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Voluntary environmental agreements (VEAs) - generally agreements
between government and business - have been regarded by many as a
key new instrument for meeting environmental objectives in a
flexible manner. Their performance to date has, however, also led
to considerable criticism, with several parties arguing that they
are methods for avoiding real action that goes beyond
"business-as-usual". Is either of these positions justified? The
aim of this book is to highlight and learn the lessons from
existing experience, looking not just at results but also at
specific elements of agreements and also at the process of the
agreement itself. Lessons are drawn from experience from across the
world, covering the full range of environmental challenges, and
from the perspective of key stakeholder groups. Importantly, the
book also presents tools for assessing and improving existing
agreements and includes recommendations and guidelines for future
agreements in key areas such as climate change. It also deals at
length with the problem of how such agreements might be used in
developing and transitional economies. The overall view of the book
is that there is a real potential for the future use of VEAs as
part of the policy mix and as a tool for sharing the responsibility
for meeting environmental objectives. For the agreements to play
this role, however, significant steps are needed to ensure that
they are effective, efficient, equitable and appropriately linked
to a portfolio of other instruments. The book is divided into four
sections. First, existing agreements, their development and
efficacy are considered; second, the prospects for voluntary
agreements in developing and transitional economies are discussed;
third, a range of authors examine the role of VEAs as part of the
policy mix to combat climate change; and, finally, the book
concludes with an examination of how new tools for evaluating and
improving VEAs could be utilized in the future. Voluntary
Environmental Agreements will be of interest not only to academics,
governments and businesses wishing to understand this specific
instrument, but also to those already implementing or considering
applying VEAs to meet their environmental objectives.
The financial means embedded in subsidies for unsustainable systems
of production and consumption are increasingly well studied and
reported. This has led to policy recommendations (e.g. OECD, EU) on
how to reform subsidy systems in support of the necessary
transitions to a low carbon and ecosystem resilient society based
on a strong resource efficient economy. The authors in this book
contribute to the debate based on recent, high quality and policy
relevant research. It is a timely contribution to a pressing
financial issue in environmental policy.' - Hans Bruyninckx ,
Executive Director of the European Environment Agency'EU countries
increasingly receive recommendations through the European Semester
and OECD Environmental Performance Reviews to assess and
progressively phase out environmentally harmful subsidies. It is
not only a matter of avoiding damage to the environment, it is also
a question of transparency, equity, and of eliminating unjustified
privileges. Subsidy reform can help reduce public deficits, restore
fair market conditions and eliminate distortions in competition.
This book is a precious tool for Governments and experts.' - Aldo
Ravazzi Douvan, Italian Ministry of Environment, Professor of
Sustainable Development at University Roma Luiss 'Tax spending and
public subsidies harmful to the environment have attracted high
level attention at the Rio and Johannesburg Sustainable Development
Conferences, in the context of the Kyoto Protocol and of the
Convention on Biological Diversity, in OECD and EU recommendations,
and are now firmly on the public agenda. They are often also poorly
designed, do not reach their goals, are costly, not transparent and
can be inefficient. With the present public budget crises in many
countries, rarely has the timing been more favorable to lower such
harmful support. The book is thus timely and shows through concrete
examples that the reform of harmful public subsidies is possible.'
- Guillaume Sainteny, Associate Professor, Ecole Polytechnique,
Paris, France Pledges to reform environmentally harmful subsidies
(EHS) have increased over the past few years, at both global and
national levels. Paying the Polluter addresses the most important
issues to be considered when embarking upon these necessary
reforms. In this unique work, leading experts explore the
definition of EHS, how they can be identified and measured and
assess their impacts and the potential benefits of reform. Barriers
and opportunities for EHS reform are elaborated with examples of
successes and failures. A practical subsidy reform tool is also
presented, giving guidance to help develop transparent inventories
of subsidies and road maps for future development. Demonstrating
how subsidy reform may contribute to a better environment, support
fiscal reform and address social and economic objectives, this
authoritative book will appeal to policy makers and their advisors
all over the world. It will also be a useful sourcebook for
academics interested in concrete applications of environmental
economics. Finally it should prove a rich and informative read for
anyone looking for facts and arguments supporting green budget
reforms. Contributors: K. Bachus, A. Bruvoll, J. Cottrell, L.
