Environmental and Energy Economics (EEE) Program

The Program studies the interaction between the natural environment and economics while focusing particularly on the energy sector and the socio-economic aspects related to marine, coastal and land resources. The Program works towards demonstrating that economic and environmental goals can be reached concurrently through sound management and valuation of natural assets.

Program’s objectives
Drawing on the backgrounds of the IOE, the EEE:

• - Valorizes natural assets within sustainable management approaches.
• - Assesses direct and indirect values of natural resources.
• - Elucidates the interactions between the environment and economics to develop appropriate policies to tackle environmental issues in the short, medium and long terms.
• - Increases capacities of local authorities in facing energy sustainability challenges.
• - Implements applied research and development activities in the fields of renewable energy and energy economics.
• - Contributes to the science of environmental/economic impact evaluation tools with emphasis on Life Cycle Assessment approaches.
• - Contributes to increasing green job opportunities.

Themes of interest

• - Economic valuation of natural resources and ecosystem services.
• - Economic valuation and social assessment of unmanaged decisions and uncontrolled human behavior.
• - Socio-economic status and wellbeing of communities.
• - Database development on the economic values of natural resources and ecosystem services.
• - Renewable energy, its introduction and sustainability.
• - Feasibility studies and business plans for environmental projects.