International Society for Ecological Economics July 2007
Topics of Importance
> China
> Howarth — New Journal Editor
> Regional News
> Feature Articles Visit us online at www.ecoeco.org > Jobs / Publications / Conferences of Interest
“We are all in the same boat” – an ISEE leadership mission to China by Peter May ISEE President Elect The motto of Tongji University, whose strong ties with Germany. The forum was Inside this issue: name literally means “we are all in the organized by ISEE member and Tongji same boat, and must work together to Professor Zhu Dajian, who directs the A Message from The 2 reach common goals”, describes the University’s Research Center of President harvest of ISEE leaders’ mission to Sustainable Development and China in May 2007. ISEE President Joan Governance, with support from UNEP Yasuni in Equador 4 Martinez-Alier, President-Elect Peter and Bayer Corp. The Forum’s principal Living standards, economic 6 May and the society’s founder and first themes included institutional and growth and environmental President, Robert Costanza as well as technical innovation as means of pressure ISEE member Robert Ayres, participated achieving human development with in a series of events and meetings in minimal environmental damage, with a The Misguided European 11 Shanghai and Beijing with a view to build particular emphasis on China’s role in Policy on Biofuels institutional collaboration. meeting this challenge. Creating a Policy of Well- 12 being In Shanghai, at the invitation of Tongji On conclusion of the Forum, ISEE University President Wan Gang (recently leaders and Professor Zhu delineated a Member News 13 named Minister of Science and series of potential collaborative ventures, Regional News 14 Technology of China), they took part in including the following highlights: an “Innovation for Sustainable Jobs, Appointments, 17 Conferences Development Forum” – part of the • A joint publication series involving university’s centennial celebration (see translation of key texts in ecological Publications 19 http://www.cxykcxfz.com/index.htm for economics into Chinese (along the lines details). Tongji University – now a major of Herman Daly’s Beyond Growth, which technology center with over 50,000 has a Chinese edition); students – was founded in 1907 by Efforts to facilitate participation by German educators and maintains its • Chinese researchers in the upcoming
(Continued on Page 3)
Howarth named Editor of Ecological Economics
The Board of ISEE (and also the Below, Howarth who is a former student presidents of Regional Societies) agreed of Richard Norgaard, and who has some time ago with Elsevier that the next contributed many articles to the Journal, Don’t miss an issue of Eco- editor of the journal Ecological expresses his own views in anticipation logical Economics. Sub- Economics would be Richard Howarth. of becoming the new editor in January scribe to this prestigious The editor must rotate after some years 2008. Journal when you according to our agreement with Elsevier. Cutler Cleveland has been a very good See his comments on Page 3 Join or Renew the ISEE editor, as Richard Howarth will be. Today!
Page 2
A Message From the President Joan Martinez-Alier In the last six months, the Board of the is, in my view, our most important product. society, in consultation with the presidents Howarth has written a short statement for of the regional societies, has taken two this issue of the Newsletter. important decisions.
r Ecological Economicsr Ecological Another important decision has been to First, to hold the 10th Biennial Conference announce the Nicholas Georgescu-Roegen of the ISEE in Nairobi, between the 7th and prize, to be given to a young scholar in 11th August 2008. This will be organized by ecological economics or a related field. ISEE together with the African Society for Applications must be submitted before Ecological Economics (whose president is January 1st, 2008. Kevin Urama), with help from UNEP, the United Nations Environmental Programme. Peter May has written a report on the trip to Peter May, who will be president of the Shanghai and Beijing by himself, Robert
International Society fo ISEE in 2008 and 2009, will chair our 10th Ayres, Bob Costanza, and myself in May Biennial Conference , and has already 07, on our own capacity as speakers at begun work with Kevin and colleagues at different venues but also representing the UNEP to organize the event. The ISEE in our attempts to link up with composition of the scientific committee, the Chinese ecological economists. plenary speakers, the guidelines for paper submissions and the time table, the titles of In this Newsletter we have included some the workshops and the main symposia, will comments on current issues, such as the be made public some time in September or debate on biofuels in Europe, and the October 2007. In Nairobi we shall be able proposal from Ecuador to “sell” oil deposits to rely upon the most valuable practical and in the Yasuni National Park to prevent their scientific support of Achim Steiner, the exploitation, thus avoiding local and global executive director of UNEP, Anantha environmental costs. The Newsletter and Duraiappah, and other local experts, to our webpage must become a vehicle for whom we express our gratitude in advance. some current debates in ecological economics, not least on la décroissance Second, the publisher Elsevier thought that soutenable, i.e. how economic ungrowth or the time had come when, according to degrowth in the rich countries could ISEE President, previous agreements, the editorship of the become socially and politically sustainable. Joan Martinez-Alier journal Ecological Economics should rotate. This is the official journal of our society. Its We have also included reports by insiders founder and first editor was Bob Costanza. or outsiders on some of the meetings of Its editor for the last few years has been the regional societies. and still is Cutler Cleveland, who has also been the editor of the well known Meanwhile, the ISEE Electoral College has Enyclopedia of Energy. Cutler Cleveland now identified a slate of candidates for both has written many important articles and President Elect and the ISEE Board books on ecological economics since the according to the statutes. The nominees 1980s, and has directed a programme in are currently being approached to secure this field at Boston University. The journal their agreement to stand, along with has grown under his competent editorship. statements of their hopes for the society. The time has come for a change, and we The candidates will be announced by the suggested to Elsevier that the new editor in end of September 07, and members will be chief should be R. B. Howarth, from invited to vote by email in October. Dartmouth College, who twenty years ago was a student of R.B. Norgaard at Members who have forgotten to renew their Berkeley. Howarth is known to many of you membership for 2007, may still make it. because of his writings in the journal and There is also the possibility to join or renew elsewhere, and because of his active for three years at one go. presence at ecological economics conferences. He will take up the job at the beginning of 2008. We wish him great success. The journal Ecological Economics
Page 3
From the desk of Richard Howarth — Editor of Ecological Economics 2008 Dear Fellow ISEE Members, Economics is a matter of great importance It will be an exciting challenge to succeed to ISEE members. Cutler Cleveland as the third Editor-in- Chief of Ecological Economics effective One critical factor that supports a January 1, 2008. The first issue of the journal's operations is the effectiveness of journal appeared in 1989 under Bob its Managing Editor. I am pleased to say Costanza, who served as editor until Cutler that Anne Carter, who has served took charge in the fall of 2002. My admirably under Cutler, plans to remain predecessors have created a forum that is on-the-job in this role. I have worked with both highly visible to and well-regarded by Anne as an author, a referee, and the researchers in ecological economics and editor of a forthcoming special issue. closely-related fields. Our professional Anne's service to the journal is truly community is deeply indebted to both Bob admirable, and I look forward to working and Cutler for their outstanding and lasting with her more closely. contributions. I am mindful of the fact that I have big shoes to fill and that the As a field, ecological economics is rich and continued success of Ecological diverse. Our subject is unified by a
(Continued on Page 6)
