Review of existing literature on methodologies to model non-linearity, thresholds and irreversibility in high-impact climate change events in the presence of environmental tipping points
One of the most pressing issues when making decisions over long-term environmental problems is de... more One of the most pressing issues when making decisions over long-term environmental problems is deciding on an appropriate discount rate. This can be a highly technical discussion. While some argue in favour of market rates, which usually tend to be high, others support the use of near-zero rates to ensure that both current and future generations are properly accounted for. This paper presents an alternative approach to determining the discount rate for environmental assets in the case of land-use planning -the Equivalency Principle (EP) -based on the normative proposition that the social value of protected natural land should be at least the same as the market price of an adjacent land with similar environmental characteristics that has been granted permission for development. The paper first provides a theoretical overview of the approach, followed by an application of the EP at the land plot level across 11 European countries. Based on the EP, pure rates of social time preference that would equate natural and development land values within each administrative unit have been calculated. The findings show that the application of the EP usually results in discount rates that are lower-than-market rates and that are geographically differentiated. This implies discount rates that account for preferences of the society where the land or natural resource is located, with results ranging between 0% and 11%, with an average rate of 1% across study sites.
This study analyzes the role of biofuels in different markets. It focuses on the link between vol... more This study analyzes the role of biofuels in different markets. It focuses on the link between volatility in the yields of feedstocks and how these feed through to changes in the prices of biofuel crops under different rules for managing biofuel mandates. Under current mandates the impact seems to be significant, with the greatest being on price of sugar crops, followed by grains and oilseeds. Changes in mandates have different results in the EU, depending on crops and change in yields examined. The paper also looks at the implications of waivers in 'bad' years.
Data on GDP per capita and sulfur emissions for twelve European countries were analyzed to determ... more Data on GDP per capita and sulfur emissions for twelve European countries were analyzed to determine the relationship between emissions and income in these countries. As a whole, the relationship between sulfur emissions and per capita income is a fourth order polynomial and not a quadratic one as found in most studies. When countries were examined individually, seven out of the twelve countries depicted the same relationship. Looking closely at the regulations restricting sulfur emissions in the UK, the impact of all regulations supported the inverted U-shaped Kuznets curve. Individually, however, it is found that only two regulations have statistically significant impacts: Smoke Abatement Act in 1926 (reduced the amount of sulfur associated with a given level of GDP); and Clean Air Act in 1956 (increased the amount of sulfur emissions associated with a given level of GDP).
Directory of Open access Books (OAPEN Foundation), 2005
In 1991 the eight countries of the Caucasus and Central Asia (CCA) became independent from the fo... more In 1991 the eight countries of the Caucasus and Central Asia (CCA) became independent from the former Soviet Union. Although a region rich in natural resources, the transition toward a market economy has not gone smoothly for the CCA countries. Drawing upon recent progress in development economics and political science, the book provides fresh analysis of the CCA countries' transition by tracing the impact of the natural resource endowment. The book examines the synergies between energy-rich and energy-poor states and highlights the practical consequences of both well-managed and poorly-managed energy revenue deployment. The region has been a relatively slow reformer, its governments have become more authoritarian, and the contributors argue that despite recent growth spurts, further reform is required to sustain rapid GDP growth and nurture democracy. They suggest that unless CCA elites change the way in which they deploy natural resource revenues, regional development will fall short of its potential with possibly disastrous consequences. The contributors apply the experience of the developing market economies to demonstrate that the region still holds considerable potential to become an important stable supplier of raw materials and a source of industrial demand to the global economy. However, the CCA could become a threat to the global economy as a consequence of the misuse of energy revenues in promoting the interests of predatory political elites. With contributions from prominent specialists on resource-driven economies Energy, Wealth and Governance in the Caucasus and Central Asia provides a systematic and integrated analysis of the political economy of resource-driven growth in the CCA region.
