Environmental Economics and Investment Assessment

The current emphasis on sustainable development, arising from the need to solve numerous environmental problems associated with our modern society, has resulted in the need to assess the impact of economic investments on the environment. There is a widely held assumption that it is difficult to achieve enterprise growth in an environmentally friendly manner. This paradigm, usually associated with developed countries, is now affecting all other regions of the globe. The main question being, is the development of enterprise compatible with environmental protection? Originally presented at the Second International Conference on Environmental Economics and Investment Assessment, the papers contained in this book address this problem of primary importance to society, discussing and proposing constructive and progressive approaches for achieving sustainability.Of interest to engineers, economists and all academics, professionals and practitioners involved in the wide range of disciplines associated with environmental economics and investment assessment in accordance with the principles of sustainability, this volume contains papers on the following topics: economy and the environment; environmental policies, planning and assessment; cost-benefit analysis; natural resources management; environmental performance; trade and the environment; travel cost-benefit analysis; economics of waste management; and social issues and environmental policies.