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The relocation of more polluting industries in poorer countries owing to gaps in environmental standards is known as the pollution haven effect, whereby the scale and the composition of output change across countries. Changes in the composition of the output mix might translate into changes of comparative advantages across countries, as revealed by trade flows. This paper focuses on this issue, looking at the changes in the structure of bilateral trade over the period 1996-2006 between China and 14 EU countries (EU14) as a measure of revealed comparative advantage (RCA). Using industry-level data on bilateral trade, air- and water-pollution intensity, and several measures of environmental stringency, we find that, after controlling for other factors (such as labor costs) on average our EU14 countries have kept or improved their RCA with respect to China in both water-polluting industries (such as paper and agro-based) and air-polluting industries (such as basic metals and chemicals), while they have lost competitiveness in the more clean industries (such as machinery and fabricated metals). Thus, we find no evidence of a pollution haven effect on the bilateral trade pattern between Europe and China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

India has emerged as a key player with a high potential to develop a biomass and biobased economy due to its large geographic size and the massive amounts of agricultural and non agricultural biomass produced. India has joined hands with Europe to synchronize its efforts to create and facilitate the development of a biobased economy in this country. This paper aims to examine common research and development actions between the European Union (EU) and India to facilitate the development of these biobased economies. As a base, a thorough study has been performed considering the biomass potential and current status of the bioeconomy in both the EU and India based on the distillation of a series of 80 potential recommendations. The recommendations were grouped into four major categories: (1) biomass production, (2) by-products/waste, (3) biorefineries and (4) policy, market, and value-added products. A questionnaire was designed and distributed to key stakeholders belonging to: academia, industry, and policymakers in both India and the EU. A total of 231 responses were received and analyzed, based on the key recommendations made for the essential research and development topics that are of prime importance to develop biobased economies in both the EU and India. The findings of this study suggest recognizing the value-added contributions made by biobased products such as: food, feed, valuable materials and chemicals in both regions. It is important to reduce the overall process costs and minimize the environmental impacts of such a biobased economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents an editorial on the contributions of David W. Pearce to environmental economics and policy. Pearce's impact in Europe was formidable as he changed the term "environmental economist" from an oxymoron to a job description increasingly valued by governments. Pearce is known for his ability to take difficult subjects and make them clear and accessible for decision makers. Many of Pearce's accomplishments are outlined.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to ascertain whether weather variables can explain the stock return reaction on the Dow Jones Sustainability Europe Index by employing a number of macroeconomic indicators as control variables.Design/methodology/approach The authors incorporate the generalized autogressive conditional heteroskeasticity model in methodology for the period August 26, 2009 to May 30, 2014 using daily data.Findings The empirical results indicate that not only do changes in humidity and wind levels seem to affect positively the European stock market but changes in returns oil and gold prices as well. However, the results show that the volatility of the US dollar/Yen exchange rate and ten-year bond value exerts significant negative impact on companies’ stock returns.Originality/value This study adds to the international literature by documenting the impact of weather variables on socially responsible companies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract. In this paper we consider two important aspects in the complex problem of transboundary air pollution in Europe, namely (i) the interdependence of the problems of tropospheric ozone and acidification and (ii) the dynamic processes related to soil acidification. We develop an optimal control model to analyse the interaction between acidification as a stock pollutant and tropospheric ozone as a flow pollutant for several countries. Using a cost-benefit framework an analysis is performed to determine efficient emission paths for nitrogen oxides, sulphur dioxide and volatile organic compounds. The model jointly analyses acidification and ozone. The current European reduction plans do not fully take into account the multi-pollutants multi-targets nature of the problem. In addition, the plans allow for temporary exceedance of critical loads without considering the consequences for the temporal development of the soil quality. This paper shows the complex relations and interactions which one should deal with while designing policies that are efficient with respect to the cross-effects between the different environmental problems. It also shows how dynamic efficient abatement strategies would look if the cross effects and the dynamic processes in soil acidification are explicitly incorporated in the analysis. Key words: acid rain, acidification, cost benefit analysis, environmental economics, multi-pollutants, optimal control, transboundary air pollution, tropospheric ozone [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyses