Showing papers by "David Pearce published in 1995"

Measuring sustainable development

Abstract: Part I Sustainable Development: Defining Sustainable Development * The Conditions for Sustainable Development * Measures of Economic Progress * Part II Sustainability and the State of the UK Environment: Air Quality * Water and Water Quality * Solid and Hazardous Waste * Biodiversity * Agriculture and the Environment * Forestry * Transport and the Environment * Part III The Political Dimension: The UK and the Global Environment * Sustainable Development: The Political and Institutional Challenge * References * Index

Capturing global environmental value

Abstract: Part I Global Issues: The Global Commons * Climate Change * The Ozone layer * Biological Diversity * Part II Explaining Resource Degradation: The Failure of Economic Systems * International Trade and the Environment * Population and Poverty * 'Overconsumption' * Part III Capturing Global Value: Global Bargains * The Global Environment Facility and Rio Conventions * Incremental Costs * Joint Implementation * References * Index

Biodiversity Conservation and Economic Development: Local and Global Dimensions

Abstract: The Convention on Biological Diversity, the Biodiversity Convention for short, is motivated first and foremost by the desire to protect an asset of multifaceted value to both current and future generations. It speaks of ‘the intrinsic value of biological diversity and of the ecological, genetic, social, economic, scientific, educational, cultural, recreational and aesthetic values of biological diversity and it s components.’1 Although not cast in these terms, this long list of attributes is encapsulated in the concept of total economic value (TEV). Most of the attributes refer to the value of biodiversity in use, but ‘intrinsic value’ is clearly a notion that is independent of use. In economic analysis, the value placed on biotic resources which is independent of the use to which those resources are or could be put is defined as non-use value. At least one component of this non-use value, ‘existence value’, captures the sense of the ‘intrinsic value’ of biological resources referred to in the convention [Turner and Pearce, 1992]. While the use value of biotic resources is determined in the same way as the value in use of any other resources — by reference to the social opportunity cost of those resources — and is captured by the expected consumer surplus associated with their use, the estimation of non-use value is on less certain ground. Nonetheless, the TEV of biodiversity may be expressed as the sum of expected consumer surplus and the existence value of biotic resources.

The economics of pollution

Abstract: Environmental economics brings the discipline of economic analysis to environmental issues such as pollution, the rate of use of renewable and non-renewable natural resources, conservation of living species and resources, and the choice of policy to achieve environmental ends. It is now a huge subject (for a survey see Pearce1 and for the standard textbooks see Pearce and Turner2 and Tietenberg3).

The UK and Global Warming Policy

Abstract: The UK’s commitment to the Framework Convention on Climate Change obliges the country to return its emission of greenhouse gases (GHGs) to 1990 levels by the year 2000. On the basis of current trends this requires a reduction of 10 million tonnes of carbon relative to baseline emissions. Earlier the Government had, in its White Paper on the environment, unambiguously endorsed the use of market based instruments to achieve this objective. But in the event the measures which were chosen included imposing VAT on domestic energy, increasing road fuel duty as well as information campaigns and moral persuasion.

New directions for financing global environmental change

Abstract: The international environmental agreements negotiated in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 provide some hope for reducing the rate of global warming and saving the world's biological diversity. But it is clear that the North will vote only limited funds to facilitate the working of the Conventions, perhaps US$2 billion over the coming three years. Against the scale of the problems this is an inadequate sum. However, there are opportunities for tapping into other sources of funds, and for using official transfers as a lever for yet other funds. Additionally, enormous scope exists for reducing global environmental problems through the adoption of more sensible economic policies. The deployment of imaginative policies to ‘capture’ environmental value can make a substantial difference to the global environment.