...Purpose The purpose of this paper is to gain an understanding of marine protection areas within Australian waters and to analyse its policy from an environmental and economic viewpoint, in order to forward policy recommendations for future consideration. A Background to Environmental Policy The underlying assumption behind environmental policy is that by designing social intervention we can bring about environmental improvement. However, designing a policy that actually produces the changes you seek is extremely difficult. Chiefly, planning and policy attempt to exercise control, to develop a desired future (Thomas 2007, p.7). But control is difficult enough to achieve over people, let alone trying to control the physical environment (Thomas 2007, p.7). Another fundamental issue for policy-makers is the direction of the policy. In particular they have to consider whether they are attempting to prevent environmental impacts that result from human action, or whether they are attempting to adapt to such changes, consciously or unconsciously (Thomas 2007, p.8). Natural Resources Natural resources have been critical for human welfare since people first started to walk the earth several million years ago (Field 2005 p.27). Natural resource economics is the study of how the flow of goods and services derived from natural resources is, and should be, managed in today’s world (Field 2005 p.37). Field continues to state that resource management problems derive from the underlying...
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...Economy and Environment Program for Southeast Asia ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMICS A TEACHERS’ MANUAL Undergraduate Level By Herminia A. Francisco Bui Dung The Pham Khanh Nam August 2005 1 PREFACE This manual was written to support the teaching of undergraduate environmental economics course in Vietnam Universities. Some time in 2003, a number of senior researchers of the Economy and Environment Program for Southeast Asia (EEPSEA) requested that EEPSEA offers a 3-week training course for teachers of Environmental Economics in the country. The request in turn was precipitated by the new mandate from the Ministry of Education in Vietnam that makes Environmental Economics a required course in all Bachelors’ Degree in Economics and Management for all colleges and universities. Aware that the capacity of teachers to teach Environmental Economics varies across the country as training of teachers varies also from selfstudy, short-term training, to a formal course in an undergraduate/graduate degree from local universities or abroad, EEPSEA acceded to the request and offered the course in August 2005. The course though can be used also in other colleges and universities in Southeast Asia. The training course was designed to teach both the subject matter contained in an internationally-comparable undergraduate environmental course and to enhance teachers’ skills in teaching this subject. A teachers’ manual was developed to support the teaching of the training ...
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...Urban Agriculture Research and Development in Nairobi By William Omoto Department of Research Development Nairobi Kenya 1. INTRODUCTION Background Kenya’s leading development challenges today include alleviation of poverty and environmental management in the context of rapid population growth and urbanization. Kenya’s population was 28.6 million people in 1999 and is expected to reach 43 million in the year 2020. According to the government statistics, the national level of absolute poverty increased from 44% in 1992 to 56% in 2002 (GoK 2002). Nairobi has registered the highest rate of urbanization (4.5%) with a population of 2.2m in 2000 projected to reach 3.2m in the year 2010. About 50% of people in Nairobi live below the absolute poverty line of Ksh. 2 648. As the urbanization trend continues, urban environments are deteriorating. Most of the urban poor are concentrated in the informal settlements where there are no infrastructure and services to address environmental problems and are engaged in urban agriculture. One of the biggest policy challenges today is the inclusion of environmental policy into urban policy. UPA can be an integral part of a set of policies for sustainable urban environmental management. Urban AF can play an especially vital role in waste management by transforming waste into food and fuel. Waste management approaches in place include waste collecting, sorting, treatment and recycling at the community level in corporation with...
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...1. Introduction At the very basic level, Environment, trade, and investment are fundamentally linked as the environment provides various basic inputs of economic activity – forests, fisheries, metals, minerals and also the energy used to process those materials. Trade and I investment, are thus affected by environmental concerns, because producers and investors have to comply with environmental regulations and markets have to address the consumer demand for greener goods. Apart from these physical and economic connections, there are certain legal institutions which govern trade, investment and the environment. Institutions like the World Trade Organization (WTO) and also regional & bilateral trade agreements include trade and investment rules. Multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs), regional agreements, and also the national and sub-national regulations encompass the environmental law. Fundamental goals of WTO are sustainable development and protection and preservation of the environment. These are included in the “Marrakesh Agreement”, which established the WTO, and also complement the WTO’s objective to reduce the trade barriers and eliminate discriminatory treatment in international trade relations. Though, there is no specific agreement which deals with the environment, as per WTO rules members can adopt trade-related measures aimed at protecting the environment, following a number of conditions to avoid the misuse of such measures. The WTO contributes in protection...
