overestimated values. We believe that this method can be used at least as a referential alternative to CVM and might be particularly useful in assessing the non-use and nonmarket values of ecosystem services from human-invested ecosystems, such as restored ecosystems, man-made parks and croplands. |
| Date: | 2018–11 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:arx:papers:1811.08376&r=env |
| By: | Marinella Davide (Department of Economics, University Of Venice Cà Foscari; CMCC Foundation - Euro-Mediterranean Center on Climate Change); Enrica De Cian (Department of Economics, University Of Venice Cà Foscari; CMCC Foundation - Euro-Mediterranean Center on Climate Change); Alexis Bernigaud (CMCC Foundation - Euro-Mediterranean Center on Climate Change) |
| Abstract: | Increased effort to cope with the rapidly emerging impacts of climate change is urgently needed. Whether adaptation bears the risk of inducing a negative feedback loop through its energy requirements has not been investigated. Here we examine the Nationally Determined Contributions submitted by world governments under the Paris Agreement with the aim of identifying the adaptation options associated with energy use and of defining energy use for adaptation. By linking the resulting options to the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals, through the related targets and indicators, we evaluate the extent to which energy use for adaptation facilitate progress towards sustainability. Drawing from the relevant literature on vulnerability and energy, we provide new evidence on the role that energy plays in the context of adaptation, proposing a framework that connects adaptation, mitigation, and sustainable development through the lens of the energy requirements of adaptation strategies. Results highlight priority policy actions to promote climate-development synergies and indicate where quantitative system models could focus in order to integrate adaptation energy needs in future energy scenarios. |
| Keywords: | Climate change, Adaptation, energy, sustainable development |
| JEL: | Q54 Q4 Q01 |
| Date: | 2018 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ven:wpaper:2018:25&r=env |
| By: | Pena-Levano, L.; Taheripour, F.; Tyner, W. |
| Abstract: | The global community has reaffirmed its commitment to reduce greenhouse emissions to control the expected increase in the global average temperature. Thus, many governments and private sectors are interested in the cost-efficiency of frequently discussed mitigation methods forest and pasture carbon sequestration (FPCS) subsidy, carbon tax, and biofuels and their impacts on the global economy. We modified our new developed computable general equilibrium for the analysis. We simulate different rates to observe their mitigation potentials. Our results suggest that there is a trade-off between cost-efficiency and emission reduction between policies, where tax can achieve larger emission reductions under the same rate of FPCS but with higher economic costs. Likewise, combining tax and an equivalent subsidy has a larger reduction potential due to the synergistic effects, but food prices increase dramatically. Biofuels proved to be costlier than FPCS or tax. Acknowledgement : We would like to acknowledge and thanks the following institutions: Purdue Research Climate Research Center Ludwig Kruhe Doctoral Fellowship Bilsland Dissertation Doctoral Fellowship For their funding contribution in this research. |
| Keywords: | Environmental Economics and Policy |
| Date: | 2018–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iaae18:277417&r=env |
| By: | Zanetti De Lima, C.; Gurgel, A.; Teixeira, E.C. |
| Abstract: | The Low-carbon Agriculture Plan in Brazil (ABC Plan) tries to conciliate sustainable growth of agricultural production and minimize the environmental impacts promoted by land-use changes. The agriculture, florest and other land uses (AFOLU) sector is the main source of GHG emissions reaching in 2015 67% (1,310 Mt CO2eq) of total emissions. The implementation of pasture recovery and integrated systems technologies are therefore seen as a promising strategy for sustainable agricultural intensification, since they can increase the organic matter in the soil, sequester carbon, as well as increase the production per hectare. This article analysis the relationship between these technologies and the land-sparing concept. Under ABC Plan's economic concepts the outcomes suggest the interaction of both technologies promotes land-sparing effect in the country as a whole. There is an increase of natural and forest areas, specially those inside the private rural establishments. However, the regional results show a different dynamic in the agricultural frontier. These regions intensify the pasture use to the detriment of native vegetation and forest areas. Acknowledgement : |
| Keywords: | Land Economics/Use |
| Date: | 2018–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iaae18:277091&r=env |
| By: | Basu, J.P. |
| Abstract: | In India 700 million rural people directly depend on climate-sensitive sectors like agriculture, forest and other natural resources for their subsistence and livelihood. Of these about 300 million rural poor are dependent on forest for their livelihood and more than half of them are tribal who depend on non-timber forest products (NTFPs). It also tries to estimate the factors responsible for the decisions of adaptation to climate change using the probabilistic model of Heckman s two-step process. Both socio-economic and climatic factors play a role in this decision-making process. This paper has important policy implications for poverty, livelihood vulnerability and migration. Acknowledgement : In India 700 million rural people directly depend on climate-sensitive sectors like agriculture, forest and other natural resources for their subsistence and livelihood. Of these about 300 million rural poor are dependent on forest for their livelihood and more than half of them are tribal who depend on non-timber forest products (NTFPs). It also tries to estimate the factors responsible for the decisions of adaptation to climate change using the probabilistic model of Heckman s two-step process. Both socio-economic and climatic factors play a role in this decision-making process. This paper has important policy implications for poverty, livelihood vulnerability and migration. |
| Keywords: | Environmental Economics and Policy |
| Date: | 2018–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iaae18:277218&r=env |
| By: | Trilnick, I.; Gordon, B.; Zilberman, D. |
| Abstract: | Can farmers adapt to climate change by altering weather conditions on their fields? We define the concept of "Micro-Climate Engineering" (MCE), where farmers change the effective temperatures on their crops by means of shading or heating, and document such implementation by California pistachio growers. With rising winter temperatures and declining winter chill portions, pistachio growers in California could face adverse climatic conditions within 20 years. Treating dormant trees with a chemical mix, acting as a shading technology, has shown to increase winter chill count to acceptable levels. Modeling a market with heterogeneous sub-climates, we run simulations to estimate potential gains from MCE in the year 2030 for California pistachio. Our results show an expected yearly welfare gain ranging between $1-4 billion. However, heterogeneous baseline climate creates clear winners and losers from this technology. Applying the concept of MCE more broadly, we point to its potential benefits in general as an adaptation technique, while also noting its potential for widening the global gap in climate change damage incidence, depending on heterogeneity in baseline climates, economic conditions, and market power. Acknowledgement : |
| Keywords: | Environmental Economics and Policy |
| Date: | 2018–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iaae18:277069&r=env |
| By: | José María Martín-Moreno (University of Vigo); Jorge Blázquiez (KARSARC); Rafaela Pérez (University Complutense of Madrid and ICAE); Jesús Ruiz (University Complutense of Madrid and ICAE) |
| Abstract: | The environmental objectives of the Paris Agreement imply that all policy levers will be eventually used to curb carbon emissions, including a carbon tax and specific taxes on fossil fuels. In this context, we identify the optimal tax-mix for oil, natural gas and coal in order to achieve a specific carbon emissions target for Spain, a competitive and small open economy. In a second step, we compare the optimal tax-mix to a standard carbon tax. This analysis is conducted in a general equilibrium framework. The results of the model suggest that: first, a carbon tax is suboptimal from a second-best point of view. In particular, carbon taxes are an unsatisfactory policy tool for mild environmental targets. Second, governments must always tax coal heavily to reduce CO2 emissions. In addition, subsidizing oil and natural gas could be part of an optimal strategy. This is a counterintuitive and innovative result. Third, we also find that the tax on oil should always be lower than both the tax on natural gas as well as the tax on coal. Fourth, marginal abatement costs of CO2 in terms of social welfare increases as the environmental policy becomes more ambitious. Finally, revenues from a carbon tax are higher than those arising from an optimal tax-mix, which could create a dilemma for policymakers. |
| Keywords: | carbon tax, CO2 emissions, environmental policy, fossil fuels, optimal taxes. |
| JEL: | C61 F41 H23 |
| Date: | 2018–11 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:sek:iacpro:7309817&r=env |
| By: | Bekchanov, Maksud; Evia, Pablo; Hasan, Mohammad Monirul; Adhikari, Narayan; Godhalekar, Daphne |
| Abstract: | Open dumping of waste and discharging untreated wastewater into environment are key causes of environmental pollution in the developing world, including South Asian countries. Waste and wastewater however can be a source for recovering energy, nutrients and water if properly treated or recycled rather than a cause of pollution and diseases spread. The importance of adopting Resources Recovery and Reuse (RRR) technologies increases under growing demand for food and energy in contrast to depleting fossil fuel mines and groundwater reservoirs. However, institutional framework including the organizations and various stakeholders involved in the waste and wastewater management sectors, government policies and legislation, as well as financial arrangements and incentives to technological change play a pivotal role in adopting and scaling up RRR options. This study therefore focuses on institutional and financial aspects of challenges and opportunities for implementing RRR options in South Asia. It is argued that improving financial capacities, easing to obtain land use permits to expand RRR facilities, maintaining quality of RRR products (compost, biogas), and raising environmental awareness are imperative for the successful performance of the RRR projects in South Asia. |
| Keywords: | Environmental Economics and Policy, Institutional and Behavioral Economics, Resource /Energy Economics and Policy |
| Date: | 2018–11–30 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:ubonwp:280621&r=env |
| By: | Florian Flachenecker (OECD); Emmanuelle Guidetti (OECD); Pierre-Alain Pionnier (OECD) |
| Abstract: | This paper describes and evaluates the OECD methodology to estimate Air Emission Accounts (AEAs) for carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O), in line with the System of Environmental Economic Accounting (SEEA). |
| Keywords: | Air Emission Accounts, Greenhouse Gases, SEEA |
| Date: | 2018–12–03 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:oec:stdaaa:2018/11-en&r=env |
| By: | Lankoski, J.; Britz, W.; Lotjonen, S.; Ollikainen, M. |
| Abstract: | We develop a theoretical framework to analyse economically optimal GHG abatement strategies for a mixed farming system with crop and dairy production. Subsequently, it is implemented as a detailed bio-economic optimization model for mixed arable-dairy farms with non-linear crop and milk yield functions and a detailed accounting of Green House Gas emissions, and parameterized to Finnish agricultural and environmental conditions. Focusing on the role of sunk costs of investments and opportunity costs of labour, we analyse optimal farm management decisions under different CO2 tax levels, considering adjustments at the extensive and intensive margin, including changes in manure storage systems and application methods. We find that the amount of GHG abatement responds more strongly to the level of sunk and opportunity costs than the CO2 tax level which underlines the relevance of the planning horizon for that type of analysis. Our findings reveal that low cost abatement options in dairy production are limited. Our model can be easily adjusted to other locations, market and policy conditions and thus provides an interesting starting point for international comparisons. Acknowledgement : |
| Keywords: | Agricultural and Food Policy |
| Date: | 2018–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iaae18:277382&r=env |
| By: | Lu, L.; Elbakidze, L. |
