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10.02.2012
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The Environment and Natural Resources

Research activities in the research area “The Environment and Natural Resources” focus on the allocation of environmental and natural resources. We investigate the factors influencing the increasing scarcity of natural resources. Moreover, we assess their impact on the allocation of production factors and on the changes they bring to the world economy. We evaluate international and national aspects of environmental policy measures and make proposals for rational and efficient use of environmental policy instruments. Traditionally, there is a strong focus on climate change and climate policy. The current research and policy advice themes are the following:

 

International Climate Policy

 

 International Environmental and Resource Policy

A (traditional) focus of the research area is on analyzing prevailing policy proposals at the European and international level. Policies that have been and are analyzed with respect to their effects and their optimal design are in particular the European emission trading scheme, policies associated with the Kyoto Protocol and possible Post-Kyoto long-term climate regimes.

Bioenergy and Land Use

Bioenergy and Land Use

 

The economic valuation and analysis of bioenergy is a focus in the research area already for some years. In this context, land use competition, for example, with food production is gaining importance.  Moreover, we have started a new project on "land-grabbing" in July 2010, which deals with large scale foreign land acquisitions in Africa and their impact on the local population.

Natural Resource Scarcity

Innovation, Technology Diffusion and Climate Policy

A new focus of the research area is on the causes and effects of scarcities in the supply of natural resources. The current topics include strategic resource exploitation (e.g. rare metals), management of fish stocks, determinants of energy efficiency in Germany, perspectives of marine mineral resources, etc.

Valuing the Ocean

Valuing the Ocean

The oceans play a central role in the earth's climate system. Yet, management options regarding the marine carbon cycle are rare in the economic analysis of climate change. The research area is concerned with this broad topic as part of the interdisciplinary Kiel Excellence Cluster "Future Ocean". It involves cooperation with the University of Kiel and with IFM-GEOMAR.

The Kiel Earth Institute (KEI)

KIE logo.png

The Kiel Earth Institute (KEI) is an initiative of the Leibniz Institute for Marine Sciences (IFM-GEOMAR) and the Kiel Institute. The KEI is a virtual research institution concerned with key issues of global change and its ecological and socio-economic consequences. Globalisation of economic activities, the scarcity of natural resources and a changing environment are challenges all modern societies have to face. The KEI aims to develop practical solutions addressing these challenges and communicating them to society.

 


Studing Environmental Economics at the University of Kiel

(please follow the links to see the up to date course information)

Courses: Environmental Economics; Environment, Development and Sustainability; Environmental Valuation. 

Courses: Resource Economics, Urban Economics, Theories of Distributive Justice. 

Courses: Environmental Economics.

Projects

Recent Publications