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...and spiritual growth. In the long and tortuous evolution of the human race on this planet a stage has been reached when, through the rapid acceleration of science and technology, man has acquired the power to transform his environment in countless ways and on an unprecedented scale. Both aspects of man's environment, the natural and the man-made, are essential to his well-being and to the enjoyment of basic human rights the right to life itself. 2. The protection and improvement of the human environment is a major issue which affects the well-being of peoples and economic development throughout the world; it is the urgent desire of the peoples of the whole world and the duty of all Governments. 3. Man has constantly to sum up experience and go on discovering, inventing, creating and advancing. In our time, man's capability to transform his surroundings, if used wisely, can bring to all peoples the benefits of development and the opportunity to enhance the quality of life. Wrongly or heedlessly applied, the same power can do incalculable harm to human beings and the human environment. We see around us growing evidence of man-made harm in many regions of the earth: dangerous levels of pollution in water, air, earth and living beings; major and undesirable disturbances to the ecological balance of the biosphere; destruction and...
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...Ashley R Evans Improving Economic Viability on the African Continent. Investment in African nations can result in large returns. An objective review of available resources and business opportunities can have many benefits for investors and the economic region. Historically, investors have viewed African countries to be riddle with conflict and economic instability. This has resulted in sagging economies on the continent. As we move to a global economy investment in Africa nations is imperative. In the future there will be enormous opportunities to invest in Africa which is rich in natural resources, goods and services, and agriculture. However, corruption, environmental abuses, armed conflicts, terrorist threats to foreigners and governments, prevent many African nations from thriving. Therefore, one should look for investment opportunities in African countries or regions that have sound economic and environmental policies. Good and balanced policies promote economic stabilization. This would be attractive for investors as a whole and keep the economy growing. Sound environmental policies would conserve raw materials and energy; in general, it would make the country healthier and more productive. Secondly, investment in businesses that value fair trade would have the most beneficial results. It would have an immediate impact on the quality of life for individuals associated with those companies, both the employees and consumers. Fair trade is for equitable and...
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...that there is an urgent need of transition towards green growth to achieve sustainable development and prosperity. As per Asian Development Bank "... green growth is an imperative not a luxury, for developing Asia". It is still not clear whether 'green growth' is a new transitional shift or just another gimmick to cover up inconsistencies between economic and environmental objectives of governments. There is no universally accepted definition of green growth. But normally it is being treated as a synonym to sustainable development. "Green growth is fostering economic growth and development, while ensuring that natural assets continue to provide resources and environmental services on which our well-being relies"-OCED. So green growth basically emphasizes on the efficient use of natural resources that minimizes pollution and environmental impacts at the same time it also plays role of environmental management and natural capital in preventing physical disasters. Main focus of green growth is low carbon growth that promotes growth with the help of creation of new environment friendly products. Green growth is matter of both economic policy and sustainable development. Politicians normally think that today's voters are more concerned with basic problems like inflation, unemployment and corruption etc. but don't attach more weight to expected growth for unborn generations. But green growth is now generating a diversity of political positions, from enthusiastic to cautious. For example...
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...Terms of Reference ..................................................................................................................... 4 Executive Summary ................................................................................................................... 5 Production and Consumption as Social Processes Generating Waste ..................................... 6 Economic Instruments for EMS .................................................................................................. 10 Strategy ..................................................................................................................................... 13 Conclusions and Recommendations .......................................................................................... 19 References ................................................................................................................................. 20 Prepared by: Dr. Michael Witter Economist Economic Incentives for Implementing Environmental Management Systems in Jamaica 1 Economic Incentives for Implementing Environmental Management Systems in Jamaica 2 INTRODUCTION The Jamaican economy at the dawn of the twenty-first (21st) century is a very open extensively liberalized marketplace in which Jamaican enterprises are being outcompeted by imported goods and services and by foreign owned businesses established here. Historically, the incentive system, essentially, the structure of prices...