the impact of population growth on CO2 emissions in European Union countries. Traditionally, researchers have assumed a unitary elasticity of emissions with respect to population growth. In this study population is treated as a predictor in the model, instead of being included as part of the dependent variable (per capita emissions), thus relaxing the above-mentioned assumption of unitary elasticity. We also contribute to the existing literature by taking into account the presence of heterogeneity in the sample and considering a dynamic specification. The sample covers the period 1975–1999 for the current European Union members. Our results show that the impact of population growth on emissions is more than proportional for recent accession countries whereas for old EU members, the elasticity is lower than unity and non significant when the properties of the time series and the dynamics are correctly specified. The different impact of population change on CO2 emissions for the current EU members should therefore be taken into account in future discussions of climate change policies within the EU. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electricity generation in Europe is undergoing a fundamental change. The aim is to increase sustainability by reducing emissions. Each country has a different electricity mix, and there is no established method for measuring environmental impacts of electricity production with a single monetary indicator, in a uniform manner, and with country-specific data. To address this gap, a model that measures the costs of 19 environmental externalities (usually, types of emissions) has been developed. Using country-specific technologies, electricity mixes, and external cost rates, the development of external costs of generating electricity in 27 European countries between 2010 and 2030 is assessed and analyzed. The simulation results show that the external costs vary heavily between 2.1 and 22.4 euro cents per kWh in this period. Despite the initiated transformation of the energy systems in many EU countries, external costs per kWh are decreasing in only eight of them. This fact underlines the need for a drastic change in national energy strategies. Overall, the results show that more far-reaching policy measures are needed in order to significantly reduce the external costs of the energy sector in Europe. The article raises the level of granularity of research on the external costs of electricity in Europe by combining extensive country-specific emission data and country-specific external cost rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

'Green-grabbing', in which environmental arguments support expropriation of land and resources, is a recognized element in neoliberal conservation. However, capitalism's strategic interest in promoting the neoliberalization of conservation is accompanied by attempts to exploit hitherto protected natures without any pretence at 'greenness'. In this paper we explore the dialectics between 'green' and 'un-green' grabbing as neoliberal strategies in the reconstruction of nature conservation policies after the 2008 financial 'crash' in Greece and the UK. In both countries, accelerated neoliberalization is manifested in diverse ways, including initiatives to roll back conservation regulation, market-based approaches to 'saving' nature and the privatization of public nature assets. The intensification of 'green' and 'un-green' grabbing reflects capitalism's strategic interest in both promoting and obstructing nature conservation, ultimately leaving for 'protected natures' two choices: either to be further degraded to boost growth or to be 'saved' through their deeper inclusion as commodities visible to the market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Incineration is a promising disposal method for sewage sludge (SS), enriching more than 90% of phosphorus (P) in the influent into the powdered product, sewage sludge ash (SSA), which is convenient for further P recovery. Due to insufficient bioavailable P and enriched heavy metals (HMs) in SSA, it is limited to be used directly as fertilizer. Hence, this paper provides an overview of P transformation in SS incineration, characterization of SSA components, and wet-chemical and thermochemical processes for P recovery with a comprehensive technical, economic, and environmental assessment. P extraction and purification is an important technical step to achieve P recovery from SSA, where the key to all technologies is how to achieve efficient separation of P and HMs at a low economic and environmental cost. It can be clear seen from the review that the economics of P recovery from SSA are often weak due to many factors. For example, the cost of wet-chemical methods is approximately 5∼6 €/kg P, while the cost of recovering P by thermochemical methods is about 2∼3 €/kg P, which is slightly higher than the current P fertilizer (1 €/kg P). So, for now, legislation is significant for promoting P recovery from SSA. In this regard, the relevant experience in Europe is worth learning from countries that have not yet carried out P recovery from SSA, and to develop appropriate policies and legislation according to their own national conditions. [Display omitted] • Sewage sludge ash (SSA) is an alternate P source for fertilizer production. • The key to recovering P from SSA is the separation of heavy metals. • Wet-chemical methods are more common in current industrial applications. • Thermochemical methods are more economical for recovering P. • Legislation is significant for promoting P recovery from SSA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Abstract Increasing flexibility in electricity systems with high-shares of volatile renewable generation is on top of the European policy making agenda. Large-scale pumped hydro storages are appropriate technology