title: Migrant remittances, Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7 and energy poverty in Sri Lanka

authors: Wijayarathne, Sandamali

subjects: Remittances

abstract: Modern, clean energy is seen as the golden thread that connects economic growth, human development, and environmental sustainability. However, almost 2.4 billion people worldwide still use solid fuels for cooking, exacerbating energy poverty and endangering human health and the environment. Therefore, this thesis investigated the non-price determinants of cooking fuel choice, including the causal relationship between migrant remittances and both cooking fuel choice and energy poverty. Sri Lanka was used as a case study, using more than 78,000 households from four waves of the Household Income and Expenditure survey from 2009 – 2019. Specifically, this thesis includes three empirical studies and one policy paper related to remittances and energy consumption.

The first study found that household income, household wealth, household head’s characteristics (age, marital status and education), education of spouse, household characteristics (household size and number of children under 5), housing characteristics (number of bedrooms, drinking water source, and housing material), and residential sector (urban vs rural) were significant for selecting clean fuel for cooking, using multinomial logistic analysis. Moreover, the Advanced sustainability analysis showed a strong synergy between SDG 7 (clean energy), SDG 6 (Clean water), and SDG 4 (quality education).

The second study investigated the relationship between migrant remittances and cooking fuel choice by taking household wealth as a mediating variable. Using the propensity score matching method the study found that migrants used about 5.7% more clean fuels for cooking than non-migrant households. Furthermore, the control function approach found that a 1% increase in remittances increased clean cooking fuel use by 0.034 units, and instrumental variable (IV) mediation analysis indicated that household wealth significantly mediated this relationship.

The third study further explored the link between migrant remittances and energy poverty, using income inequality as the mediating variable. Two-Stage-Least-Squares (2SLS) regression results showed that a 10% increase in remittances decreased energy poverty by 0.042 units, while IV mediation analysis indicated that income inequality significantly mediated this relationship.

The final study examined the causes and economic implications of Sri Lanka's current energy crisis, its effect on energy poverty and the attainment of SDG 7. Specifically, the findings of the second and third studies were used to forecast the impact of a decline in migrant remittances of 40% due to the crisis on clean cooking fuel use and energy poverty. A 40% drop in remittances could reduce clean cooking fuel consumption by 0.16 units and increase energy poverty by 0.0016 units. The study concluded that Sri Lanka should encourage migrant remittances to enhance the use of clean cooking fuels and minimize energy poverty in light of the current energy crisis.

text: Migrant remittances, Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7 and energy poverty in Sri Lanka Modern, clean energy is seen as the golden thread that connects economic growth, human development, and environmental sustainability. However, almost 2.4 billion people worldwide still use solid fuels for cooking, exacerbating energy poverty and endangering human health and the environment. Therefore, this thesis investigated the non-price determinants of cooking fuel choice, including the causal relationship between migrant remittances and both cooking fuel choice and energy poverty. Sri Lanka was used as a case study, using more than 78,000 households from four waves of the Household Income and Expenditure survey from 2009 – 2019. Specifically, this thesis includes three empirical studies and one policy paper related to remittances and energy consumption.

The first study found that household income, household wealth, household head’s characteristics (age, marital status and education), education of spouse, household characteristics (household size and number of children under 5), housing characteristics (number of bedrooms, drinking water source, and housing material), and residential sector (urban vs rural) were significant for selecting clean fuel for cooking, using multinomial logistic analysis. Moreover, the Advanced sustainability analysis showed a strong synergy between SDG 7 (clean energy), SDG 6 (Clean water), and SDG 4 (quality education).

The second study investigated the relationship between migrant remittances and cooking fuel choice by taking household wealth as a mediating variable. Using the propensity score matching method the study found that migrants used about 5.7% more clean fuels for cooking than non-migrant households. Furthermore, the control function approach found that a 1% increase in remittances increased clean cooking fuel use by 0.034 units, and instrumental variable (IV) mediation analysis indicated that household wealth significantly mediated this relationship.

The third study further explored the link between migrant remittances and energy poverty, using income inequality as the mediating variable. Two-Stage-Least-Squares (2SLS) regression results showed that a 10% increase in remittances decreased energy poverty by 0.042 units, while IV mediation analysis indicated that income inequality significantly mediated this relationship.

