Economics for Equity and the Environment Network

Economics for Equity and the Environment Network, commonly known as E3, is a network of economists focused on environmental issues through the lens of social equity. Based in Portland, Oregon, E3 was established in 2007 by Kristen Sheeran, Frank Ackerman, James Boyce, Eban Goodstein, and Astrid Scholz. Its stated purpose is twofold: to develop stronger theories and applied research within economics, and to bring progressive environmental economists more actively into public-policy development. E3 operates as a professional and policy-oriented network rather than as a conventional consumer brand. Its work connects academic economics with environmental organizations, journalists, public officials, students, and other participants in policy debates. The network promotes what it describes as engaged, practical economics: research intended not only for scholarly publication but also for use in debates over climate change, environmental regulation, resource management, and social justice. One of its principal programs is the Green Economist Directory, a searchable listing of more than 150 economists organized by state of residence and area of expertise. Participation is associated with a statement of principles emphasizing that a clean and safe environment is a basic right, that environmental protection and social justice are inseparable, and that contemporary environmental problems require alternatives to strongly anti-regulatory or anti-reform approaches in public-policy discussions. Through the directory and related activities, E3 helps connect economists with nongovernmental organizations, media outlets, and decision makers seeking economic analysis in support of environmental protection. The network also supports the development of younger researchers. Its activities for graduate students have included workshops, internships, and dissertation fellowships intended to encourage applied economic research on environmental questions. This educational role complements E3’s broader effort to expand the visibility and practical influence of environmental and ecological economics. Climate policy has been a prominent area of E3 activity. Its climate task force has contributed research and public commentary to debates concerning the economics of global warming. Members have testified before the United States Congress and the European Parliament, presented work at professional and scientific forums, and taken part in press events organized by environmental groups. The task force’s Real Climate Economics project launched in May 2009 and provided another platform for communicating economic perspectives on climate policy. E3 has been associated with organizations including Ecotrust, the Stockholm Environment Institute, and the Political Economy Research Institute at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Its identity is therefore best understood as that of a mission-driven research and policy network: it provides intellectual coordination, expert access, public communication, and educational opportunities around the relationship between environmental sustainability, economics, and equity.

Economics for Equity and the Environment Network was founded in 2007 by Kristen Sheeran, Frank Ackerman, James Boyce, Eban Goodstein, and Astrid Scholz. The founders sought to strengthen environmental and ecological economics while making progressive economists more directly useful in public-policy work. The organization emerged around the view that environmental questions cannot be separated from distributional consequences, social justice, and the political choices embedded in economic analysis. E3’s model is based on networking and applied research. Rather than functioning primarily as a university department or a conventional consulting firm, it brings together economists whose work addresses environmental protection and equity. The network helps place those experts in contact with nongovernmental organizations, journalists, and government decision makers. Its members publish through academic journals, books, newspapers, and other public-facing channels, allowing economic arguments to circulate across both scholarly and policy audiences. A central initiative has been the Green Economist Directory. The directory offers a searchable way to identify economists by location and area of expertise. More than 150 economists have been associated with the directory, whose participants agree to principles emphasizing environmental safety as a basic right, the connection between ecological protection and social justice, and the need for policy approaches beyond anti-regulatory or anti-reform positions. The directory gives E3 a practical role as a source of expert contacts and helps make environmental-economic expertise more accessible to outside organizations. E3 has also worked to develop the next generation of applied researchers. Workshops, internships, and dissertation fellowships have encouraged graduate students in economics to engage with environmental problems and policy applications. This educational work supports the network’s broader goal of changing the incentives and assumptions that shape economic research and public debate. Climate change has been a major subject of E3’s public work. Its climate task force contributed to discussions about the economic dimensions of global warming and climate policy. Task-force economists testified before the United States Congress and the European Parliament and presented research at venues including the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the Pew Center on Global Climate Change, the American Economic Association, and the United States Society for Ecological Economics. They also participated in press conferences convened by environmental organizations such as the Natural Resources Defense Council, the Union of Concerned Scientists, and the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy. In May 2009, the climate task force launched Real Climate Economics, a project intended to communicate economic research on climate change to a wider audience. E3 has also been associated with Ecotrust, the Stockholm Environment Institute, and the Political Economy Research Institute at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Publicly available reference material does not identify a corporate parent, listed status, current executive team, or detailed financial structure. The network is therefore most accurately characterized as a mission-oriented environmental economics and policy organization headquartered in Portland, Oregon.

• 2009

  Real Climate Economics launches

  [1]Economics for Equity and the Environment Networken.wikipedia.org

  E3's climate task force launches the Real Climate Economics project in May to advance public discussion of the economics of global warming.

• 2007

  E3 is founded

  [1]Economics for Equity and the Environment Networken.wikipedia.org

  Kristen Sheeran, Frank Ackerman, James Boyce, Eban Goodstein, and Astrid Scholz establish the Economics for Equity and the Environment Network.

A progressive, policy-engaged network that connects environmental economics with social justice and practical climate-policy advocacy.

• Expert directory

  Green Economist Directory

  A searchable directory connecting users with more than 150 economists associated with E3's environmental and equity-oriented mission. Entries can be searched by state of residence and area of expertise. The directory is intended to help nongovernmental organizations, journalists, and public officials locate economists able to provide research, commentary, and policy analysis on environmental questions.

• Research and policy program

  Climate task force

  A network activity focused on the economic dimensions of climate change and global warming policy. Participating economists have contributed research, congressional and European Parliament testimony, conference presentations, and public communications intended to inform climate-policy debates.

• Public education and research platform · 2009

  Real Climate Economics

  A project launched by E3's climate task force in May 2009 to present economic perspectives on climate change and related policy choices. It extended the task force's work beyond academic and legislative venues into broader public communication.

• 2009Real Climate Economics

  United States · International climate-policy audience

  E3's climate task force created Real Climate Economics to communicate economic research about global warming and climate policy. The project formed part of the network's wider effort to make environmental economics more practical and accessible in public debate.

  Outcome. The project became an identified public-facing component of E3's climate-policy work; the available reference does not provide quantitative measures of reach or impact.

  Source

1. 1Economics for Equity and the Environment Networken.wikipedia.org