| Abstract: | One of the consequences of projected climatic changes is potentially increase in frequency and intensity of regional agricultural pest outbreaks. This requires new way of analytical thinking, pest management practice, and up-to-date regulation, which we call climate smart pest management. This paper provides an integrated stochastic dynamic framework to examines the use of weather and pest infestation forecasts in agricultural pest management. First, we analytically demonstrate the role of the correlation between weather and pest infestation forecast in pest management using a stochastic optimal control framework. Next, using stochastic dynamic programming we empirically simulate optimal pest management trajectory taking into account correlation between weather and pest population predictions. The empirical case study results illustrate our theoretical inferences and show that 1. Due to faster pest infestation under climate change, farmers are forced to spray earlier in the growing season so that severe cumulative future damage on the biomass is prevented. 2. Pea production profit in the Palouse area of northern Idaho and eastern Washington can be increased by 8.5% if pea aphid management accounts for potential correlation between weather and aphid forecast errors. Acknowledgement : |
| Keywords: | Environmental Economics and Policy |
| Date: | 2018–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iaae18:277402&r=env |
| By: | Nin-Pratt, A. |
| Abstract: | This article proposes a measure of multi-factor water efficiency as an alternative to partial water productivity indicators that are easy to calculate but give an incomplete picture of productivity and efficiency. Technical water efficiency is determined in the production process of desired outputs using a nonparametric, directional distance function that evaluates water efficiency given levels of all other inputs and outputs. Environmental efficiency is evaluated separately using a distance function that finds the minimum level of pollutants for different combinations of polluting inputs. Efficiency of these two production processes are then combined in an overall measure of water efficiency that can be decomposed into a technical efficiency component and an environmental efficiency component. Results of an application to global agriculture show that differences in overall efficiency across countries are mostly explained by differences in environmental efficiency, that improved water efficiency could reduce the total amount of water used for irrigation by 11 percent, while improved environmental efficiency could reduce pollution by 30 percent globally. Even if countries achieve full water efficiency, significant differences in water use and pollution will remain as the result of differences in production technology between countries. Acknowledgement : |
| Keywords: | Environmental Economics and Policy |
| Date: | 2018–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iaae18:277486&r=env |
| By: | - |
| Abstract: | Flood risk in coastal areas has increased significantly in recent years. Historically, the response to this risk has been based on conventional solutions, such as building artificial dykes or enlarging or raising the elevation of infrastructure. These are all rigid and environmentally unsustainable solutions that are not readily adapted to changing climatic conditions. However, it has been shown repeatedly that certain ecosystems, such as mangrove forests and coral reefs, help to protect coastal areas from flooding and erosion. Recovering mangroves and coral reefs therefore offers a flexible response that is easily adapted to long-term changes, such as sea-level rise, at a much lower conservation cost than artificial solutions. This study assesses and values the economic and social benefits provided by Cuba’s mangroves and coral reefs, and concludes that both play a fundamental role in mitigating coastal flood risk. |
| Keywords: | CAMBIO CLIMATICO, COSTAS, PROTECCION DE LAS COSTAS, ARRECIFES DE CORAL, MANGLARES, CLIMATE CHANGE, COASTS, SHORE PROTECTION, CORAL REEFS, MANGROVE SWAMPS |
| Date: | 2018–11–21 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ecr:col022:44265&r=env |
| By: | Michler, J.; Baylis, K.; Arends-Kuenning, M.; Mazvimavi, K. |
| Abstract: | Climate change is predicted to increase the number and severity of extreme rainfall events, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa. In response, development agencies are encouraging the adoption of `climate-smart' agricultural techniques, such as conservation agriculture (CA). However, little rigorous evidence exists to demonstrates the effect of CA on production or climate resilience, and what evidence there is, is hampered by selection bias. Using panel data from Zimbabwe, we test how CA performs during extreme rainfall events - both shortfalls and surpluses. We control for the endogenous adoption decision and find that while CA has little, or if anything, a negative effect on yields during periods of average rainfall, it is effective in mitigating the negative impacts of rainfall shocks. Households that practice CA tend to receive higher yields compared to households using conventional methods in years of both low and high rainfall. We conclude that the lower yields during normal rainfall seasons may be a proximate factor in low uptake of CA. Policy should focus promotion of CA on these climate resiliency benefits. Acknowledgement : |
| Keywords: | Environmental Economics and Policy |
| Date: | 2018–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iaae18:277458&r=env |
| By: | Michel Damian (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); Luigi De Paoli |
| Abstract: | The Paris Agreement has created a double bifurcation. First, from top-down approach (with an emission limit imposed from above) to a bottom-up approach based on national emissions reduction pledges. And second, from a mitigation-centered policy to a more balanced mitigation and adaptation efforts. The following work proposes, however, that further steps must be taken to bring the theme of development back to the center of the fight against climate change. |
| Keywords: | climate change,adaptation,mitigation,Paris agreement,sustainable development |
| Date: | 2018–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:journl:hal-01870974&r=env |
| By: | Uchenna Efobi (Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria); Tanankem Belmondo (MINEPAT, Yaoundé, Cameroon); Emmanuel Orkoh (World Trade Organization, Geneva); Scholastica Ngozi Atata (Abeokuta, Nigeria); Opeyemi Akinyemi (Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria); Ibukun Beecroft (Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria) |
| Abstract: | This study provides a comprehensive assessment of firms’ operation and environmental protection polices in Nigeria and Ghana, where there has been a rising industrial growth amidst low regulatory and institutional frameworks. We analyze the extents to which firms’ adoption of environmental protection policies affect their performances. We use firm-level data of 842 firms (447 for Nigeria and 395 for Ghana) distributed across different regions of both countries for our descriptive and econometric estimations. We find, among other things, that firms’ adoption of internal policies on environmental protection is dismally low in both Nigeria (32 percent) and Ghana (17 percent), with policies focused on reducing solid (38 percent, Nigeria; and 35 percent, Ghana), gaseous (22 percent, Nigeria; and 44 percent, Ghana), and liquid (24 percent, Nigeria; and 14 percent, Ghana) pollution. Training appears to be an important intervention that can help improve firms’ adoption of such policies. We also found that firms’ adoption and implementation of environmental protection policies significantly improve their performance. |
| Keywords: | Environment; Green Industrialization; Performance; Pollution; Small Businesses; West Africa |
| JEL: | H32 L25 Q52 Q53 |
| Date: | 2018–01 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:agd:wpaper:18/050&r=env |
| By: | Schnellmann, M.; Chyong, C-K.; Reiner, D.; Scott, S. |
| Abstract: | Combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) power plants are an important part of many electricity systems. By fitting them with carbon capture their CO2 emissions could be virtually eliminated. We evaluate CCGT plants with different variations of post combustion capture using amine solvents, covering a range of options, including solvent storage, partial capture and shifting the energy penalty in time. The analysis is based on the UK electricity system in 2025. The behaviour of individual CCGT plants is governed by the plant’s place in the merit order and to a lesser extent by CO2 reduction targets for the electricity system. In the UK, CCGT plants built from 2016 onwards will emit ~90% of the CO2 emissions of the whole CCGT fleet in 2025. The typical ‘base case’ CCGT plant with capture is designed to capture 90% of the CO2 emissions and to operate dynamically with the power plant. Downsizing the capture facility could be attractive for low-merit plants, i.e. plants with high short-run marginal costs. Solvent storage enables electricity generation to be decoupled in time from the energy penalty associated with carbon capture. Beyond a few minutes of solvent storage, substantial tanks would be needed. If solvent storage is to play an important role, it will require definitions of ‘capture ready’ to be expanded to ensure sufficient land is available. |
| Keywords: | Carbon capture and storage; Flexibility; Combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT); Power plants; Electricity system; Amine solvents |
| JEL: | L94 Q4 |
| Date: | 2018–11–26 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cam:camdae:1868&r=env |
| By: | Gaigné, Carl; Tamini, Lota D. |
| Abstract: | In this paper, we theoretically and empirically study the impact of environmental taxation on trade in environmental goods (EGs). Using a trade model in which the demand for and supply of EGs are endogenous, we show that the relationship between environmental taxation and demand for EGs follows a bell-shaped curve. Above a cutoff tax rate, a higher pollution tax rate can reduce the bilateral trade of EGs because there are too many low-productivity suppliers of EGs. Our empirical results confirm our main findings using data regarding the EU-27 countries. We also theoretically and empirically show that environmental taxation has a monotonically positive impact on the extensive margin of trade. Furthermore, we show that if countries apply an environmental tax rate equals to the “optimal” tax rate, 4.03% (e.g., the tax rate maximizing international trade of EGs), then trade in EGs would experience an increase of 22 percentage points. |
| Keywords: | International Relations/Trade |
| Date: | 2018 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:inrasl:280620&r=env |
| By: | Nana Yamoah, A.-A. |
| Abstract: | This paper presents the empirical proof of the economic impacts of climate change on smallholder farmers in a semi-arid agro-ecological district in Ghana. We employ the Trade-off Analysis Minimum Data (TOA-MD) Model simulated yield projections from five climate model scenarios HADCM, CGCM, CSIRO, NCAR and MIROC with farm survey data to estimate the economic impacts of climate change on smallholder farmers in the Lawra district of Ghana with and without adaptation.. The findings reveal that smallholders in the district will suffer losses in net revenue, per capita income and increased poverty rates without adaptation. Adaptation will however, reverses the losses and results in potential gains with per farm net revenues and per capita incomes increasing between 10% to 17% and 1% to 7% respectively, while poverty rates decline by 13-20% for upland farms. Lowland farms are expected to experience a reduction in poverty of between 2-10%. Overall, adaptation has the potential of reducing poverty rates by as much as 8 -16% for all farms. The study recommends improving irrigation access to smallholder farmers in both upland and lowland areas to enable them adapt to water scarcity due to climate change. Key words: Climate change, small holder farmers, poverty reduction, TOA-model, Ghana Acknowledgement : |
| Keywords: | Environmental Economics and Policy |
| Date: | 2018–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iaae18:277224&r=env |
| By: | Ek, Claes (Department of Economics, School of Business, Economics and Law, Göteborg University); Elofsson, Katarina; Lagerkvist, Carl-Johan |
| Abstract: | In the choice between alternative environmental policy instruments, economists tend to favor policies capable of attaining cost-efficiency, but other considerations may be important to stakeholders. We perform a choice experiment modeled on Swedish water and marine policy to estimate preferences for different types of environmental policy instruments among citizens and municipal experts. To approximate preferences for each instrument per se, choice sets include several attributes that respondents may otherwise view as correlated with instrument type, such as how costs are shared between taxpayers and farmers. In our mixed-logit regressions, both the modal citizen and the modal expert prefer direct regulation and subsidies to nutrient trading. Experts weight taxpayer costs less heavily, implying larger WTP estimates; in particular, nutrient trading is unlikely to deliver sufficiently large cost savings for experts to prefer it to other instrument types. This potentially explains the low takeup of water quality trading outside the US. |
