Environmental Goods And Services Research Articles

Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement Can Benefit From U.S. Experience in Growing Environmental Goods and Services (EGS) Markets

Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement Can Benefit From U.S. Experience in Growing Environmental Goods and Services (EGS) Markets

The Constitutive Role of State Structures in Strategic Coupling: On the Formation and Evolution of Sino-German Production Networks in Jieyang, China

Research on the strategic coupling between regions and global lead firms has largely assumed that the regional assets for coupling are ready made and are largely unchanging throughout the coupling process. This article takes this assumption as its critical point of departure and presents a new framework that considers how regional assets are actively (re)configured across multiple scales in ways that could redefine the prevailing mode of strategic coupling. The empirical basis of this framework is derived from a long-term case study on the formation and evolution of Sino-German production networks in environmental goods and services (EGS) in Jieyang, a relatively peripheral city in Guangdong province in China. The analysis draws from thirty-three interviews and seven focus group discussions, conducted between 2014 and 2020, with nonstate and state actors in Jieyang. Findings highlight how Zhongde, a coalition of Jieyang-based firms, transcended the limitations of structural coupling, which exemplifies uneven power relations between regions and lead firms, and attained more balanced coupling relations with German-led EGS global production networks (GPNs) through realigning interests with those of national-level institutions. Responding positively to the structural constraints and opportunities within a Chinese state structure based on experimental governance, Zhongde connected German EGS lead firms to the highly profitable but protected EGS market in China. This ability to jump between scales underscores the cross-scalar and dynamic aspects of strategic coupling: Zhongde was able to meet German-led EGS GPNs’ demand for market access and enhanced localization economies through reconfiguring regional assets. ing from these findings, the article enhances the explanation of the evolution of strategic coupling by conceptualizing its intrinsic dynamism and incorporating state structural effects. Finally, it presents two directions for further research on GPN reconfigurations.

Time, Waste, and the City: The Rise of the Environmental Industry

AbstractIn many US cities, especially those in the Rust Belt, the environmental goods and services (EGS) industry has played a significant role in restructuring local economies to promote new, flexible, and “creative” forms of service‐based labour. And yet much of the environmental work conducted in these cities has been directed at an industrial past, cleaning up the waste left over from long‐departed manufacturing sectors. Returning to David Harvey's earlier work on the urban process, this paper develops a theory of waste switching that situates EGS within a larger renegotiation of space and time across city landscapes. This theory is fleshed out in case studies of the EGS industry in Baltimore, Pittsburgh, and Milwaukee, where new cycles of accumulation have been built on refuse, toxins, and dead labour. These “toxi‐cities” and their cleanup challenge traditional conceptions of urbanisation as spatially—but also temporally—bounded.

Using Trade for Achieving the SDGs: The Example of the Environmental Goods Agreement

Ensuring that trade contributes to sustainable development is an explicit objective of both the WTO and of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (including the Sustainable Development Goals or ‘SDGs’). The purpose of this article is to demonstrate how trade and technology together can be mobilized for achieving the SDGs and in particular for addressing climate change. The article first discusses the general linkages between trade, technology, sustainable development, and the SDGs. Then the article explores the contribution that trade in environmental goods and services (EGS) and the Environmental Goods Agreement (EGA) more specifically can make to achieving different SDGs. This assessment is among others based on a recent European Commission Sustainability Impact Assessment (SIA) on the EGA. The article therefore assesses the potential economic, environmental, and social impacts of the EGA. It rounds up by explaining the state-of-play of the EGA negotiations. The assessment was conducted through desk research, econometric and C02 modelling, and stakeholder consultation, including two regional workshops and an open questionnaire.

Una mirada a los métodos de valoración de calidad ambiental desde una visión contable ambiental.

En este documento se realiza una revisión bibliográfica de los principales métodos de valoración económica de Bienes y Servicios Ambientales – BSA, analizando sus bondades, limitantes y armonización con la corriente contable ambiental, y respondiendo a interrogantes como: ¿Por qué de la necesidad de valorar los ecosistemas? y ¿qué papel juega esta corriente en la discusión respecto a la crisis ecológica? Se siguió una metodología basada en la identificación, validación y análisis de fuentes científicas originales, consignadas en fichas de lectura estructuradas para este fin, y la conformación de categorías de análisis. Los resultados muestran que los BSA son susceptibles de valorarse económicamente frente a los imperativos de la teoría económica, donde el método de Valoración Integral se inserta de mejor manera en los principios de la contabilidad, haciendo que la corriente ambiental de esta disciplina, se convierta en herramienta vital en el análisis de costo-beneficio, al incorporar las mediciones y valoraciones de los costos ambientales en la dinámica de toma de decisiones, gracias a su poder instrumental y lógico que facilita la abstracción de las relaciones naturaleza-empresa.

