Topic: European experiences on environmental policy instruments: nature-based solutions and pesticide taxation

Time: 15:30-17:00, May 26, 2023 (Friday)

Venue:1101. Third Teaching Building, Tsinghua University

Speaker: Researcher Anders B. Pedersen of Aarhus University, Denmark

Introduction to the Lecture:

Designing and implementing effective environmental policy instruments is a prerequisite for sustainable development. This presentation will address a) recent experiences from Europe on decision-making regarding nature-based solutions (NBS), b) some results of an evaluation on the effects of the Danish pesticide tax:

·According to IUCN, “[NBS] are actions to protect, sustainably manage, and restore natural and modified ecosystems that address societal challenges effectively and adaptively, simultaneously benefiting people and nature” (https://www.iucn.org/our-work/nature-based-solutions). NBS is still a relatively new concept (coined in the start of the 2000s) and it is therefore relevant to analyze experiences on enablers and barriers for NBS.

·The Danish pesticide tax was re-designed in 2013 and aimed at a 40 pct reduction in the load of pesticides to e.g. avoid negative effects on non-target organisms, human health and to protect the groundwater. Taxes are differentiated for each pesticide product according to the environmental load of the product.

Profile of the Speaker:

Anders Branth Pedersen is Senior Researcher (Political Science) and Head of the Section of Environmental Social Science & Geography at the Department of Environmental Science, Aarhus University, Denmark. His core research interests are environmental policy analyses and environmental governance at EU/national/regional/local level, e.g. through analyses of the effectiveness of environmental policies and policy instruments, target group behavior, analyses of implementation barriers/possibilities and analyses of multi-level environmental governance. As an experienced PI he has a broad network of research and professional contacts nationally/internationally which e.g. built upon participation in >40 funded national/international research projects. ABP has collaborated in international research projects with >100 research institutions/consultancies across Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia. He is a member of the International Advisory Board at Journal of Environmental Policy and Planning (Taylor & Francis). ABP teaches master-level courses in environmental governance at Aarhus University (since 2001), and studies implementation problems in water and environmental policies at the University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China (since 2013).