Our Goals

 

Over the course of the last 11  years, the Centre d'Analyse Economique-Environnement (CA2E)  of the University Paul Cézanne (Aix-Marseille) and the International Center for Research on Environmental Issues (ICREI) have organized a biennial three-day International Conference, addressing the role of property rights and economic tools in the management of different environmental resources. Policy makers worldwide recognize that significant further environmental improvements cannot be made at reasonable cost using the approaches upon which we have relied in the past. Command-and-Control regulation may have been effective in the 1970s and 1980s, but the limits of the approach have been reached. Accordingly, we must explore new perspectives and take advantage of successful experiments around the world.

The outcomes from the four previous international conferences have been very encouraging:

-         June 1996  “Property rights, Economics and Environment: theory, ethics and perspective”

-         July 1998  “Property rights, Economics and Environment: water resources”

-         June 2000  “Property rights, Economics and Environment: marine resources”

-         June 2002 "Property rights, Economics and Environment: coastal zone"

-         June 2004  “Property rights, Economics and Environment: wastes”

-         June 2006 “Property rights, Economics and Environment: Land Resources”

-         June 2008 (in planning)  “Property rights, Economics and Environment: Air Pollution and Climate Change”

 

Future events:

-         2010: “Property rights, Economics and Environment “ Cultural resources ”

 

Outcomes

 

Each intensive three-day conference brings together senior government officials, conservationists and environmentalists, academics, resource users, businessmen, NGO members and other stakeholders, from  some 15 countries who come to consider new methods for the sustainable protection and management of environmental resources.

 The proceedings of each conference have been published by Dalloz Publishing Company in French (the 2000 “Marine Resources” conference has also been published in English by Elsevier). The 2002 and 2004 Conferences have been published by Bruylant (Brussels) which is also in charge of publishing the “Land Resources” Conference (June 2007). The Lincoln Institute of Land Policy is considering a publication in English.

All papers in English are posted on our bilingual web site.

 

 Introduction to the 2008 Conference

 

As with the past six conferences our general objective is to present and evaluate theories,

experiments and case studies through the lens of  property rights and economic institutions that  offer an alternative to “command and control” regulation in addressing difficult challenges associated with air pollution and climate change.

More specifically we’ll discuss the rationale and performances of quotas trading for SO2 in the US and CO2 in Europe.

The identification of alternative and/or complementary strategies are to be conference highlights.  Significant attention will be devoted to mitigation and adaptation activities that can soften the effects of climate change.

Global air pollution and climate change are quite different from other environmental resource challenges, since they are often considered as pure public goods with the following characteristics:

-         non rivalry: its use by some does not deplete the availability to all,

-         non-excluability: it is impossible to exclude somebody

Indeed, open access resources of this kind are typical of the problem described by  Garett Hardin: “Ruin is the destination toward which all men rush, each pursuing his own best interest....”(1968)

Until now, air pollution at the local or regional level has  been more or less controlled by regulation and/or common law. It is just in the last decade that air emission problems and climate change have become a pressing global issue.  

Global climate change is quite different from air pollution:

-         it is a worldwide problem which needs strong international cooperation in order to be implemented (Kyoto Protocol, Rio Convention),

-         it is specific relative to inertia, uncertainty and time gap between costs of action and benefit of implementation. This, in turn, means long term public policies and adequate trade offs between present and future generations.

The history of climate(s) teaches us that from prehistoric times up to today dramatic changes occurred without any human intervention. and whether one agrees or disagrees with its findings,  the IPCC February 2007 Report tells us that global warming is and will be a major issue during the present century and that CO2 emissions are mainly responsible.

Three main issues arise from the report:

-         What are the net impacts of global warming?

-         What are the relative merits of each strategy for addressing climate change problems?

-         Which  economic instruments and property rights institutions are best suited for addressing the problem?

Underlying these questions is a fundamental issue that must be faced when human populations face new hazards with unknown risks:  How can new institutions be introduced that do not hamper the ability of human societies to adapt to new conditions in a framework of liberty?  In addressing this issue, conferees will focus on the beneficial role that can be played by markets in communicating scarcity and providing  incentives for technological change and economic growth.

 

Topics to be discussed (tentative and to be completed)

-         Assessments of the global warming forecast and its implications

-         Property rights in air and emission reductions

-         Historic analysis of climate changes and their impact on preindustrial societies in terms of institutional adaptation.