Environmental Consequence of Trade Openness for Environmental Goods

With the increasing concerns on detrimental environmental effects of world trade, WTO member countries in 2001 called for reduction or elimination of tariffs and non-tariffs barriers on Environmental Goods and Services (EGS) claiming that would improve environmental protection and economic development simultaneously. The study investigated the impact of opening trade of EGS on environmental quality estimating pollution functions of Sulphur Dioxide (SO 2 ), Nitrogen Oxides (NO x ) and Carbon Dioxides (CO 2 ) using cross country data for 62 countries. Estimated SO 2 pollution function revealed that elimination of tariff on EGS trade result in falling SO 2 emissions in comparison to increasing SO 2 pollution as a result eliminating tariff on non EGS trade. Findings formally support for the liberalization of EGS. Falling of SO 2 pollution due to elimination of tariff on EGS is due to differences in countries’ capital-labour endowments. The findings suggests that falling pollution due to EGS trade liberalization has no relationship with the income level of the countries, but favour capital abundant countries in reducing the pollution emissions. Sri Lankan Journal of Agricultural Economics Vol. (16) No. 1 (2014) pp. 79-98

Sustainable Development of China’s Rare Earth Industry within and without the WTO

China's rise to become the dominant global producer of rare earth minerals has caused severe environmental damage and rapid depletion of its natural resources. To rectify these problems and achieve sustainable development of the industry, the Chinese government has adopted a policy of export restrictions which has led to conflict with its trade partners. A World Trade Organization (WTO) panel has judged China's policy to be in violation of its trade obligations which has been upheld in appeal. This article presents a broad analysis of sustainable development relating to the rare earth industry. In recognizing growing global demand for these minerals, which provide essential inputs for the new green technologies, it explores how a more complementary relationship between economic development and conservation of natural capital can be achieved. Improving resource efficiency throughout the whole production chain is of key importance for resource conservation. The use of adequate environmental technologies and effective environmental policies are key to minimizing the risks for environmental damage and human health. The new initiative for liberalization of Environmental Goods and Services (EGS) in the WTO can make leading environmental technologies available at a lower cost for China. But green trade liberalization alone cannot achieve sustainable development. A new form of international cooperation in the form of networked governance must operate alongside the WTO to combine governance of global economic and ecological integration. Since the publication of the Brundtland Report, the concept of sustainable development has been generally understood as the requirement to meet the needs of the current generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs.1 But this is a vague concept which has proved difficult to implement in practice. There is no internationally agreed method for measuring sustainable development and no internationally accepted indicators to monitor its progress in practice.2 In particular, there is no satisfactory indicator for 'natural capital' which is central to achieving sustainable development. Natural capital is defined as the stock of natural resources or environmental assets that yields a flow of useful goods and services into the future.3 This concept creates a new synthesis integrating two previously opposing world views. On the one hand, man-made capital which comprises physical, financial and human capital, has well-established roots in economic theory. On the other hand, natural capital, comprising natural resources and the environment has been developed more recently by ecological economics. Whereas, man-made capital has been traditionally treated as a scarce good which is priced accordingly in the market, natural capital has for long been considered as part of the 'global commons' and so largely treated as a free good.4 But this dichotomy is no longer tenable today.

Valoración económica integral de los bienes y servicios ambientales ofertados por el ecosistema de manglar ubicado en la ciénaga de la virgen. Cartagena-Colombia

This project corresponds to a process of assessment of environmental goods and services (EGS) offered by the mangrove forest of the Cienaga de la Virgen, Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, exercise It allowed to demonstrate the potential of biological resources of the mangrove ecosystem under study. Methodologically the work of the review of characterizations made by CARDIQUE, allowing the identification of BSA offered by the ecosystem; then, variables are defined and parameters determining the monetary value of these; : followed various instruments as applied questionnaires and record formats by which the monetary value of the benefits determined economic order featuring mangrove being valued. The results show that the value of nontraded BSA determined by opportunity cost is higher than the value of BSA tradable, showing the preponderance of these for the balance of the area and the survival and development of the human species.