candidates to accomplish this. Therefore, they are one of the focus technologies of the European Commission in the Projects of Common Interest discussion. In order to get listed a thorough system benefit analysis has to be conducted. This paper investigates a comprehensive socio-economic benefit analysis of storage technologies according to the indicators expected by the European Commission. The dispatch model EDisOn + Balancing is applied, which includes the functionalities depicting balancing mechanisms. Additionally, the profitability analysis tries to sort out the most convincing business cases where storage technologies contributing to more flexibility in the electricity system can sustain in the long-run. A simulation tool has been developed to model and quantify flexibility options, and to evaluate the profitability from the owner's point-of-view. The results show that in Central Europe with increasing storage capacities the necessity of reserve capacity and investments in peaking units decreases while maintaining a high security of supply level. In addition to electricity generation and balancing cost reductions, shedding of renewables and significant amounts of environmental damage costs of up to 1300 MEuro/a can be avoided. The profitability study shows that a reduction of minimum load or retrofitting hydro reservoir storages with pump mode increase the hours of participation in balancing markets and machine utilisation, e.g. operating hours and frequency of machine starts. With the latter also wear of machines increases. Therefore, it is important to find the optimum in terms of machine starts and market benefits. Several benefits are presented per installed capacity to provide scalability and transferability of outcomes for other applications. Furthermore, the analyses make an important contribution to the European Projects of Common Interest discussion. Highlights • Planned hydro projects in AT till 2030 avoid environmental damage costs of 1300 MEuro/a in CE. • 3.5 GW turbine capacity in addition replaces 1 GW of thermal power capacity. • Reducing minimum load of PHS by 50. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Contaminated land is a major problem. The remediation cost of brownfields in Europe and the USA exceeds 550 billion €; however, rehabilitation is on a slow pace. It is estimated that the money spent so far correspond to just 5% of the required one to eliminate the problem. The high cost of remediation, along with the inefficiency of the available funds, gives rise to a need for a method to effectively allocate remediation funds. Materials and methods: Risk assessment is often used to prioritize the rehabilitation of contaminated sites. Cost-benefit analysis, by means of environmental economics, is another step in the right direction. Optimum Remediation Funds Allocation method (ORFA), the new method presented in this paper, goes beyond that. Instead of simply deciding which sites should be cleaned up or not, the optimum remediation level is determined in each case in terms of the 3-D geographical boundaries of the soil mass that should be remediated. The method is based on the idea of considering contaminated soil as a 'negative ore,' with an economic value that can be estimated using environmental economic methods. This approach enables the use of a sophisticated pit optimization software widely applied in mining like Minemax Planner, which is based on the push-relabel algorithm. Results and discussion: ORFA can guide remediation starting from the soil blocks which are the most profitable for the society until the point that remediation produces no more social profit. The validation of the method is presented in the remediation project of the Lavrion Technological and Cultural Park (LTCP) case, Greece, one of the most heavily contaminated sites worldwide. ORFA achieved 99.4% remediation with a cost reduction of 17%. This means that, if remediation plans are guided by ORFA, for every five sites, as contaminated as LTCP, almost one site can be cleaned up for free. If the sites under remediation are less polluted, then ORFA can achieve even better results, saving money to clean up more sites. Conclusions: ORFA succeeds in determining the socially optimum remediation level that produces the maximum net economic value. Alternatively, it gives the best remediation scheme under specific budget constraints. Ultimately, ORFA's main contribution is that it can cause radical changes in the way we think and moreover realize rehabilitation of contaminated land. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Why do parties offer environmental policies in their political programs? While a number of papers examine the determinants of citizens’ pro-environmental behaviour, we know little about the extent to which political parties adjust their platform towards environmentalism. We investigate this process through data provided by the Manifesto Project Dataset (CMP) for 20 European countries over the period 1970-2008. Following the literature on public concern towards environment, we examine economic, environmental and political determinants. Our findings provide evidence that political parties’ environmental concern is strongly correlated with their political ideology and with country-level economic conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Micro hydropower (MHP) provides a viable renewable energy solution from which individuals, organisations and communities can also derive social value and benefits. Desk studies and literature reviews show limited studies that (a) quantify the social impact of MHPs in water networks and (b), establish evaluation methods for such analysis. To date, most studies relating to MHP projects have focused on physical and technological parameters, as well as cost and environmental factors that influence their design, installation, operation, and