As the world economy slowly recovers from one of the longest and most severe global slowdowns in history, there has been growing interest in how fluctuations in economic activity interact with climate change policy. Of particular interest is how carbon pricing instruments, such as emissions trading systems and carbon taxes, are designed and operate. This policy brief analyses the relevant empirical evidence and theoretical research on how carbon pricing instruments function in recessions and booms.
This paper proposes a simple index of economic progress that weighs in the monetary cost induced by climate change mitigation policies as well as the health benefits arising from the reduction in local air pollution. The shadow price of pollution is calculated indirectly through its impact on life expectancy. Taking into account the health benefits of mitigation policies significantly reduces their monetary cost in China and India, as well as in countries with large fossil-based energy-producing sectors (Australia, Canada and the United States).
This handbook describes in detail how trade can affect the environment, for better and for worse, and how environmental concern can work through the trading system to foster or frustrate development, in both rich and poor countries. It is aimed mainly at those with some knowledge about trade, environment or development, but who are not expert on the intersection of the three. It aims to serve as a practical reference tool for policy-makers and practitioners, and be equally useful to the media and civil society.
This paper, produced through the New Climate Economy Cities Research Programme, focuses on one central aspect of urban development: transport and urban form and how the two shape the provision of access to people, goods and services, and information in cities. The more efficient this access, the greater the economic benefits through economies of scale, agglomeration effects and networking advantages. This paper discusses how different urban accessibility pathways impact directly on other measures of human development and environmental sustainability. It also presents the enabling conditions for increasing accessibility and low-carbon mobility in cities.
This paper, produced through the New Climate Economy Cities Research Programme, identifies three groups of cities that will be particularly important for the global economy and climate: Emerging Cities, Global Megacities and Mature Cities. When combined, these 468 cities are projected to contribute over 60 per cent of global GDP growth and over half of global energyrelated emissions growth between 2012 and 2030 under business as usual. Furthermore, this paper reviews the contribution of small urban areas to economic growth and carbon emissions. Finally, this paper explores the potential of the 3C model to maximise the benefits of urban growth while minimising the costs in emerging cities, global megacities and mature cities, and reviews examples of cities where elements of the model have already been implemented.