New Publication: Selecting Policy Instruments for Better Environmental Regulation: a Critique and Future Research Agenda

Selecting Policy Instruments for Better Environmental Regulation: a Critique and Future Research Agenda

1. Christopher Taylor, 
2. Simon Pollard^*, 
3. Sophie Rocks,
4. Andy Angus

Article first published online: 8 MAY 2012

DOI: 10.1002/eet.1584

Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment

Issue

Environmental Policy and Governance

Volume 22, Issue 4, pages 268–292,July/August 2012

ABSTRACT

There is a lack of evidence on regulatory effectiveness available to support policy makers with the selection of appropriate instruments to deliver better environmental regulation. We identify the types of evidence required to enable regulatory reform, characterize evidence gaps, and explore how these may be filled through future research. A typology of regulatory instruments is presented, and evidence of what has worked when and why is examined, drawing on international experience and recent cases from the United Kingdom (UK). Evidence of the capabilities of good environmental regulators for regulatory effectiveness is lacking, and it is proposed that ethnographic research that captures the nuances of regulatory practice will prove necessary to address this. This paper is of value to policy makers and regulators around the world considering the selection and deployment of the full range of environmental regulatory instruments to respond to environmental risks and in support of economic growth. It can inform the selection of suitable approaches and the design of institutions capable of delivering them. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.

For more information: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/eet.1584/abstract

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Chinese Updates: MOU on Environmental Protection Signed by China-Egypt Ministers in Beijing

MOU on Environmental Protection Signed by China-Egypt Ministers in Beijing
2012-08-29

(CNEWS, August 28) With the witness of Chinese President Hu Jintao and Egyptian President Morsi, Chinese MEP Minister Zhou Shengxian and Egyptian Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Ashraf Al-Arabi, on behalf of the environment authorities of the two countries, signed Memorandum of Understanding between Ministry of Environmental Protection of the People’s Republic of China and Ministry of State for Environmental Affairs of the Arab Republic of Egypt on Environmental Protection at the Great Hall of the People today.

Under the framework of the MOU, the areas of bilateral cooperation include waste management and recycling (including solid wastes, agricultural wastes, and hazardous wastes), marine environmental protection and integrated coastal belt management, biodiversity and nature conservation, wastewater management and recycling, development of environmental policies and statistical indicators, environmental protection and climate change, environmental technologies for eco-agriculture, and other agreed areas concerning the protection and improvement of the environment. The signed MOU will further promote the bilateral environmental cooperation and be conductive to facilitating healthy bilateral ties.

Source: http://english.mep.gov.cn/Ministers/Activities/201209/t20120912_236136.htm

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World Water Congress & Exhibition, 16-21 September, Busan Korea

‘2012 IWA World Water Congress & Exhibition’ organized by the International Water Association (IWA) will be held at BEXCO, Busan from 16 to 21 September. Water professionals and scholars will be attending the congress to discuss logical resolutions for the 21^st century’s water issues and to participate in the international business forums with related companies.

IWA was founded in 1999 which have been connecting world’s water professionals, organizations and companies. Over ten thousand individuals and 500 groups are members of the association, participating in the World Water Congress for exchanging information

At this year’s congress, over 7,000 water experts from 130 countries all over the world and national and international water related companies will be gathering, under the slogan ‘Pioneering Global Water Solutions’ and discuss about plans for resolving the world water problem. Main topics include ‘Scientific water treatment and management’. ‘Future city’, ‘Water, climate and energy’ and ‘Water and health’ and various presentation, exhibitions and side events are organized.

At the main events, 113 theses sessions presenting over 400 theses and workshops composed of 90 sessions are prepared for discussions on diverse water management policies and technologies. Also, more than 200 national and international water-related companies such as Veolia Water, Suez Environnement and Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction will promote their companies and technologies, providing opportunities to take a look at the world’s excellent technologies. To support overseas expansion of domestic water industries, export consultation sessions are prepared and ‘Korean cultural show’ will be providing entertainment to the attendees.  