| Keywords: | choice experiments; instrument choice; nutrient trading; water policy |
| JEL: | H23 Q53 Q58 |
| Date: | 2018–11 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hhs:gunwpe:0746&r=env |
| By: | Cavazza, F.; Galioto, F.; Raggi, M.; Viaggi, D. |
| Abstract: | Numerous Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) have been developed in irrigated agriculture. While there are studies focusing on ICT impacts at the farm level, no research deal with this issue at the level of Water Authority (WA). With the present study, the authors developed a theoretical framework based on Bayesian decision theory to assess the economic benefits brought by the introduction of ICT. An empirical example is provided with the aim of showing any potentialities and limitation of ICT for the management of water supply networks in agriculture. The adoption of ICT by WA have the capacity to achieve water savings and favor climate change adaptation. Site specific constraints as decisional power, water availability and technical issues do not allow the full exploitation of information services. A sensitivity analysis showed that by improving the quality of information, such constraints can be overcame. Policy remark is to favor ICT development jointly with end users, answering decision maker s information requirements. Acknowledgement : |
| Keywords: | Environmental Economics and Policy |
| Date: | 2018–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iaae18:277247&r=env |
| By: | Peth, Denise; Mußhoff, Oliver |
| Abstract: | Increasing popularity of economic experiments for policy impact analysis has led to an ongoing debate about the suitability of students to substitute professionals as experimental subjects. To date, subject pool effects in agricultural and resource economics experiments have not been sufficiently studied. In order to identify differences and similarities between students and non-students, we carry out an experiment in the form of a multi-period business management game that is adapted to an agri-environmental context. We compare the compliance behaviour of German agricultural students and German farmers with regard to water protection rules and analyse their responses to two different green nudge interventions. The experimental results reveal that the direction of the response to the policy treatments is similar. Even unexpected behaviour could be reproduced by the student sample. Nevertheless, the magnitude of the treatment effects differed between the two samples. This implies that experimenters in the field of agricultural and resource economics could use the subject pool of students to analyse the direction of nudge policies. If predictions should be made about the magnitude effects, we suggest using a professional subject pool. |
| Keywords: | subject pool effect,green nudges,policy impact analysis,compliance behaviour |
| Date: | 2018 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:daredp:1809&r=env |
| By: | Hirose, Kosuke; Matsumura, Toshihiro |
| Abstract: | We revisit command-and-control regulations and compare their efficiencies, in particular, an emission cap regulation that restricts total emissions and an emission intensity regulation that restricts emissions per unit of output under emission equivalence. We find that in both the most stringent target case, when the target emission level is close to zero, and the weakest target case, when the target emission level is close to business as usual, emission intensity yields greater welfare, although the same may not be true in moderate target cases. |
| Keywords: | near-zero emission industry; emission cap; emission intensity; emission equivalence |
| JEL: | L13 L51 Q52 |
| Date: | 2018–11–20 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:90134&r=env |
| By: | Amundsen, Eirik S. (University of Bergen, Department of Economics); Andersen, Peder (Department of Food and Resource Economics, University of Copenhagen); Mortensen, Jørgen Birk (Department of Economics, University of Copenhagen) |
| Abstract: | Instruments chosen to pursue climate related targets are not always efficient. In this paper we consider an economy with three climate related targets for its electricity generation: a given share of “green” electricity, a given expansion of “green” electricity, and a given reduction of “black” (fossil based) electricity. At its disposal the country has three instruments: an allowance system (tradable green certificates), a subsidy system (feed-in tariffs) and a Pigouvian fossil tax. Each of these instruments may be used to attain any of the given targets. Within the setting of the model it is verified that each kind of the target has only a single efficient instrument under certainty, and that there is a deadweight loss of using other instruments to achieve the target. Similarly, there is also an analysis of instrument choice when several targets are to be attained at the same time. The paper also discusses the case of simultaneous targets as well as the relevance of the various targets. |
| Keywords: | energy policy; green certificates; subsidies; Pigouvian taxes; climate change |
| JEL: | C70 Q28 Q42 Q48 |
| Date: | 2018–04–18 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hhs:bergec:2018_003&r=env |
| By: | Ponce, Carmen (Grupo de Análisis para el Desarrollo (GRADE)); Arnillas, Carlos Alberto |
| Abstract: | Los pequeños agricultores peruanos de la región montañosa de los Andes han enfrentado históricamente una amplia variabilidad climática (de año a año y en la temporada de cultivo). Los conocimientos y prácticas tradicionales, incluida la diversificación de la cartera de cultivos y la selección de cultivos tolerantes, apuntan a salvaguardar la seguridad alimentaria incluso en los años “malos” cuando se materializan los riesgos relacionados con el clima o el mercado. A pesar de este conocimiento y experiencia históricos, los cambios climáticos acelerados plantean nuevos desafíos, frente a los que los agricultores luchan por adaptarse, especialmente debido a la falta de información oportuna y de recursos financieros y físicos. Comprender cómo los agricultores se están adaptando de forma autónoma es una necesidad pendiente, para poder informar a los responsables de las políticas sobre los cuellos de botella y las prácticas sostenibles que pueden fortalecerse para apoyar la adaptación eficiente. Este estudio se centra en un tipo de adaptación: seleccionar cultivos que parecen ser más tolerantes a condiciones climáticas variables. Los autores usan el índice de co-ocurrencia de Fridley et al. (2007), que mide la amplitud del nicho ecológico de una especie, para estimar la tolerancia relativa de los cultivos a un rango de condiciones ambientales. Utilizando datos del censo (paneles distritales de 1994 y 2012), estiman la tolerancia de cultivos para 252 cultivos en diversas condiciones ambientales en todo el país, desde las regiones montañosas de los Andes hasta las regiones costeras y selva amazónica. Los investigadores prueban la idoneidad del índice de cultivo para capturar la tolerancia del cultivo a condiciones climáticas variables (temperatura máxima, mínima y promedio, y precipitación) utilizando dos definiciones de variabilidad climática. Encuentran la correlación positiva esperada entre el índice y la variabilidad climática, lo que confirma la idoneidad del índice para capturar la tolerancia relativa a la variabilidad climática. También empíricamente aplican el índice para explorar el papel de la variabilidad climática intraestacional (durante la temporada de crecimiento) en la tolerancia relativa de la cartera de cultivos de los agricultores. Aunque se necesitan más análisis para modelar por completo las decisiones de los agricultores, nuestras estimaciones preliminares muestran que los agricultores ajustan sus carteras para incluir cultivos más tolerantes cuando enfrentan una mayor variabilidad climática. |
| Keywords: | Climate variability, Crops, Peru, Variabilidad climática, Cultivos, Perú |
| JEL: | O18 Q54 R51 |
| Date: | 2018 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:gad:avance:0035&r=env |
| By: | Torres, M.; Howitt, R.; Rodrigues, L. |
| Abstract: | Fluctuations in water availability, either in the form of precipitation or stored water in surface and groundwater bodies, will affect agricultural productivity and farmers income. Climate science tells us that much of these fluctuations will be in the form of shifts in the timing and intensity of precipitation. Understanding these relationships and the accurate estimation of their economic effects may, therefore, help in the designing of effective agricultural public policies to mitigate drought and climate change impacts on agriculture. In this context, this paper introduces a novel hydro-economic model in which the timing of rainfall and supplementary irrigated water supplies affect the productivity of a partially irrigated agricultural system. The specification of the production function and water availability is designed to reflect shifts in monthly precipitation totals and to show how the opportunity cost of supplementary irrigation supply varies with changes in the timing of precipitation. Results show that shifts in monthly precipitation parterns have indeed significant impacts on agricutltural income and that the coarser the temporal resolution that the modeler chooses, the lower is her ability to precisely measure them. Acknowledgement : |
| Keywords: | Environmental Economics and Policy |
| Date: | 2018–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iaae18:276947&r=env |
| By: | Hertel, T.; Baldos, U.; Moore, F. |
| Abstract: | This paper explores the interplay between the biophysical and economic geographies of climate change impacts on agriculture. Towards this end, we employ a statistical meta-analysis which encompasses all studies available to the IPCC-AR5 report. This permits us to isolate specific elements of the biophysical geography of climate impacts, such as the role of initial temperature, and differential patterns of warming across the globe. We combine these climate impact estimates with the GTAP model of global trade in order to estimate the national welfare changes which are decomposed into three components: the direct (biophysical impact) contribution to welfare, the terms of trade effect, and the allocative efficiency effect. We find that the terms of trade interact in a significant way with the biophysical geography of climate impacts. Specifically, when we remove the biophysical geography, the terms of trade impacts are greatly diminished. And when we allow the biophysical impacts to vary across the empirically-estimated uncertainty range, taken from the meta-analysis, we find that the welfare consequences are highly asymmetric, with much larger losses at the low end of the yield distribution than gains at the high end. Acknowledgement : |
| Keywords: | Environmental Economics and Policy |
| Date: | 2018–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iaae18:277066&r=env |
| By: | Sara Sousa (IPC - ISCAC) |
| Abstract: | The environmental goods and services have often been neglected in crucial decisions affecting the environment mainly because the difficulty in estimating their economic value, since we are dealing with non-market goods and, thus, without a price associated. Nevertheless, the inexistence of prices does not necessarily mean these goods have no value. The environment is a key element in today's society that seeks to be as sustainable as possible, where the environmental assets have both use and non-use values. To estimate the use value, researchers may apply the revealed preference methods. This paper provides a theoretical review of the main concepts and methodologies on the economic valuation of the environment, with particular emphasis on the revealed preference techniques. Based on a detailed literature review, this study concludes that, despite some inherent limitations, the revealed preference methodologies are valuable tools for the economic evaluation of the environment. The main purpose of this study is to contribute to an increased theoretical information on the economic valuation of environmental assets, allowing researchers and policy makers to improve future decisions regarding the environment. |
| Keywords: | Economic Valuation, Environmental Goods, Revealed Preference Methods, Total Economic Value. |
| JEL: | Q50 Q51 |
| Date: | 2018–11 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:sek:iacpro:7309997&r=env |
| By: | Thomas Renström; Luca Spataro |
| Abstract: | We characterize the optimal pollution-, capital- and labour-tax structure in a continuous-time growth model in the presence of pollution (resulting from production), both in the first- and second-best, allowing investors to be driven by social responsibility objectives. The social responsibility objective takes the form of warm-glow, as in Andreoni (1990) and Dam (2011), inducing firms to reduce pollution through increased abatement activity. Among the results, the first best pollution tax is still positive under warm-glow, the second-best pollution tax displays the additivity property, and we show the circumstances under which the Chamley-Judd zero capital-income tax result does not hold. |