Franckx, B. Kretschmer, M. Lehmann, I. Mayeres, L. Mazza, S.
Newman, F. Oosterhuis, J. Pieters, D. Russi, J. Sauvage, R.
Steenblik, P. ten Brink, K. Umpfenbach, C. van Beers, J.C.J.M. van
den Bergh, H. Vennemo, A. von Moltke, S. Withana
Protected areas (PAs) contain biodiversity and ecosystems of high
conservation value. In addition, these areas provide a range of
benefits, both direct and indirect, to our societies and economies,
i.e. so called ecosystem services. These services include, for
example, an ecosystem's ability to regulate floods and climate,
purify water, secure the pollination of crops, and create
opportunities for recreation, culture and tourism. This book offers
a comprehensive introduction to the socio-economic benefits of PAs
and PA networks and provides step-by-step practical guidance on
identifying, assessing and valuing the various ecosystem services
and related benefits provided by PAs. It also aims to improve the
communication of PA benefits to different stakeholders and the
general public. It is shown that identifying and valuing the
socio-economic benefits of PAs can be beneficial for several
reasons. Demonstrating socio-economic importance of a protected
site can significantly increase political and stakeholder support
for the site and resolve conflicts between different interest
groups. This can lead to positive changes in policies and
decision-making. Insights on PA benefits are also needed to
identify a combination of actions and land use practices that best
support the sustainable and equitable utilisation of these
benefits, while retaining a site's conservation goals. Finally,
demonstrating different benefits can help to discover alternative
and sustainable sources for financing the management of PAs.
Protected areas (PAs) contain biodiversity and ecosystems of high
conservation value. In addition, these areas provide a range of
benefits, both direct and indirect, to our societies and economies,
i.e. so called ecosystem services. These services include, for
example, an ecosystem's ability to regulate floods and climate,
purify water, secure the pollination of crops, and create
opportunities for recreation, culture and tourism. This book offers
a comprehensive introduction to the socio-economic benefits of PAs
and PA networks and provides step-by-step practical guidance on
identifying, assessing and valuing the various ecosystem services
and related benefits provided by PAs. It also aims to improve the
communication of PA benefits to different stakeholders and the
general public. It is shown that identifying and valuing the
socio-economic benefits of PAs can be beneficial for several
reasons. Demonstrating socio-economic importance of a protected
site can significantly increase political and stakeholder support
for the site and resolve conflicts between different interest
groups. This can lead to positive changes in policies and
decision-making. Insights on PA benefits are also needed to
identify a combination of actions and land use practices that best
support the sustainable and equitable utilisation of these
benefits, while retaining a site's conservation goals. Finally,
demonstrating different benefits can help to discover alternative
and sustainable sources for financing the management of PAs.
The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB) study is a
major international initiative drawing attention to local, national
and global economic benefits of biodiversity, to highlight the
growing costs of biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation, the
benefits of investing in natural capital, and to draw together
expertise from the fields of science, economics and policy to
enable practical actions. Drawing on a team of more than one
hundred authors and reviewers, this book demonstrates the value of
ecosystems and biodiversity to the economy, society and
individuals. It underlines the urgency of strategic policy making
and action at national and international levels, and presents a
rich evidence base of policies and instruments in use around the
world and a wide range of innovative solutions. It highlights the
need for new public policy to reflect the appreciation that public
goods and social benefits are often overlooked and that we need a
transition to decision making which integrates the many values of
nature across policy sectors. It explores the range of instruments
to reward those offering ecosystem service benefits, such as water
provision and climate regulation. It looks at fiscal and regulatory
instruments to reduce the incentives of those running down our
natural capital, and at reforming subsidies such that they respond
to current and future priorities. The authors also consider two
major areas of investment in natural capital - protected areas and
investment in restoration. Overall the book underlines the needs
and ways to transform our approach to natural capital, and
demonstrates how we can practically take into account the value of
ecosystems and biodiversity in policy decisions - at national and
international levels - to promote the protection of our environment
and contribute to a sustainable economy and to the wellbeing of
societies.
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