Scientists Urge Global Action on Clean Energy

From today's NYTimes

More Climate Economics

Professor Anderson passes along a good read in today's NYT.

Hog Heaven

Last week in class I was telling you all about the pleasantries of Hog farms in NC. One of the ideas I mentioned, in the context of our energy acquisition/dissipation model, was turning waste into an energy input. Well, check this out- Pig Poop Economics.

Enjoy your break. JC

Climate Federalism

is this what the founding fathers had in mind? Hopefully this kind of action will force the hand of the feds to act internationally on our behalf.

International Climate Agreement

What do you make of this?

Not Exactly a Crazy Liberal

As most of you are now aware climate alarmists are a group of deranged liberals who want to ruin the US economy. Clearly we are deranged, because we want to do things to harm ourselves and our children (SARC). Well, check out the latest member of the Pigou Club.

SARC is the universal blogger signal for sarcasm.

JC

More on Climate Change Economics

I direct you to N. Gregory Mankiw's blog for a look at three new articles by three very good economists. We may read the Weitzman piece for the week after Feb. break.

JC

Buy Your Tickets Now!

Based on this article I am thinking about starting my own futures exchange for air travel.

Latest IPCC Report

I must admit I did not sleep well last night, but I tend to be a worry wart - here is the summary for Policymakers .

We will probably read this during the last week on energy and climate change while we discuss policy option.

Carbon Emissions Data

The World Resources Institute has some great data and graphics that we will use in class today.

WRI

and for more carbon emissions data check out the Top 20.

Can trade improve environmental quality?

I think so. Check out today's story in the WSJ.

Notice the tariff and the subsidy for US farmers and imagine how much we would import from Brazil without them.

Run for your lives!!!

Was it Pink Floyd who said "there's nowhere to run to baby" It looks like the latest IPCC report will induce even more anxiety.

Energy, Energy , Energy...

Here are three useful websites for this section of the course:

Oil Imports

Oil reserves

BP Energy Analysis 2006

Hydrogen on the Horizon

The other day in class I was making bold predictions about the future of hydrogen energy and how it had the potential to completely change your lives. Seems I am not the only one, as Tim Haab has been predicting similar changes. And it looks like we might be on to something.

Alternative Energy

An interesting article in the NYTimes. Can you think of an economic argument for increasing our expenditures on R&D in the area of alternative fuels?

Pigou - Can you?

Apparently the idea of using taxes to curb gasoline consumption is catching on. Take a look at this morning's Marketplace on NPR. There is also a new web site for Pigouvians. And as always the former chair of the council of economic advisors for President Bush is a voice for change.

We will be making heavy use of the Pigouvian tax idea for the next few weeks - And I am very much looking forward to your comments, both in and out of class. Keep up the great work!!

The General

surprise, surprise

Did you ever think you would see this on the cover of the Wall Street Journal . The global warming debate is shifting from science to economics, so says Jeffrey Ball at the WSJ. Why do you think this is happening?

Evidence from China

Here is a story from China about the costs of environmental degradation and what it will cost to clean up the mess. I wonder if this is an example of the Environmental Kuznets Curve at work or wise policy makers looking at a bleak future and recognizing the importance of investing in natural and environmental capital for future well-being. What do you think?

More on Green = Green

So you don't think improving the quality of the environment can increase economic growth - well Jeff Sachs thinks differently. I happen to agree with Jeff that we need to start thinking about the environment as a primary input to production and not some luxury good we can afford once we have enough income.

Here is a link to another study suggesting that air pollution can reduce productivity.

Maybe Kermit the Frog was wrong.

Perhaps it is easy being green. Check out this story from Charlotte, NC.