China (Continued from Page 1) ISEE biennial conference in Tongji University as a 4-year term; its most recent Nairobi, for which Zhu repository for innovation in conference was held in would be invited to proffer a ecological economics in October 2006. A 2008 keynote address, focused China. conference is planned to on scenarios for the take place in Nanjing. The Chinese economy; ISEE was represented at current President, • Strengthening of the 2007 Elsevier Professor Teng Teng, is ecological economics EcoSummit in Beijing by Director of the Sustainable training at Tongji University, Robert Costanza and Peter Development Research ISEE President Joan through development of an May, both of whom Center of the Chinese Martinez-Alier speaks intensive summer school participated in a symposium Academy of Social about societal metabolism program to be offered by on agriculture and Sciences and Professor of at the Tongji University faculty members affiliated biodiversity in the Tsinghwa University. CSEE Forum on Innovation for productive landscape. After is administered by its Sustainable with ISEE; and Continued joint participation the symposium, leaders of General Secretary Li Zhou, Development, Shanghai in symposia on special the Chinese Society for Deputy Director of the Rural topics such as the role of Ecological Economics Development Institute of the “BRICS” countries in (CSEE) joined the ISEE the Chinese Academy of surmounting the potential leadership in a frank Social Sciences. The contradictions of discussion of means to society has a provincial and sustainable development bring the two societies thematic governance and rapid economic growth. closer together. structure. A regular quarterly English language The partnership would CSEE was founded in the journal entitled Ecological Robert Ayres offers his ensure the basis for greater 1984 to reflect on Economy was reinstated in views on innovation for interchange between challenges that face China 2005, with an editorial staff sustainability at the researchers and students in in its efforts to industrialize based at Sichuan University Shanghai Forum at Tongji the area, provide for shared and manage scarce natural under the leadership of University web links with allied resources. CSEE – which Zeng Shaolun. Professor research centers, and boasts a total membership Zeng was kind enough to assure continued capacity- of some 4,000 persons – invite us to visit the building of the institute at meets biennially and elects journal’s base in Sichuan, its governing council for a
(Continued on Page 7)
Page 4
YASUNI IN ECUADOR – LEAVE THE OIL IN THE GROUND by Joan Martinez Alier / Leah Temper (UAB, Barcelona) Alberto Acosta, the Minister of Energy shipping costs (over the Andes with the and Mines of Ecuador between January pipeline), the costs of deforestation and and June 2007, is a well-established loss of biodiversity, the costs of waster economist in his country and was an pollution and also air pollution (because influential force in the electoral triumph of of gas flaring), plus the costs of illness President Rafael Correa at the end of and loss of human cultures. These are 2006. His academic training was in the local costs avoided. Moreover, there is a University of Cologne and his political global avoided cost – that of the carbon leanings are close to German social dioxide which is not produced. For some democracy. He has worked in the oil time, activists in organizations such as industry and for a long time also in ILDIS, Accion Ecologica and Oilwatch, from the headquarters of the Friedrich Ebert Ecuador, Nigeria and other oil exporting foundation in Quito. He has advocated countries, have argued that petroleum International Society for Ecological Economics the reintroduction of Ecuador in the that is not extracted reduces the OPEP, although as a minor partner. production of carbon dioxide that goes to the atmosphere. Thus, they argue, every Acosta is now a candidate for the untapped well deserves some Constitutional Assembly leading the list recognition and even compensation. for Correa’s party. As minister, he launched a novel proposal without As the initiative’s website states, “The precedent in the politics of oil — not to North should compensate the South not drill the one billion barrels of heavy oil of only as a means of paying off its the ITT (Ishpingo, Tambococha, Tiputini) historical environmental debt, but above reserves in the Yasuni National Park in all to prevent the creation of even more Why has it taken the Ecuadorian Amazon. The territory, debt, and in this case, to prevent the perhaps the most ecologically diverse extraction of crude oil that will further so long for the piece of real estate on the planet, is also exacerbate climate change when it is home to the indigenous Huoarani, and to consumed in the North…The solution to world to take note three last remaining indigenous groups climate change must address not only of the enhanced living in voluntary isolation in the region. the prevailing energy model, but also the All these combine to make Yasuni a prevailing economic model.” greenhouse quite inappropriate place upon which to foist the devastation that accompanies Is this some crazy pipe dream? Not effect? petroleum exploration and extraction. necessarily. One must take into account According to the government’s plan, the the great symbolic value of this proposal, proposed moratorium will be possible if in the wake of the realization of global the countries of the North, be they warming and its effects in the global creditors of Ecuador’s large external debt consciousness, sparked by the film of Al or not, and the international banks and Gore… One might ask, why has it taken wealthy environmental organizations so long for the world to take note of the such as WWF or Nature Conservancy, enhanced greenhouse effect? Which aided by a citizen movement, help come political and economic interests have up with 50% of the financial profits held back the debate since the time of Ecuador would get by exploiting the Tyndall and Arrhenius over one one reserves in the next ten years. hundred years ago? But such questions are superfluous now — the naysayers Now, however, the real opportunity cost have been defeated and the awareness of not drilling is the economic value of of climate change is now universal. the oil, minus the cost of extraction and transport and minus the costs of the local The oil stays in the ground. It is a and global externalities produced. moratorium, with no fixed expiration date. If one day, there comes to be an By leaving the oil in the ground, the costs environmentally perfect method to avoided are the extraction costs, the extract and consume the petroleum
Page 5
LEAVE THE OIL IN THE GROUND extract and consume the petroleum disaster. This court case may be first (without deforestation, without the loss of where the real local costs of oil extraction, culture and human life, without the such as loss of biodiversity, cancer deaths, pollution of the water and the air, without etc…) are calculated in monetary values. the production of carbon dioxide), then the oil could be drilled. To these we could also add the global damages of the production of greenhouse This proposal offers a concrete opportunity gases. There are huge unpaid to the Northern countries to live up to all environmental liabilities in our current the rhetoric they spout about sustainability economy. and to recognize and support a struggling Amazonian country in its quest to conserve On the wall of the city hall of Quito lies a a region of priceless biodiversity. If the plaque commemorating Orellana’s journey international community responds, it will to the Amazon as the European help sow an example of a new conception “discoverer” of a territory already inhabited of development — one that is not based on by other humans. If only one day, another the voracious consumption and destruction plaque would commemorate that in Quito a of our shared global heritage on earth. It is new policy regarding the Amazon and its a mistake to only calculate the windfall original inhabitants began in 2007. The from oil exports as income and not to take current government of Ecuador, a into account the lost value of a forest such government of professors, has the as Yasuni. opportunity to be remembered as leaders of a shift from a predatory economy to an Also in Ecuador, the court case begun in ecological economy. The political decision 1993 continues against Texaco (and to redefine the future of the Amazon is a Chevron which purchased Texaco), for the valiant act that deserves an equal damages wreaked by oil extraction since response on the part of the international 1970 in the Amazonian region of community. Sucumbios. Since oil drilling began, the area has been contaminated with more crude than that spilled by the Exxon Valdez
Page 6