Multi-Criteria Decision Modeling for Environmental Assessment. An Estimation of Total Economic Value in Protected Natural Areas

The conceptualization of Total Economic Value (TEV) associated with protected natural areasnecessarily requires an analytical reordering that ensures a simultaneous incorporation of natural, social andeconomic components. Based on this purpose, the present paper uses a multi-criteria decision modeling forthe economic valuation of environmental goods and services (EGS) in the Vinales National Park (PNV) basedon a combination of methods such as the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and the Goal Programming (GP)with other traditional such as the income updating method. The proposed procedure allowed estimate anindicator of Total Economic Value (TEV) and its different components: Direct Use Value (DUV), Indirect UseValue (IUV), Option Value (OV), Existence Value (EV) and Bequest Value (BV). The obtained results represent a contribution from economic science to the definition of environmental policies, allocation and distribution of financial resources, as well as the design and implementation of management plans or other strategic projections.

Air Pollutions and Environmental Goods trade: Re-visiting the EKC hypothesis

Sustainable Development is the prime concern in development policy making all around the world. Environmental Goods and Services (EGS) play a vital role in sustainable development. Increasing access to and use of EGS can help in reducing air and water-pollution, improving energy and resource-efficiency and facilitating solid waste disposal. Trade liberalization of environmental goods helps promote sustainable economic development by generating economic growth and employment and enabling the transfer of valuable skills, technology, and know-how embedded in such goods and services. This paper focuses on the impact of environmental goods imports on the environment and on the importance of liberalizing trade in environmental goods and services in the context of Bangladesh. The Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) along with some other factors as control variables are used to analyze the effect on air pollution of the changes in the share of environmental goods in total imports. This is examined using panel data econometric approach for 72 Countries for the years 1995-2010. Westerlund Error Correction Model panel Cointegration tests are carried out. The findings show that an increase in imports of EGS reduces air pollution.

Beyond Environmental Economics New Directions for Policy Making

In the 1950s and 1960s economics had its focus on economic growth ignoring the fact that some of theinputs essential to the production process were limited in supply. In other words, the sustainability of thegrowth process was not addressed properly. Since 1970, a number of world views appeared ranging froma support for a market technology driven growth process which is environmentally damaging, through aposition advocating prudent resource management to an ‘eco-preservationist’ positions which explicitlyreject economic growth. Against this background environmental economics became established as a subdiscipline (Pearce and Turner, 1990). Environmental economics (EE) was considered as an opportunity toaccommodate the environmental implications of the growth economy and society within a modified(though not radically different) set of economic models.The subject has developed immensely during the last three decades both in theoretical and empiricalgrounds. Micro level applications of EE include estimating demands for various environmental goods andservices and damage estimations (through various environmental valuation methods), designing ofeconomic instruments, project level cost benefit analyses, aiding renewable and non renewable resourceharvesting decisions. Macro level applications include green accounting (integrating environmentaladditions and depletions into system of national accounts), development of macro level indicators etc.Such applications seem to cover a wide variety of real world issues ranging from biodiversity, energy,agricultural and local pollution issues to global issues such as climate change, ozone depletion andultimately towards the long term survival of mankind. Although Environmental economics seem toaddress these issues quite comprehensively than conventional economics and pure scientific approaches,the outcomes of such applications are often subject to debate. Doubts are being raised mainly fromdifferent disciplines indicating non recognition of their concerns, particularly from ethical, ecological andphilosophical grounds.Most natural resource policy decisions in many countries have made sure that environmental economicvalues are being incorporated. There are however policy gaps, partly due to the yet unresolved theoreticalissues of the subject and partly due to the single disciplinary roots of economics. The subject of ecologicaleconomics arose partly in response to such concerns and enriched the analysis with the incorporation ofecological inter linkages to the economics (Costanza, 1991).The objective of the paper is therefore to first elaborate on the various aspects of the subject that are beingused in the various natural resource management issues. For example, EE provides explanations forresource degradation basically the economic failure arguments and proposes corrections accordingly. Thepaper elaborates on the usefulness of such arguments and the critique, the need for alternativeexplanations.The second section discusses more practical issues, how the decision making has been aided by thediscipline through standard micro level and macro level analysis with special emphasis on Sri Lanka. Italso discusses the drawbacks of the analytical tools especially in relation to the instances where themultidisciplinary integration could enhance the outcome. Some of these integrations are however, onlytheoretical conceptualizations while others have been actually tested in different contexts. The subject ofenvironmental economics has benefited immensely from various other disciplines. The third section ofthis paper is devoted to discuss on such disciplines that could be further integrated in order to widen thescope of the subject.