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...sustainability ISSN 2071-1050 www.mdpi.com/journal/sustainability Review What is Sustainability? Tom Kuhlman 1,* and John Farrington 2 1 2 Agricultural Economics Research Institute, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 29703, 2502LS The Hague, The Netherlands Institute for Rural Research, Geography and Environment, University of Aberdeen, Elphinstone Road, Aberdeen AB24 3UF, Scotland, UK; E-Mail: j.farrington@abdn.ac.uk * Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail: tom.kuhlman@wur.nl; Tel.: +31-70-3358-232; Fax: +31-70-3615-624. Received: 17 September 2010; in revised form: 15 October 2010 / Accepted: 19 October 2010 / Published: 1 November 2010 Abstract: Sustainability as a policy concept has its origin in the Brundtland Report of 1987. That document was concerned with the tension between the aspirations of mankind towards a better life on the one hand and the limitations imposed by nature on the other hand. In the course of time, the concept has been re-interpreted as encompassing three dimensions, namely social, economic and environmental. The paper argues that this change in meaning (a) obscures the real contradiction between the aims of welfare for all and environmental conservation; (b) risks diminishing the importance of the environmental dimension; and (c) separates social from economic aspects, which in reality are one and the same. It is proposed instead to return to the original meaning, where sustainability is concerned with the well-being...
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...Cattaneo-Liuc ------------------------------------------------- Scuola di Economica e Management Corso di Laurea in Global Markets ReLATORE/TUTOR: Rodolfo helg Paper di Laurea di : Luca Cantadori Matricola: 14771 Paper di Laurea di : Luca Cantadori Matricola: 14771 Anno Accademico : 2012/2013 Anno Accademico : 2012/2013 CONSEQUENCES OF ECONOMIC GROWTH ON THE ENVIRONMENT:Focus on International Trade i. Economic growth and the environment ii. Environmental Kuznets curve: a. Kuznets Curve:Income inequality and growth b. Income inequality , growth and the environment iii. Population growth: how increasing population could affect the environment iv. Economic impacts of environmental policies: c. Economic growth: investment and innovation d. Effect on competitiveness v. International Trade and the environment vi. Effects of Trade on the environment vii. Trade due to differences in Environmental Policies: e. Pollution Haven case viii. Trade not due to differences in Environmental policies: f. Comparative advantage and environment: how factor endowments can influence environment ix. Conclusion x. References xi. Abstract i.Economic growth and the environment In the first half of the twentieth century there was and incredible explosion of international trade: indeed international...
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...Green Technology: A Cost Benefit Analysis of Business going Green Cost Benefit Analysis of Green Technology. I. Introduction Many business owners fear the costs associated with going green and although the net return varies according to the sector, in most cases these fears are unwarranted. Sustainable business practices should be evaluated based on a cost/benefit analysis. The benefits for things like brand reputation and employee loyalty, must be weighed against the costs and risks. When considering the value of sustainable practices businesses need to be notified of a wide range of benefits. Human resources are a good example of a department that benefits from greener practices. According to The Harvard Business Review’s summary of a number of green building studies, green facilities have been shown to increase the productivity of employees. Research further reveals that retailers who installed skylights saved energy and boosted sales by as much as 40 percent. Other research has indicated that loyalty and morale are positively impacted by a green workplace. Greening a physical environment contributes to health and reduces sick days. MonsterTRACK.com study revealed that people want to work for a company that is green. These factors enable green companies to attract and retain the best people, while saving human resources time and money. Green initiatives can save money, strengthen...
