Costs of inaction on key environmental challenges.
Contributors: Johnstone, Nick, 1965-; Hascic, Ivan.; Jones, Tom.; Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.; SourceOECD (Online service)
Publisher: OECD
Published: 2008
Place of publication: Paris
Language: eng
Number of pages: 213
ISBN-13: 9789264045774
Subjects: Environmental policy -- Costs.; Environmental economics.; Environmental policy -- Economic aspects.
Other titles: Coûts de l'inaction sur des défis environnementaux importants.
Description: Countries today face numerous environmental policy challenges, such as climate change, air and water pollution, natural-resource management, natural disasters and environment-related hazards. The costs of not responding to them can be considerable, in some cases representing a significant drag on OECD economies. Estimation of these costs can be an important part of identifying areas in which policy interventions are required, as well as of establishing priorities for future action. There is, however, considerable uncertainty associated with all stages of "costing" the impacts of  environmental and resource degradation. Even when the costs of inaction are deemed important, identifying the areas where environmental policies need to be strengthened still requires careful comparison between the marginal costs of inaction versus action. This report provides introductory perspectives on the costs of inaction and discusses some of the future problems likely to be encountered in this very complex area.
Notes: Also available in French under the title: Coûts de l'inaction sur des défis environnementaux importants.

"The report was drafted by Nick Johnstone, Ivan Hascic, and Tom Jones"--Foreword.

Includes bibliographical references.