| Keywords: | Socially responsible investment, corporate social responsibility, environmental quality, optimal taxation, pollution |
| JEL: | D21 D53 G11 H21 H23 M14 Q58 |
| Date: | 2018–05–01 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pie:dsedps:2018/232&r=env |
| By: | Marek Zieli?ski (Institute of Agriculture and Food Economics-NRI) |
| Abstract: | According to the existing findings of the European Commission (EC), one of the priorities of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) after 2020 will be to further strengthen the role of the agricultural sector in providing public goods and ecosystem services by preserving and creating in rural areas of landscape features conducive to the conservation of biodiversity. In terms of the environmental concern, such approach by the EC should therefore be considered particularly necessary. However, the challenge of the CAP after 2020 will be to manage the process of promoting the natural value of rural areas in a way to minimise the potential negative effects for the competitiveness of farms. Poland has a strong potential of areas conducive to the conservation biodiversity conservation. This is indicated by the index of natural and tourist value (INTV) defined by the Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation National Research Institute (ISSPC-NRI) for municipalities in Poland. This index is an average share of the total area of permanent grassland, forests, waters, as well as wetlands in the total area surrounded by all arable land of a given municipality with a radius of 2 km. The average INTV for municipalities in Poland is 35.6% out of 100% which can be achieved. It should be added that the area of municipalities with the INTV ?35.6% accounts for 57.7% of the Polish area and in these municipalities there are 67.5% of permanent grassland, 75.9% of forests and 70.1% of waters in Poland.Taking into account the EC?s findings on a need to strengthen, in the EU financial perspective after 2020, the role of the agricultural sector in the conservation of biodiversity and the significant share of areas conducive to the conservation of biodiversity in Poland, it is therefore reasonable to determine, inter alia, the impact of these areas on the efficiency of farms functioning therein and then to compare them with the efficiency of farms in other areas. Analysis covered 8,494 farms keeping accounting for the Polish FADN in 2015. Those farms have been then divided into two groups. The first one was made of 3,937 (46.4%) farms that conducted the agricultural production in municipalities with the INTV of ? 35.6%, referred to in the paper as farms from municipalities with the high natural value. In turn, the second group is composed of 4,557 (53.6%) of other farms. |
| Keywords: | biodiversity, CAP after 2020, Farm Accourancy Data Network in Poland |
| Date: | 2018–11 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:sek:iacpro:7310318&r=env |
| By: | Jimin Zhao (Research Associate Professor, Division of Social Science， Hong Kong University of Science and Technology) |
| Abstract: | Jimin Zhao, Research Associate Professor in the Division of Social Science at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, conducted a study to explore the potential for the city to peak its carbon emission in the passenger transport sector. Carbon emissions from the urban passenger transport sector in Shenzhen will more than double by 2050 under current policies. With the right policies, it is possible for Shenzhen to peak its urban passenger transport emissions by 2030. Reducing new car quotas and raising fuel economy standards are essential measures for carbon emission to peak by 2030. Policies needed include raising parking fees, limiting parking supply, increasing EV charging facilities and subway lines, and improving public transport services. |
| Keywords: | carbon emissions, transport, shenzhen, parking |
| Date: | 2018–04 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hku:briefs:201822&r=env |
| By: | Kopp, Thomas; Dorn, Franziska |
| Abstract: | Two of the greatest challenges facing societies today are the rapid deterioration of the natural environment as well as high levels of economic inequality. Policies addressing these two challenges are often designed independent of each other, neglecting their interconnected nature. Therefore, designing better policies requires a profound knowledge of this potential trade-off. Until now, however, the characteristics of this trade-off have remained unclear, as little empirical research is available. This paper fills this gap by conceptualizing the trade-off through a macroeconomic model and estimating it empirically. It is the first paper to develop a microeconomically-based model of consumption that includes two transmission channels of inequality on biosphere use: First, the income-effect refers to the non-linear, decreasing impact of rising incomes on consumption spending after subsistence needs are fulfilled, which leads to a negative correlation between levels of inequality and pollution levels. Second is the effect of conspicuous consumption, which can reverse the tendency towards increased pollution caused by the income-effect. The empirical application assesses which of these opposing mechanisms prevails. The model is estimated by the Group Fixed Effects estimator, based on an unbalanced panel of 167 countries over 33 years. To account for the multidimensionality of biosphere use it is measured by the disaggregated components of the Ecological Footprint. Results indicate that the income effect prevails over the conspicuous consumption effect, meaning that there is indeed a trade-off between reducing biosphere use and inequality levels. This means for policy makers that measures to reduce inequality need to be accompanied by policies that limit harmful environmental impacts of redistribution. Since three of the Ecological Footprint's sub-indices refer to food consumption, the analysis also yields interesting conclusions on the relationship between inequality and food security. |
| Date: | 2018 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:cegedp:357&r=env |
| By: | Ponce, Carmen (Grupo de Análisis para el Desarrollo (GRADE)) |
| Abstract: | Las fuentes de ingresos no agrícolas son cada vez más importantes en el mundo en vías de desarrollo, representando hasta el 50 por ciento del ingreso promedio de los hogares rurales. Aunque existe una amplia literatura sobre los determinantes de las estrategias de diversificación de ingresos de los hogares rurales, dos factores asociados con las transformaciones a largo plazo y comunes a muchos países en vías de desarrollo aún no se han integrado al análisis: (i) el rol de la variabilidad climática intraestacional (afectada por el cambio climático), y (ii) el rol de las redes familiares ubicadas en áreas distantes (cada vez más relevante dado el desplazamiento de la población debido al conflicto interno y al aumento de la conectividad a través de carreteras y comunicaciones). Mientras que un aumento en la variabilidad climática implica un aumento en el riesgo y la vulnerabilidad para las actividades agrícolas, las redes familiares ubicadas en regiones distantes (que no comparten el clima local o los shocks del mercado) pueden convertirse en un activo clave para gestionar el riesgo y promover oportunidades de ingresos (siempre y cuando transmitan información y oportunidades que no estén disponibles a través de las redes locales). Dadas las imperfecciones del mercado que son comunes en las áreas rurales en desarrollo, especialmente aquellas relacionadas con la gestión del riesgo climático, la consideración explícita de ambos factores es clave para entender las estrategias de diversificación de los hogares rurales. Este estudio tiene como objetivo contribuir con esta agenda pendiente, investigando el rol de estos dos factores en la diversificación de ingresos de un hogar en actividades no agrícolas en los Andes peruanos, una región montañosa con gran variabilidad climática intraestacional y conectividad espacial limitada pero creciente, donde la población rural la población se vio severamente afectada por el conflicto interno que tuvo lugar en el país durante los años ochenta y noventa. Se modelan dos resultados económicos: la proporción de horas de trabajo no agrícolas y la proporción de los ingresos del trabajo no agrícola. Se encuentra que al controlar por otros activos y condiciones ambientales, los hogares con redes distantes, pero fuertes tienden a diversificarse más en actividades no agrícolas (los resultados sugieren que existe un efecto de sustitución entre los vínculos lejanos fuertes y débiles). Los aumentos en la variabilidad climática intraestacional (representados por el rango de temperatura durante la temporada principal de cultivo) inducen a los hogares rurales a aumentar la participación relativa de los ingresos no agrícolas y las horas de trabajo. El análisis muestra efectos heterogéneos dentro de la región andina. Mientras que en la región norte y las áreas más frías de la región centroandina (menos de 13ºC durante la temporada de cultivo) un aumento en la variabilidad climática intraestacional induce a los hogares rurales a aumentar las actividades generadoras de ingresos no agrícolas, la región sur no muestra un impacto significativo. Se necesita de un análisis más amplio para comprender si esta falta de un efecto se explica por las respuestas relacionadas con la granja. Estos resultados sugieren que las intervenciones centradas en ayudar a los agricultores a hacer frente al cambio climático deberían considerar no solo las actividades agrícolas, sino también las habilidades y los activos necesarios para acceder a ocupaciones no agrícolas. Un tipo de activo que generalmente es descuidado por los proyectos de desarrollo son las redes distantes de los hogares, que de hecho pueden desempeñar un rol en las estrategias de gestión de riesgos, de acuerdo con nuestros hallazgos. |
| Keywords: | Rural households, Climate variability, Rural economy, Strategies for income diversi?cation, Rural development, Andean region, Peru, Hogares ruarles, Variabilidad climática, Economía rural, Estrategias para la diversificación de los ingresos, Desarrollo rural, Región andina, Perú |
| JEL: | O18 Q54 R51 |
| Date: | 2018 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:gad:avance:0034&r=env |
| By: | Mariana Mirabile (OECD); Jennifer Calder (OECD) |
| Abstract: | Meeting the temperature goals of the Paris Agreement requires a transformational change in our infrastructure systems. Given the long lifetime of infrastructure, there is an urgency to build more of the right type of it. The failure to do so will lock-in emissions for decades to come, or create stranded assets. This working paper aims to shed light on the extent to which current electricity generation projects under construction at the global level - the "pipeline" - are consistent with what a low-carbon transition requires. |
| Keywords: | Coal, Electricity Sector, Environment, Gas, Just transition, Political economy, Renewable energy |
| JEL: | L94 O13 P48 Q4 |
| Date: | 2018–12–03 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:oec:envaaa:140-en&r=env |
| By: | Njuki, E.; Bravo-Ureta, B. |
| Abstract: | The objective of this study is to investigate how changing configurations in temperature and precipitation are transmitted to productivity growth in the U.S. agricultural sector. In doing so, we account for farm heterogeneity in production possibilities and the considerable variations in weather and other physical characteristics of the environment. In contrast, the received literature on productivity growth assumes that firms share the same production possibilities and only differ with respect to their level of inefficiency. We do this by implementing a Random Parameters approach in a Stochastic Production Frontier framework. The resulting parameter estimates are used to decompose a multiplicative TFP index that yields measures of technological progress, technical efficiency change, environmental, and scale-mix efficiency. Our results indicate that even after accounting for knowledge stocks generated from investments in research and development there are significant reductions in productivity growth, primarily driven by weather anomalies. Acknowledgement : This study was partially funded by U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture grant number 2016-67012-24678 and 2016-67024-24760. |
| Keywords: | Environmental Economics and Policy |
| Date: | 2018–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iaae18:277140&r=env |
| By: | Laurent Denant-Boemont; Carl Gaigné; Romain Gaté |
| Abstract: | In this paper, we study the effects of urban design on pollution and welfare. We build a theoretical model of residential choices with pollution externalities arising from commuting, where the size of the central business district (CBD) and the demand for housing are endogenous. We show that a polycentric city is desirable from welfare and ecological perspective, provided that travel speed and/or the number of roads directly connected with the CBD are sufficiently high. The spatial extension of cities remains the critical variable to curb transport-related urban pollution. |
