Researchers in dialogue with policy makers at world congress of environmental economists: Dealing with environmental – and political crises

Environmental economics research plays a crucial role in dealing with the global challenges, and the need for dialogue and collaboration between researchers, practitioners and policy makers is greater than ever. During the World Congress of Environmental and Resource Economists, WCERE, 25-29 June in Gothenburg, Gina McCarthy (Former US EPA Administrator), Jos Delbeke (Senior Advisor EU) and Karolina Skog (Swedish Minister of Environment) will participate in special policy sessions.

About 1,500 academics, experts and policy makers from all over the world will gather at WCERE 2018 to present and discuss new research in the field of environmental and resource economics, but also engage in a dialogue about how to manage global and complex environmental problems.

Thomas Sterner, Professor of Environmental Economics at the School of Business, Economics and Law, University of Gothenburg, sees a growing need for knowledge from the field of environmental economics among governmental agencies and policy makers, and has no doubt that research has a key role to play in meeting the future challenges and successfully dealing with them:

“As environmental economists we can assist with analysis and tools to deal with climate change and other environmental problems. It could be environmental taxes or new ways to support renewable energy that are smarter and cheaper than pure subsidies,” says Thomas Sterner.

Anna Jöborn, Director of the Science Affairs Department at the Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management, agrees that the there is a pressing need for applied research.

“Those of us who work with sustainability issues at governmental authorities are quite often forced to make major decisions in a complex environment. Therefore, access to factual information and a dialogue with academic researchers is of tremendous value to us. It is a given that we at the Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management will be involved in this type of event,” says Anna Jöborn.

About 40 sessions during WCERE 2018 are policy related involving researchers and other actors, for example:

• “Climate policy that can live up to the Paris goals”, special policy session including Gina McCarthy, Former US EPA Administrator and Jos Delbeke, Senior Advisor to the EU Commission President.
• "Environmental Policy and the Assault on Science" - Gina McCarthy focuses on the current regime’s attack on science as a key element in a policy that attempts to unravel environmental regulations.
• “Future transport in a climate neutral world: knowledge gaps and needed policies”, panel discussion with Volvo Group’s Chief Sustainability Manager Niklas Gustafsson, among others.
• “REACH and Beyond – Effective Policy Instruments to Regulate Hazardous Chemicals” including Karolina Skog, Swedish Minister of Environment and Bjorn Hansen, Director, European Chemicals Agency.
• “Economic instruments for water-scarce cities”, discussion on how to respond to the threat to water supply with Claudine Uwera, University of Gothenburg alumna and presently minister in Rwanda’s government.

About WCERE 2018:
The Department of Economics at the School of Business, Economics and Law, University of Gothenburg, hosts the 6th World Congress of Environmental and Resource Economists, WCERE 2018, which takes place 25-29 June in Gothenburg, Sweden. The three regional environmental economics associations – AERE, EAAERE and EAERE – are jointly responsible for WCERE, which is held every four years. In addition to the congress itself, a series of events will take place, such as a workshop for women in environmental economics and PhD courses. Follow WCERE 2018 on Twitter @WCERE2018 #WCERE2018. Plenary speeches and special policy sessions will be streamed. For more information: www.wcere2018.org

Contact:
Thomas Sterner, Professor of Environmental Economics, Department of Economics at the School of Business, Economics and Law, University of Gothenburg, and Chair Local Organising Committee of WCERE 2018
+46-31-786 1377, +46-70-816 33 06
thomas.sterner@economics.gu.se

Marie Andersson, Communications Officer, Department of Economics at the School of Business, Economics and Law, University of Gothenburg.
+46-31-786 1349, +46-76-618 1349
marie.andersson@economics.gu.se 

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