Lyuba Zarsky | Monterey Institute of International Studies (original) (raw)

Papers by Lyuba Zarsky

Introduction:In the early 1990s, popular concern about mounting ecological degradation swept the ... more Introduction:In the early 1990s, popular concern about mounting ecological degradation swept the world. The historical moment was crystallized in the 1992 UN World Conference on Environment and Development, known popularly as the Rio Summit. Attended by over 100 heads of state, the Summit coalesced around the concept of "sustainable development," the idea that environmental protection could and should be built into the design of economic development plans and policies, rather than addressed as an aftermath of economic growth. The Summit produced a sweeping plan of action called "Agenda 21" and called for both states and international organizations to implement it.

The Journal of Environment & Development, 2013

This article develops a framework to evaluate net benefits from mining and utilizes it to assess ... more This article develops a framework to evaluate net benefits from mining and utilizes it to assess the Marlin mine in Guatemala. The framework integrates "weak" and "strong" sustainability principles. Under weak sustainability, a net gain in human welfare can substitute for the loss of nonrenewable resources. Under strong sustainability, nature's life-support systems are not substitutable. We define "net benefits" as the joint generation of net gains to human welfare, defined as local acceptance and high economic benefits, and low risks to the resilience of environmental life-support systems, especially water, evidenced by best practice management standards. We find little evidence that the Marlin mine meets either weak or strong sustainability criteria: there is strong local resistance to the mine and economic benefits are low, while environmental risk is high, especially in terms of potential long-term contamination of life-supporting ground and surface water.

Amherst;and Ph.D. candidate, Universityof Massachusetts, respectively. The authorsare grateful to... more Amherst;and Ph.D. candidate, Universityof Massachusetts, respectively. The authorsare grateful to Annette Balaoing,Lynn Duggan, Lester Henry, and Tania Meisnerfor capable research assistance, and to the referees of this journal for suggested improvements.

International Environmental Agreements-politics Law and Economics, 2006

Hayes and Zarsky describe the rapidly emerging agenda for regional collaboration on environmental... more Hayes and Zarsky describe the rapidly emerging agenda for regional collaboration on environmental issues in Northeast Asia. In Part One, they describe briefly some of the major transfrontier or regional environmental issues in Northeast Asia that represent a menu of opportunities for cooperation (and potential conflict) between states. These issues include transfrontier air pollution (acid rain only), marine pollution (radionuclides and oil only), migratory species (fish only), and trade-environment linkages related to increasing regional economic integration. Part Two examines the emerging and somewhat overlapping regional environmental management regimes. These include UNEP's Northwest Pacific Action Plan or NOWPAP, the IOC WESTPAC, the ESCAP/UNDP Northeast Asian Environment Program, and the UNDP Subregional Technical Cooperation and Development Program.

... of living. Public policy concerns span health, economic vitality, environmental sustainabilit... more ... of living. Public policy concerns span health, economic vitality, environmental sustainability, livable cities, and environmental justice (Douglass and Ooi, 2000). Page 4. 4 In many ... parks, etc. (Douglass and Ooi, 1999). NGOs are ...

The Journal of Environment & Development, 1997

Abstract This article develops a theoretical framework of environmental regionalism to assess the... more Abstract This article develops a theoretical framework of environmental regionalism to assess the environmental track record of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum. The first section outlines why and how APEC nations need to cooperate on ...

The Journal of Environment & Development, 1997

This article develops a framework to evaluate net benefits from mining and utilizes it to assess ... more This article develops a framework to evaluate net benefits from mining and utilizes it to assess the Marlin mine in Guatemala. The framework integrates "weak" and "strong" sustainability principles. Under weak sustainability, a net gain in human welfare can substitute for the loss of nonrenewable resources. Under strong sustainability, nature's life-support systems are not substitutable. We define "net benefits" as the joint generation of net gains to human welfare, defined as local acceptance and high economic benefits, and low risks to the resilience of environmental life-support systems, especially water, evidenced by best practice management standards. We find little evidence that the Marlin mine meets either weak or strong sustainability criteria: there is strong local resistance to the mine and economic benefits are low, while environmental risk is high, especially in terms of potential long-term contamination of life-supporting ground and surface water.

