Browse by: "PRE-2005"

In recent years, a significant number of OECD member countries have introduced initiatives to reduce the environmentally damaging effects of public procurement.  Many countries have introduced "greener public purchasing" (GPP) policies in order to increase the recycled content of products or achieve specified levels of energy efficiency in capital equipment.  This book examines these issues in detail.  It is the outcome of a Workshop on "Greener Public Purchasing", held at the Austrian Ministry of the Environment in Vienna in October 2001.

This is the second edition of the International Energy Agency's annual publication of data on the use of renewables and waste. The first part of the publication features an analysis of renewable and waste energy in OECD and non-OECD countries. The second part covers principles and definitions, and includes general notes, notes on energy sources, country notes, geographical coverage, as well as conversion tables. The third part provides detailed statistical tables for eight regional aggregates and for each of the thirty OECD countries.

Proceedings of the OECD Workshop on Environmentally Harmful Subsidies, November 2002. For the first time, experts from a variety of backgrounds (government, academics, researchers and representatives of international organisations and civil society) had the opportunity to take stock of and share technical knowledge of subsidies and their environmental impacts. They addressed these issues in the context of such diverse areas as agriculture, fisheries, energy, industry, transport, forestry and water resources

The decommissioning of nuclear power plants is a topic of increasing interest to governments and the industry as many nuclear units approach retirement. This report, based upon data provided by 26 countries and analysed by government and industry experts, covers a variety of reactor types and sizes. The findings on decommissioning cost elements and driving factors in their variance will be of interest to analysts and policy makers in the nuclear energy field.

This glossary integrates a wealth of policy, legal, management and technical terms that were selected according to one key criterion: each of them had to be used in environmental compliance promotion and enforcement or have significance for this field. The glossary is designed to assist in achieving a shared vision of strengthening compliance assurance efforts. It is for policy and law makers, inspectors, government officials, NGOs and academics, consultants, etc. - all those engaged with enforcement and compliance promotion activities.

Cet ouvrage explore les répercussions de l’évolution des grands risques depuis ces dernières années sur l’économie et la société du XXIe siècle en matière de catastrophes naturelles, maladies nouvelles, attentats terroristes et perturbations majeures d’infrastructures essentielles en s’intéressant à un éventuel accroissement de la vulnérabilité des grands systèmes. Cette publication privilégie cinq grands groupes de risques : les catastrophes naturelles, les accidents technologiques, les maladies infectieuses, la sécurité alimentaire et le terrorisme. Il propose aux pouvoirs publics et au secteur privé un certain nombre de recommandations susceptibles d’améliorer la gestion des risques systémiques émergents.

Ce rapport consacré au Pays-Bas évalue les progrès accomplis ou à faire dans la réduction de la charge polluante, la gestion des ressources naturelles, l'intégration des politiques économique et environnementale et le renforcement de la coopération internationale.Les analyses s'appuient sur un large ensemble de données économiques et environnementales.

Relatively little has been done by governments to facilitate the essential flows of goods in urban areas and to reduce the adverse impacts of urban goods transport on the communities served. This has resulted in increasing problems associated with goods delivery including competition with passenger transport for access to road infrastructure and space for parking/delivery facilities. How should OECD countries deal with the challenges they face in this area? This report analyses measures taken in many cities and provides recommendations for dealing with these challenges.

This book explores the interface between environmental and social elements of water pricing policies in OECD countries.  It focuses on affordability of water services and social measures aimed at resolving these affordability problems.  The book considers how environmental and social safeguards are addressed under different models of water utility ownership and management.  Drawing on a case study in Mexico, the book explores social problems associated with the transition from one level of water service provision to another.

Cet ouvrage examine les liens entre les aspects environnementaux et sociaux des politiques de tarification de l’eau dans les pays de l’OCDE. Il met l’accent sur l’accessibilité financière des services et sur les mesures sociales visant à résoudre les problèmes qu’elle soulève. Il examine les mesures de protection sociale et environnementale prévues dans le cadre de différents régimes de propriété et modes de gestion des compagnies des eaux. Sur la base d’une étude de cas concernant le Mexique, il traite des problèmes sociaux posés par la transition entre un niveau de services donné et un autre.

Ce rapport fournit une évaluation de l’utilisation des approches volontaires en s’appuyant sur plusieurs études de cas ainsi que sur une recherche approfondie de la littérature existante. L’analyse est centrée sur l’efficacité environnementale, l’efficience économique et les coûts d’administration liés aux approches volontaires utilisées soit seules, soit en tant qu’élément de combinaisons de moyens d’action.

Do voluntary approaches deliver the expected environmental benefits?  Do they help reach environmental targets in a cost-effective way?  This report provides an assessment of the use of voluntary approaches building on a number of new case studies.  Analysis is on the environmental effectiveness, economic efficiency and the administrative costs either used in isolation or as part of “policy mixes”.  The book concludes that the environmental effectiveness of voluntary approaches is often questionable, and their economic efficiency is generally low.

This book is a collection of papers from the OECD meeting on Agri-biodiversity Indicators held jointly with the EU and international organisations in November 2001, in Zurich-Rechkenhols, Switzerland. A key outcome was to establish a common agri-biodiversity framework that helps understand the complexity of agri-biodiversity linkages. Papers cover the following topics; agricultural genetic resources, wild species, ecosytems, linking habitats to species and an overview of agri-biodiversity indicators. It includes a set of recommendations to OECD with respect to agri-biodiversity.

The economic performance of organic farms is mixed, with considerable variation in the yields achieved and the premiums received for products within and across OECD countries. This publication reveals that organic agriculture is disadvantaged by current agricultural support policies, and the proliferation of standards and labels has sometimes confused consumers and impeded trade. A key policy challenge is to ensure that both the positive and negative externalities of different agricultural production systems are taken into account.

The private provision of biodiversity products and services is proving to be quite feasible in some circumstances.  Some biodiversity products and services are already being profitably marketed. Private markets also need to be supported by appropriate public policies. This publication provides a conceptual framework for market creation in the biodiversity policy arena, as well as several examples of where the use of markets can assist policy makers in the search for more sustainable use and conservation of biodiversity.

Les pouvoirs publics et les opérateurs du secteur privé s’accordent de plus en plus à reconnaître qu’il est possible de stopper l’érosion de la biodiversité en mobilisant les marchés. Certains de ces produits et services sont déjà commercialisés et procurent des bénéfices. Le fonctionnement des marchés privés doit par ailleurs être appuyé par des politiques publiques appropriées. Ce rapport propose un cadre conceptuel pour la création de marchés dans le domaine de la biodiversité ainsi que plusieurs exemples permettant d’exploiter plus durablement la biodiversité.

This review of the Netherland's environmental conditions and policies evaluates progress in reducing the pollution burden, improving natural resource management, integrating environmental and economic policies, and strengthening international co-operation. The analyses presented are supported by a broad range of economic and environmental data.