Howarth — New Journal Editor — 2008 (Continued from Page 3) common emphasis on understanding and helps open up new ways of understanding managing the interplay between economic the world. The journal's role is to foster systems and the natural environment. Both debate, discussion, and the advancement ecology and economics play key roles in of our shared enterprise by creating a r Ecological Economicsr Ecological both scientific research and real-world space where a variety of ideas can find applications. But disciplines such as expression. environmental ethics, political ecology, decision science, and industrial ecology (to I would welcome your comments and give just four examples) also have much to thoughts regarding the journal's operations contribute. and future potential. And most especially, I am grateful for the opportunity to serve the Richard B. Howarth As Editor-in-Chief, I will strive to maintain ISEE community in this new role. and enhance Ecological Economics' International Society fo pluralistic and transdisciplinary identity. Richard B. Howarth One guiding principle is that papers will be Pat and John Rosenwald Professor in Arts reviewed based on their scientific merit and Sciences Dartmouth with a continued emphasis on scholarly College Hanover, New Hampshire, USA rigor. A second principle is that our journal [email protected] should be open and inclusive. Ecological economists disagree on many points, and that disagreement is a healthy fact that
Living standards, economic growth and environmental pressure by Dr Steve Hatfield-Dodds, President of the Australia New Zealand Society for Ecological Economics. Economic growth is one of the hallmarks of modern soci- ployment, unemployment and inflation (with knock on ef- ety. The relationship between economic growth and envi- fects on wages, interest rates, house prices and other ronmental pressure is, however, poorly understood. Atti- things), and so are regularly reported in the press. tudes towards growth often reflect one’s basic position on environmental matters. On one hand, the optimists argue Changes in these variables – particularly unemployment – that growth is good – raising living standards and providing have real social consequences. GDP is not, however, a both the motivation (due to rising incomes) and the means measure of wellbeing because it simply adds up all eco- (through additional resources) to repair any environmental nomic activity on the basis of market prices, and is not ad- damage that may occur along the way. On the other hand, justed for non-market impacts or changes in the value of many concerned about environmental issues believe that economic assets (including the consumption of natural economic growth necessarily involves increased resource resources). This means, for example, that production of an use and environmental pressure, and – ultimately – may expensive diamond necklace may make ten times more undermine the ecosystems that underpin human life and contribution to GDP than a life saving medical operation or wellbeing. the provision of food for a year for a low income family. Ecological systems are complex and respond to distur- In fact, appropriate government policies could achieve re- bances in ways that are difficult to predict. Social and eco- ductions in environmental pressure along with continuing nomic systems are also complex, and are using resources economic growth and improvements in living standards. at exponentially increasing rates. The resultant biophysical But the development and adoption of such policies cannot and socioeconomic uncertainties interact. be taken for granted as the outcome of some natural social process, or the market’s invisible hand. Indeed, most indi- It is clear that the adaptability and resource flows from en- cators of environmental pressure are rising steadily in Aus- vironmental systems are not infinite – whether at the level tralia, and while there are some signs that attitudes are of an organism, a local region, or the biosphere as a whole. shifting, achieving sustainability will require much more This implies that the capacity of these systems to regener- significant changes in attitudes and policies than those that ate and self organise in the face of increasing resource have occurred over recent decades. extraction and waste disposal must also have limits. Social and economic management practices, however, tend to Economic growth and environmental pressure focus on maintaining key variables (such as crop yields or Economic growth is defined as an increase in the monetary company profits) within a desired target range, without fully value of economic activity in a nation or region, and is usu- understanding wider system impacts or potential threshold ally measured by Gross Domestic Product, or GDP. Short effects. Actions leading to undesirable or catastrophic out- term changes in GDP have important implications for em- comes – such as famine (due to a loss of crop diversity) or
(Continued on Page 8)
Page 7
China (Continued from Page 3) but unfortunately our travel plans did not editions, sponsored by the Chinese Society permit on this occasion. CSEE also for Sustainable Development at Shandong publishes a journal on the rural economy Normal University (administrative center for as well as a newsletter. China’s Agenda 21 process), with the support of The EU-China Environmental ISEE officers made clear the interest and Management Cooperation Program potential advantages of closer relations, (EMCP). The quarterly Journal (ISSN1004- emphasizing that a number of Chinese 2849, CN37-1202/N) resumed publication scholars are already members of ISEE, formally in 2004. Those interested may while Chinese scholars have begun to submit inquiries to the Editors Dr. Wen regularly publish articles in Ecological Wujun and Mr. Liu Wenzheng at Economics. CSEE was invited to [email protected] or visit the journal’s participate in the upcoming 2008 website at http://www.cjpre.cn. conference in Nairobi. Although interest exists, CSEE officers deferred the decision During the Beijing EcoSummit, we were regarding creation of a regional society of also contacted by Indonesian scholars ISEE to its general council. interested in the potential of creating a regional society. We will keep the Another useful contact was established membership posted regularly on with editors of the Chinese Journal of developments in establishment of regional Population, Resources and Environment societies. that appears in both English and Chinese
Tongji University guides and their charges on their tour of downtown Shanghai
ISEE Founder Bob Costanza, Host Zhu Dajian and ISEE President-Elect Peter May President-Elect Peter May at Peter May and Walter Stahel at presents his review of the th Tongji University 100 the Tongji University forum BRICS’ role in innovation for Anniversary celebration, sustainable development at Shanghai Tongji University, Shanghai
Page 8
Living standards (Continued from Page 6) the collapse of major fishery (due to overfishing) – are often mental pressure is a function of the sensitivity of the envi- only identified in hindsight. ronment – the OECD ‘pressure-state-response framework explores this in more detail.) The environmental pressure This underlying connection between economic activity and associated with a given value of economic activity will vary environmental pressure is reflected in Paul and Anne Ehr- with the mix of goods and services produced, the relative r Ecological Economicsr Ecological lich’s well known I = P*A*T equation, which defines environ- size of different sectors (such as mining, manufacturing, mental pressure (referred to as impact, I) as a function of banking and so on), and the physical details of how eco- population (P), affluence or consumption levels (A), and nomic activities are conducted. These physical aspects technology (T). This implies that increases in population or include the extent and nature of ecosystem changes associ- affluence (measured by GDP per person) will increase envi- ated with land management and renewable resource ex- ronmental impact unless this effect is more than offset by traction, quantities of non-renewable resources extracted, technological change. how materials are transformed, and patterns of waste dis- posal. The bottom line is that ‘technology’ needs to be in- While Ehrlich’s main focus was on population and global terpreted very broadly indeed – including ‘soft’ factors such ‘carrying capacity’, the I=PAT formula implies that under- as management practices within firms and on farms, social International Society fo standing what ‘technology’ means is the key to understand- and cultural norms influencing consumption patterns, politi- ing the relationship between economic activity (= P*A) and cal systems and policy incentives, and the distribution of environmental pressure. (For the purpose of this fact sheet income and power, as well as tools and machines and other we will simply note that the impact of a specific environ- ‘hard’ technologies. Looking back: Australian environmental pressure over the last 50 years Figure 1 reports six indicators of environmental pressure for Australia: total material use, renewable re- source material use, greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels, land disturbance, land degradation, and fresh water use. (Ideally the figure would also report biodiversity impacts, but this is more difficult to meas- ure). All six environmental pressure indicators have risen significantly over the last fifty years. The three indicators associated with drawing down natural capi- Figure 1 Indicators of Australian environmental tal (fossil fuels emissions, total material pressure, 1951-2001 use, and land degradation) increase three- fold to five-fold over the last 50 years. The three indicators linked to resource flows (water use, agricultural production, and 400