Introduction:In the early 1990s, popular concern about mounting ecological degradation swept the ... more Introduction:In the early 1990s, popular concern about mounting ecological degradation swept the world. The historical moment was crystallized in the 1992 UN World Conference on Environment and Development, known popularly as the Rio Summit. Attended by over 100 heads of state, the Summit coalesced around the concept of "sustainable development," the idea that environmental protection could and should be built into the design of economic development plans and policies, rather than addressed as an aftermath of economic growth. The Summit produced a sweeping plan of action called "Agenda 21" and called for both states and international organizations to implement it.

The Journal of Environment & Development, 2013

This article develops a framework to evaluate net benefits from mining and utilizes it to assess ... more This article develops a framework to evaluate net benefits from mining and utilizes it to assess the Marlin mine in Guatemala. The framework integrates "weak" and "strong" sustainability principles. Under weak sustainability, a net gain in human welfare can substitute for the loss of nonrenewable resources. Under strong sustainability, nature's life-support systems are not substitutable. We define "net benefits" as the joint generation of net gains to human welfare, defined as local acceptance and high economic benefits, and low risks to the resilience of environmental life-support systems, especially water, evidenced by best practice management standards. We find little evidence that the Marlin mine meets either weak or strong sustainability criteria: there is strong local resistance to the mine and economic benefits are low, while environmental risk is high, especially in terms of potential long-term contamination of life-supporting ground and surface water.

Amherst;and Ph.D. candidate, Universityof Massachusetts, respectively. The authorsare grateful to... more Amherst;and Ph.D. candidate, Universityof Massachusetts, respectively. The authorsare grateful to Annette Balaoing,Lynn Duggan, Lester Henry, and Tania Meisnerfor capable research assistance, and to the referees of this journal for suggested improvements.

International Environmental Agreements-politics Law and Economics, 2006

Hayes and Zarsky describe the rapidly emerging agenda for regional collaboration on environmental... more Hayes and Zarsky describe the rapidly emerging agenda for regional collaboration on environmental issues in Northeast Asia. In Part One, they describe briefly some of the major transfrontier or regional environmental issues in Northeast Asia that represent a menu of opportunities for cooperation (and potential conflict) between states. These issues include transfrontier air pollution (acid rain only), marine pollution (radionuclides and oil only), migratory species (fish only), and trade-environment linkages related to increasing regional economic integration. Part Two examines the emerging and somewhat overlapping regional environmental management regimes. These include UNEP's Northwest Pacific Action Plan or NOWPAP, the IOC WESTPAC, the ESCAP/UNDP Northeast Asian Environment Program, and the UNDP Subregional Technical Cooperation and Development Program.

... of living. Public policy concerns span health, economic vitality, environmental sustainabilit... more ... of living. Public policy concerns span health, economic vitality, environmental sustainability, livable cities, and environmental justice (Douglass and Ooi, 2000). Page 4. 4 In many ... parks, etc. (Douglass and Ooi, 1999). NGOs are ...

The Journal of Environment & Development, 1997

Abstract This article develops a theoretical framework of environmental regionalism to assess the... more Abstract This article develops a theoretical framework of environmental regionalism to assess the environmental track record of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum. The first section outlines why and how APEC nations need to cooperate on ...

The Journal of Environment & Development, 1997

This article develops a framework to evaluate net benefits from mining and utilizes it to assess ... more This article develops a framework to evaluate net benefits from mining and utilizes it to assess the Marlin mine in Guatemala. The framework integrates "weak" and "strong" sustainability principles. Under weak sustainability, a net gain in human welfare can substitute for the loss of nonrenewable resources. Under strong sustainability, nature's life-support systems are not substitutable. We define "net benefits" as the joint generation of net gains to human welfare, defined as local acceptance and high economic benefits, and low risks to the resilience of environmental life-support systems, especially water, evidenced by best practice management standards. We find little evidence that the Marlin mine meets either weak or strong sustainability criteria: there is strong local resistance to the mine and economic benefits are low, while environmental risk is high, especially in terms of potential long-term contamination of life-supporting ground and surface water.