-         Is Kyoto protocol a market or a political mechanism?

-         The universal carbon tax as key tool

-         Cost-benefit analysis of the Kyoto Protocol (including when it is extended to all nations)

-         Comparative efficiency of economic instruments: cap and trade, ETS, taxes...

-         Regional market for SO2: the lessons of US experience for CO2 trading

-         How to protect property rights and individual liberty and escape ecological dictactorship

-         Sequestration and other adaptation mechanisms

-         To what extent is the Environmental Kuznets Curve relevant for air pollution and GHG emissions

-         Mitigation policies ranking in the “Copenhagen Consensus”

-         Public choice analysis and rent seeking : bootleggers vs. baptists

-         Is air pollution in urban areas under control? If so which tools?

-         Technology: solution or problem

-         Insurance vs. public regulation as a tool for managing climate change risk

-         Case studies of adaptative strategies: coastal land, ski resorts, agriculture...

-         Land use planning  policies and tools  for global warming

-         Relative efficiency of voluntary carbon offset and CO2 regulatory compensation schemes

-         The lesson learned from Individual Transferable Quotas (ITQ)  in  fisheries management  for ETS.

-         Global warming policies: US and Europe in perspective

-         Assessment of  the “Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate”

-         Implementing resilience of affluent societies to climate change: a sociological approach.

-         “Food mile”: buying locally in order to limit CO2 emission

-         Common property management as a mitigation tool....

The chief conference challenge   is to imagine new political, economic and social institutions that improve environmental and economic performance, protect individual and public liberty and prevent the risk of some kind of “Regulatory Dictatorship” through “Command and Control”....out of control

 

Organization

 The format of the 1996 , 1998, 2000 , 2002, 2004 and 2006 conferences will be followed.
-       Date: June 23, 24 and 25  2008,
-       Place: Aix-en-Provence (University premises),
-       Duration: 3 days
-       Expected attendance: 250 to 300 including some 50 contributors
-       Official languages: French and English with simultaneous translation in plenary sessions and two workshops out of three.
 

Advisory Board

Billet Ph., Brun V., Carol T., Centi J. P., Charlez  A., Escaille T. (de), Falque M., Jones T., Kromarek P., .Lamotte H, .Lavoux T., Chamoux J.-P., Mairesse S., Mocilnikar A.-T.,  Stoffaes C., M., Raufer R.,. Saglio J.-F, Yandle B....
 

Funding

Financial support for the conference will come from both private and public and diverse origins in order to insure intellectual independence. Each conference has an earmarked budget. The 2008 Conference needs some 250 000 €  (US $ 300 000)  including in-kind support. This covers costs incurred for preparation (2007) the conference proper (2008) and the publication of the proceeding in 2009.
 

 Agenda

-         January April 2007: Identifying main contributors and developing the draft program in collaboration with the steering group members

-         February 2007: Meeting of the Steering Committee at OECD Paris.

-         March-September 2007 Draft brochure in French and English to be circulated to possible patrons interested in promoting and provided  intellectual and financial  support for the conference

-         April 2007:  Meeting in Washington with prospective contributors and sponsors

-         May- December 2007: Fund raising action and first call for papers

-     January 2008:Draft final program.

-     February-March 2008: Distribution of the final program brochure            

-     May 2008: Printing of the conference folder with detailed program, contributors’ CV’s and summary of papers.

-     June 23 -24 and 25 2008: Conference in the University Paul Cézanne premises in Aix-en-Provence.

-     September-October 2008:selection of the papers to be published

-     November 2008-January 2009: Translation and editing

 -     May 2009: Publication of the proceedings in French (and in English if funding allows)
 

Patronage Committee (tentative)

Under the auspices of:

-      French Ministers  (Economy, Environment, Planning, Agriculture, Industry)

-         Chancellor University Paul Cézanne  Aix-Marseille

-         Commissaire D.G. Environment EU

-         Chairman of French Mayors Association

-         Secretary General Council of Europe

-         Chairman European Landowners Organisation

-          Chairman of Regional Chamber of Commerce....

 

Key participants figures (confirmed to date*)

-         Christian. de Perthuis*, Nathalie. Kosciusko-Morizet*, Henri. de Castries, Alain Madelin*, Bruce Yandle*, Brice Lalonde, Margo Thorning*, Corrado Clini*., Christian. Stoffaes*, Jacques. Pélissard, Denny. Ellerman*,  Charlotte Streck*.... .