The benefits of climate policy normally consist exclusively of the reduced impacts of climate cha... more The benefits of climate policy normally consist exclusively of the reduced impacts of climate change, i.e., the policy's primary aim. Our analysis of benefits of climate policy suggests, however, that researchers and policymakers should also take account of ancillary benefits, e.g., in the shape of improved air quality induced by climate protection measures. A consideration of both, primary and ancillary benefits, has a positive influence on global climate protection efforts, e.g., because the regional impact of ancillary effects attenuates easy-riding motives of countries with respect to their provision of climate protection. In this article, we analyze the nature of ancillary benefits, present an overview of European assessment studies and explain possible methods to estimate ancillary benefits. Main differences between primary and ancillary benefits are pointed out. Furthermore, we stress the major influences of ancillary benefits on climate policy. Finally, we present one of the first models integrating primary and ancillary benefits. By this model quantitative results are calculated with respect to ancillary benefits in the UK considering different green-house gas (GHG) control levels. It is observed that the ancillary benefits could cover about 4 percent of the full GHG reduction cost.
This paper investigates the willingness to pay of a sample of residents of Bath, England, for a h... more This paper investigates the willingness to pay of a sample of residents of Bath, England, for a hypothetical program that promotes the production of renewable energy. Using choice experiments, we assess the preferences of respondents for a policy for the promotion of renewable energy that (i) contributes to the internalization of the external costs caused by fossil fuel technologies; (ii) affects the security of energy supply; (iii) has an impact on the employment in the energy sector; (iv) and leads to an increase in the electricity bill. Responses to the choice questions show that our respondents are in favour of a policy for renewable energy and that they attach a high value to a policy that brings private and public benefits in terms of climate change and energy security benefits. Our results therefore suggest that consumers are willing to pay a higher price for electricity in order to internalize the external costs in terms of energy security, climate change and air pollution caused by the production of electricity.
International Journal of Global Environmental Issues, 2003
To those working on climate change it is obvious that energy policy should be influenced by clima... more To those working on climate change it is obvious that energy policy should be influenced by climate change considerations. The question that this paper seeks to answer is, to what extent do they influence policy and what contribution can a careful analysis of the costs and benefits of climate change options have on the formulation of that policy. We seek to understand this by looking in some detail at energy policy formulation in Russia. To do so it is necessary to look at the whole set of issues that determine energy policy. These include energy security, macroeconomic and uncertainty factors, local environmental issues and social issues. The analysis has been carried out for a specific case -that of the RF, where energy policy is currently under formulation to 2010. Two options have been looked at: a "High Coal" option, where there would be a substantial change in fuel mix away from gas to coal; and a "High Gas" option where the current fuel mix is retained and the increase in demand is met from all sources in proportion to current use. The analysis shows that, at international prices for fuels, the "High Coal" option is attractive. However, when we include the potential decline of price for natural gas in the European market, the relative preference for this option drops dramatically but it still remains the preferred option. When, account is also taken of the carbon benefits of the High Gas option, using plausible values for carbon, the attraction of the High Coal option is further reduced but not altered. When finally account is taken of the health associated with the lower use of coal in the High Gas option, the preference can be reversed but it requires a critical value for the health benefits. This critical value -at around $3,000 for a life year lost --is plausible for the RF, if anything the actual value is probably higher. What the analysis shows is the need for a careful evaluation of the different factors determining energy policy. Among these is climate change. It is not the critical factor but it can be an important one. Perhaps more important are the environmental benefits that go with the lower carbon High Gas options.
Launched in 2014, the Word Bank Group's Water Global Practice brings together financing, knowledg... more Launched in 2014, the Word Bank Group's Water Global Practice brings together financing, knowledge, and implementation in one platform. By combining the Bank's global knowledge with country investments, this model generates more firepower for transformational solutions to help countries grow sustainably.
Analyses of public goods regularly address the case of pure public goods. However, a large number... more Analyses of public goods regularly address the case of pure public goods. However, a large number of (international) public goods exhibit characteristics of different degrees of publicness, i.e. they are impure public goods. In our analysis of transfers helping to overcome the inefficient provision of such goods, we therefore apply the Lancastrian characteristics approach. In contrast to the existing literature, we consider the case of a continuum of impure public goods. We employ the example of international conditional transfers targeting to overcome suboptimal low climate protection efforts by influencing the abatement technology choice of countries.
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Papers by Anil Markandya