Discussing the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act
Professor Michael Hanemann of ARE discusses S.1733, the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act, on KPFA's "Letters to Washington."
(Scroll in to the 45-minute mark to hear the segment).
November 3, 2009
October 21, 2009
Toward a More Integrated Social Science
By Professor David Zilberman
I got a kick out of learning that Eleanor Ostrom and Berkeley’s Oliver Williamson won the Nobel in Economics. I had a similar response when the Psychologist, Dan Kahneman, won the prize. These are important steps in the expansion of economics and establishing an integrated social science based on rigorous logical thinking and empiricism. This integrated new social science will provide insight on how people think and interact and how to improve the human condition.
It is useful to contrast the evolution of economics and biology. Research in the biological sciences first identifies and documents various organisms and only later develops a general theory, Darwinian evolution theory, that explains how species interact and evolve. In economics, Adam Smith developed a theory first. For years, economists considered only two institutions: the firm and the government. But, we know that not all firms are alike and that there are many other organizations that are neither government nor firms. Political scientists and sociologists are very good in identifying different types of organizations and Williamson and Ostrom marry the organizational complexity with basic behavioral principles that are emphasized in economics.
Continue reading "Toward a More Integrated Social Science" »
September 28, 2009
1.9 Million New Jobs Could Be Created by Climate & Energy Bills Being Considered by Congress
by Professor David Roland-Holst, ARE
A new analysis by ARE economists at University of California, Berkeley finds that the pollution reduction and energy efficiency measures contained in the American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACES) – already passed by the U.S. House of Representatives -- could create between 918,000 and 1.9 million new jobs, increase annual household income by $487-1,175 per year and boost Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by $39 - $111 billion by 2020.
The new comprehensive national economic assessment of ACES was conducted in collaboration with University of Illinois and Yale University, using EAGLE, a new state-of-the-art forecasting model.
Table 1: U.S. Macroeconomic Impacts by 2020
EAGLE estimates of ACES impacts include the following:
A summary of the new report can be found at the EAGLE Fact Sheet on ACES.
A new analysis by ARE economists at University of California, Berkeley finds that the pollution reduction and energy efficiency measures contained in the American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACES) – already passed by the U.S. House of Representatives -- could create between 918,000 and 1.9 million new jobs, increase annual household income by $487-1,175 per year and boost Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by $39 - $111 billion by 2020.
The new comprehensive national economic assessment of ACES was conducted in collaboration with University of Illinois and Yale University, using EAGLE, a new state-of-the-art forecasting model.
Table 1: U.S. Macroeconomic Impacts by 2020
| 2010 Baseline | 2020 Baseline Projection | 2020 with ACES | Net Increase due to ACES | Percent Change due to ACES | |||||||
| Employment (Thousands) |
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EAGLE estimates of ACES impacts include the following:
- Between 2010 and 2020, national employment would see a net increase of 918,000 (moderate-efficiency case) to 1.9 million (high-efficiency case) jobs under ACES—on top of baseline growth of 24 million jobs over the same timeframe.
- By 2020, ACES would boost average real household income by $487 to $1,175 per year by 2020 (2008 dollars).
- ACES would result in U.S. real Gross Domestic Product that is $39 billion-$111 billion higher in 2020 than without legislation. That is a 0.2% to 0.7% increase on top of baseline growth of 28% between 2010 and 2020. (See endnotes for definitions.)
A summary of the new report can be found at the EAGLE Fact Sheet on ACES.
August 12, 2009
Agroecology, Small Farms, and Food Sovereignty
Global forces are challenging the ability of develop ing countries to feed themselves. A number of countries have organized their economies around a competitive export-oriented agricultural sector, based mainly on monocultures.
It may be argued that agricultural exports of crops such as soybeans from Brazil make significant contributions to the national economies by bringing in hard currency that can be used to purchase other goods from abroad.
However, this type of industrial agriculture also brings a variety of economic, environmental, and social problems, including negative impacts on public health, ecosystem integrity, food quality, and in many cases disruption of traditional rural livelihoods, while accelerating indebtedness among thousands of farmers...
January 17, 2008
"Buy local" applies to forests, too
by Dean Keith Gilless
Frozen pipes never concern San Francisco residents, but Minnesotans insulate the pipes around their homes every winter. The West Nile virus scares many Californians but doesn't alarm Scandinavians at all. Where you are in the world goes a long way toward determining the things you worry about.
Some Californians shy away from using wood for fear of contributing to the deforestation so frequently associated with global warming. But relying on imported goods means burning fossil fuels to bring those goods to market, which increases greenhouse gas emissions. The arguments to promote "locally grown" are no more or less valid when considering one's consumption of lumber and other forest products.
October 26, 2007
ESPM grad student interviewed by NPR, describes fighting fire
Rachel Smith, a graduate student in Environmental Science, Policy and Management with the Moritz Lab, was recently interviewed by NPR about her experiences fighting fire in Southern California.
