Environmental economic impact assessment in China: Problems and prospects

The use of economic valuation methods to assess environmental impacts of projects and policies has grown considerably in recent years. However, environmental valuation appears to have developed independently of regulations and practice of environmental impact assessment (EIA), despite its potential benefits to the EIA process. Environmental valuation may be useful in judging significance of impacts, determining mitigation level, comparing alternatives and generally enabling a more objective analysis of tradeoffs. In China, laws and regulations require the use of environmental valuation in EIA, but current practice lags far behind. This paper assesses the problems and prospects of introducing environmental valuation into the EIA process in China. We conduct four case studies of environmental economic impact assessment (EEIA), three of which are based on environmental impact statements of construction projects (a power plant, a wastewater treatment plant and a road construction project) and one for a regional pollution problem (wastewater irrigation). The paper demonstrates the potential usefulness of environmental valuation but also discusses several challenges to the introduction and wider use of EEIA, many of which are likely to be of relevance far beyond the Chinese context. The paper closes with suggesting some initial core elements of an EEIA guidelineEnvironmental impact assessment; Environmental valuation; China; Economic analysis

Environmental economic impact assessment in China: Problems and prospects

The use of economic valuation methods to assess environmental impacts of projects and policies has grown considerably in recent years. However, environmental valuation appears to have developed independently of regulations and practice of environmental impact assessment (EIA), despite its potential benefits to the EIA process. Environmental valuation may be useful in judging significance of impacts, determining mitigation level, comparing alternatives and generally enabling a more objective analysis of tradeoffs. In China, laws and regulations require the use of environmental valuation in EIA, but current practice lags far behind. This paper assesses the problems and prospects of introducing environmental valuation into the EIA process in China. We conduct four case studies of environmental economic impact assessment (EEIA), three of which are based on environmental impact statements of construction projects (a power plant, a wastewater treatment plant and a road construction project) and one for a regional pollution problem (wastewater irrigation). The paper demonstrates the potential usefulness of environmental valuation but also discusses several challenges to the introduction and wider use of EEIA, many of which are likely to be of relevance far beyond the Chinese context. The paper closes with suggesting some initial core elements of an EEIA guidelin

Exploiting International Financial Markets to Manage Natural Hazard Risks in Latin America

This technical paper analyzes the potential practical application of financial instruments for natural hazard risk finance and transfer in Latin America. The study first presents an overview of the role of financing and risk transfer in disaster risk management. It then investigates the sources of natural hazard risk and presents use of financial instruments for managing risk for the cases of Chile, El Salvador and Peru. The document also discusses the role donors and multilateral development banks should have in supporting disaster risk financing in the region. This paper was discussed at a Disaster Risk Finance Seminar held at the IDB in Washington, DC on September 9, 2004

Aprovechamiento de los mercados financieros internacionales para gestionar el riesgo de amenazas naturales en América Latina

El presente informe técnico analiza la potencial aplicación práctica de los instrumentos financieros diseñados para el financiamiento y la transferencia del riesgo de las amenazas naturales en América Latina. En primer lugar, se presenta, en términos generales, el papel del financiamiento y de la transferencia de los riesgos en la gestión del riesgo de desastres. Luego se analiza las fuentes del riesgo de amenazas naturales y la utilización de instrumentos financieros para la gestión del riesgo en los casos de Chile, El Salvador y Perú. También se indica la función que los donantes y los bancos multilaterales de desarrollo deberían tener en cuanto a apoyar el financiamiento del riesgo de desastres en la región

World Bank appraisal mission to Mexico The GEF - ILUMEX Project

These two reports (R1994-07 & R1994-08) were written for the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs as part of our participation in the World Bank Appraisal Missions to initiate two practical demonstration projects for possible future Joint Implementation projects. The papers give a background and description of the projects which have been considered and approved by the GEF participants meeting. They present the objectives of the projects and that of Norwegian cofinancing and discuss various elements like the costs and financing, the national and international benefits, the baseline scenarios, the incremental costs calculations, project sustainability and aspects of monitoring and verification of effects. The papers are not discussing the issue of crediting for future Joint Implementation projects

Individual Financial Guarantee for Future Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment

Waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) has increased dramatically over recent years within the European Economic Area (EEA). Much of this waste is potentially damaging for humans and the environment if not collected and treated in a sound manner. EU-directive 2002/96, which was to be implemented by all EEA member states by August 13, 2005, places full financial responsibility of the management of WEEE on producers and importers, and aims to protect consumers from the risk that a producer exits on the market without fulfilling these financial obligations. The directive calls for a financial guarantee provided by producers at the time that electrical and electronic products are placed on the market.The Nordic Council of Ministers has asked ECON to develop a method for calculating producer contributions as a financial guarantee that would cover the collection and treatment of WEEE from private households, as provided for in article 8 in the EU directive. This report proposes a model for this purpose

Greening the economy: Nordic experiences and challenges

After the recent financial and economic crisis, greening the economy has become a major focus for international and national discussions:  How to combine forceful and effective action to meet climate change and other environmental challenges with stronger and more sustainable economic development, in both developed and developing countries. This synthesis report on the Nordic countries' environmental policy experiences, focuses on the use of economic instruments and how this policy has contributed to the integration of environmental concerns into economic growth and development policies. The report demonstrates that the Nordic countries have been successful in achieving substantial reductions in several major pollutants and clear improvements in local and regional environmental quality, while maintaining an internationally respectable rate of economic growth. This decoupling of economic development from growth in emissions has been achieved through a range of policy instruments, with a strong and increasing element of economic, market-based instruments. The challenge, and the opportunity, for the Nordic countries is to strengthen and deepen such policies, with even more effective design of and combination of policy instruments, to deal with new and remaining threats to the local, national and international environment. The study was carried out by Vista Analyse AS and commissioned by the Nordic Council of Ministers for the Environment

Miljøskadelige subsidier

Klimaforhandlingene fokuserer i første rekke på å få til kvotesystemer eller avgifter som ideelt sett sikrer globalt effektive utslippreduksjoner. Samtidig bevilges omfattende subsidier til forbruk av fossil energi rundt omkring i verden, primært for å støtte lavinntektsgrupper og næringer. Beregninger antyder at utfasing av subsidier til fossil energiforbruk ville redusert de globale CO2-utslippene med 6 prosent. En naturlig rekkefølge vil være først å fjerne subsidiene, og deretter øke prisene på fossil energi ytterligere gjennom avgifter. Dette er en problemstilling som kan fortjene større fokus i klimapolitikken