Energy & Environment
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Calculating the Health Benefits of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative
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The implementation of a carbon cap and trade program is often put forward by policy makers as a potential market-based solution to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) in the United States. Instead of waiting on the federal government, in 2009, several Northeastern states initiated their own cap and trade program…
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Projecting the Economic Implications of Carbon Pricing in China
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As one of the largest greenhouse gas emitters, China has recently been increasing its efforts to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, which is the largest contributor to climate change. One of China’s goals, as set in last year’s Paris Agreement, was to cut emissions by 60 to 65 percent per unit…
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Electricity in Transition: Renewables in Developing Countries
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The energy sector is undergoing a major transformation, becoming more decentralized and more interactive than ever before. Growing numbers of independent renewable generators are changing consumer behavior and posing challenges for current utilities. Renewable energy micro-grids—localized, discrete renewable energy power generation systems, independent from traditional grids—have been widely praised for…
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The Financial Impact of Natural Disasters: Beyond Disaster Aid
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Recent wildfires in California and catastrophic flooding in Louisiana have drawn public attention to natural disasters across the United States. Yet little is known about the total financial impact of extreme weather events, particularly on non-disaster social programs. Considering that the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events is expected…
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The Future of Conservation in the Amazon Rainforest
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You have been involved in environmental research and deforestation issues in the Amazon from the earliest stages of interest in this area. What was that like? The Amazon appeared on the radar screen about 25 to 30 years ago as something that Brazilians needed to understand and wanted to learn…
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Shaky Ground: How the Disposal of Wastewater from Oil Production Increases the Risk of Earthquakes in Oklahoma
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Since the early 2000s, there has been an increase in the number of earthquakes observed near oil and gas exploration and production sites in the US, particularly in states such as Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Texas. Until recently, details of the relationship between exploration techniques and the observed increase in seismic…
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A Collaborative Approach to Urban Economic Development
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After decades of declining economic conditions and a mass population exodus from its urban center, St. Louis responded by forming a regional economic development system. Developed in early 2016, InveSTL is a unique collaboration among local community development organizations that aims to provide a coordinated, regional approach to fostering economic…
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Understanding Uncertainty: How to Improve Communication Around Climate Change Evidence
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Although the majority of the scientific community agrees that Earth’s climate is warming, there is still considerable public debate about whether or not climate change is happening and how serious the government’s response should be. Indeed, a recent report from Yale University finds that only 47 percent of conservative Republicans…
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Paying Too Much for Energy? The True Costs of Our Energy Choices
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With less than five percent of the world’s population, the United States consumes about one-fifth (21 percent) of the world’s energy. In a working paper for The Hamilton Project published in 2012, Greenstone and Looney find that the true social cost (private costs on energy bills plus external costs) of energy…
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Saving the Forests and Reducing Poverty: Too Good to Be True?
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A program evaluation of Mexico’s PSAH shows the program’s effectiveness in achieving its environmental goals, but the same does not apply to achieving expected socioeconomic results.
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Beyond the Fork: A Conversation with JoAnne Berkenkamp on the Future of Food Waste
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The growing interest surrounding how our food is produced and distributed has placed increased scrutiny on what happens ‘when we are done with it.’ The key to reducing food waste is to realize that we are all stakeholders from farm to fork, and beyond.