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...Social Enterprise UK, the programme will include information, learning resources and opportunities, and peer support networks. For more information please click here. This briefing has been produced by Social Enterprise UK. We are the national membership body for social enterprise. We offer business support, do research, develop policy, campaign, build networks, share knowledge and understanding and raise awareness of social enterprise and what it can achieve. We also provide training and consultancy and we develop bespoke business and information packages for clients of all kinds. This briefing outlines the meaning and benefits of social value and provides and oversight of the recent changes to policy in this area. Further information, including relevant guides and toolkits, is included in the ‘further resources’ section at the end of this paper. Introduction The voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector has long campaigned for commissioning practice to take social value into account. This would ensure that the full weight of the public sector’s purchasing power is directed at achieving social and environmental benefits, alongside delivering financial efficiency. In addition, VCSEs are well practiced at providing added social value through service delivery across many sectors including health, education, housing and transport. Creating an opportunity for bidders to demonstrate this would enable public bodies to assess which potential providers...
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...Chapter 15: Tourism Policy: Structure, Content, and Process Question 4. How would you identify and choose the stakeholders who should be involved in the formulation of a tourism policy for a region? Is there anyone whom you feel should be excluded from the process? Stakeholders should be identified and chosen based on a broad range of economic and social benefits such as employment and income. Employment and income are important because they allow stakeholders to reside in and to enjoy the quality of the region. Stakeholders include: Residents of the host destination Local/municipal/regional/provincial/national governments Local/regional/national environmental groups Local visitors/excursionists Remote visitors/tourists Tourism industry sectors such as accommodation, attractions, adventure and outdoor recreation, entertainment, events, food services, tourism visitor services, transportation, and travel trade Destination management organization (DMO) Culture/heritage groups Social/health/education groups I cannot think of anyone specific who should be excluded in the formation of tourism policy because it seeks to ensure that visitors are hosted in a way that maximizes the benefits to stakeholders while minimizing the negative effects, costs, and impacts associated with ensuring the success of a destination. Question 8. What are the most important interfaces of tourism policy; that is, which other sectors of the economy and society need to...
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...Jahangirnagar Planning Review ISSN 1728-4198 Vol. 2, June 2004, pp. 67-82, © Jahangirnagar University This article is brought to you by www.bdresearch.org Eco-Tourism: An Investigation into the Conceptual Framework and Policy Requirements for its Growth in Bangladesh Golam Moinuddin* Halima Begum** Abstract Sustainability considerations have been making ways in each and every development initiative in the last two-decades or so. In line of this trend, the concept of eco-tourism emerged and later on, turned out to be an environment friendly and economically beneficial industry taking over a considerable bulk of mass-tourism activity and offsetting some of its negativities. Such a transformation has ultimately positioned eco-tourism to be the substitute of mass-tourism in many tourist destinations. In view of such reality, this article attempts to investigate on the conceptual dynamics and benefits of eco-tourism and explores reflective state of these theoretical underpinnings on the basis of two case studies drawn from successful eco-tourist destinations. In light of such investigative out-puts, the article focuses on the prospects of eco-tourism industry and makes an effort to provide a broad policy framework for the development of the same in Bangladesh. It identifies areas of intervention required in promoting the eco-tourism industry in the country. Finally, it attempts to define and differentiate the respective roles of the private and public sectors in the flourishment...
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...Energy Policy 31 (2003) 721–734 Electricity and externalities in South Africa Randall Spalding-Fechera,*, David Khorommbi Matibeb b a Energy and Development Research Centre, University of Cape Town, Private Bag, Rondebosch 7700, South Africa Gauteng Department of Agricultural Conservation and Environment, PO Box 8769, Johannesburg 2000, South Africa Abstract As the electricity supply sector in developing countries undergoes increasingly rapid restructuring, and technology and fuel choices widen, understanding the environmental implications of investment choices becomes ever more important. The objective of this paper is to expand previous analysis of the external costs of electric power generation in South Africa. We present a quantitative analysis of air pollution impacts on human health, damages from greenhouse gas emissions, and the avoided health costs from electrification, as well as discussing other impacts qualitatively. The central estimate of total external costs is R7.3 billion, or 4.4 cents per unit of coal-fired power generated. Relative to current electricity prices, the external costs are approximately 40 and 20 per cent of industrial and residential tariffs, respectively. We then discuss policy options for addressing these costs, including taxation, tradable permit systems, and integrated resource planning, as well as expanded regional energy trade and the possibility of accessing climate change-related funding for cleaner electricity production. r 2002 Elsevier...
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