| Keywords: | Urban form; Housing; Travel speed; Carbon emissions; Welfare. |
| JEL: | Q53 R14 R21 |
| Date: | 2017 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:lvl:creacr:2017-02&r=env |
| By: | Jim Philp; David E. Winickoff |
| Abstract: | First the bioeconomy and then circular economy have gained political traction during the second decade of this century. There are synergies to be exploited, but also potential misalignments. The movement of bioeconomy toward the use of wastes, co-products and residue sources resonates well with circular economy principles of making the most efficient of uses of natural resources, as does as transition in focus from virgin to secondary materials in production. However, poorly aligned waste characterisation as well as biomass competition reflect both theoretical and practical conflicts between industrial and environmental policy. Further, waste markets can be disrupted as some materials that currently go to recycling, landfill or incineration could in the future be bound for biorefineries, with implications for waste management markest and public infrastructure. Policies promoting the cascading use of biomass could help mitigate these tensions by achieving high resource productivity. |
| Date: | 2018–11–27 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:oec:stiaac:60-en&r=env |
| By: | Speelman, S.; Hai, A. Ton Nu |
| Abstract: | Marine cage lobster in Vietnam has been known as a high return industry. But in recent years, it has also been facing with negative feedback on productivity due to overuse of nutrient content inputs. Local lobster farmers seemed to internalize this negative feedback by paying more efforts on cleaning cage and more cost on antibiotics and chemical without knowing if it is a positive or negative economic-environmental trade-off. In order to identify the relationship between the cost and environmental efficiency, this paper used Data Envelopment Analysis and Material Balance Principle with a dataset of 353 marine cage lobster farms in Vietnam. The findings show that improvements in efficiency of current input used would result in both lower production costs and better environmental performance. There is a positive trade-off in most lobster farms for being environmentally efficient and cost efficient from the current production. If lobster farms used appropriate input mix given input price information to be more cost efficient, it would benefit to environment. Moreover, producing friendlier with the marine environment also reduce production cost. However, there is a negative trade-off for the movement from being cost efficient to environmentally efficient position for all three groups. Acknowledgement : |
| Keywords: | Resource/Energy Economics and Policy |
| Date: | 2018–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iaae18:277460&r=env |
| By: | Onno Kuik (IVM, VU Amsterdam); FrŽdŽric Branger (CIRED); Philippe Quirion (CIRED, CNRS) |
| Abstract: | Pioneering domestic environmental regulation may foster the creation of new eco-industries. These industries could benefit from a competitive advantage in the global market place. This article examines empirical evidence of the impact of domestic renewable energy policies on the export performance of renewable energy products (wind and solar PV). We use a gravity model of international trade with a balanced dataset of 49 (for wind) and 40 (for PV) countries covering the period 1995-2013. The stringency of renewable energy policies are proxied by installed capacities. Our econometric model shows evidence of competitive advantage positively correlated with domestic renewable energy policies, sustained in the wind industry but brief in the solar PV industry. We suggest that the reason for the dynamic difference lies in the underlying technologies involved in the two industries. |
| Keywords: | Competitive Advantage, Gravity Model, Wind Industry, Solar PV Industry, Green Growth |
| JEL: | F14 K32 Q42 |
| Date: | 2018–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fae:ppaper:2018.07&r=env |
| By: | Peter A. Lang; Kenneth B. Gregory |
| Abstract: | This paper tests the hypothesis that global warming would be detrimental to the global economy this century. It compares empirical data of energy expenditure and average temperatures of the US states and census divisions against projections using the FUND [1] energy impact functions holding time-dependent parameters, except temperature, constant at 2010 values. It finds that energy expenditure reduces as temperatures increase. This suggests that global warming, by itself, would reduce, not increase, US energy expenditure and so would have a positive, not a negative, impact on US economic growth. Next, these findings are compared against FUND energy expenditure projections for the world for the 21st century. The findings suggest that warming, by itself, would also reduce global energy expenditure. If these findings are correct, and if FUND projections of the non-energy impact sectors are valid, warming would benefit the global economy up to around 4° C increase in average global temperature from 1900. If this is true, the hypothesis is false. In this case, greenhouse gas mitigation policies are detrimental to the global economy. The analysis and conclusions warrant further investigation. We recommend the FUND energy impact functions be modified and recalibrated against empirical data. |
| Keywords: | Economic impacts, global warming, climate change, energy consumption, empirical evidence, impact function, damage function. |
| Date: | 2018–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:een:camaaa:2018-55&r=env |
| By: | Laetitia Dablanc (IFSTTAR/AME/SPLOTT - Systèmes Productifs, Logistique, Organisation des Transports et Travail - IFSTTAR - Institut Français des Sciences et Technologies des Transports, de l'Aménagement et des Réseaux - Communauté Université Paris-Est); Cecilia Cruz (ThéMA - Théoriser et modéliser pour aménager (UMR 6049) - UB - Université de Bourgogne - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - UFC - Université de Franche-Comté); Antoine Montenon (IFSTTAR/AME/SPLOTT - Systèmes Productifs, Logistique, Organisation des Transports et Travail - IFSTTAR - Institut Français des Sciences et Technologies des Transports, de l'Aménagement et des Réseaux - Communauté Université Paris-Est) |
| Abstract: | This paper presents the results from RETMIF project financed by the French Agency for Energy (Ademe). The objective of this research was to understand the evolution of Low Emission Zones and their impact on urban freight transport in order to identify lessons which will be useful pour Paris Low Emission Zone. In order to improve air quality in European cities, public authorities have implemented Low Emission Zones (LEZ) in which access by the most polluting vehicles is banned. We assess the impacts on urban freight companies of implementing a LEZ, through three case studies: London, Berlin and Gothenburg. Two approaches were developed: first we collected quantitative data about freight companies and their activities in the three cities; secondly, we interviewed various stakeholders (local authorities, transport associations, freight companies). We conclude that the implementation of a LEZ tends to reduce the number of freight companies delivering urban areas, while encouraging public and private stakeholders to take action to modernise freight transport sector. Urban freight indeed requires modernisation: a high percentage of old vehicles still operate in many European areas; and many small transport and delivery companies have financial and economic difficulties. Low Emission Zones represent an answer to promote a restructuring of the urban freight market. |
| Abstract: | Cet article présente des résultats issus du projet de recherche RETMIF (Réduction des émissions du transport de marchandises, scénarios pour l'Île-de-France, 2013-2015) financé par l'ADEME/AACT-AIR, dont l'objectif était de comprendre l'évolution des zones à émissions réduites européennes, et plus particulièrement leur impact sur le transport de marchandises, afin d'en tirer des enseignements qui pourraient servir à la mise en place d'une ZER en région parisienne. Les « zones à émissions réduites » (ZER) sont des parties d'une ville dont l'accès est réservé aux véhicules les moins polluants. Elles sont connues en Europe sous le vocable Low Emission Zones et ont désormais en France le nom de « zones à circulation restreinte » (ZCR) depuis l'adoption de la loi pour la transition énergétique de 2015. Avec plus de 200 d'entre elles déjà opérationnelles, les ZER font désormais partie des principales solutions mises en œuvre par les villes européennes pour améliorer la qualité de l'air. La question de leurs impacts sur la qualité de l'air est traitée par la littérature mais celle de leurs impacts socio-économiques sur le secteur professionnel du transport de marchandises l'est peu. C'est pourquoi nous avons entrepris, par une méthodologie originale, quantitative et qualitative, d'identifier les conséquences pour les activités des entreprises de transport de la mise en place de ZER déjà établies depuis plusieurs années. Nous avons choisi les exemples de Londres, Berlin et Göteborg. Deux approches ont été développées : d'une part, la collecte de données quantitatives sur le secteur du transport de marchandises ; et des entretiens auprès de différents acteurs (autorités locales, fédérations de transporteurs et entreprises de transport) d'autre part. L'analyse de ces données permet de conclure de la façon suivante : la mise en place d'une ZER semble réduire le nombre d'entreprises de transport livrant en ville ; et cette réduction permet aux acteurs – publics et privés – à agir pour sa modernisation. Celle-ci est nécessaire car ce secteur connaît aujourd'hui beaucoup de dysfonctionnements, tant environnementaux du fait de l'utilisation encore importante de véhicules anciens, que sociaux, du fait d'un grand nombre de très petites entreprises ayant des difficultés à maintenir une rentabilité minimale. Les ZER représentent une réponse structurelle favorisant la réorganisation du secteur du transport de marchandises en ville. |
| Keywords: | low Emission Zone,urban logistics,road transport,public action on air quality,environment,zone à émissions réduites,zones à circulation restreinte,logistique urbaine,transport routier de marchandises,qualité de l’air,environnement |
| Date: | 2018–10–29 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:journl:hal-01907343&r=env |
| By: | Finger, R.; Bocker, T.; Britz, W.; Mohring, N. |
| Abstract: | The effects of a glyphosate ban on cultivation of silage maize are simulated using a spatially explicit bio-economic model that accounts for different pre- and post-sowing weed control strategies and production risks. We analyse the effects of a glyphosate ban on farmers choices of field-level weed control strategies. These strategies are evaluated in two environmental dimensions. More specifically, we consider a pesticide load indicator to assess environmental toxicity, fate and human health effects as well as the energy demand of the agricultural system. We find that a glyphosate ban leads to a significant reduction of the pesticide load of silage maize production. However, a glyphosate ban also leads to somewhat higher energy consumption. Acknowledgement : We thank Ganga Ram Maharjan and Thomas Gaiser from the Crop Science Group of University of Bonn for providing yield data for this research. Furthermore, we thank the plant protection consultants of the Chamber of Agriculture of NRW and of the Chamber of Agriculture of Lower Saxony for providing valuable information supporting this research. |
| Keywords: | Environmental Economics and Policy |
| Date: | 2018–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iaae18:277005&r=env |
| By: | Phanthipa Srinammuang (Accounting department, Kasetsart Business Shool); Neungruthai Petcharat (Gulf College) |
| Abstract: | This study evaluates the communicative value of environmental sustainability reports produced of Thai construction companies under the mandatory reporting regime and concerns about environmental impacts of the construction industry in Thailand, as it was necessitated emphasis on business practices and eco-efficiency. Data was collected through a review of annual reports of sixty-five construction companies listed on the Thailand Stock Exchange. Environmental improvement activities identified in the reports are analysed and the quality of the disclosures were evaluated against the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) framework and qualitative characteristics used as a benchmark to assess traditional financial reports. The results indicate that while the mandatory reporting regime on the Thai construction sector has fostered the quantity of disclosures in annual reports, wide variations still exist in the information disclosed in the reports owing to management?s considerable reporting discretion. The reporting practices show room for improvement with respect to enhancing informativeness of environmental disclosures to users. |
| Keywords: | Environmental information, Environmental measure, Environmental sustainability reporting, GRI |
| JEL: | M41 |
| Date: | 2018–11 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:sek:iacpro:7309922&r=env |