The organizers are expecting the event to be an opportunity for Korea to make a step forward in the water industry field. Water industry of Korea is growing 6.5% per year and is anticipated that one zillion won market will be formed in the year 2025, being one of the main industry for development of the country.

The government also understands the importance of water industry and is preparing strategies for fostering water industry. It is hoped that the event will enhance the interest of related national companies and promote leading technologies to the world.

Schedule of the event is as follows:

Sunday 16 September 2012

16:30 – 18:00 Opening ceremony
18:00 – 19:30 Welcome reception

Monday 17 September 2012

08:15 – 09:45 Congress sessions
10:30 – 12:00 Presidential address and keynote
13:30 – 17:00 Congress sessions
17:15 – 18:00 Keynote plenary
18:00 – 19:30 Poster session
19:00 – 21:00 YWP reception
09:30 – 18:00 Exhibition open

Tuesday 18 September 2012

08:15 – 09:00 Keynote plenary
09:15 – 15:45 Congress sessions
16:15 – 17:00 Keynote plenary
09:30 – 18:00 Exhibition open
17:30 Korean cultural show

Wednesday 19 September 2012

08:15 – 09:00 Keynote plenary
09:15 – 15:45 Congress sessions
16:15 – 17:00 Keynote plenary
09:30 – 18:00 Exhibition open
19:00 IWA Project innovation awards dinner

Thursday 20 September 2012

08:15 – 09:00 Keynote plenary
09:15 – 15:45 Congress sessions
09:30 – 15:00 Exhibition open
16:00 – 17:30 Closing session and Harremoes lecture
19:00 Gala dinner

Friday 21 September 2012

Technical tours

For more information: http://www.iwa2012busan.org/

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S. Korean Updates: MOE takes the lead in national health protection by managing indoor environment of express buses

The Ministry of Environment (MOE) is opening a 「Voluntary Agreement Ceremony」for the improvement of in-bus air quality on September 4, with the Express Bus Lines Association and eight express bus companies to implement pilot project for voluntary air quality management of express buses. The agreement is expected to help protect passengers’ health and provide comfortable service and improve working environment of the drivers by putting effort into establishing voluntary in-bus air quality management system for each express bus company.

Minister of Environment Yoo Young-sook, Chairman of the Express Bus Lines Association and CEOs of the eight express bus companies will be attending the ceremony.

The project is to protect the health of passengers and drivers by ensuring safety against pollutants and maintaining in-bus comfort. It is for the first time to conduct such project for the express buses.

MOE provided Indoor Air Quality Management Guidelines in Public Transportation (‘06.12) to public transportation service companies and manufacturers of public transportation vehicles and have recommended to maintain the in-vehicle air quality at an optimal level.

Past researches on the indoor air qualities of national public transportations showed that the level satisfied the recommended standard in general. However, it was considered that management on CO₂ level of in-use express buses as the level exceeded the standard. To improve CO₂ level of in-use express buses, research project had been conducted with the Korean Society for Indoor Environment and have developed a prototype of handy CO₂ gauge to enable visual checking of in-bus air quality. After the research and the development, MOE provided the 130 prototype gauges to eight express bus companies (‘12.08), based on the number of vehicles, to support establishment of voluntary air quality management system.

During this pilot project, in-bus air quality management data of running vehicle will be automatically sent to the headquarters and made into database. Then the ventilation system will be operated based on the measurement by the real-time CO₂ gauges on the express buses and mange the CO₂ pollution.

Also, survey on passengers’ satisfaction will be conducted and co-organize the manual for management of express bus’ indoor air quality.

MOE is planning to actively solve the daily inconveniences that the citizens feel, through consistent cooperation with the Express Bus Lines Association and express bus companies so that the industry voluntarily protects the health of passengers and manages the indoor environment of buses.

