Regulatory impact of environmental standards on the eco-efficiency of firms

In this paper we propose an approach to implement environmental standards into Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) and in this way to measure their regulatory impact on eco-efficiency of firms. As one standard feature of basic DEA models (as e.g. CCR from Charnes et al. (1978)) lies in the exogeneity of inputs, desirable and undesirable outputs, it is not possible to introduce environmental constraints for these parameters directly into basic DEA models. Therefore, we use a bounded-variable way, which allows constraints on the efficiency frontier. The regulatory impact is assessed as difference in eco-efficiency scores before and after fictive introduction of an environmental standard. Furthermore, we distinguish between weak and strong disposability of undesirable outputs and develop corresponding models. Assessing the regulatory impact of environmental standards in advance provides support for environmental policy makers in choosing appropriate instruments and in adjusting the intensity of regulation

Opportunities and risks for CO2 intense sectors in Turkey

The Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) is an independent not-for-profit organization holding the largest database of primary corporate climate change information in the world. Over 3,000 organizations in some 60 countries now disclose their greenhouse gas emissions, water management and climate change strategies through CDP, in order that they can set reduction targets and make performance improvements. This data is gathered on behalf of institutional investors, purchasing organizations and government bodies, then, made available to CDP signatories for integration into business and policy decision-making. Since its formation in 2000, CDP has become the gold standard for carbon disclosure methodology and process, providing essential climate change data to the global market place. Since the beginning of the year 2010, Turkey is included in Carbon Disclosure Project with the support of Akbank and Ernst & Young-Turkey. The project is managed and controlled by Sabanci University Corporate Governance Forum, which has become a centre of expertise on corporate disclosure over the years. 50 companies, which constitute the Istanbul Stock Exchange’s ISE-50 index, have been invited by CDP Turkey in the year of 2010 to disclose climate change related information,10 of those companies responded to CDP’s invitation and presented their carbon emission levels and risk management strategies to international investors through the CDP platform. Additionally one company joined the CDP voluntarily. In the year 2011, the invitation is extended to 100 companies constituting Istanbul Stock Exchange’s ISE-100 index. A total of 17 ISE 100 companies responded to CDP, including two ISE 100 firms whose international parent companies answered the questionnaire on their behalf. In addition, there are three voluntary responses outside the ISE 100 sample, which increased the number of direct CDP responses from Turkish companies to 20. In 2012, CDP Turkey aims to enlarge its scope to cover both listed and non-listed firms in carbon intense industries through voluntary disclosure in collaboration with sector organizations. This report discusses the conditions in CO2 intense sectors of Turkey, in terms of market conditions, current & potential regulatory risks and opportunities. The first sections of the report elaborate on comparative GHG emission trends in Turkey. The second section lays down leading firms in the largest industries and the most CO2 intensive sectors in Turkey. The third section draws attention to the market dynamics in carbon intense industries. And the last section, points out risks and potential opportunities for those industries, including EC legislation and initiatives to transform consumption and production patterns

Promoting environmentally sustainable enterprises: some policy options

Governments around the world are taking an increasing interest in promoting environmentally-sustainable economic activity. They have developed a variety of policy approaches in an effort to address environmental issues that range from localised pollution incidents to global climate change. This chapter examines the kinds of intervention tools that are being used to improve the environmental performance of SMEs, and to guide entrepreneurial energies towards more environmentally-benign goals. The chapter aims to: (1) outline the main options available to policy-makers; (2) compare specific intervention tools, noting their strengths and limitations; and (3) discuss the case for adopting more holistic approaches to address the pervasive, complex and often deeply-rooted challenges of sustainable development. Key lessons are that policy makers need to select appropriate combinations of tools based on careful reviews of the evidence, and that well-integrated, context-sensitive policies are likely to prove the most effective

Determinants and Specificities of Eco-innovations – An Econometric Analysis for the French and German Industry based on the Community Innovation Survey