intensive land use) increase less than two- CO2 emssions fold, ranging from around 50 to 175 per- Material flows, total 300 Material flows, renewable cent over fifty years. Land degradation Analysis of the relationship between these Intensive land use Water use pressure indicators, economic growth, and 200 the structure of the economy suggests that environmental intensity (or pressure per dollar) of the first three indicators has re- 100 mained roughly constant over this period, and so these environmental pressures have increased in line with economic 0 growth. (Emissions intensity increased 1951 1961 1971 1981 1991 2001 25% by the mid 1970s, and has trended down since.) This contrasts with the second group of indicators, Stocks and Flows Framework, CSIRO where environmental intensity of has decreased over time. This has moderated these environmental pressures per dollar of economic activity, but total pressure has still increased with economic growth. (Continued on Page 9)
Page 9
Living standards (Continued(Continued from from Page Page 8) 8)
What is required to achieve responsive environmental policy? must want to do something – that is, the expected results of It is sometimes argued that rising incomes result in improved the policy change must be considered valuable by those environmental quality, as more basic needs for food and shel- making the decision. ter are satisfied and people put more weight on environ- mental outcomes. This argument is often illustrated by the These conditions are met quite easily in the case of urban air example of urban air quality, which tends to deteriorate in the pollution: impacts are local, visible, well understood and eas- early phases of industrialisation and then improve as econo- ily reversed. Perhaps most importantly, impacts are concen- mies mature. trated and felt by the people who cause the problem, rather than being diffuse or imposed on people far away in time or The apparent harmony between economic and environmental space. This combination of factors may be contrasted with goals in the urban air quality example is, however, the result many of our more serious global environmental problems. In of particular physical and social circumstances, which do not climate change, for example, a clear scientific understanding apply to many important environmental problems. At its most of climate change processes has only been recently estab- general, the development of constructive environmental pol- lished, desired technologies are not yet fully available, and icy responses requires three things. First, the underlying we are yet to reach a sufficient global consensus that we causes of environmental damage must be well understood. really want to act. The situation is even more difficult for the Second, technologies or resource management practices protection of global ecosystems and biodiversity – and the involving lower impacts must be available. Third, people numerous services they provide to people – as documented
Looking forward: The economic impacts of achieving deep cuts in greenhouse emissions The potential to reconcile economic growth with sustainability is best illustrated by recent modelling of the economic impacts of deep cuts in emissions. Figures 2 and 3 show projections for Australian economic growth (adjusted for inflation), total energy use, and greenhouse gas emissions with and without deep cuts in emissions over the next 45 years. In a nutshell, policy action results in a radical ‘decarbonising’ of the economy, with emissions falling 60% by 2050 with policy action, rather than rising around 75% without policy action. Energy use flattens out (falling in per person terms), rather than rising 50%. Yet average income rises 80% above inflation with policy action, despite these massive physical changes. (This is less than the 90% increase in incomes forecast without action, reflecting the large additional investments required to reduce the emis- sions intensity of energy.) Energy prices rise less than income, and so affordability of energy is projected to improve slightly. These results are broadly consistent with those from similar studies for other countries and the world as a whole.
Figure 2 No policy action to reduce Figure 3 Early action to reduce emis- emissions (business as usual ) sions 60% by 2050
Index Index Early action to reduce emissions (2005=100) No further action ('business as usual') (2005=100) Source: Data 300 300 from The GDP (+184%) GDP (+169%) Business Case Energy use (+55%) 250 Energy use (+119%) 250 for Early Action, GHG emissions (-62%) GHG emissions (+80%) Australian 200 200 Business Roundtable on 150 150 Climate Change (2006) 100 100
50 50
0 0 2000 2010 2020 2030 2040 2050 2000 2010 2020 2030 2040 2050
This suggests radically reducing emissions is consistent with significant improvements in living standards; decoupling growth and environmental pressure. Future lifestyles would look very different with and without this decoupling, but low emissions production technologies and rising energy efficiency would be likely to result in improved energy and transport services rela- tive to today. In the language of the previous discussion, the introduction of emissions trading is a ‘social technology’ that results in uptake of a very different set of ‘production technologies’, so that economic growth is associated with a significant reduction in climate change related environmental pressure.
(Continued on Page 10
Page 10
Living standards (Continued from Page 9)
The role of values only work for resources with well defined ownership and con- A final argument is that achieving sustainability will require ‘a trol – such as privately owned minerals – and do not work for change in values’: interpreted as less consumer oriented ‘public good’ resources such as access to clean water, bio- lifestyles (including more use of ‘green’ products), or some logical diversity, and climate regulation. The evidence of r Ecological Economicsr Ecological more fundamental moral or ethical shift towards living in har- unsustainable development is mounting daily. Changing pol- mony with the environment. While changes such as these icy to harness market forces in service of explicit environ- would generally help reduce environmental pressure, they mental goals is an important part of the solution, by means are not necessary or essential to achieving sustainability. such as the creation of tradable emissions permits to drive What will be important is to recognise that underlying human dramatic reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. Done values – such as the needs for subsistence, security, identity well, this would make economic growth sustainable. In time, and belonging – can be met in a wide variety of ways, most of however, we hope that citizens aspire to something more which are only loosely linked to the value of economic activity satisfying and significant than mere economic growth. or rate of economic growth. Indeed, a less obsessive focus on maximising economic activity might improve wellbeing by Useful sources International Society fo allowing more attention to serving this range of values. Arrow, K.J., B. Bolin, R. Costanza, P. Dasgupta, C. Folke, Achieving sustainability would also be easier with a clearer C.S. Holling, B-O Jansson, S. Levin, K-G. Mäler, C. Per- recognition that slightly slower increases in average income rings, D. Pimental, 1995, ‘Economic growth, carrying ca- will have little or no impact on happiness or wellbeing (as pacity, and the environment’, Science 268:520-521 these are primarily related to individuals’ relative income,
Around thirty years ago The Limits to Growth argued that decisive action was required to avoid the collapse of crucial global environmental processes, and the human societies that depend on them (see useful sources). Economists dis- missed the report, arguing that markets would respond to increasing scarcity through resource conservation and tech- nological innovation. They were less than half right: markets
Page 11
THE MISGUIDED EUROPEAN POLICY ON BIOFUELS
