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Economics News Summaries
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Economics News Summaries
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EconNews Online is South-Western College Publishing's service to provide summaries of the latest economics news stories. Review the brief summaries and, for stories of interest, select the full summary. |
| Economics and the Environment | |
| Title | Brief Summary |
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Demographers used to think that the global fertility rate – the average number of children a woman will have in her lifetime – would fall below the population replacement rate by 2025. That’s already happened to about 45% of the global population. As a result, population growth will begin to shrink, but in some places of the world, population will actually decline. That may not be a great outcome. (Updated August, 2007) |
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Use of renewable energy is on the rise worldwide; in 2004, it is 13% of total energy consumption, dwarfed by coal-based and oil-based energy consumption, at 25% and 34%, respectively. What accounts for the increase? (Updated June, 2007) |
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Much talk about environmentally friendly practices has focused on replacing current fossil fuels with alternative energy sources, such as solar or wind power. However, there is an alternative: making your current machines use less electricity. (Updated June, 2007) |
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We all know that we should recycle. But many of us don’t recycle. What will make us recycle more? (Updated June, 2007) |
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Ten states in the Northeast have joined together to create the first cap-and-trade carbon emissions program in the US. Organized by then-NY governor George Pataki in 2003, the group extends from Maine to Maryland, and includes Pennsylvania as an observer. Other states around the nation are watching over the program as well. (Updated May, 2007) |
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The Vaquita, a porpoise that lives in the ocean waters between California and Mexico is facing extinction from fishermen's nets. Environmental groups want to help, but local fishermen don't want to see the end of their livelihood. (Updated February, 2007) |
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The President's State of the Union Address in January 2007 indicated that he is in favor of alternative fuels and preserving the environment. But the goals he suggests may not be as attainable as we think. (Updated February, 2007) |
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Portland, Oregon, is in an enviable position: The city is a leader in light rail urban transportation. In fact, its MAX system, begun over 20 years ago, is one of the country's largest systems with about 44 miles of track. Other cities are beginning to look at Portland's success, and are hoping to get on the successful train before it leaves the station. (Updated October, 2006) |
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Over the last few years, fishermen have seen the size of wild fish catches level off as more and more areas have been depleted of their natural resources.. To assist in providing the world its seafood, fisher folk have turned to fish farming--or growing domesticated versions of the wild fish formerly plentiful in the seas. Total fish produced on farms is beginning to catch up with the amount of wild fish brought to market. (Updated September, 2006) |
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Brazil has two things in abundance: the Amazon rainforest, and poor farmers who seek to own land. The Brazilian government recently enacted legislation to crack down on those who clear Amazonian rainforest for their own uses; the government also recognizes that poor farmers need to own resources if they are to climb out of grinding poverty. How do you balance the survival of both? Very delicately. (Updated June, 2006) |
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The cost of installing solar panels on one's house has been slowly falling, and the government's been helping to reduce the price. (Updated August, 2005) |
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The amount of money people must pay to use particular roads in the US is increasing this year. On over a third of American toll roads, rates are increasing anywhere from 5% to 100%. (Updated May, 2005) |
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British Petroleum (BP) PLC has come up with a plan to help reduce costs associated with global emissions compliance--don't reduce the carbon; just bury it. (Updated April, 2005) |
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The Bush Administration issued new rules designed to more efficiently manage the nation's 155 national forests, allowing regional forest managers to determine appropriate usage, such as logging, drilling, or cell-phone tower construction. (Updated April, 2005) |
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China is beginning to reconsider its draconian measures to curb population growth by restricting families to only one child. It is beginning to consider allowing families in some parts of the country to have two children if they wish. (Updated March, 2005) |
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The Bush Administration recently issued a statement that it would not consider removing dams along the Columbia and Snake Rivers in the Northwest U.S. to save 11 endangered salmon species. (Updated February 2005) |
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Arizona-based Global Research Technologies has a grand dream of saving the environment by using wind-powered machines to remove carbon monoxide from the air and storing the carbon in rocks or in the ground-leaving only oxygen to float in the atmosphere. (Updated December, 2004) |
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Investment firm Sustainable Asset Management, together with the Washington-based World Resources Institute, recently issued a report detailing the costs to automakers of complying with the environmental regulations expected within the next decade in the U.S., Europe, and Japan. And the report wasn't good. (Updated September, 2004) |
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The average cost of
a public university education will increase by about 9% next year, compared
to about 14% last year. The average private-university cost will increase
by about 6% for the 2004-05 academic year. (Updated August, 2004) |
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More and more builders
in the Boston area are efficiently using natural resources and energy in
mind. So-called "green" projects have gained encouragement not
only by the public sector, but by private firms and individuals as well. (Updated July, 2004) |
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Fish farming holds significant
promise as a means to eliminate hunger, but steps need to be taken to reduce
the external costs associated with aquaculture. (Updated November, 2003) |
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Japan's highway system
is made up entirely of toll roads. The only problem: The tolls are too high
for people to want to use the roads. (Updated October 17, 2003) |
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A proposal to create
a new runway at London's Heathrow Airport is based on dubious cost analyses
that do not consider the full costs, including environmental costs, of flying. (Updated September 10, 2003) |
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Airlines account for
3.5 percent of carbon dioxide emissions. One suggestion is to induce airlines
to replace long-haul flights with several short hops. Higher fuel taxes
would provide an incentive. (Updated April 1, 2002) |
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UK Government data indicate
that air pollution worsened in 1999 and people are dying prematurely due
to pollution. However, another study claims that toxic emissions from vehicles
are falling, and London compares favorably with other major world cities.
It cautions that the costs of air pollution standards may outweigh the gains. (Updated April 1, 2000) |
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Corporate Average Fuel
Economy rules require each auto maker to sell a mix of vehicles that meets
a minimum fuel efficiency standard. Some foreign producers of large cars
treat the fines as a cost of doing business, while US firms try to avoid
being prosecuted because of possible lawsuits from angry shareholders. (Updated August 1, 1999) |
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