Environment for Development
Environment for Development improves environmental policymaking in developing countries by building local capacity in environmental economics and generating high-caliber, objective, applied research.
Overview
Developing countries are now home to the world’s most pressing environmental and natural resource problems, including air and water pollution that sickens and kills millions of people each year and deforestation that causes biodiversity loss and climate change. Shortages of political, financial, and institutional resources often make it difficult to solve these problems using conventional regulatory tools. Overcoming these constraints requires both well-trained policy analysts and rigorous, objective research to guide policymaking.
The Environment for Development (EfD) Initiative aims to meet these needs. Led by the University of Gothenburg in Sweden, the EfD Initiative is a consortium of environmental economics research institutes in 12 countries: Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ethiopia, India, Kenya, South Africa, Sweden, Tanzania, Vietnam, and the United States. Each EfD center comprises a group of 10 to 30 EfD research fellows and most are based at leading universities.
RFF’s role in the EfD Initiative is to help build environmental economics capacity in the 10 developing country EfD centers through collaborative research. In addition, RFF helps disseminate EfD research products and facilitates access to policymakers. RFF’s EfD Program includes eight researchers who are collaborating with colleagues in over a dozen developing countries. Their research focuses on four themes:
- terrestrial ecosystems;
- transportation;
- climate and energy; and
- fisheries and water.
Learn more about RFF’s Environment for Development Program and access hundreds of EfD research products.
Highlights
Featured Content
- Highlights
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Common Resources — Apr 4, 2022
Managed Fires Can Help Mitigate the Risks Posed by Increasing Frequency of Wildfires
As damages from wildfires mount, mitigation is becoming ever more important to stanch increases in wildfire activity. Given the scale of need for effective forest management, managed wildfires—employed with care and consideration—can be a viable option.
Common Resources — Mar 16, 2022
“Can We Please Stop Talking about Energy Independence?”
As long as the United States participates in the global economy and enjoys the benefits that come with access to low-cost minerals, metals, and fuels produced abroad, it cannot—and should not—seek independence from the global energy system.
Press Release — Jun 18, 2019
New Episode of Resources Radio on Rural Energy Access
In this podcast, Subhrendu Pattanayak discusses ways rural energy access can be improved.
Resources Radio — Jun 18, 2019
Shedding Light on Rural Energy Access, with Subhrendu Pattanayak
Daniel Raimi talks with Subhrendu Pattanayak about electricity access for communities in hard-to-reach places.
Working Paper — Jun 7, 2019
Building Subway Systems and Improving Air Quality in China: New Evidence from Multiple Chinese Cities
Building Subway Systems and Improving Air Quality in China: New Evidence from Multiple Chinese Cities
Working Paper — May 16, 2018
Happy Collecting Water?
Measuring Hedonic Well-Being among Water Carriers in Rural Kenya
Working Paper — Mar 31, 2018
In Search of Urban Recreational Ecosystem Services in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
In Search of Urban Recreational Ecosystem Services in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Working Paper — Mar 15, 2018
Naturally Available Pollinator Decline Will Decrease Household Food Security and Increase the Gender Gap in Nutrition between Men and Women Who Head Smallholder Farm Households in Sub-Saharan Africa
Naturally Available Pollinator Decline Will Decrease Household Food Security and Increase the Gender Gap in Nutrition between Men and Women Who Head Smallholder Farm Households in Sub-Saharan Africa
Common Resources — Apr 4, 2022
Managed Fires Can Help Mitigate the Risks Posed by Increasing Frequency of Wildfires
As damages from wildfires mount, mitigation is becoming ever more important to stanch increases in wildfire activity. Given the scale of need for effective forest management, managed wildfires—employed with care and consideration—can be a viable option.
Common Resources — Mar 16, 2022
“Can We Please Stop Talking about Energy Independence?”
As long as the United States participates in the global economy and enjoys the benefits that come with access to low-cost minerals, metals, and fuels produced abroad, it cannot—and should not—seek independence from the global energy system.
Resources Radio — Jun 18, 2019
Shedding Light on Rural Energy Access, with Subhrendu Pattanayak
Daniel Raimi talks with Subhrendu Pattanayak about electricity access for communities in hard-to-reach places.
Resources Magazine — Jan 14, 2015
Green Growth for China?
Mun S. Ho and Zhongmin Wang trace China’s rapid economic growth and the associated environmental problems to its unique and fundamental institution...