News from the Nicholas Institute
Subject line: News from the Nicholas Institute
NI Update, July 2, 2007
A brief roundup of news and information about the Nicholas Institute
for Environmental Policy Solutions at Duke University
1. ADDRESSING CLIMATE POLICY CONCERNS. The Nicholas Institute welcomes the announcement that two of Capitol Hill’s most respected leaders, Senators John Warner and Joseph Lieberman, are working to draft a bipartisan cap-and-trade bill to curb greenhouse gas emissions. To assist them and all other lawmakers working on climate policy, the Institute has engaged with Duke’s top economists and trade law experts to design solutions to valid concerns about containing the costs of the legislation, spurring federal investment in new technologies, allocating emissions allowances and leveling the playing field between U.S. companies and international competitors not operating under pollution limits. One example of our work, a paper that examines possible solutions to the issue of competitiveness, is online here > . For other examples, explore this Web site or contact us at nicholas.institute@duke.edu. You can read our statement about the Lieberman-Warner initiative here > .
2. D.C. SYMPOSIUM AIMS TO DE-MYSTIFY ECONOMIC MODELS. In the ongoing
climate policy debate, few tools are as critical, or complex, as
the models used to predict future economic impacts. Different models
predict different impacts. So how can policymakers, scientists,
environmental advocates and industry leaders tell which models,
if any, are the most reliable? The Nicholas Institute is hosting
a two-day symposium in Washington, D.C., on July 18-19 to help
make sense of it all. “Economic Modeling of Federal Climate Proposals:
Advancing Model Transparency and Technology Policy Development,”
will bring together dozens of top experts to address three goals:
To provide a transparent view of currents models and their analysis
of legislation; to identify strengths, weakness and needed improvements
in each model; and to identify targets for complementary technologies
policies. The event is geared for content providers and the policy
audience alike. Learn more here > .
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3. OFFSETS GUIDE NOW AVAILABLE. The Institute’s comprehensive new
guide for farmers, foresters and investors interested in profiting
from carbon markets is now available from Duke University Press.
“Harnessing Farms and Forests in the Low-Carbon Economy: How to
Create and Verify Greenhouse Gas Offsets” explains how changes
in land use and farming practices can help convert carbon storage
capacity and methane gas reductions into verifiable greenhouse
gas offsets that can be bought or sold in emissions markets. To
order the guide, go to www.dukeupress.edu.
To preview it online, go here > .