 

Contributors (tentative) (confirmed to date*)

 

-         Agerup M. Center for Political Studies (Denmark)*

-         Baron,  R., Agence Internationale de l’Energie  

-         Bate,  R., American Enterprise Institute (Washington)*

-         Boitel C, Attorney (Nice, Paris)*

-         Carol, T. Powernext*

-         Clini C. (Minitry of Environment, Italy)*

-         Cole, D. (Indiana University*)

-         De Alessi M. Reason Foundation (Los Angeles)*

-         Dejean-Pons M., Council of Europe*

-         Desrochers, P. University of Toronto*

-         Dolan, E. G. Stockholm School of Economics

-         Ebell M. Competitive Enterprise Institute*

-         Ellerman, D, APREC and  MIT*

-         Escaille Thierry (de l’) European Landowners Organisation*

-         Germa, Ph. Natixis*

-         Gérondeau, C.  Fédération Automobiles Club*

-         Gires J.-M. Total

-         Godard, O., CNRS-Ecole Polytechnique

-         Goklany, I. US Department of the Interior*

-         Hayward St., American Enterpise Institute*

-         Hernu P., Ecologie Bleue*

-         Hopkins L. University of Illinois / Lincoln Institute of Land Policy*

-         Jones, Tom OCDE/ OECD* 

-         Kohler, P., Journalist*

-         Le Gall C., ADEME

-         Meunier,  Ph. Mission Interministérielle sur l’Effet de Serre

-         Mocilnikar A.-T., Délégué Interministériel au Développement Durable*

-         Morris, J., and/or Kendra Okonski  International Policy Network (Londres)*

-         Mountford,  H., OCDE/ OECD* 

-         Pélissard, J., Association des Maires de France

-         Pennequin G. DIACT-DATAR*

-         Prudhomme R., Economiste , Université de Paris*

-         Raufer R., Energy and Environmental Management (Philadelphia)*

-         Sagoff, M. University of Maryland*

-         Sandor R., Chicago Climate Exchange

-         Sayer, M. CLA (Londres)*

-         Stagnaro, C. Istituto Bruno Leoni*

-         Streck C., Climate Focus*

-         Thorning M. American Council for Capital Formation*

-         Yandle  B., Clemson University*

 

Institutions (tentative)

 

-     ADEME (Agence de l’Environnement et de la Maîtrise de l’Energie)

-         Agence de l’Eau

-         Agence Française de Développement

-         Agence Internationale de l’Energie

-         American Enterprise Institute

-           Association des Maires de France

-           Association for Promoting Research on Carbon Economy (APREC)

-           Axa Insurance Protection Financière

-           Bouches du Rhône County Council

-           Caisse des Dépôts et Consignation/APREC

-           Carbon Disclosure Project

-           Chambre de Commerce et d’Industrie Provence

-           Climate Focus

-           Compagnie des Salins du Midi

-           Competitive Enterprise Institute

-           Council of Europe (Strasbourg)

-           Davos Climate Alliance

-           DIACT-DATAR

-           Ecologie Bleue

-           Electricité de France

-           Entreprise pour l’Environnement

-           EuroMed-Ecole de Management

-           European Carbon Fund

-           European Commission

-           European Landowners Association (Brussels)

-           European Partners for the Environment (Bruxelles)

-           FAES (Madrid)

-           Fédération Internationale des Automobiles Club

-           Fondation pour l’Innovation Politique

-           Forestiers Privés de France

-           France Action Locale

-           Gaz de France

-           Institut de l’Entreprise

-           International Association for the Study of Common Property

-           International Policy Network (London)

-           Istituto Bruno Leoni

-           IUCN/UICN International Union for Conservation of Nature (Suisse)

-           Ministère de l’Agriculture

-           Ministère de l’Ecologie du Développement et de l’Aménagement Durable

-           Ministère de l’Industrie

-           Montreal Economic Institute (Canada)

-           National Center for Policy Research (Washington)

-           Natixis

-           OCDE/OECD (Paris)

-           Pays d’Aix Local Government

-           Powernext

-           Property and Economic Research Center-PERC

-           Provence, Alpes, Côte d’Azur Regional Government

-           Reason Foundation (Los Angeles)

-           Société des Agriculteurs de France (Paris)

-           Swiss Re

-           Total Corporation

-           UNESCO (Paris)

-           Université Paul Cézanne…