| By: | Emanuele Massetti; Steven Van Passel; Camila Apablaza |
| Abstract: | We estimate a Ricardian model of Western European agricultural land values using farm-level data. We model the effect of temperature on land values using a flexible specification of daily mean temperature to test if there are temperature threshold effects. Results indicate that there are no temperature thresholds beyond which agricultural land values suddenly drop. The results are robust to alternative model specifications. Adaptation explains why a smooth aggregate response function is compatible with sharply non-linear crop yield functions. With adaptation, the effect of warming on Western European agriculture is likely to be smooth. |
| Keywords: | agriculture, climate change, extreme temperature, Ricardian, threshold, Europe |
| JEL: | Q12 Q21 Q51 Q54 |
| Date: | 2018 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ces:ceswps:_7286&r=env |
| By: | Dalhaus, T.; Finger, R. |
| Abstract: | Crop insurances play a key role in managing farmers financial exposure to climate risks. Recent developments have shown that weather index insurances (WII) help to overcome problems of asymmetric information in classical indemnity based crop insurances. However, basis risk, i.e. the discrepancy between WII payout and on-farm losses, constitutes the largest adoption hurdle to overcome. Currently, rich farm-level yield records are indispensable to design functioning WII contracts. Thus, farmers remain mostly unprotected in case of farm-level yield data scarcity. We here develop a Bayesian quantile regression (BQR) framework to reduce this type of basis. To this end, we use county-level yield data as informative prior for estimating the impact of farm-level rainfall on farm-level yields. We are thus able to combine the rich sources of county-level yield data with scarce data on the farm-level. We use an empirical example of insuring drought risk in Eastern German winter wheat production. Our results show that, although our approach helps to effectively reduce farmers financial exposure to drought risk, basis risk remains unaffected in our case study context. Further research might expand the here proposed BQR to other perils with higher spatial dependence and regions with longer records of county yields. Acknowledgement : |
| Keywords: | Risk and Uncertainty |
| Date: | 2018–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iaae18:277226&r=env |
| By: | Obrovsky, Michael |
| Abstract: | Bei der Umsetzung der 2030 Agenda mit den 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Österreich wird ein Mainstreaming-Ansatz verfolgt, ohne dessen Potenzial voll zu nutzen. "Mainstreaming" als Instrument zur Umsetzung der SDGs braucht neben einem positiven Umfeld auch die ehrliche Bestandsaufnahme des Status-quo in den verschiedenen Politikbereichen, eine Lückenanalyse, konkrete gemeinsame Strategien, Mechanismen einer kohärenten Politikkoordination, Budgets und ein regelmäßiges Monitoring. Ansonsten bleibt es nur ein leeres Schlagwort. |
| Date: | 2018 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:oefsep:222018&r=env |
| By: | Asfaw, S. |
| Abstract: | This paper explores the interaction between climate shocks, market regimes choices and welfare outcomes using Malawi's panel household data combined with long-term historical climate records. The study first examines how climate variability affects household market participation regime and then estimates the impact of market participation on several measure of household welfare. This study also provide a comprehensive picture of how market participation impacts household welfare in the wake of climate variability. The possibility for households to self-selection in a specific market regime is addressed through a multinomial endogenous treatment model. We find that rainfall variability is a push factor for Malawian household farmers who are more prone to participate in the market in order to guarantee their assets against the adverse effects of rainfall uncertainty. Furthermore, being a net seller is, on average, empirically associated with an increase in total and food consumption. The heterogeneity checks support the average results, in particular for female-headed households and large landowners. However, they also highlight that being net-sellers is associated with greater welfare only in Malawi s central region while in the northern and the southern regions, being net-buyer accrues a greater consumption. Furthermore, the net-sellers welfare superiority disappears in the wake of anomalous low rainfall events. Acknowledgement : |
| Keywords: | Marketing |
| Date: | 2018–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iaae18:277029&r=env |
| By: | Basurto-Hernandez, S.; Maddison, D.; Banerjee, A. |
| Abstract: | This paper investigates the effect of climate change on crop and livestock choices using two discrete choice models: Multinomial Logit (MNL) and Nested Logit (NL) models. Taking advantage of a new-plot level dataset for Mexico we identify the effect of climate on agriculturalists observed choices. Using Geographical Information Systems (GIS) we combine data on 31 types of crops and livestock encountered in 219,985 and 168,265 plots corresponding to the 2012 and 2014 agricultural years with climate data. Also included in the analysis are the expected output and input prices, soil types, indicators of access to markets and information, socio-demographic characteristics of the farmer, and subsidy payments. We find strong evidence about the inappropriateness of the Independence of Irrelevant Alternatives (IIA) assumption underpinning the MNL model. This finding leads to remarkable differences in the predictions from the MNL and NL models. Speculations about the effect of climate change on farmers choices suggest that in the event of a warmer and drier future, Mexican agriculturalists will move their production efforts from alfalfa, cacao, beef cattle, grapes, onions, oranges, red tomato, soy, and sugar cane to bananas, barley, lemon, squash and potatoes. Acknowledgement : |
| Keywords: | Environmental Economics and Policy |
| Date: | 2018–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iaae18:277517&r=env |
| By: | K.S. , A.; Khan, T.; Kishore, A. |
| Abstract: | Crop insurance is one of the important risk management strategies adopted by farmers. However, one of the biggest challenge Government faces while promoting insurance is in setting optimum premium for crop insurance which can achieve higher participation of farmers in Insurance programme. With premium rate set at 1.5% of sum insured for wheat crop, are the farmers are willing to pay the premium at this rate to insure their wheat crop? It would be interesting to investigate this question in state like Punjab which has not implemented crop insurance. We conducted a Contingent Valuation Study to elicit Willingness to Pay (WTP) for crop insurance of wheat farmers in Punjab state. The sample consisted of 617 wheat farmers spread across 60 villages of 12 districts in Punjab. We found that it is farmers who has suffered crop loss in the past found to have higher WTP. Asset worthy farmers, banking literacy, extension contact was also found to have positive impact on WTP. The study indicated that WTP for crop insurance is around Rs 297 / acre, which is less than the existing rate of premium which is approximately Rs. 400 /acre (premium rate of 1.5%). Acknowledgement : |
| Keywords: | Risk and Uncertainty |
| Date: | 2018–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iaae18:277516&r=env |
| By: | Kimhi, A. |
| Abstract: | This paper combines a micro-level structural econometric model of farmland allocation and a market-level equilibrium supply-demand model in order to simulate the effects of climate changes on agricultural production, food prices and social welfare. The estimation accounts for corner solutions associated with disaggregated land-use data, whose usage enables treating prices as exogenous. We employ the model for assessing climate-change impacts in Israel, in which agriculture is protected by import tariffs. We find that projected climate changes are beneficial to farmers, particularly due to the positive impact of the forecasted temperature rise on field crops. Fruit production are projected to decline, and reduce consumer surpluses, but to a lower extent than the increase in total agricultural profits. Nearly 20% of the profit rise is attributed to farmers adaptation through land reallocation. Adaptation to the projected reduction in precipitation by increasing irrigation is found warranted from farmers perspective; however, it is not beneficial to society as a whole. Abolishing import tariffs effectively transfers surpluses from producers to consumers, but its impact on social welfare becomes positive only under large climate changes. Acknowledgement : |
| Keywords: | Environmental Economics and Policy |
| Date: | 2018–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iaae18:276972&r=env |
| By: | Singerman, A.; Useche, P. |
| Abstract: | We conducted a choice experiment based on the theory of global games to analyze the impact of strategic uncertainty on participation decisions of Florida citrus growers in area-wide pest management programs to control the vector of citrus greening. We found that the farmers average certainty equivalent in a strategically uncertain setting under a high coordination requirement for obtaining a Pareto superior payoff, was lower compared to that of a lottery. Moreover, we found some evidence that the perceived risk of farmers in the strategically uncertain alternative increased as the size of the group increased. Thus, our results help explain why, despite the efficiency of area-wide pest management to control the vector of citrus greening across Florida, farmers participation is not as widespread as one would expect. To avoid the strategic uncertainty involved in relying on neighbors, many farmers choose self-reliance in spraying despite the lower payoff. As a recommendation for policy makers, we propose a top-down regulation so as to generate a bottom-up collective action to deal with the issue of strategic uncertainty in area-wide pest management to avoid the sub-optimal outcome. Acknowledgement : |
| Keywords: | Risk and Uncertainty |
| Date: | 2018–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iaae18:277045&r=env |
| By: | Manasvini Vaidyula; Christina Hood |
| Abstract: | Many Parties to the Paris Agreement have expressed greenhouse gas mitigation targets relative to a baseline scenario, or “baseline targets”. Baseline targets in nationally determined contributions (NDCs) could potentially change over time including to update assumptions of emission drivers or reflect improved methodologies. This paper examines issues that can arise under Articles 4 and 6 of the Agreement when baseline targets are updated, such as potential implications of using consistent methodologies throughout the NDC implementation period. The paper also examines transparency-related issues, e.g. information needed for accounting that would be reported and reviewed under Article 13 of the Agreement. Past baseline and reference scenario reporting experience highlights relevant lessons for accounting for baseline targets, including on transparent reporting of baseline scenarios. The paper identifies reporting and accounting guidance options, including when certain types of updates could be applied to baseline targets, that could help Parties address some of these issues. |
| Keywords: | accounting, baseline targets, guidance, mitigation, NDC, UNFCCC |
| Date: | 2018–04–27 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:oec:envaab:2018/02-en&r=env |
| By: | Andreas Karpf (CES - Centre d'économie de la Sorbonne - UP1 - Université Panthéon-Sorbonne - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique); Antoine Mandel (CES - Centre d'économie de la Sorbonne - UP1 - Université Panthéon-Sorbonne - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, PSE - Paris School of Economics); Stefano Battiston (CAMS - Centre d'analyse et de mathématique sociale - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique) |
| Abstract: | This paper presents an analysis of the European Emission Trading System as a transaction network. It is shown that, given the lack of well-identified trading institutions, industrial actors had to resort to local connections and financial intermediaries to participate in the market. This gave rise to a hierarchical structure in the transaction network. It is then shown that the asymmetries in the network induced market inefficiencies (e.g., increased bid-ask spread) and informational asymmetries, that have been exploited by central agents at the expense of less central ones. Albeit the efficiency of the market has improved from the beginning of Phase II, the asymmetry persists, imposing unnecessary additional costs on agents and reducing the effectiveness of the market as a mitigation instrument. |
| Keywords: | Network,Carbon market,Climate change,Microstructure |
| Date: | 2018–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:cesptp:halshs-01905985&r=env |
| By: | Paul Pelzl; Steven Poelhekke |
