🌍 The XI AERNA Conference 2024 brought global experts to NovaSBE to discuss key issues in environmental economics. Special congrats to Luisa Nobre for winning the Best Young Researcher Award for her paper on regulatory impacts in hydroelectric production.
In September 2024, the XI AERNA Conference was hosted at Nova School of Business and Economics in Carcavelos, Portugal. Organized by the Environmental Economics Knowledge Center in collaboration with the Spanish-Portuguese Association of Natural Resource and Environmental Economics (AERNA), the conference brought together researchers, policymakers, and industry professionals from around the world to address critical global environmental challenges.The conference centered around urgent topics such as climate change, sustainable resource management, and energy transitions, offering a platform for key discussions on the circular economy and the Water-Energy-Food (WEF) Nexus.
The conference featured two influential keynote addresses:
- Prof. Nicolai V. Kuminoff delivered a talk titled "Socially Efficient Menu Design: Evidence from Electricity Markets", where he explored the complex trade-offs in electricity markets and how socially efficient market designs can promote sustainability and affordability.
- Prof. Inês M. Azevedo, from Stanford University, captivated the audience with her keynote, "Understanding the Real Costs and Emissions Implications of Climate Mitigation Strategies in the Electricity Sector". Her presentation focused on the profound effects of climate mitigation policies, emphasizing the need to account for both economic and environmental costs in global decarbonization efforts.
These presentations laid the groundwork for dynamic discussions throughout the conference, exploring how economics can inform environmental policies that support a sustainable global future.
A key highlight of the XI AERNA Conference was the MED-AERNA Roundtable on “Climate Change and the Water-Energy-Food (WEF) Nexus: Challenges for Long-Term Stability in the Mediterranean Area.” Chaired by Prof. Simone Borghesi from the University of Siena, this session explored how climate change exacerbates the interconnections between water, energy, and food security in the Mediterranean region.
The roundtable discussion underscored the critical need for integrated and region-specific policies to address these interconnected vulnerabilities. Emphasizing the urgency of regional collaboration, the session called for comprehensive strategies to mitigate climate change impacts on the Mediterranean's water and food systems.
The panel featured insights from distinguished experts:
- Dr. Haithem Bahri (INRGREF, Tunisia), who discussed rising water scarcity in North Africa.
- Prof. Begüm Özkaynak (Bogazici University, Turkey), sharing sustainable energy policy approaches.
- Dr. Amandine Pastor (INRAE, France), focusing on agricultural vulnerabilities under climate pressure.
This session highlighted the importance of coordinated regional efforts to address the climate-related chall enges facing the Mediterranean.
Participants also engaged in parallel sessions that explored a diverse range of environmental economics topics. These sessions allowed emerging researchers to present their work across various themes such as:
- Environmental Valuation
- Climate Change and Extreme Events
- Air Pollution
- Forestry and Agriculture Policy
- Waste Management
- Energy Transition
- Environmental Agreements
These discussions underscored the interdisciplinary nature of environmental economics and the importance of cross-sectoral solutions to complex global issues.
The XI AERNA Conference 2024 celebrated several significant contributions to the field of environmental and resource economics. Luisa Nobre, from the Environmental Economics Knowledge Center, received the Best Young Researcher Paper Award for her paper titled “Tightening the Regulatory Framework: Assessing the Anticipatory Effects in Hydroelectric Production in Portugal.” Nobre’s innovative research offers a detailed examination of how regulatory changes influence hydroelectric production and broader environmental impacts, particularly focusing on the role of regulatory tightening in driving sustainability in energy systems. In addition, the conference awarded the First Edition of the AERNA Awards for the best PhD and Master’s theses (2020-2021 and 2021-2022). Francesca Tomori (Universitat Rovira i Virgili) and Tobias Albrecht (Universitat de Barcelona) were honored for their exceptional contributions in these categories, underscoring the quality of emerging research in environmental economics. Their work advances understanding in critical areas like resource management and environmental policy.
The XI AERNA Conference concluded with a focus on fostering ongoing collaboration and dialogue among researchers, policymakers, and industry stakeholders. The event underscored the pivotal role of environmental economics in addressing the world’s sustainability challenges, emphasizing the need for cross-disciplinary approaches to tackling issues such as climate change, resource depletion, and environmental degradation.
For more information on the conference and future initiatives, visit the official AERNA 2024 website here.
Stay connected with the Environmental Economics Knowledge Center at Nova SBE for updates on upcoming events and research projects shaping a sustainable future.