A review of the environmental goods and services sector in the United Kingdom

This paper proposes that policy makers and the Higher Education (HE) sector have a special duty to support the Environmental Goods and Services (EGS) industry. The EGS industry' market value was estimated at $484 billion in 1998. Legislation plays an important role in promoting industry demand. The HE sector has a unique role in the research and development of new sustainable processes, technologies and products, either through developing these autonomously or in collaboration with businesses. Costs hinder the diffusion of renewable energy technologies. Renewable energy sources need to be made viable by the government's introduction of taxation and carbon tariffs. This sector is further hindered by poor ability to seek international opportunities, poor adaptability of their business strategies, lack of managerial skills and poor ability to attract and retain high level human resources. This paper recommends that HE institutions and policy makers research the EGS industry to identify opportunities to support this sector and assist overcoming the above listed limitations.

Environmental Goods and Services in the World Trade Organization

As part of the current round of global trade negotiations underthe World Trade Organization (WTO), nations will be negotiating the liberalization of environmental goods and services (EGS). The EGS negotiations constitute a new and proactive approach to reconciling trade and environment concerns, providing an arena in which concrete progress can be made in environment and development. Although the negotiations show strong promise for sustainable development, this promise will only be realized if the liberalization takes into account existing market asymmetries and the needs of developing countries. This article examines the potential benefits and adverse impacts of EGS liberalization, the challenge of defining and classifying EGS in the WTO, and some policy suggestions for ensuring that EGS negotiations work toward sustainable development in the world economy.

Global Demand for U.S. Environmental Goods and Services

This paper reports import demand elasticities for environmental goods and services (EGS) for the world in aggregate and for six world regions. The paper involves a pooled cross-section and time-series estimation procedure and makes per capita demand for EGS a function of economic, political, and structural factors. The results show that per capita incomes, exchange rates, political and economic freedoms, and debt affect the demand for EGS. The results also show that demand for EGS is tied to the particular environmental problem facing a particular region. Exporters of EGS need to disaggregate world markets to better target products.

Import Demand for Environmental Goods and Services in the Asia‑Pacific Region

I. Introduction Over the years there has been considerable interest in adapting cold war-driven to develop materials that solve some of the most pressing problems (such as disease, food and fibre, hunger, and peace) facing mankind (National Science and Technology Council 1995). The production of goods and services (EGS) has been at the top of this agenda. Former U.S. Vice-President Al Gore, an early advocate of this view, suggested the establishment of a Global Marshall Plan for protection, and the promotion of EGS industries. One response was a partnership arrangement between the United States and selected countries in Asia to promote improvements and economic growth. This partnership, known as the US-Asia Environmental Partnership, or USAEP (USAID) may be considered the bedrock of U.S. initiatives in the EGS market in Asia and the Pacific. While this study covers the Asia and Pacific regions, references will usually be made in the context of the USAEP. This partnership presents both challenges and opportunities. Opportunities exist because there is increased awareness of the need to safeguard the environment. On the other hand, there are challenges because the partners will have to streamline their and export policies since they both have the potential to significantly increase their share of world markets. This paper reports elasticity estimates for EGS in the Asia-Pacific region. The elasticity estimates are useful for predicting future direction and structure of the EGS market in the study area. The rest of the paper is organized as follows. Section II defines the EGS market and identifies the key demand drivers. The section discusses the structure and performance of the EGS market including predictions of future demands. Section III uses the drivers identified in Section II to formulate statistical equations that are estimated using data drawn from various sources. Conclusions and policy implications are presented in Section IV. II. Scope of the Environmental Goods and Services (EGS) Market II.1. Defining the Environmental Goods and Services Industry The EGS market or more generally the environmental technology market is defined by those technologies that advance sustainable development by reducing risk, enhancing cost-effectiveness, improving process efficiency, and creating products and processes that are environmentally beneficial or benign (U.S. Industry and Trade Outlook 2000, pp. 20-21). A European Union (EU) Commission report defines the market as all activities which produce goods and services to measure, prevent, limit, minimize, or correct damage to water, air and soil, as well as problems related to waste, noise and ecosystems (Commission of the European Communities 2002, p. 2). The U.S. Industry and Trade Outlook report identifies water supply and treatment, solid waste management, air pollution control, and clean-up as the four main segments of the industry. These definitions highlight the difficulty in clearly placing limits on the size of the EGS market. Since the study relies primarily on data from U.S. sources, the definition of the EGS market as given by the U.S. Department of Commerce (Industry and Trade Outlook 2000) is used throughout the discussion. II.2. The Structure and Size of the EGS Market Measures of the size of the market depend on who is doing the measurement, and especially what is being counted as an good or service. The various measures put the market between US$200 billion and US$500 billion OECD 1994; Environmental Business International 1994; Helmut Kaiser Consultancy 1995; Commission of the European Communities 2002). The U.S. International Trade Administration (ITA) has projected the global market to top US$545 billion by the year 2004 (ITA 2002). …