| Abstract: | We analyse the local effect of exogenous shocks to the value of mineral deposits at the district level in Indonesia using a panel of manufacturing plants. To the best of our knowledge, we are the first to model and estimate the effect of heterogeneity in natural resource extraction methods. We find that in areas where mineral extraction is relatively capital-intensive, mining booms cause virtually no upward pressure on manufacturing earnings per worker, and both producers of traded and local goods benefit from mining booms in terms of employment. In contrast, labour-intensive mining booms drive up local manufacturing wages such that producers of traded goods reduce employment. This source of heterogeneity helps to explain the mixed evidence for `Dutch disease' effects in the literature. In addition, we find no evidence that fiscal revenue sharing between sub-national districts leads to any spillovers. |
| Keywords: | dutch disease, natural resources, mining, labour intensity, Indonesia |
| JEL: | L16 L72 O12 O13 Q30 |
| Date: | 2018 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ces:ceswps:_7284&r=env |
| By: | Lisa Gianmoena; Vicente Rios |
| Abstract: | This study analyzes the importance of a large number of possible determinants of CO2 emissions per capita during the period 1991-2014 for a sample of 123 countries. They key contributions are methodological given that we consider the effect of a great number of economic, institutional, demographic and socio-cultural factors that could affect CO2 emissions employing Spatial Bayesian Model Averaging techniques while accounting for different concepts of cross-country interactions and different spillover processes. Over the different type of interactions considered: geographical, genetic, linguistic and religious we find that traditional geographical interactions outperform the others. Spatial Bayesian Model Averaging analysis enable us to compute the PIPs for the different indicators to generate a probabilistic ranking of relevance for the various CO2 determinants. Our findings suggest that CO2 emissions are mainly determined by economic factors such as the sectoral composition, the prices of gasoline, the intensity of fossil fuels consumption and the level of output. In a intermediate level of importance we find social and demographic factors such as the age composition, the religious attitudes or the social globalization of the population. |
| Keywords: | Dynamic Spatial Panels, CO2 emissions, Determinants, Spatial Bayesian Model Averaging |
| JEL: | C1 O13 C23 |
| Date: | 2018–07–01 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pie:dsedps:2018/234&r=env |
| By: | Koffi Akakpo; Marie-Amélie Boucher; Vincent Boucher |
| Abstract: | We examine the impact of rainfall variability and cyclones on schooling and work among a cohort of teens and young adults by estimating a bivariate probit model, using a panel survey conducted in 2004 and 2011 in MadagascarÑa poor island nation that is frequently affected by extreme weather events. Our results show that negative rainfall deviations and cyclones reduce the current and lagged probability of attending school and encourage young men and, to a greater extent, women to enter the work force. Less wealthy households are most likely to experience this school-to-work transition in the face of rainfall shocks. The finding is consistent with poorer households having less savings and more limited access to credit and insurance, whichreduces their ability to cope with negative weather shocks. |
| Keywords: | Flood warnings, Renewable resource management, Uncertainty |
| JEL: | D81 Q28 C61 |
| Date: | 2018 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:lvl:creacr:2018-03&r=env |
| By: | Justine Garrett (OECD); Sara Moarif (International Energy Agency) |
| Abstract: | The enhanced transparency framework for climate action and support envisaged by the Paris Agreement is to “build on and enhance” current transparency arrangements under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). This paper draws lessons from current reporting by Annex I and non-Annex I countries both within and outside the UNFCCC reporting framework to provide options that might inform the development of modalities, procedures and guidelines (MPGs) for reporting of technology transfer and capacity-building support under the Paris Agreement. The paper offers six options for consideration by Parties, with an emphasis on reporting by developing country Parties, given that very limited guidance has been available to these Parties to date. The options include how Parties might provide more guidance for reporting separately on financial, technology and capacity-building support; frame reporting of support needs and support received in the context of nationally determined contributions (NDCs); and facilitate more consistent use of key terminology and clearer reporting. |
| Keywords: | capacity building, climate change, technology transfer, transparency, UNFCCC |
| JEL: | F53 O44 Q54 Q56 Q58 |
| Date: | 2018–04–27 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:oec:envaab:2018/01-en&r=env |
| By: | Duan, J.; McKenna, A.; Van Kooten, G.C.; Liu, S. |
| Abstract: | In this study, we simulate a hybrid renewable energy system with battery storage to power the Alberta grid, to meet the province s goal of phasing out coal-fired power plants by 2030. In doing so, we study the optimal generation mix based on wind, solar, and load data, and we consider the so-called missing money problem in determining how Alberta will be able to facilitate a shift away from fossil fuels sustainably. We find that high carbon tax rates allow for higher levels of wind integration and introduce battery storage into the model, while solar energy remains economically infeasible. This allows the grid to depart from using combined-cycle gas plants to meet base load, though we find that combustion gas turbines are still necessary to act as peakers. One of economic consequence of this situation is that missing money problem is exacerbated, and then a compensation mechanism like the capacity market is necessary for the sake of electricity source adequacy and reliability. Despite this, renewable capacity factors in Alberta are potentially high, and as costs decline in the future, renewable energy will play a key role in meeting energy demand. Acknowledgement : |
| Keywords: | Resource/Energy Economics and Policy |
| Date: | 2018–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iaae18:277525&r=env |
| By: | Rumen Dobrinsky (The Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies, wiiw); Artem Kochnev; Sandra M. Leitner (The Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies, wiiw); Petra Mayrhofer |
| Abstract: | Graph of the month Eco-Innovation (EI) Index, 2011 and 2017 (p. 1) Forty-five years of wiiw A look at the founding history of the Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies (by Petra Mayrhofer; pp. 2-5) Exploring the separatist-controlled areas of Ukraine from outer space (by Artem Kochnev; pp. 6‑12) The drivers and effects of eco-innovations what is the role of public policy intervention? (by Sandra M. Leitner; pp. 13‑16) European Innovation Partnerships How efficient have they been in promoting innovation in the EU? (by Rumen Dobrinsky; pp. 17-22) Statistical Annex Monthly and quarterly statistics for Central, East and Southeast Europe (pp. 23‑44) Index of subjects (pp. 45-46) |
| Keywords: | innovation, wiiw, economics and remote sensing, innovation, eco-innovation, public policy intervention, European Innovation Partnerships, |
| Date: | 2018–05 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wii:mpaper:mr:2018-05&r=env |
| By: | Hanni, Michael; Jiménez, Juan Pablo; Ruelas, Ignacio |
| Abstract: | El presente trabajo analiza la relación entre el manejo de los recursos naturales no renovables, su relación con el ciclo de precios y la evolución de los ingresos fiscales en la región. El auge de precios ha tenido indudablemente un impacto positivo en el espacio fiscal de los países especializados en la producción de recursos naturales no renovables; no obstante, también ha exhibido la vulnerabilidad de las cuentas públicas en momentos en los que los precios internacionales de las materias primas mostraron una baja significativa, como la que se acaba de observar en los últimos años. Con esta premisa, en esta publicación se revisan los instrumentos fiscales utilizados y las reformas en la tributación sobre los recursos naturales, diferenciando las implementadas en cada fase del ciclo, sus objetivos, evolución e impacto sobre las cuentas públicas y los desafíos que enfrentan los regímenes fiscales de los países especializados en la producción de recursos naturales no renovables. |
| Keywords: | INGRESOS FISCALES, INDUSTRIA, RECURSOS NATURALES, RECURSOS NO RENOVABLES, PRECIOS, POLITICA FISCAL, TAX REVENUES, INDUSTRY, NATURAL RESOURCES, NON-RENEWABLE RESOURCES, PRICES, FISCAL POLICY |
| Date: | 2018–11–15 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ecr:col037:44239&r=env |
| By: | - |
| Abstract: | Este seminario tuvo como objetivo principal “identificar barreras y oportunidades en términos de políticas y regulaciones, investigación & desarrollo e innovación, y desarrollo de mercados para la bioeconomía en América Latina y el Caribe”. El seminario se articuló en torno a tres grandes ejes temáticos estratégicos para el desarrollo de la bioeconomía y que identifican sectores cuya concurrencia se considera necesaria para la elaboración e implementación de los marcos de políticas y estrategias: políticas y regulaciones (sector público); investigación y desarrollo e innovación (entidades generadoras de conocimiento); y valorización económica y desarrollo de mercados para la bioeconomía (sector privado). |
| Keywords: | DESARROLLO ECONOMICO, ECONOMIA AMBIENTAL, DESARROLLO SOSTENIBLE, POLITICA DE DESARROLLO, ESTUDIOS DE CASOS, EMPRESAS INDUSTRIALES, INVESTIGACION Y DESARROLLO, CAPACIDAD EMPRESARIAL, INNOVACIONES, CONFERENCIAS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMICS, SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, DEVELOPMENT POLICY, CASE STUDIES, INDUSTRIAL ENTERPRISES, RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, ENTREPRENEURSHIP, INNOVATIONS, CONFERENCES |
| Date: | 2018–11–16 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ecr:col043:44241&r=env |
| By: | Dirk Schoenmaker |
| Abstract: | In the transition to a sustainable economy, companies are increasingly adopting the goal of long-term value creation, which integrates financial, social and environmental value. Investors have an important stewardship role to steer companies to sustainable business practices that will achieve long-term value creation. Policy proposals from the European Union High Level Expert Group on Sustainable Finance, published in January 2018, promote a fiduciary duty to include sustainability in investment, company disclosure of sustainability information and a unified classification system (or taxonomy) of sustainable investments from which investors can choose. A fiduciary duty to include sustainability in the investment process and to disclose sustainability information can accelerate sustainable investment. But an official taxonomy might stifle innovation in sustainable investment. While such a taxonomy might bring much needed clarity in certain markets, such as the emerging market for green bonds, the general approach to sustainable investment should be market-led. Investors and banks are best placed to assess which companies are prepared for the transition to a sustainable economy. This Policy Contribution proposes an active investment approach to sustainable investment. This active approach is based on fundamental analysis of companies’ environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors and engagement with investee companies on material ESG factors. The aim is to uncover and realise companies’ social and environmental value alongside their financial value. Building on previous research (De Jong et al, 2017), we present a six-point plan for sustainable investing. These points range from active investment in concentrated portfolios and long investment horizons, to deep engagement with companies and shorter investment chains. |
| Date: | 2018–11 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:bre:polcon:28553&r=env |
| By: | Gilles Lafforgue (Toulouse Business School); Luc Rouge (Toulouse Business School) |
| Abstract: | We present a general equilibrium growth model in which the use of a non renewable resource yields waste. Recycling waste produces materials of poor quality. These materials can be reused for production only once a dedicated R&D activity has made their quality reach a certain minimum threshold. The economy then switches to a fully recycling regime. We refer to this switch as the technological breakthrough. We analyze the optimal trajectories of the economy and interpret the Ramsey-Keynes and Hotelling conditions in this specific context. We characterize the determinants of the date of the breakthrough, which is endogenous, as well as the discontinuity in the variables' paths that is induced by this breakthrough. We show, in particular, that the availability of a recycling technology leads to an over-exploitation of the resource and possibly to lower levels of consumption before the breakthrough. We also find that the breakthrough can have a negative impact on utility over a finite period. |
| Keywords: | Recycling, Non-renewable resource, Technical change, Growth, |