Daniela Russi, ICTA, Autonomous University of Barcelona May 2007 Our transport systems and our economies depend This means that the impacts of energy farming would very much on the automobile and the oil industries. be partly exported to Southern countries. In fact, There is concern that oil extraction will peak soon biofuels are not as green as they may appear at a (perhaps at 100 mbd) as announced by the geologist first sight. Normally energy farming is carried out with M.K. Hubbert many years ago, there is also concern intensive agricultural techniques (large monocultures, about the production of carbon dioxide and other with strong use of fertilizers, pesticides, irrigation greenhouse gases. water, machinery), because otherwise the yield would be even lower and consequently the land One reaction could be to avoid having so much requirement higher. Intensive agriculture has a high transport, use less the car, use more the bycicle, the environmental impact in terms of pollution, soil train, base your economies on regional production to erosion, reduction of wild and agricultural a greater extent than today, do not flood cities and biodiversity, decrease of water availability and suburbs with so many cars, do not engage in an orgy quality. Also, a large-scale biofuel production may of soil sealing by motorways and urban sprawl -as in lead to an increased use of genetically modified Catalonia today. organisms (GMOs). In fact, soybean, corn and rapeseed (among the most used raw material to Another reaction is, let’s save the automobile! Let’s produce biofuels) are respectively the first, second promote the automobile even and fourth most important GMO crops further than today, by adding a new source of fuel, biodiesel and The biodiesel promoting policies may favour ethanol. competition for arable land and result in an increase in food prices. A recent example is the doubling of Indeed, biofuels are being corn price that is taking place in Mexico. The Biofuels are not increasingly looked at by phenomenon was mainly caused by the growing as green as they industrialized countries as one of demand for corn-derived bioethanol in the USA the solutions for the excessive (Mexico is a net importer of corn from the USA). may appear at a dependence on imported fossil Moreover, an increase in the world biofuel demand fuels. For this reason, the new may encourage tropical countries to substitute native first sight. European energy strategy forests. Palm plantations are responsible for most establishes that biofuels should deforestation in South-Eastern Asia and represent a represent at least 10% of the real threat to the remaining native forests. The same energy used for transport by may apply to sugarcane plantations in Brazil. 2020 (we did not even reach 1% yet). But is it really an advisable As opposed to the worrying possible environmental strategy to use public resources and social impacts, the overall savings of fossil fuels in the form of agricultural subsidies, de-taxation and (and therefore of greenhouse emissions) would be biofuels obligations to promote a large scale very low. The reason is that fossil fuels are used in production of biofuels? the agricultural phase (fertilizers, pesticides, machinery), in the processing phase and for In the European Biomass Action Plan it is calculated transporting the raw materials to the processing plant that in order to achieve the 5.75% share on energy and from there to the final users. Therefore, the used for transport established by the Directive Energy Return On Investment (EROI) of biofuels, i.e. 2003/30/EC on biofuels (around 1.7% of the final the (energy output)/(indirect + direct energy input) energy use, since the transport sector accounts for ratio, is low, as pointed out by various unheeded one third of the total energy demand), about 17 researchers already since twenty years ago. For million hectares would be needed, i.e. one fifth of the example, Giampietro and Ulgiati indicate an EROI of European tillable land. For this reason, in the 1.16 for sunflower-derived biodiesel, meaning that Biomass Action Plan it is stressed that Europe will the energy provided by the biodiesel process is promote the production of raw material for biofuels in almost the same amount as that invested in the extra-European countries. production process in the form of fossil fuels! In tropical countries the EROI could be higher if other (Continued on Page 12}
Page 12
Biofuels (Continued from Page 11) crops were used, e.g. sugar cane instead of corn for fuels there is no magic wand: the only possible ethanol and palm oil instead of sunflower for biodiesel. solution is to modify consumption patterns. However, in this case the associated environmental impact could increase, e.g. high soil erosion r Ecological Economicsr Ecological associated to sugar cane. Daniela Russi has a degree in Economics from the Even considering the very optimistic EROI of 2.5 University of Siena, a Master in Ecological Economics (Bernesson et al. 2004), we obtain that reaching the and Environmental Management at the UAB, and she 5.75% target in Europe would imply saving around 36 recently completed her doctoral thesis on Multi- million tonnes of CO2 equivalent, i.e., less than 1% of Criteria Assessment of Renewable Energy Policies at the European Union emissions in 2004. Moreover, the ICTA, UAB. She was interviewed by the BBC, taking into account the CO2 emissions due to France Internationale and other media on her thesis transport and the increase of CO2 in the atmosphere on biofuels. International Society fo due to deforestation (forests are CO2 sinks), the final result might be an overall increase of the greenhouse 1 Giampietro M., Ulgiati S., 2005. Integrated emissions instead of the desired reduction. assessment of large- scale biofuels, Critical Reviews in Plant Sciences 24:pp365-384(20). Mario Giampietro The idea that biodiesel could be a solution for the is a new ICREA research Professor at ICTA, UAB. energy crisis is not only false, but also dangerous. In fact, it might favour an attitude of faith in a technological fix of the energy problem. We should never forget that if we want to reduce the use of fossil
Creating an economy of well-being N E W S R E L E A S E Edmonton, June 4, 2007- The effects of Alberta’s as “the cost of crime” and “more air pollution”, he superheated economy are being felt at every level says. and in every sector, but one Alberta economist says it’s time to re-evaluate how we measure growth. In “It’s a practical model for governance,” says Anielski, The Economics of Happiness (New Society one that focuses on “an economy of stewardship” Publishers), Mark Anielski presents a new economic rather than simply “pursuing more production and model of Genuine Wealth, in which economic export.” He says genuine wealth and progress should development is oriented towards genuine well-being be defined by a community’s well-being and quality of and happiness. In an exclusive new interview with life. “What makes you joyful inside? What makes life The Policy Channel (www.policychannel.com), worth living?” he asks, “That should be the basis of Anielski says we must begin to think of progress and governance of civil society.” success in a different light. This sentiment may be less evident in regions like Alberta, where the allure of Anielski’s Genuine Wealth model has been applied to making a quick fortune runs as fast as the oil but various communities across the globe, “from “people know that more stuff doesn’t necessarily Nunavut…to China” and is being heralded “the best relate to more happiness”. model internationally for measuring well-being.”
Anielski says current measures of wealth and To view the complete conversation with Mark Anielski progress, like the GDP, only focus on growth, and other interviews, visit www.policychannel.com. production and export. “There’s no account for, let’s say, the loss of social cohesion”, he adds, which makes it “a flawed income statement”. In The For further information, contact: Economics of Happiness, Anielski creates a system that measures progress in terms of human, social, Emily Mertz natural, built and financial capital. The Genuine The Policy Channel Progress Indicator (GPI) adds “the value of unpaid Ph: 780-420-0505 Email: work”, and subtracts “regrettable expenditures” such [email protected]
Page 13
ISEE Member News ISEE membership is on a calendar year personal/professional use only. basis although you can start renewing for 2008 on October 1. You will be able to The ISEE website has gone through a renew your membership for 1 or 3 years. major overhaul. Navigation has been Please be sure that your information is improved dramatically. We are still in the current. process of tweaking the content as some of it is a bit archaic. Starting on July 15, 2007 you will be able to access the member’s only area of the A new feature of the website is the website by using your email address and functionality of the jobs posting area. Jobs password. You will be able to access postings will automatically close according minutes of ISEE proceedings and financial to the information from its origin. If there is reports. You will also be able to update no closing date indicated, jobs will remain your personal information. on the site for 90 days. Marsha Kopan ISEE Secretariat In addition, there is a member search Your comments are always welcome. feature. You can search by first name, last Please send your comments to name, country, and SEE. Please note that [email protected] the results of your searches should be for
The First Nicholas Georgescu-Roegen Prize
Call for Qualification: nominations! Prize Outstanding young scholar in ecological eco- is US $25,000 and nomics or related field* the deadline is January 1, 2008.