maintenance. Less attention has been given to the intangible social, political, and institutional considerations, which are also important for the acceptability and adoption of renewables such as MHPs, and for their performative longevity. This study addresses these gaps. The social return on investment (SROI) method was used as the basis to quantify the cost and social returns of three MHP demonstrators in a public and private water supply, and irrigation network in Europe. The value inputs and outputs from each case were analysed and a SROI range of between 2.6 and 5.8 euros for each one euro invested was determined. The findings were further evaluated using sensitivity tests. This work serves as a useful first step to establishing a SROI benchmark range for MHP schemes in water networks, extrapolatable for other renewable energy interventions. They also highlight the opportunities and challenges of quantifying and forecasting the social returns of MHPs to guide future work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article summarizes Walter Isard’s important contributions to environmental economics and ecological economics. The former is the traditional field that incorporates some limited aspects of the environment into neoclassical economic theory, while the latter is a more comprehensive integration of economic and ecological principles in a set of eclectic frameworks. Walter’s contributions include pioneering research, primarily in a spatial context, and the mentoring of prominent researchers in these fields during the period of 1965–75. We examine these contributions in the context of the state of the art of knowledge in these fields at the time and today. We also discuss Walter’s influence in Europe in these areas. We conclude with a discussion of some promising new directions, with an emphasis on regional science dimensions. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

On both national and European Union levels, a constant interest concerning the reflection of environmental quality on agricultural production is developing. This paper aims to approach from conceptual point of view the instruments of the EU legislation, used for improving the opportunities of the EU national governments to improve the environmental quality. The research was carried on based on references from last five years, using as main source the international databases. The international environmental conventions, concerning horizontal factors namely, are treated. The EU policies, based on the principles of environmental international conventions, aiming to reduce the effects of the impact produced by the environmental pollution agents must cope to the status quo produced by the necessity of reconciliation between two essential objectives, but apparently in contradiction: supplying environmental protection and in the mean time, supplying the agricultural efficiency. In order to implement this desiderate, the normative principles that fundament these policies are focused on two central points: correct repartition of duties, and increasing the responsibilities of the agents involved in implementations of foreseen practices. However, the efficient implementation of present EU environmental policies, at instruments and principles levels, continues to be a challenge for the stakeholders. In this respect, three concurrent concepts are in discussions. In order to obtain efficient legislative patterns in the field of environmental policies meant to contribute to the increasing of die agricultural healthy outputs, it is important to consider four components: existence of collaboration group at national leadership levels, conjugated actions at communitarian level, increasing environmental consciousness of public opinion, and trans-frontier mobilization [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper evaluates the convergence of energy intensities for a group of 97 countries in the period 1971–2003. Convergence is tested using a recent method proposed by Pesaran (2007) [Pesaran, M.H., 2007. A pair-wise approach to testing for output and growth convergence. Journal of Econometrics 138, 312–355] based on the stochastic convergence criterion. An advantage of this method is that results do not depend on a benchmark against which convergence is assessed. It gives more robust results. Applications of several unit-root tests as well as a stationarity test uniformly reject the global convergence hypothesis. Locally, for Middle East, OECD and Europe sub-groups, non-convergence is less strongly rejected. The introduction of possible structural breaks in the analysis only marginally provides more support to the convergence hypothesis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In this paper, we confront the theoretical motivations of the consumption of eco-friendly products and the factors influencing the European perceptions regarding the fact that “fish caught using an environmentally friendly technique may carry a special label”. We take advantage of the recent integration of non-economic elements in the microeconomic analysis of consumers'' behavior in order to highlight the factors leading to their demand for green products. Thanks to an original European survey on seafood product carried out on more than 5000 consumers, we test the influence of intrinsic motivation, information, localization and socio-economic factors on the demand for an eco-label for fish. Our results show a significant connection between the desire for eco-labeling and seafood features, especially the freshness of the fish, the geographical origin of the fish and the wild vs farmed origin of the fish. Moreover, we prove the major role played by the fish price. We also demonstrate that the ecological issue regarding fisheries is highly connected to consumer information, intrinsic motivation and socio-economic status: the typical “green fish consumer” is a young woman, well educated, well informed on the state of marine resources and not very trusting of the regulation of the fisheries. Consumers who are aware of the importance of marine resource preservation have the same profile. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The importance of public acceptance of CCS has been highlighted by developers and policy makers, with all emphasising that it is a fundamental factor in the future success of CCS. However, little research has been done so far on NGO positioning on CCS. The current debate in Europe, with discussion beginning to result in both real projects on the ground and in real policies, has put NGOs more and more into a position of making open stands. This has resulted in a diversity of viewpoints, and the controv ersy has polarized opinions. In this paper we review our own research on NGO opinions on CCS, to spell out their most important concerns. We discuss NGO positioning vis-à-vis the ongoing negotiations of a legislative proposal to regulate CCS in Europe. Finally, we consider whether it is possible to come to more coherent approaches and agreements in a way that maximizes their effectiveness both as a counterweight to, and partner of, other stakeholders and governments. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Transport externalities are among the most important environmental problems affecting quality of life in Europe. Forecasts suggest that past environmental improvements may now be rolled back by traffic growth, and current traffic trends are not sustainable. The theory of environmental policy proposes pricing external costs at their marginal social costs as one solution. Although full marginal social cost pricing is impracticable, advances in tolling technology and environmental valuation mean that it is now a viable option to approximate such charging. There are signs that the European Commission and other bodies are starting to favour pricing over regulatory instruments. However, often overlooked is the potential for non-convexities in the transport sector or between transport and the rest of the economy. For example it may be that small increases in resources for public transport would not result in welfare gains, whereas large increases would. Non-convexities would mean that market forces under marginal social cost pricing might lead away from the optimal transport system. This is one reason why pricing instruments cannot in themselves be a panacea for transport externalities or bring about a sustainable transport system. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Citizens' participation in integrated assessment of climate change highlights the uneasy relationship between democracy and expert knowledges as they have been generally understood in the West. Based on empirical material gathered through in-depth groups in Venice (Italy) and citizens' panels in St. Helens (UK), the paper explores: (1) some of the challenges and opportunities of qualitative and comparative research on climate change; and (2) the similarities and differences in citizens' environmental assessment in two European cities facing economic, urban and social re-structuring. The authors research reveals a general willingness to participate, albeit conditional, despite initial scepticism and interrogation about the objectives. During the process, participants in both cities show: (a) a broad contextual understanding of uncertainties and complexities; (b) how important interpersonal skills between lay and expert publics are; and (c) that precaution should generally apply in the case of uncertainties concerning global environmental change. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper offers a perspective on environmental predicament of economies in transition. Emphasis is put on how these economies finance their environmental needs. It is observed that the demand for environmental financing can be affected both by environmental policy measures (such as internalization of externalities) and by other factors (suchas the softness of budget constraints faced by firms). The role of subsidies - in many countries of the Central and Eastern European region provided through special purpose 'environmental funds` - is then scrutinized. In particular the question is asked whether such funds crowd out commercial capital from the market. Conditions are discussed that would allow the funds to play their constructive environmental roles without crowding out private financing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the Kuznets Curve hypothesis for e-waste using a balanced panel of 30 European countries (EU28 + 2) over the period 2000–2016. To account for the dynamic and the time-invariant characteristics, we employed the generalized method of moments (GMM) estimator as a core method and used the 2SLS estimator and cross-section method to analyze the robustness of results. We found that the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis is well supported for e-waste generated in the EU28 + 2 area. In addition, this relationship is robust and is not sensitive to the choice of control variables and the estimation methods. All three methods evidenced EKC in e-waste for the studied European area. This reveals that e-waste generation increases with an increasing GDP up to a certain GDP level (turning point), but thereafter decreases despite further economic growth. While this suggests that e-waste generation and the related adverse environmental impacts will decline at elevated GDP levels, the results of this study highlight that the turning point occurs at rather exceptionally high levels of GDP. The evidence of EKC in e-waste contributes to better understanding the interlinkage between economic growth and e-waste generation, but it does not diminish the urgent need to implement effective e-waste collection and valorization schemes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The failure of society to place a value on nature has resulted in the degradation of ecosystems, a consequent reduction in ecosystem services, and has contributed to a significant decline in biodiversity. The lack of comprehensive methodologies for providing economic valuation for biodiversity and ecosystem services, the results of which can be easily communicated to policy and decision-makers, has hampered efforts to protect, maintain and enhance habitats and species. This paper provides an overview of recent policy, in particular The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB) process, and research developments in Europe. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists started around 1990 and celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. The rise of environmental concerns and the wish for more cooperation between scientists within Europe, plus the drive of a few highly motivated people, led to the foundation of this academic institution. This article aims at clarifying the initial steps and the development of this highly successful association. The relationship between economics and the environment is core for the future of our world, and the EAERE was crucial in developing this field. The EAERE has been a stimulus and a home for many scientists who were interested to work in this field and who would otherwise have been quite isolated. The future of the EAERE is bright if it manages to bridge new developments in economics and in the natural sciences, and between academics and policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable development goals are used as a guidance for strategies development on local, regional and national levels. The importance of including young people in this complex process is recognized in all relevant documents (i.e. Agenda 21), however it is not an easy task to elicit opinions and preferences from the youth. Furthermore, the assessment of the sustainable development goals itself presents a challenge for the noisy data and nonlinear relationships in data. Popular approach is fuzzy set models where expert knowledge is presented with comprehensible rules; however expert knowledge elicitation takes a long time too. Several studies proposed an adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system approach that combines the fuzzy set theory to model expert knowledge with neural networks for inferring rules and membership functions from data to assess the sustainable development performance. We base our assumptions that ANFIS can be used to predict the importance of sustainable development pillars from the demographic data of young people. For this purpose, we have conducted an online survey on sustainable development goals opinions and importance of young people in Serbia. The sample of 386 respondents has been split into a training sample of 300 instances (to generate membership functions and fuzzy rules) and a testing sample of 86 instances to predict the importance of the three pillars. We have conducted a trace-driven simulation test to validate the results of the proposed ANFIS model. Results of the study provided insights into how the young people in Serbia assess the importance of sustainable development goals. Secondly, the results suggest that ANFIS can be applied to predict values of importance of the three sustainable development pillars with the relative error of Rel Err < 5%. It must be noted that the considered model could be further improved by using training samples with more data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effective global collaboration is crucial to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It requires an understanding of the needs of individual countries and their expectations related to bioeconomy. With the aim to explore the prospective developments in the global bioeconomy over the next 20 years, the German Bioeconomy Council, an independent advisory body to the German Federal Government, commissioned BIOCOM-AG to invite experts from around the globe to share their insights in a global expert survey. The survey was conducted online in autumn 2017. 345 experts from 46 countries completed the questionnaire about future developments and strategies in the global bioeconomy. As claimed by the experts, the upcoming bioeconomy must primarily meet humanity’s needs in the energy, agriculture, and food sectors. Moreover, innovative products based on renewable resources are anticipated to be of great importance. Even though all UN SDGs will be affected by future bioeconomy success stories, five SDGs stood out within the sample: SDG 12: ‘responsible consumption and production’; SDG 9: ‘industry, innovation and infrastructure’; SDG 13: ‘climate action’; SDG 7: ‘affordable and clean energy’; and SDG 11: ‘sustainable cities and communities’. About three quarters of the experts emphasized the need to specifically address three conflicting goals in any future bioeconomy strategy: non-food uses of arable land, use of crop land to produce feedstock for meat, milk and egg production and, finally, the conversion of virgin forests into agricultural land. Most experts stated that reducing food loss and waste is crucial to eradicating the world hunger problem. The proposed solutions relied greatly on innovation and technological development. Bioeconomy expertise and know-how should be shared in close cooperation between developed and developing economies to reach UN SDGs. A supportive political framework would be the ultimate goal towards furthering the progress of a future bioeconomy all over the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on a vision for European environmental policies. Implications of increase of trade between the European Union and the rest of the world; Strategy for sustainable economic growth.