Many recent papers deal with exploring and explaining the determinants of eco-innovations for different countries supporting the formulation of efficient policy measures to trigger eco-innovation activities of firms. Unfortunately, there is still a lack of cross-country analyses allowing recognizing “international” stylized facts, but also regional characteristics of eco-innovations. Based on data from the fourth Community Innovation Survey (CIS) for France and Germany, the present paper tries to contribute to fill this gap. Using econometric methods, we are able to detect remarkable similarities between the different determinants of eco-innovation in the two countries. The results confirm the central role of regulation and cost savings as motivations for eco-innovation. Furthermore, eco-innovative activities seem to require more external sources of knowledge and information than innovation in general.Eco-Innovation, Industry, Discrete Choice Models

Towards a Theory and Policy of Eco-Innovation - Neoclassical and (Co-)Evolutionary Perspectives

Innovation processes toward sustainable development (eco-innovations) have received increasing attention during the past years. Since existing theoretical and methodological frameworks do not address these problems adequately, research need can be identified to improve our understanding of innovation processes toward sustainability in their different dimensions, complex feedback mechanisms and interrelations. This paper discusses the potential contribution of neoclassical and (co-)evolutionary approaches from environmental and innovation economics to fill this gap. It is argued that both approaches have their merits and limits concerning a theory and policy of ecoinnovation. Neoclassical methods are most elaborated to analyze the efficiency of incentive systems which seems to be essential for stimulating innovation. Evolutionary approaches are more appropriate for analyzing long-term technological regime shifts. On this theoretical basis, a crucial question is if innovations toward sustainability can be treated like normal innovations or if a specific theory and policy are needed. Three specialties of eco-innovation are identified: the double externality problem, the regulatory push/pull effect and the increasing importance of social and institutional innovation. While the first two of them are widely ignored in innovation economics, the third is at least not elaborated appropriately. The consideration of these specialties may help to overcome market failure by establishing a specific eco-innovation policy and to avoid a "technology bias" by a broader understanding of innovation. Eco-innovation policy requires close coordination with environmental policy in all innovation phases. Environmental and eco-innovation policy can be regarded as complementarily. However, an environmental policy neglecting the potentially beneficial effects of a specific eco-innovation policy (especially in the invention phase) may lead to excessive economic costs. Due to the specialties of eco-innovation, it seems moreover to be crucial to strengthen the importance of social and institutional innovation in both eco-innovation theory and policy. --eco-innovation,innovation theory,co-evolution,double externality,regulatory push/pull effect,social innovation,institutional innovation

Barriers and Incentives to the Adoption of ISO 14001 by Firms in the United States

This paper summarizes four novel advanced antenna concepts explored in the framework of the WINNER+ project. The concepts are related to multiuser MIMO communication in cellular networks, focusing on the acquisition and application of channel state information (CSI) at the transmitter in time-division-duplex (TDD) mode. The concepts include new ideas for CSI modeling and sounding for the purposes of multiuser precoding, and methods for pilot signal design with the aim to support the estimation of different CSI quantities. Furthermore, a new relaying strategy for terminal-to-terminal communication is described. All the ideas are feasible for adoption into practical upcoming communication systems such as LTE-Advanced, and most of the proposed concepts have only a minor impact on standards. Our study indicates that the CSI at its best is not only about estimating the channel responses between different antenna pairs. What counts is the nature of the intended communication link as well as the form in which CSI is applied.QC 20111102</p

Do Government Policies Foster Environmental Performance of Enterprises from CEE Region?

In recent years, EU countries, including these from the Central Eastern European (CEE) region has recognised, that eco-innovation should be treated as strategic priority of their economies. The aim of this paper is to present a cross-country analysis of the connection between eco-innovation and its main drivers within firms from selected CEE countries (Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Romania) and Germany. The empirical part is based on micro-data for Community Innovation Survey (CIS) 2006-2008. Based on the results of stepwise regression between main policy actions sustaining innovation activity and eco-innovation performance we can conclude, that financial support for innovation activities has a rather limited role in promoting eco-innovation. At the same time enterprises from the CEE region regard environmental regulations as the most important drivers of eco-innovation. In Germany, a country ranked in the highest category in the Eco-Innovation Scoreboard, the variety of forces that influence eco-innovation is much more wide-ranging. This indicates that government actions should take a broader look and lay the more general bases fostering the model of a green growth