| JEL: | C61 O44 Q32 Q53 |
| Date: | 2018–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fae:wpaper:2018.14&r=env |
| By: | Lloyd, Simon J.; Bangalore, Mook; Chalabi, Zaid; Kovats, R. Sari; Hallegatte, Stèphane; Rozenberg, Julie; Valin, Hugo; Havlik, Petr |
| Abstract: | Background: In 2016, 23% of children (155 million) aged 1 million under the poverty/high climate change scenario. The projected impact of climate change on stunting was greater in rural vs. urban areas under both socioeconomic scenarios. In countries with lower incomes and relatively high food prices, we projected that rising prices would tend to increase stunting, whereas in countries with higher incomes and relatively low food prices, rising prices would tend to decrease stunting. These findings suggest that food prices that provide decent incomes to farmers alongside high employment with living wages will reduce undernutrition and vulnerability to climate change. Conclusions: Shifting the focus from food production to interactions between incomes and food price provides new insights. Futures that protect health should consider not just availability, accessibility, and quality of food, but also the incomes generated by those producing the food |
| JEL: | I3 |
| Date: | 2018–09–26 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ehl:lserod:90594&r=env |
| By: | Buschbom, Jutta |
| Abstract: | Safeguarding biological diversity from evolutionary lineages to ecosystems is a major undertaking for humanity. Forensic conservation genetics for the protection of wild flora and fauna aims to provide statistical inference tools and services for the enforcement of local to global conservation and management strategies. This paper reviews statistical criteria that provide insight into and assess the reliability of conclusions drawn from statistical inference. The translation of these fundamental criteria into practice is illustrated with applications from evolutionary and forensic genetics, specifically focusing on the inference of geographic origin using population assignment approaches. [...] |
| Keywords: | conservation,management and enforcement,forensic genetics for wild flora and fauna,statistical reliability,ancillary statistical criteria,statistical validation,Erhaltung,Bewirtschaftung und Strafverfolgung,forensische Genetik für wilde Flora und Fauna,statistische Verlässlichkeit,"ancillary" statistische Kriterien,statistische Validierung |
| Date: | 2018 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:jhtire:63&r=env |
| By: | Sakamma, S.; Umesh, K.B.; Rangegowda, R. |
| Abstract: | The study was conducted in Hilly Zones of Karnataka to assess the resource use efficiency and externalities in banana and its competing crop. Cobb-Douglas type of production function (per hectare), was used to assess the resource use efficiency in banana and its competing crops production. Resource use efficiency in banana production was high in case of chemical fertilizer (4.32) followed by sucker (3.25), FYM (2.47) and irrigation (1.93), indicating considerable scope to increase banana production by increasing the level of these inputs. The resources were over utilized in case of competing crops (paddy and ginger). Thus, farmers can reduce the wastage of resources by cultivating banana crop. The externality for resource use in banana and its competing crops was quantified. The results revealed that the cost incurred on fertilizers was more in case of ginger (Rs. 43,200/ha) followed by banana (Rs. 25,450/ha) and paddy (Rs. 9,644/ ha). With respect to PPC also the cost was more in ginger (Rs. 69,519/ha) compared to paddy (Rs.5,630/ ha) and banana (Rs. 3,893/ ha). This clearly indicated that ecologically banana has very less negative impact due to less usage of PPC. Acknowledgement : |
| Keywords: | Crop Production/Industries |
| Date: | 2018–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iaae18:277222&r=env |
| By: | Vladislav Chrastný (Czech University of Life Sciences Prague) |
| Abstract: | Chromium stable isotopes are of interest in many geochemical studies as a tool to identify Cr(VI) reduction in groundwater aquifers. At four industrial sites in the Czech Republic, we evaluated the extent of spontaneous removal of toxic Cr(VI) contaminated by Cr-plating baths. Prior to field studies we tested the short-term stability of Cr(VI) in groundwater samples. We follow conventional methods for Cr(VI) stabilization given by US EPA and APHA-AWWA-WEF protocols. We found significant Fe, Mn-induced Cr(VI) reduction in anthropogenically contaminated groundwater samples regardless of the sample treatment (alkalization, pH>8 and lower temperature, |
| Keywords: | hexavalent Cr; chromium isotopes; chromium reduction; ground waters; industrial pollution |
| JEL: | K32 C93 |
| Date: | 2018–11 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:sek:iacpro:8109946&r=env |
| By: | Cardona, Tur J.; Speelman, S.; Sanou, E. |
| Abstract: | Genetically modified crops are the topic of a controversial debate. While some believe they have the potential to address many of the world s most challenging, interrelated problems, others mainly point to the risks, uncertainty and to some socio-economic issues. In this perspective a lot of research has been done on the agronomic and economic performance, on the effects on human health and the environmental risks and on stakeholders attitudes. Given that farmers, as actual potential producers of these crops play a crucial role in their eventual success surprisingly little attention has gone to their preferences. This paper focuses on farmers in Burkina Faso and uses two choice experiments to evaluate the preferences for two types of GM innovations: Bt cotton, which is a first generation GM crop, in which the focus is on input traits and biofortified sorghum, a second generation GM crop with a focus on output traits. Results show that farmers have a clear interest in pest resistance, and are quite satisfied with the current configuration of the Bt cotton crop. Moreover farmers are very open to the addition of micronutrients to the sorghum. This is an important finding in the context of the African Biofortified Sorghum initiative Acknowledgement : |
| Keywords: | Risk and Uncertainty |
| Date: | 2018–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iaae18:276968&r=env |
| By: | Lambarraa, F.; Elyoubi, H. |
| Abstract: | Origin labelling is one of the most important strategy in the Green Morocco Policy with which the Moroccan government aims to support the marketing of domestically produced food and then improves the income of smallholder farmers. This study analyses this strategy using a market comparison between two products, a PGI labelled product Clementine of Berkane and a non-labelled product Cherries of Sefrou-Ifrane. A survey with 500 consumers was conducted in 2016. Using the Analytical Hierarchy Process methodology, we study the Moroccan consumer preferences and compare the hierarchy of different attributes and sub-attributes of both products. We evaluate the importance of the origin and the visibility of the new established quality sign of origin in the Moroccan market. Results show the importance of origin and the intrinsic characteristics of the product when Moroccan consumers purchase both products. The hierarchy obtained by the AHP for the Clementine of Berkane shows that the high juicy content , Origin and the PGI are the most important attributes for Moroccan consumers. While for Cherries of Sefrou-Ifrane, Origin and the attribute Juicy-soft fruit are the most important attributes. The visibility of the quality sign of origin still limited in the Moroccan market comparing to other product attributes. Acknowledgement : |
| Keywords: | Marketing |
| Date: | 2018–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iaae18:277175&r=env |
| By: | Beatrice Di Francesco; Ida McDonnell |
| Abstract: | In 2015, UN Member States and the international community more broadly endorsed the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Agenda’s commitment to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals for everyone to leave no one behind. This working paper presents and analyses the findings of a survey circulated to members of the OECD’s Development Assistance Committee (DAC) between April and May 2018. The survey investigated the level and extent of commitment to leave no one behind in development co-operation policies, strategies and programming. It also gathered views and evidence from DAC members about the comparative advantage, opportunities, challenges and strategies for answering this pledge of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The findings presented in this paper inform the analysis of the 2018 Development Co-operation Report: Joining Forces to Leave No One Behind. |
| Keywords: | 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, DAC members, Disaggregated Data, Donor, Equity, Inclusive, Inequality, Least developed countries, Leave no one behind, Multidimensional poverty, ODA, OECD, SDG, Sustainable Development Goals, United Nations, Vulnerability |
| JEL: | C80 F50 F53 F55 H1 H4 H8 |
| Date: | 2018–11–28 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:oec:dcdaaa:47-en&r=env |
| By: | Schreiner, J.A. |
| Abstract: | This study assesses pig farmers willingness-to-accept (WTA) higher farm animal welfare (FAW) standards and consumers willingness-to-pay (WTP) for thus enhanced standards. The analysis is based on Discrete Choice Experiments with nearly identical choice sets for both farmers (N=140) and consumers (N=775). Based on preference estimates from a random parameter logit (RPL) model, supply and demand curves for high-welfare pork in Germany are estimated and market equilibria are derived for alternative levels of FAW. We find that estimates of WTP are significantly positive for all FAW attributes. By contrast, our model revealed significant WTA estimates only for surface area per pig and the amount of bedding material on offer, but not for the other FAW attributes. Market simulations for high-welfare pork indicate increasing divergence between demand and supply with rising FAW standards. We estimate a market share of 49% for pork produced in compliance with an entry-level FAW programme with standards only slightly above the legal minimum. Programmes with more demanding standards are estimated to gain much smaller market shares. Keywords Farm animal welfare, Discrete Choice Experiment, Random Parameter Logit, market simulation, common elicitation format. Acknowledgement : |
| Keywords: | Livestock Production/Industries |
| Date: | 2018–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iaae18:277467&r=env |
| By: | Aubert, M.; Enjolras, G. |
| Abstract: | Many farms are developing more environmentally-friendly practices in order to meet the phytosanitary requirements of both private actors and public authorities. This article analyses the essential contribution of EU subsidies to reducing pesticide use. We use the highly- accurate FADN database from 2007 to 2015y to measure pesticide use and relate it to public subsidies received by farmers within the implementation of the rural development policy for the period 2007 to 2013. The influence of EU subsidies on pesticide use is measured through an econometric model using panel data. In addition to the individual, structural and financial factors which usually explain the implementation of environmentally-friendly practices, our study emphasizes the role of EU subsidies. The results show that overall payments as well as payments from the 1st pillar increase pesticide use while payments from the 2nd pillar lead to a decreasing intensity of pesticide expenditure. Other key individual, structural and financial factors at farm level also have contrasting effects on pesticide use. The efficiency of public policies towards the issue of environmentally-friendly practices is therefore questioned. Acknowledgement : |
| Keywords: | Agricultural and Food Policy |
| Date: | 2018–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iaae18:277228&r=env |
| By: | Roxana Bobulescu (MC - Management et Comportement - Grenoble École de Management (GEM)); Nhu Tuyên Lê (GREGH - Groupement de Recherche et d'Etudes en Gestion à HEC - HEC Paris - Ecole des Hautes Etudes Commerciales - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique); Claudio Vitari (MTS - Management Technologique et Strategique - Grenoble École de Management (GEM)); Erin Whittingham |
| Abstract: | This paper focuses on the transitional features of community supported agriculture (CSA). Its key contribution is to show the transformational potential of CSA for agricultural system change. The starting point of this research is the "ideal" CSA model. Instead of a monolithic CSA model, in practice we find a patchwork of experiences that we group together under the "transitional" CSA name. We develop a framework that highlights the "transitional" CSA model and compares it with both the conventional and the "ideal" CSA. The coevolutionary approach helps us to understand how CSAs adapt to their context. We use many narratives from the broad literature on CSAs. |
| Keywords: | "transitional" CSA 1,Community Supported Agriculture,"ideal" CSA,"transitional" CSA |
| Date: | 2018 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:gemptp:halshs-01923235&r=env |