Publications

Designing a new science-policy communication mechanism for the UN Convention to Combat Desertification

Research article by Lindsay Stringer on 6 Jun 2016

Abstract The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) has lacked an efficient mechanism to access scientific knowledge since entering into force in 1996. In 2011 it decided to convene an Ad Hoc Working Group on Scientific Advice (AGSA) and gave it a unique challenge: to design a new mechanism for science-policy communication based on […]

Challenges to polycentric governance of an international development project tackling land degradation in Swaziland

Research article by Lindsay Stringer on 6 Jun 2016

Abstract To effectively address the drivers and impacts of land degradation requires polycentric governance systems that facilitate international development projects (IDPs). This paper analyses an IDP aiming to reduce land degradation in Swaziland. A longitudinal-style qualitative approach draws on repeat household surveys, semi-structured interviews and focus groups. We aim to identify the changes that have […]

The importance of looking forward to manage risks: submission to the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures

Policy publication by Dimitri Zenghelis, Nicholas Stern on 6 Jun 2016

Submission made to the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures, which was set up in December 2015 by the Financial Stability Board to “develop voluntary, consistent climate-related financial risk disclosures … read more »

Economic growth and agricultural land conversion under uncertain productivity improvements in agriculture

Working paper by Bruno Lanz, Simon Dietz, Tim Swanson on 3 Jun 2016

We study how stochasticity in the evolution of agricultural productivity interacts with economic and population growth, and the associated demand for food. We use a two-sector Schumpeterian model of growth, … read more »

Inclusion of Consumption of carbon intensive materials in emissions trading – An option for carbon pricing post-2020

Policy publication by Misato Sato on 2 Jun 2016

A project led jointly by Climate Strategies and DIW Berlin has been exploring whether inclusion of domestic sales of selected energy intensive commodities (e.g. steel) in domestic emission trading schemes … read more »

Comparing the Climate Change Actions, Targets and Performance of UK and US Retailers

Research article by Andy Gouldson on 1 Jun 2016

It is often held that the UK has been something of a leader in its response to climate change, and that the USA has been more of a laggard. Whilst much of this debate relates to government policy, in this paper we consider whether this is true when it comes to corporate action on climate […]

Tipping points and loss aversion in international environmental agreements

Working paper by Doruk İriş, Alessandro Tavoni on 20 May 2016

We study the impact of loss-aversion and the threat of catastrophic damages, which we jointly call threshold concerns, on international environmental agreements. We aim to understand whether a threshold for … read more »

Tipping and reference points in climate change games

Working paper by Alessandro Tavoni, Doruk İriş on 20 May 2016

We live in a world characterized by discontinuities, where thresholds for abrupt and irreversible change are omnipresent, both in economic and ecological dynamics. Such thresholds, often referred to as tipping … read more »

Geography, institutions and development: a review of the long-run impacts of climate change

Research article by David Castells-Quintana, Maria del Pilar Lopez-Uribe, Tom McDermott on 20 May 2016

The links among climate change, economic growth and economic development have gained increasing attention over recent years in both the academic and policy literature. However, most of the existing literature … read more »

Virtual Water Flows in the EU27: A Consumption-based Approach

Research article by Jouni Paavola, Dabo Guan, Rosa Duarte, Ana Serrano on 19 May 2016

The use of water resources has traditionally been studied by accounting for the volume of water removed from sources for specific uses. This approach focuses on surface and groundwater only and it ignores that international trade of products with substantial amounts of embodied water can have an impact on domestic water resources. Using current economic […]