Excerpted from the interview:
"As we work, the forest shadows deepen. The temperature drops. The humidity soars. Gradually, the fire is cooling. By the time we reach the cedar, it's past midnight. Our incident commander decides to knock off for a few hours before we try to cut down the dangerous tree. We spend the night spiked out inside the fireline, nestled in a burned-over hollow. I sleep with my boots on, just in case."
September 25, 2007
Opinion: Thinning trees helps environment
By Bill Dennison, Cal Forestry alum & past president of the California Forestry Association
The U.S. Forest Service recently became the first federal agency to register with the California Climate Action Registry, a first step to track greenhouse gas emissions attributable to global climate change from U.S. Forest Service operations.
But it's not nearly enough.
Continue reading "Opinion: Thinning trees helps environment" »
August 1, 2007
China's Chance to Lead
This op-ed, by Assistant Professor Max Auffhammer and UCSD economist Richard Carson, originally appeared in the Washington Post on August 2, 2007.
China is about to emerge as the world's leading emitter of greenhouse gases, a position the United States has held since 1890. Now is the time for China to take the lead in finding a way to reduce global emissions, which the United States has thus far failed to do. It should start by imposing a sizable tax on the carbon content of its fossil fuel consumption and by heading an effort among other major trading countries to do the same.
April 3, 2007
Editorial: Unabomber has no place on list of alumni who "excelled"
The College of Natural Resources finds it deeply regrettable that Ted Kazcynski, widely known as the Unabomber, was recently included in a California magazine list of Berkeley alumni who have "excelled in every field."
Kazcynski, who was not a Cal alumnus but an assistant math professor for two years in the late 60s, mailed 16 bombs over more than a decade, killing three and injuring 29. In 1995, one of his bombs killed Gil Murray, Forestry '75.
Note (4/6/07): California magazine's online edition now lists an Editor's note, which is much appreciated:
A regrettable inclusion: Due to an editing error in the Centennial issue, Ted Kazcynski, the infamous Unabomber, was inadvertently included in the roll of exemplary Berkeley alums. While Kazcynski was an assistant Berkeley professor for two years, he did not attend Cal. Moreover, we regret the error and sincerely apologize to anyone we offended, particularly the family, friends and colleagues of his victims.
In tribute to Murray, who was much loved by fellow alumni and the forestry community, we reprint two obituaries here:
Continue reading "Editorial: Unabomber has no place on list of alumni who "excelled"" »
January 19, 2007
Relying on Berkeley research, California establishes groundbreaking carbon standard for fuels
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has issued an executive order calling for California to establish the world's first carbon standard for transportation fuels. (Read about it in the Governor's op-ed here.)
Relying on research by David Roland-Holst, adjunct professor in ARE, the governor writes:
The University of California estimates our greenhouse gas emissions goals will increase our gross state product by $60 billion and create more than 20,000 new jobs. The time is now for America to transition to a clean-energy economy.... I am very pleased to be able to announce that California is leading the way.
More information on Roland-Holst's study is at http://calclimate.berkeley.edu/.
January 3, 2007
Bringing carbon buyers and sellers to market
This editorial by Professor David Sunding appeared Dec. 28, 2006, in the San Francisco Chronicle.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's executive order to begin implementation of a market-based compliance program encouraging businesses to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions is clearly a step in the right direction toward cleaning our air of harmful carbon particulates. The next step is to make it financially attractive enough for businesses to comply with the program.
Continue reading "Bringing carbon buyers and sellers to market" »
August 21, 2006
Not facing warming is costly
From a letter to the Sacramento Bee by Prof. Michael Hanemann:
I disagree with Margo Thorning's dire prediction of economic doom from the Assembly Bill 32 legislation requiring statewide reductions in greenhouse gases by 2020.
April 7, 2006
Selling Out or Buying In?
By Dara O'Rourke | April 5, 2006
A U D I O
Listen to "Tom's of Wall Street" on KQED's Perspectives
FIRST MY socially responsible ice cream. Then my local, earth-conscious juice. Then my hip, alternative, throwback sneakers. Then my daughter's organic yogurt. Then my wife's animal-friendly cosmetics. Now it's the one toothpaste I believed in . . . if it makes any sense to believe in a toothpaste.
January 13, 2006
Forest landowners playing role in fight against global warming
By Andrea Tuttle
California's forests have something to celebrate.
The first forest projects in California designed specifically to fight global warming were recently announced at the United Nations conference on climate change in Montreal. By registering in the California Climate Action Registry, the Garcia River Forest in Sonoma County and the Van Eck property in Humboldt show a new model for protecting natural resources.
The projects will reduce greenhouse gases and restore streams and roads, all while working to produce timber. Perhaps most surprising is that well-known environmental groups, including the Conservation Fund, the Pacific Forest Trust, the Nature Conservancy and the State Coastal Conservancy, will actually manage logging on these lands to save them and better the environment.
Continue reading "Forest landowners playing role in fight against global warming" »
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Most Recent Items
- Discussing the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act
- Toward a More Integrated Social Science
- 1.9 Million New Jobs Could Be Created by Climate & Energy Bills Being Considered by Congress
- Agroecology, Small Farms, and Food Sovereignty
- "Buy local" applies to forests, too