Deadline: January 1, 2008 Inquiries and nominations may be sent to**: John Gowdy, Selection Committee Chair Department of Economics Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 110 8th Street, Troy, NY 12180, USA Email: [email protected]
* Applicants need to be under 35 years of age by January 1, 2008 ** Applicants should submit a curriculum vitae, a short statement of research interests (700 words or fewer), and a paper either published or accepted in the journal Ecological Economics
Page 14
Regional News ESEE 2007 in Leipzig:
r Ecological Economics Integrating Natural and Social Sciences for Sustainability by Felix Rauschmayer
From 5-8th of June, more than 370 people attract more poster presentations and how to present from 60 countries attended the 7th biannual them appropriately. conference of the European Society for Ecological In spite of the title and the predominance of Economics, organised by an interdisciplinary team at natural scientists within the organising institution, it the Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research was noted that the presence of natural scientists was UFZ. When evaluating the conference, more than rather low. Or, to put it positively, that many EE 80% of the respondents agreed that they were happy scholars gathered who work on institutional questions International Society fo having come to this conference. – a now typical trait of ESEE conferences. One major reason for the success of the Apart of presentations, participants said they were conference was the high quality of the plenaries, particularly happy with the effort made by the local which stimulated participants. Malte Faber talked in organising team. They especially enjoyed: his opening speech about what it meant to be an ‘wonderful conference programme/handbook’, Ecological Economist, Dick Norgaard about the ‘Discussions of the sessions and diversity of experiences in interdisciplinary work during the subjects’ (10 parallels were too many for some Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, and Carl Folke participants, though), about analysing institutions governing socio-ecological ‘relatively lot of time for discussion’, systems. In a more ESEE-related session, Clive ‘easy going and very helpful attitude of the Spash, the past ESEE President freshly emigrated to organisers’, “down under”, made us aware of past revolutions ‘helpful reception/organization office’, inside the economic discipline, and the need for a new ‘the conference dinner and dancing’ (some danced one, whereas Inge Røpke pleaded for more research until the singing of the first birds which was not so combining the institutional analysis developed within good for the first presenters in the following EE with work on consumer behaviour in order to morning). alleviate the impacts of consumption. Finally, Elinor All these statements come from the evaluation forms Ostrom presented her new framework to assess and which participants completed. analyse multi-level social-ecological systems, and We will see where the focus will be in 2009, Christian Hey closed the conference with insights from when the next ESEE-conference will take place in the German scientific advisory body for environmental Ljubljana (Slovenia). We (and here I am talking as an issues. ESEE board member) are glad for two reasons that Other presenters also contributed to the we could find a venue in a New EU member state: satisfaction of participants with the conference – a The ESEE membership basis and recognition is quite vast majority of participants enjoyed the overall quality weak in New EU member countries, and we hope that of the presentations, and this in spite of a rather low the location of the conference will influence the rejection rate. We can imagine three possible reasons themes of the conference: Central and East European for this: (1) a general glow of happiness lulled the countries are also called “transition countries”, but audience; (2) expectations were rather low; or (3) the aren’t all countries in the world in transition to more overall quality of ESEE submissions and sustainable development paths? presentations increased. (As a member of the organising team, I tend to agree with the third Hoping to see many of you in Ljubljana in June/July explanation J.) An issue remaining, though, is how to 2009!
Page 15
Lazy revolutionaries, or: Is EE an oxymoron?
Impressions of a journalist from the ESEE2007 in Leipzig, June 5 to 8.
There was a warm ovation when Inge Ropke said "We The world of EE seems to be full of paradox (as all need a culture of laziness." If her audience had taken economics, maybe). Yes, GDP must be criticized, but if this statement for serious, everybody would have left the you do your PhD in a GDP-focussed academic world, UFZ seminary room and would have gone to Leipzig's you might not be able to do without. Yes, the systemic city center, having a rest and enjoying the marvellous approach is important, but in the end what one can do smell of trees... are case studies of individual consumer behaviour. As one of the presentators said: "I don't become more and I was attending my first conference of Ecological more capitalist, but I do become more and more fatalist Economics; one of very few journalists at the ESEE2007 in capitalism. The best I can do is to act within in Leipzig. Joan Martinez-Alier asked me to write a few capitalism as it exists." words about my impressions. Well—they are somehow ambiguous. I didn't know that something as EE exists Clive Spash called for a revolution in economics, and some weeks before, and it was great to learn about it. Inge Ropke called for a culture of lazyness. Both are When IPCC presented the third part (mitigation and important, but do not fit together. There is no such thing adaptation) of its Fourth Assessment Report in May, I as a lazy revolutionary. had this feeling that it missed the point. Actually it Maybe, all the EE is an oxymoron: Can economy be should be about producing less GHG, but all the report sustainable at all? Does not ecology require limits while says is what we need more: more energy efficiency, economy requires eternal growth? Can economy do more renewables, more nuclear plants eventually. As if without growth? Can standards not rise? the word "less" was forbidden in economical thinking. But I felt quite alone with this uneasiness, and it was Therefore, Leipzig made me optimist because I learned great to listen to people such as Clive Spash, Richard that there is an alternative to orthodox economics. But it Norgaard and Inge Ropke, criticizing IPCC, Stern and all didn't make me optimist with respect to the future of our the neoclassical orthodoxy. planet.
But when it came to the presentations in the workshops, Marcel Haenggi is a free lance journalist based in Zurich, many of them did exactly what was criticized before in Switzerland, covering mainly environmental and science issues. the plenary sessions: using GDP as main indicator, [email protected] focussing on individual consumer choices rather than on systemic approaches, doing cost-benefit analyses.