The final study examined the causes and economic implications of Sri Lanka's current energy crisis, its effect on energy poverty and the attainment of SDG 7. Specifically, the findings of the second and third studies were used to forecast the impact of a decline in migrant remittances of 40% due to the crisis on clean cooking fuel use and energy poverty. A 40% drop in remittances could reduce clean cooking fuel consumption by 0.16 units and increase energy poverty by 0.0016 units. The study concluded that Sri Lanka should encourage migrant remittances to enhance the use of clean cooking fuels and minimize energy poverty in light of the current energy crisis.

year: 2024-04-16

title: Evaluating the impacts of an international phytosanitary standard for wood packaging material: Global and United States trade implications

authors: Strutt, Anna

subjects: Forest loss

abstract: Wood packaging material (WPM) is a significant pathway by which bark- and wood-boring insects move between countries. Recognising this threat, an international standard for the treatment of WPM (ISPM 15) is being implemented by many countries. In addition, the United States has considered application of similar requirements to WPM used in domestic and bilateral trade with Canada. We use a domestic margin-inclusive version of the Global Trade Analysis model to estimate the economic and trade impacts of ISPM 15, along with alternatives of varying stringency. We also estimate the economic impacts of one of the benefits of ISPM 15; averted United States forest owner timber losses. ISPM 15 is likely to have a small, negative effect on exports and economic welfare for most countries. However, there is significant regional and sectoral variation, depending on the product mix traded. If ISPM 15 requirements are extended to United States domestic trade, the impacts on the United States are stronger. Inclusion of averted United States timber losses partly, but not completely, offset welfare and trade impacts of the ISPM 15 treatment. These results must be tempered with the additional benefits of ISPM 15 in terms of potential averted household and environmental damages.

text: Evaluating the impacts of an international phytosanitary standard for wood packaging material: Global and United States trade implications Wood packaging material (WPM) is a significant pathway by which bark- and wood-boring insects move between countries. Recognising this threat, an international standard for the treatment of WPM (ISPM 15) is being implemented by many countries. In addition, the United States has considered application of similar requirements to WPM used in domestic and bilateral trade with Canada. We use a domestic margin-inclusive version of the Global Trade Analysis model to estimate the economic and trade impacts of ISPM 15, along with alternatives of varying stringency. We also estimate the economic impacts of one of the benefits of ISPM 15; averted United States forest owner timber losses. ISPM 15 is likely to have a small, negative effect on exports and economic welfare for most countries. However, there is significant regional and sectoral variation, depending on the product mix traded. If ISPM 15 requirements are extended to United States domestic trade, the impacts on the United States are stronger. Inclusion of averted United States timber losses partly, but not completely, offset welfare and trade impacts of the ISPM 15 treatment. These results must be tempered with the additional benefits of ISPM 15 in terms of potential averted household and environmental damages.

year: 2013

title: 'Freedom’s Ramparts on The Sea': The postcolonial New Zealand landscape and the quest for sustainability

authors: Morad, Munir

subjects: postcolonialism

abstract: New Zealand’s colonial legacy has had a major impact on the shape of its landscape. The European settlement of New Zealand transformed both the land itself as well as the tenure arrangements that had hitherto followed traditional Maori practices. The increasing political influence of the modem conservation movement in New Zealand has been mirrored by a parallel rise in Maori engagement with environmental issues. Land tenure claims brought by the Maori under the 1970’s Treaty of Waitangi Act have enabled an alliance of Maori and environmental interests to be forged. This linkage however is very recent, and if the current unsustainable land use practices are to be mitigated in New Zealand, a synthesis of the essential elements in both cultural traditions is necessary.
Culture shapes how people identify and evaluate elements of their environment, and influences their behaviour and experiences. At a more pragmatic level, culture provides the social infrastructure and institutions that determine how renewable land resources are used and managed. The authors highlight the links between postcolonial culture and landscape management in New Zealand, contrasting Pakeha-Maori points of view and attempting to mediate between these conflicting positions. These links are examined in the context of new social, economic and ecological forces that are shaping the country’s postcolonial landscape.

text: 'Freedom’s Ramparts on The Sea': The postcolonial New Zealand landscape and the quest for sustainability New Zealand’s colonial legacy has had a major impact on the shape of its landscape. The European settlement of New Zealand transformed both the land itself as well as the tenure arrangements that had hitherto followed traditional Maori practices. The increasing political influence of the modem conservation movement in New Zealand has been mirrored by a parallel rise in Maori engagement with environmental issues. Land tenure claims brought by the Maori under the 1970’s Treaty of Waitangi Act have enabled an alliance of Maori and environmental interests to be forged. This linkage however is very recent, and if the current unsustainable land use practices are to be mitigated in New Zealand, a synthesis of the essential elements in both cultural traditions is necessary.
Culture shapes how people identify and evaluate elements of their environment, and influences their behaviour and experiences. At a more pragmatic level, culture provides the social infrastructure and institutions that determine how renewable land resources are used and managed. The authors highlight the links between postcolonial culture and landscape management in New Zealand, contrasting Pakeha-Maori points of view and attempting to mediate between these conflicting positions. These links are examined in the context of new social, economic and ecological forces that are shaping the country’s postcolonial landscape.

year: 2003