This paper looks at the role and importance of economic instruments in the context of three specific biodiversity related Multilateral Environmental Agreements. These are the Convention on international Trade in Endangered Species of Flora and Fauna (CITES), the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat (Ramsar Convention). The paper also discusses ways to improve and enhance the use of economic instruments as a means of conserving and sustaining biological diversity. (UNEP).
Economic theory and empirical models suggest that economic instruments should help us to meet environmental goals at lower cost. Practical experience, however, shows that the cost savings of emission trading are smaller than expected and charges usually have had small incentive impacts. This book gives the first comprehensive review of economic theory, simulation models, and practical experience with the use of economic instruments. The book focuses on air pollution control. Part I examines theoretical aspects and simulation modeling in a national context. Part II surveys the practical experience in a variety of countries. Part III explores international issues, such as joint implementation. Because of its unique blend of theoretical and empirical research, the book will prove interesting for both economists and those interested in environmental policy.
The Working Group on Environment and Economy of the Nordic Council of Ministers publishes regular reports on the use of economic instruments in Nordic environmental policy. This report is part of that series and has two parts. Part 1 presents an overview of the use of economic instruments in Nordic environmental policy, with a focus on policy changes over the period 2010-2013. Part 2 develops a framework for assessing the political possibilities of reforming environmentally harmful subsidies, and applies this framework to three cases relevant in the Nordic context. The report was prepared by Copenhagen Economics, GreenStream Network and Environice. The authors of the report are Hrafnhildur Bragadóttir, Carl von Utfall Danielsson, Roland Magnusson, Sampo Seppänen, Amanda Stefansdotter and David Sundén.
The Manual provides step-by-step guidance to assist instructors in training policymakers and practitioners in the use of economic instruments – pollution taxes, user fees, property rights, etc, - for sustainable development in general and for environmental and natural resource management in particular. Designed as an interactive working document composed of flexible modules and exercises and providing guidance for trainers and course participants, the manual offers substantial flexibility for trainers to custom design courses that meet local needs and priorities.
This companion volume to Economic Instruments for Environmental Management presents essential information on the applications of economic valuation to environment and development. It draws on a three-year collaborative effort by research institutions around the world. Authoritative studies review the range of valuation methods used in developing economies, their purposes, the problems encountered and the quality of the results. Topics covered include the value of wildlife viewing, the conservation of rainforests, mangroves and coral reefs, supplying rural water, and controlling urban air pollution. The analysis reveals important methodological and contextual factors, highlighting key lessons and ways of strengthening future valuations. Written to be accessible to non-economists, the book provides source material for students and academics, and for policy-makers and professionals, using valuation methods to frame policy.
This book assesses both the effectiveness and efficiency of implemented Economic Policy Instruments (EPIs) in order to achieve water policy goals and identifies the preconditions under which they outperform alternative (e.g. regulatory) policy instruments and/or can complement them as part of complex policy mixes. The development of a consolidated assessment framework helps clarify (and where possible, quantify) the effectiveness of each EPI on the basis of different criteria. Outcome-oriented criteria describe how the EPIs perform. They include intended and unintended economic and environmental outcomes and the distribution of benefits and costs among the affected parties. These steps consider the application of cost effectiveness and cost benefits analysis, e.g. to assess ex-post performance of the EPI. Process criteria describe the institutional conditions (legislative, political, cultural, etc.) affecting the formation and operation of the EPI studied (particularly relevant for assessing the possible impacts of using economic instruments), the transaction costs involved in implementing and enforcing the instruments and the process of implementation. Case studies from Cyprus, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and the United Kingdom, as well as from Australia, Chile, Israel and the USA are presented in this book. A wide variety of EPIs are also covered, including water-pricing schemes (tariffs, environmental taxes, environmental charges or fees, subsidies on products and practices), trading schemes (tradable permits for abstraction and pollution) and cooperation mechanisms.
This is the eighth quadrennial report on the use of economic instruments in Nordic environmental policy published by the Nordic Working Group for Environment and Economics. The report comprises two parts. Part I summarises the use of economic instruments in environmental policies of the five countries, during the period 2014-2017. It provides an overview of new instruments and major changes to existing instruments, a detailed country-by-country description of these developments, and a cross-country comparison. Part II provides an overview of the use of voluntary environmental agreements in different environmental sectors across the Nordic countries. It includes an overview and synthesis of studies that have evaluated the effects of voluntary environmental agreements.