Page 16
Regional News Third Meeting of the Argentina and Uruguayan Society for r Ecological Economicsr Ecological Ecological Economics ASAUEE 2007
During two days at the beginning of last June, Development, Natural Resources and Distributive at the beautiful city of Tucuman, in the northwest of Ecological Conflicts (Walter A. Pengue, Universidad Argentina, the Third Meeting of the Argentina and de Buenos Aires) and Paper Pulp Industrial Policy of Uruguay Society for Ecological Economics took place Uruguay and its Ecosistemic Effects (Daniel Panario, under the theme of “Ecology, Economy and Universidad de la Republica, Uruguay). approaches for the resolution of ecological distributive st International Society fo conflicts in the South Cone”. In the evening of 1 June, there was a meeting of old and new members of the Society The meeting was opened by the Rector of the ASAUEE, where Walter Pengue informed on the Universidad Nacional de Tucuman, Rector of the situation of the Society, the new trends and issues on Universidad Tecnologica Nacional and Ecological Economics at Regional Levels, and asked representatives of ASAUEE. Sessions took place at for support for the Society in the next steps they are the Universidad Tecnologica Nacional Building, near facing in 2007 and 2008: A call for Elections of the centre of the city of Tucuman and its Historical members of the Board of ASAUEE in 2008 and the House, place where Argentina declared its call for the place and Institution where the 4th Meeting Independence on 9th July, 1816. of the Society in 2009 will be held.
There were 15 sessions on urban and rural The Third Meeting of ASAUEE received the issues, physical indicators, public policies, sponsorship of the Iberoamerican Network of sustainable development, global issues, valorization of Ecological Economics, REDIBEC, Universidad environmental resources, economic approach of Nacional de Tucuman, Universidad Tecnologica environmental quality, appropriation of natural Nacional, ProECO, Programa de Economia Ecologica resources and conflicts, tourism, ecological debt and de la Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto Nacional new questions on energy development. Two poster de Tecnologia Agropecuaria, Foundation Heinrich sessions were held on similar issues. During the Boll, Direccion de Medio Ambiente de la Provincia de meeting 124 papers were presented . Tucuman and other public and private organizations.
There were five plenary sessions with During the next months, the presentations and papers international speakers who talked on Environmental presented during the Meeting will be published and Services and Indicators for Sustainable Rural the Webpage of ASAUEE, at www.gepama.com.ar Development (Ernesto Viglizzo, INTA, Argentina), Social Metabolism and Distributive Ecological For those people, who need a copy of the CD of the Conflicts in Latin America (Joan Martinez Alier, Meeting please contact Dr. W. Pengue, at the email: President, ISEE), Ethanol: An environmental good? [email protected] (Luciana Togeiro, Eco Eco Brazil), Economic (Un)
Page 17
JOBS & APPOINTMENTS Please send job openings to [email protected] -- if appropriate, your ad will be posted quickly for all our visitors to read. Energy and Infrastructure Planner/ Anne Rockhold Analyst The Wilderness Society 503 W. Mendenhall St. Bozeman, MT 59715 Aspen Environmental Group
Aspen Environmental Group has an opening for an Email: [email protected] energy and infrastructure planner/analyst with a No phone calls, please. International Society for Ecological Economics minimum of 5 years of experience in producing plans Closing date is September 1, 2007 and/or reports to determine trends and issues associated with energy and water supply industries in College/Administrative Unit: Warner California. The candidate should have thorough College of Natural Resources understanding of supply, demand, pricing, reliability, Position Description efficiency and the associated impacts on public health and safety, the economy, resources, and the Title: Assistant Professor in Ecological Economics environment. A minimum of a BA/BS in energy, Department: Human Dimensions of Natural policy, science, planning or related field is required. Resources Salary: Commensurate with qualifications and This position is full time (40 hrs/wk) starting as soon experience. Sick leave per University policy, group as possible. Salary is negotiable. Please email Somer health, life, dental, disability, and retirement benefits. Goulet at [email protected] with cover letter and Application Deadline: September 15, 2007 resume. Duties Aspen Environmental Group has a multi-disciplinary staff working on various projects including 1. Contribute to the development and preparations of Environmental Impact Reports (EIR), implementation of a curriculum in collaborative power generation and energy infrastructure, biological conservation; surveys, and mitigation/monitoring/compliance and 2. Develop and teach undergraduate and graduate reporting among many other disciplines. courses related to collaborative conservation and the emerging ecosystem services paradigm; For more information on Aspen Environmental Group 3. Establish a sound program of domestic and visit our website at www.aspeneg.com. international research and scholarly activities, including support for graduate students; 4. Advise undergraduate and graduate students; Montana Forest Restoration Campaign 5. Participate in, and actively pursue, collaboration Director (Bozeman, MT) with other faculty and contribute to The Wilderness Society, one of the oldest and most interdisciplinary activities; respected non-profit conservation organizations in the 6. Participate in professional, university, and nation, seeks a restoration campaign director to community service. facilitate landscape-level restoration and conservation Requirements: strategies on National Forests in the Northern Rockies. 1. Ph.D. completed by start of appointment (January 2008 or August 2008) in a discipline related to The ideal candidate has a Masters degree in natural duties described below; resource management or policy or a Bachelor's 2. At least one advanced degree in economics, degree with graduate work and/or comparable work ecology, or a closely related field with a research experience; and minimum of five years experience emphasis in the areas of ecological and working on public land issues. Submit resume, cover environmental economics and ecosystem letter, writing samples and references to: services.
Page 18
Jobs & Appointments Contact Person communications, development and administrative endeavors. Dr. Alan D. Bright, Search Committee Chair, Department of Human Dimensions of Natural MAJOR DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES Resources 233 Forestry Building, Colorado State University • Responsible for achieving the targets and Fort Collins, CO, 80523-1480 objectives of WWF-US’s Fisheries Program. Responsible for ensuring the success of efforts to Telephone #: (970) 491-5487 • integrate the work of the Fisheries Program with Email: [email protected] conservation objectives in WWF-US priority marine
ecoregions.