< sensor (on the ceiling)>                                < display (on the driver’s console)>

For more information: http://eng.me.go.kr/board.do?method=view&docSeq=10724&bbsCode=new_news

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Two Degress Celsius Plus Food, 28 September 2012, Hong Kong

CCBF - Two Degrees Celsius Plus Food

Climate change is upon us. Severe droughts in the US, Russia, China, North Korea and South Korea are withering key crops, driving up food prices and in extreme cases leading to localized food shortages. Agriculture is both part of the problem and part of the solution.

Key note speaker Dr. Shenggen Fan, Director General of the International Food Policy Research Institute, will introduce low-carbon solutions that achieve a triple win: mitigation, adaptation and return on investment. A corporate panel of experts from across the food value chain will discuss strategies to meet the challenge of growing food demand in an era of climate change.

Join us to learn how climate change is impacting global food production and what companies are doing to maanage risk and seize opportunities.

Event Details

Date: 28th September 2012 (Friday)

Time: 2.30pm—6.00pm

Venue: HKTDC SME Centre

G/F, Hong Kong Convention &

Exhibition Centre, 1 Expo Drive, Wan Chai

Registration: ccbfevent@bec.org.hk

Admission: Free (RSVP to guarantee your place. Seats are limited.)

Agenda

2.30pm Registration

3.00pm Welcome & Introduction

3.05pm Keynote address

4.00pm Panel Discussion

5.05pm Audience Q&A

5.30pm Close & Networking Drinks

Speakers

Keynote Speaker - Dr. Shenggen Fan, Director General, International Food Policy Research Institute

Mr Cristian Barcan, Regional Head of SET—Applied Sustainability, Americas & Asia

Pacific, BASF Nutrition & Health

Mr Mike Reid,Regional Supply Chain Director, North Asia, Dairy Farm Group

Ms Zoe Knight, Director, Climate Change

Strategy, HSBC Bank plc.

Mr Anthony Dixon,CEO, ASB Biodiesel

For further information please contact Ms. Pua Mench at pua@bec.org.hk or 2784-3956

For more information: http://www.climatechangebusinessforum.com/en-us/events-28092012

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New Book: Global Environmental Commons by Eric Brousseau, Tom Dedeurwaerdere,Pierre-André Jouvet, and Marc Willinger

Global Environmental Commons

Analytical and Political Challenges in Building Governance Mechanisms

Edited by Eric Brousseau, Tom Dedeurwaerdere,Pierre-André Jouvet, and Marc Willinger

464 pages | 6 Figures, 12 Tables, 5 Boxes | 234x156mm

978-0-19-965620-2 | Hardback | 26 July 2012

About the book

An overview of the latest developments in environmental regulation and global governance Surveys key environmental issues and the most recent empirical data Aids understanding of political decisions and their impact Presents research on the new governance challenges Environmental challenges, and the potential solutions to address them, have a direct effect on living standards, the organization of economies, major infrastructures, and modes of urbanization. Since the publication of path-breaking contributions on the governance of environmental resources in the early 1990s, many political initiatives have been taken, numerous governance experiments have been conducted, and a large multi-disciplinary field of research has opened up. This interdisciplinary book takes stock of the knowledge that has accumulated to date, and addresses new challenges in the provision of environmental goods. It focuses on three essential dimensions with respect to governance. First, it addresses the issue of designing governance solutions through analyzing systems of rules, and levels of organization, in the governance and management of environmental issues. Second, it draws renewed attention to the negotiation processes among stakeholders playing a crucial role in reaching agreements over issues and solutions, and in choosing and implementing particular policy instruments. Finally, it shows that compliance depends on a combination of formal rules, enforced by recognized authorities, and informal obligations, such as social and individual norms. The evolution of the research frontiers on environmental governance shows that more legitimate and informed processes of collective decision, and more subtle and effective ways of managing compliance, can contribute to more effective policy. However, this book also illustrates that more democratic and effective governance should rely on more direct and pluralistic forms of involvement of citizens and stakeholders in the collective decision making processes Readership: Academics and researchers interested in environmental policy, climate change, and international relations. Policy-makers in government offices and NGOs working on climate change. For more information: http://ukcatalogue.oup.com/product/9780199656202.do#.UEXd37LiaBo

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