"A number of European countries have introduced a variety of environmental taxes. A common characteristic of their implementation is the inclusion of exemptions and tax relief, in particular for (some sectors of) manufacturing industry. This paper analyses the pattern and motivation of exemptions as they have developed in Western European countries, making clear the difference between the nominal and effectivetax rates once the exemptions have been taken into account. The principal motivation for exemptions relates to concern about competitiveness. While particular environmentally-intensive sectors may have somegrounds for concern, even these might be able to achieve cost-effective environmental improvements, such that their competitive position is not over-disadvantaged, while for an economy structured like the UK's, an environmental tax plus rebate scheme, sometimes called an ecological tax reform, would be likely to yield benefits in terms of competitiveness. The exemptions usually run counter to the environmentaleconomic logic of using environmental taxes to internalise social costs and give economic signals that are based on the full costs of production, and they are likely to increase the costs of achieving a given level of emission reduction. With little justification for them also on the grounds of competitiveness, it would therefore be undesirable on both economic and environmental grounds for them to remain a feature of the implementation of environmental taxes in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the paper is to analyze the possibility of introducing a system of transferable discharge permits (TDP) to develop the joint implementation procedure conceived in the Second Sulfur Protocol. The analysis is performed considering not only the European countriesthat have agreed emission reductions in the Protocol, but also a group of non-signing countries that could possibly abate their emissionsand alleviate the reduction burden agreed by the former, presumably receiving certain compensation from them in return. The theoretic elements of the system are analyzed and then a simulation software - theprogram ATLAS - is developed and applied to study the effects of choosing among the possible implementation parameters. In contrast to other simulation programs developed with a similar aim, ATLAS can simulate multilateral permit trades, which are closer than bilateral ones to the concept of joint implementation conceived in the Protocol. Theuse of this program anticipates that the amount of feasible and profitable transfers would be much higher if a set of European countries which are not Parties to the Protocol were allowed to take part in the system as permit sellers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper covers nonmarket services provided by farmers for recreational purposes in several Central European regions. A regionally specified general equilibrium model is used to derive the efficiency conditions for a competitive equilibrium to guarantee a Pareto optimal outcome. Moreover, we present green agricultural compensation programmes in Europe and their assessment from an economic perspective. The empirical analysis focuses on tourists' willingness to pay (WTP) for the provision of agricultural landscape-enhancing services in Austria. A comparison of these measures with current voluntary compensation payments made to farmers for the preservation of an agricultural countryside in several Austrian tourism communities suggests that the hypothetical contingent valuation (CV) results represent a valid order of magnitude for the value of recreation-related agricultural services. As far as agricultural policy is concerned, environmental improvement, the stabilization of agricultural income levels, diminishing intrasectoral income differences, and the development of economically disadvantaged rural regions can be expected from directly subsidizing farmers for the provision of countryside amenities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental policy emerged as a new European and global policy field within a very brief period of time during the early 1970s. Notably in Europe, international organizations played a central role in defining core principles for this new policy domain. This article argues that inter-organizational connections were crucial in this context: the exchange and transfer of policy ideas facilitated the rise of environmental policy across different international organizations. Focusing on the co-evolution of the polluter-pays principle enshrined almost simultaneously both at the OECD and the European Communities, the article assesses the multiple routes along which policy ideas travelled, the role inter-organizational competition played and the selective nature of transfers. While expertise played a key role in determining which policy concepts were selected, institutional conditions and the politics of the recipient institution determined how they were adapted to the respective new context. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

It is common in efficiency studies which analyse the environment for pollution to form part of the production technology. Pollution therefore affects efficiency and the TFP growth decomposition. As an alternative approach we draw on theoretical studies from the environmental economics literature, which demonstrate that TFP affects environmental quality. Along these lines we adopt a two-stage empirical methodology. Firstly, we obtain two estimates of productive performance (efficiency and TFP growth) using a stochastic production frontier framework in Stage 1 for European countries (1995-2008), from which we omit emissions. Secondly, in Stage 2 these measures of productive performance are used as regressors in spatial models of per capita nitrogen and sulphur emissions for European countries. From our preferred Stage 2 spatial models we find that a country's TFP growth must fall to reduce its per capita nitrogen and sulphur emissions. This is likely to be because nitrogen and sulphur emissions in the EU have been tightly regulated for a long period of time via air quality standards and consequently, substantial reductions in emissions from cleaner and more productive technology were achieved some time ago. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article considers the role of traditional ecological knowledge (TEK), the generally accepted information and beliefs of a specific society about its environmental conditions and ecosystem use, in environmental policy formation in Europe. A relative lack of research on TEK within European rural communities is noted. Forestry management is among the examples cited of an environmental issue in which TEK could implement sustainable resource management.