Managing Director, Fisheries • With staff from the Development Program, leads Client: World Wildlife Fund (US) effort to secure funding for the Fisheries Program. Position Location: Washington, D.C. • Supervises the work of Fisheries Program staff and consultants. World Wildlife Fund-US (WWF-US) seeks a Managing • Leverages Fisheries Program assets and expertise Director to lead initiatives to reshape global fisheries by building relationships with the other WWF with a particular emphasis on WWF's priority marine programs and external partners. ecoregions (Gulf of California, MesoAmerican Reef, • Performs other duties as assigned. The Bering Sea, Coral Triangle and Coastal East Africa). WWF's Fisheries Program seeks to move global fisheries toward both ecological and economic WORKING RELATIONSHIPS sustainability. The position leads the organization's strategy and work in key market areas to produce measurable results on a national and global level in Internal: Supervises WWF-US Fisheries Program staff order to conserve biodiversity loss and consultants. Works closely in collaboration with program staff, conservation science program staff at specific marine sites, as well as with development and MAJOR FUNCTIONS communications staff. Interacts frequently with executive management team to advise, plan and 1. Leads WWF-US initiatives to reshape global fisheries develop cohesive program efforts. Communicates with a particular emphasis on its priority marine regularly with other department heads to coordinate ecoregions. U.S. Fisheries Program projects with other activities in the organization. Reports to Vice President (Markets). 2. Oversees the Fisheries Program’s Sustainable Seafoods Initiative, which works with the seafood and External: Principle liaison with all senior government, fishing industry to promote ocean conservation in the private sector and civil society leaders in the field of context of its seafood purchasing and fisheries ocean and fisheries conservation. Interacts with practices. representatives of WWF-International and other WWF national organizations to discuss and coordinate 3. Leads WWF’s efforts to promote ocean conservation program activities. Interacts with representatives of at the national and global policy level, including international treaty organizations, national government reduction of bycatch in fisheries, in order to conserve agencies, conservation organizations and major donors biological diversity. Works with multilateral institutions, (for fundraising efforts). Maintains professional including the World Bank, to promote international reputation at an international level through regular policies that advance WWF’s conservation objectives. contact with managers from other conservation organizations, both governmental and non- 4. Responsible for building and managing a cross- governmental, and other colleagues. functional team. Supervises the work of the Fisheries Program staff in Washington, D.C. and Palo Alto, MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS California. Integrates the Fisheries Program’s work with the broader priorities of WWF-US and the WWF • Ten years experience and knowledge in International network. Collaborates with colleagues at international fish and wildlife conservation policy or WWF-US to ensure the success of program-related
Page 19
Jobs & Appointments law, land use and natural resources Position available: ISEE Newsletter and Website management, with demonstrated success in Editor developing and managing a complex conservation program. Experience in Review and assist the webmaster to update the r Ecological Economicsr Ecological implementing and activating partnerships within current website structure, layout and content. Liaise an organization or institution is desired. with ISEE officials and related scientific societies, to • Master’s degree in natural resources obtain information on current activities, missions and management, biological sciences, environmental concerns, policy issues, books in print, courses, law, public policy or a related field, and/or conferences, partnerships, jobs, etc. for selective and equivalent work experience. timely publication in the Society’s Newsletter and/or website. Compile, edit and in consultation with the Proven ability to manage a professional staff in a • Society’s administrator, suggest placement of text timely fashion, to direct formulation of multi- and images on the Society’s website and Newsletter. International Society fo dimensional conservation programs and policy,
and to work sensibly and effectively with inter- Credentials: graduate student or post-graduate intern disciplinary staff. with experience/research in the area of ecological • Diplomatic and cultural skills essential to work economics, excellent English writing skills (knowledge with a broad array of individuals. Global of other ISEE regional society language(s) a plus), experience in developing countries is strongly journalistic background (newsletter or web preferred. communications), basic knowledge of web layout, • Successful fundraising experience desired. design and formats • Experience working with the broader NGO community or private sector is an advantage. Time commitment: variable; approx. 20 hours/month To apply, please email cover letter and resume or CV to: Salary: negotiable (not to exceed US$ 5,000/yr)
Contact: send cv and writing sample (short article) to: Helena Brykarz, Contract Recruiter [email protected] Global Recruitment Specialists PO Box 7382 Berkeley, CA USA Tel / Fax: 510-527-3316 E-mail: [email protected] URL: www.globalrecruitment.net
Page 20
Publications
The University of Chicago Press Economics for Humans, by Julie A. Nelson Publication date: October 2, 2006 154 pgs. (cloth) International Society for Ecological UK publication date: November 13, 2006 $16.00 • £10.50 0-226-57202-1
Earthscan
Sustainable Resource Use: Institutional Dynamics and Economics Edited by Silva Larson and Alex Smajg
For more info and to order online for a 10% discount: http://shop.earthscan.co.uk/ProductDetails/mcs/ ProductID/788/
Forests, People and Power: The Political Ecology of Reform in South Asia Edited by Oliver Springate-Baginski and Piers Blaikie Part of the Earthscan Forestry Library
For more info and to order online for a 10% discount: http:// shop.earthscan.co.uk/ProductDetails/mcs/productID/769/
Environmental Policy Integration in Practice: Shaping Institutions for Learning Edited by Måns Nilsson and Katarina Eckerberg
For more info and to order online for a 10% discount: http://shop.earthscan.co.uk/ProductDetails/mcs/ productID/767/
To request a review or inspection copy please send all relevant details to: [email protected]
Page 21
Edward Elgar The following titles from Edward Elgar are available to ISEE members at 50% of the price listed. Email Hillary Quinn for further information on: [email protected]
Current Issues in Ecological Economics series
Economic Growth, Material Flows and the Environment (2005), Rutger Hoekstra. £55.00
Sustainable Development Indicators in Ecological Economics (2006), edited by Philip Lawn. £85.00
Joint Production and Responsibility in Ecological Economics (2006), Stefan Baumgartner, Malte Faber and Johannes Schiller. £75.00.
Frontier Issues in Ecological Economics Philip Lawn. £85.
Page 22
Conferences July 26-28, 2007 Nairobi, Kenya, 7-11 August 2008 ISEE 2008 Sustaining Communities and Development in the Face of Environmental Challenges The ISEE is pleased to announce that its 10th Biennial Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada Conference has been scheduled for August 7-11,2008 Organised by CANSEE in Nairobi Kenya. http://www.cansee.org/2007 The conference, "ISEE2008 NAIROBI: APPLYING
ECOLOGICAL ECONOMICS FOR SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY" is a joint undertaking by the International Society for Ecological
Economics (ISEE), African Society for Ecological Economics (ASEE) and the United Nations
Environment Programme (UNEP).
Joan Martinez Alier, President of ISEE and Achim Steiner, Executive Director of UNEP are pleased to confirm the venue for Nairobi event, which will be held in UNEP conference facilities. Principal organizers of September 8-15, 2007 the conference are Peter May, ISEE President-Elect, DISCCRS III Symposium Kevin Urama, President, ASEE and Anantha Hawaii, USA Duraiappah, Chief, Analysis and Emerging Issues Unit, http://www.aslo.org/phd/disccrsposter.pdf UNEP.
More information will follow on the conference's official website which is currently under construction.
PO Box 44194 West Allis WI 53214 USA The International Society for Ecological Economics (ISEE) is a not-for-profit, member- Phone: +1(414) 453-0030 governed, organization dedicated to advancing Fax: (877) 230-5110 US the understanding of the relationships among Fax: +1 (973) 273-2178 Intl ecological, social, and economic systems for E-mail: [email protected] the mutual well-being of nature and people.
The Society publishes a research journal, ‘Ecological Economics’, books, and other
International Society for Ecological Economics. Economics. Ecological for Society International materials; holds and sponsors scientific meetings; develops educational materials; and facilitates a voice for ecological economists in public forums.
The ISEE Newsletter is published twice a year, is sent free to ISEE members and is available on the ISEE website. The views expressed are We’re on the web those of the individual contributors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Society as a at www.ecoeco.org whole.
Officers & Board Members
President: Membership: Joan Martinez Alier [email protected] ISEE Membership Director Marsha Kopan Past President: [email protected] Charles Perrings [email protected] Ecological Economics: President Elect: Peter May Editor-in-Chief [email protected] Cutler Cleveland [email protected]
Board Members: Encyclopaedia of Ecological Economics: John Gowdy [email protected] Editor Eric Neumayer Wendy Proctor [email protected] [email protected]
Joan Roughgarden [email protected]
Luciana Togeiro de Almeida [email protected]
Pushpam Kumar [email protected]