What factors shape environmental policies across Europe? In order to answer this question most economists would probably adopt a Public Choice approach. This approach has convincingly explained some aspects of environmental policies that exist in a similar fashion across Europe. But why do many environmental policies differ across European countries? This article argues that in order to understand differences in environmental policies in Europe North’s analysis of institutional change focusing on formal and informal institutions, incomplete information and path dependence is useful. North’s approach is applied to explain differences in a particular field of European environmental policy: The implementation of the EU’s Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) in Germany, the Netherlands, and the UK. The starting point of the analysis is the observation that participation of companies in EMAS markedly differs between countries. It is shown that these differences can be explained with differences in formal and informal institutions in the three Member States, incomplete information of relevant actors, and path dependence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents an exploration into the importance of climate prediction models in response to research and reaction to greenhouse gas emission damages and controls. The author gives explanations for several challenges facing the uncertainty risks of climate prediction in terms of environmental economic factors and methodology. The interaction between long-term environmental change, climate predictability, ecosystem reaction, and economic and social consequences are discussed. Several European organizations and system models for climate tracking are highlighted.

We attempt a first combination of the participatory technique known as the "citizens' jury" with choice modelling, a stated-preference technique increasingly favored by environmental economists. Our application is conducted in the context of water quality improvements under the Water Framework Directive, the most significant reform in water legislation in the European Union for many years. We compare results with those of a conventional choice experiment. We find that the choice experiment format can be successfully implemented in a "jury" setting, and that moving from an individual to a collective choice setting produces a change in both values and preferences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This study focuses on EC environmental policy, and its legal recognition as part of European policy with the signing of the Single European Act. The environmental policy of the EC has its roots in traditional neo-classical economic approaches, and emphasises the concept of the negative external effect, which should be neutralised by government policies. However, it is extremely difficult, and in many cases impossible, to give a market price to the environment. Traditional neo-classical economics focus on topics such as per capita income, employment and the level of production. This implies that environmental aims are very often marginalised by vested economic interests, and using these traditional arguments the polluting industries are not the weakest among these interests. In the EC this divergence between the interests of production on the one hand, and the unpriced production factor 'natural resources' on the other hand, has not been solved till now. The solution of this problem is only possible if labour and capital no longer misuse the production factor 'natural resources', but understand, both of them, that a sound environment favours production possibilities in the future. The Single European Act contains the conceptual framework to realise this understanding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article explores the environmental policy in the European Community (EC). According to the author, the introduction of the Single Market Act indicates that it is time to consider the political issues and processes influencing the EC environmental law. The 1957 Treaty of Rome, which is the founding treaty of the European Economic Community, made no reference to environmental policy as a significant part of a common market. The author claims that the EC developed en environmental policy because there was an increased recognition of the political salience and the international dimension of environmental problems.

For a number of years influential voices in the international environmental policy community, including policy-makers in the European Community, have been calling for the integration of environmental considerations into the making of economic policy. Despite acknowledgements in formal statements of the importance of environmental policy integration in the Community and the attempt by policy-makers to argue that environmental protection was a precondition for sustainable economic growth, the programme to complete the single European market was developed without consideration of its environmental implications. The reasons for this involve a complex mix of intellectual, organisational and political factors. Moreover, the failure to achieve an integration of environmental considerations into the making of economic policy creates its own political dynamics, having three main features: disjointed decision-making in the formulation Of common technical standards across the EC; pressure from countries who are environmental leaders to bring laggards up to common standards; and the search by environmental policy-makers for bureaucratic alliances to reinforce their position. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]